Researchers have uncovered a surprising genetic mechanism that influences the vibrant and complex patterns on butterfly wings. The team discovered that an RNA molecule, rather than a protein as previously thought, plays a pivotal role in determining the distribution of black pigment on butterfly wings.
Like people, vultures get set in their ways and have fewer friends as they age
Young griffon vultures move frequently between sleeping sites in different locations, interacting with many friends. They get set in their ways as they age and roost in the same spots with the same individuals; older vultures follow the same paths. Roosts act as information hubs; older vultures may have a...
Climate Change Increases Foodborne Illness Risk From Raw Produce
Climate change will increase the risk of the foodborne illness from Salmonella enterica, according to a new study.
Global Timber Supply Threatened as Climate Change Pushes Cropland Northwards
Climate change will move and reduce the land suitable for growing food and timber, putting the production of these two vital resources into direct competition, a new study has found.
Study Reveals Crucial Role of Mixing Atlantic and Arctic Waters in Global Ocean Circulation
A new study sheds light on the vital role that the mixing of Atlantic and Arctic waters plays in sustaining the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is crucial for regulating Earth’s climate.
What a submerged ancient bridge discovered in a Spanish cave reveals about early human settlement
Geologists examined a submerged 25-foot bridge to tackle a long-lasting archaeological controversy: When humans settled on the islands in the western Mediterranean. Their findings narrow a historical gap between the settlement timelines of the eastern and western Mediterranean regions.
New process vaporizes plastic bags and bottles, yielding gases to make new, recycled plastics
Chemists have developed a catalytic process that turns the largest component of today's plastic waste stream, polyolefin plastic bags and bottles, into gases -- propylene and isobutylene -- that are the building blocks of polypropylene and other types of plastics. The process uses inexpensive solid catalysts that can be scaled...
Scientist’s method could give months’ warning of major earthquakes
The public could have days or months of warning about a major earthquake through identification of prior low-level tectonic unrest over large areas, according to research by scientists who analyzed two major quakes in Alaska and California.
Study Finds Limits to Storing CO2 Underground to Combat Climate Change
Imperial research has found limits to how quickly we can scale up technology to store gigatonnes of carbon dioxide under the Earth’s surface.
Smart Mask Monitors Breath for Signs of Health
A new study demonstrates how state-of-the-art masks can be used to assess metabolic and respiratory conditions.