Wildfires are an ancient force shaping the environment, but they have grown in frequency, range and intensity in response to a changing climate. Scientists are working on several fronts to better understand and predict these events and what they mean for the carbon cycle and biodiversity.
Researchers are using monkey poop to learn how an endangered species chooses its mates
Northern muriquis, which live in the Atlantic forest of Brazil, are one of the most endangered species of monkey in the world. To better understand what goes on in the mating lives of muriquis, researchers turned to the monkeys' poop to help gain insight into how the primates choose their...
Visible Work on OSU-Led Wave Energy Testing Facility to Begin in August
The next step in Oregon State University’s construction of a wave energy testing facility off the Oregon Coast is likely to be visible to residents and visitors to the area in August.
New Method Has Promise for Accurate, Efficient Soil Carbon Estimates
Earth’s soil contains large stocks of carbon — even more carbon than in the atmosphere. A significant portion of this soil carbon is in organic form (carbon bound to carbon), called soil organic carbon (SOC).
NOAA and Partners Race to Rescue Remaining Florida Corals From Historic Ocean Heat Wave
In mid-July 2023, heat-stressed corals in the southern Florida Keys began bleaching—expelling their food-producing algal partners—amid the hottest water temperatures ever documented in the region during the satellite record (dating back to 1985).
Clearcut logging leads to more frequent flooding, including extreme floods
Loss of forest cover is associated with more frequent extreme flooding, as well as more frequent floods of any size, according to new research. While it's widely thought that loss of forest cover is strongly linked to increased flooding, most studies have suggested that the impact is limited to smaller...
Fiber optic cables detect and characterize earthquakes
The same fiber optic networks that provide internet can simultaneously act as earthquake sensors, as demonstrated in a new study.
Nature’s kitchen: how a chemical reaction used by cooks helped create life on Earth
A chemical process used in the browning of food to give it its distinct smell and taste is probably happening deep in the oceans, where it helped create the conditions necessary for life. Known as the Maillard reaction after the French scientist who discovered it, the process converts small molecules...
Tiny Pests Pose Problems for Iconic Monarch Butterfly
Many gardeners will tell you that aphids are the bane of their existence.
New Materials That Could Transform Our Lives Are in the Works at UT Austin
A technological leap sits on the horizon, with exciting capabilities like quantum computing, soft robotics and more coming down the pike.