A concerning increase in global rates of severe invasive infections becoming resistant to key antibiotics has a team of infectious disease researchers studying a recently emerged strain of bacteria called Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis. These infections range in severity from strep throat to flesh-eating disease.
The Salton Sea — an area rich with lithium — is a hot spot for child respiratory issues
Windblown dust from the shrinking Salton Sea harms the respiratory health of children living nearby, triggering asthma, coughing, wheezing and disrupted sleep, USC research shows. The problem is likely to intensify in a hotter climate, with evaporation exposing more and more of the lake bed, or playa, leading to more...
Exposure to particular sources of air pollution is harmful to children’s learning and memory
A new study involving 8,500 children from across the United States has revealed that a form of air pollution, largely the product of agricultural emissions, is linked to poor learning and memory performance in 9- and 10-year-olds. The specific pollutant, ammonium nitrate, is also implicated in Alzheimer's and dementia risk...
Evolutionary paths vastly differ for birds, bats
New research has found that, unlike birds, the evolution of bats' wings and legs is tightly coupled, which may have prevented them from filling as many ecological niches as birds.
Scientists Examine How Wastewater Practices in Florida Keys Impact Water Quality
Wastewater contains nutrients that can overfeed algae, leading to harmful algal blooms and pollution issues in the ocean and other waterways.
Scientists Say Plastic Rubbish on Beaches Can Now Be Seen From Space
Aussie researchers have developed a new method for spotting plastic rubbish on our beaches and successfully field tested it on a remote stretch of coastline.
Valencia Floods
Intense rainfall in eastern Spain produced deadly and destructive flash floods in the province of Valencia.
More resources needed to protect birds in Germany
Researchers developed citizen science platforms as a new data source to evaluate the effectiveness of the 742 protected areas for birds across Germany. This research shows that although these areas are well placed, their effectiveness varies greatly.
The reasons flowers wilt could explain how plants spend (and save) their energy
Wilting flowers might not signal poor flower or plant health, but rather the effects of a sophisticated resource management strategy in plants, millions of years in the making.
Trees cool better than reflective roofs in vulnerable Houston neighborhoods
As heatwaves become more intense, cities are looking for strategies that can help keep neighborhoods cooler. A new tool has already helped identify potential solutions in Houston, a city where the impact of heat can vary significantly in different communities.