The lakes in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains historically didn’t contain fish, but stocking of trout that began in the early 1900s has created an environment in which hundreds of those lakes now have strong fish populations -- some carried on by natural reproduction for decades.
California’s Winter Waves May Be Increasing Under Climate Change
A new study from UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography researcher emeritus Peter Bromirski uses nearly a century of data to show that the average heights of winter waves along the California coast have increased as climate change has heated up the planet.
Closure of Pittsburgh Coal-Processing Plant Tied to Local Health Gains
The closure in January 2016 of one of Pittsburgh’s biggest coal-processing plants led to immediate and lasting declines in emissions of fossil fuel–related air pollutants.
Using gemstones’ unique characteristics to uncover ancient trade routes
Gems' unique elemental composition and atomic orientation act as a fingerprint, enabling researchers to uncover the stones' past, and with it, historical trade routes. Scientists now employ three modern spectroscopic techniques to rapidly analyze gems found in the Arabian-Nubian Shield and compare them with similar gems from around the world....
Scientists develop method to predict the spread of armed conflicts
The statistical model identifies links between battles in Africa and can be applied to other armed conflicts, according to a new study.
Illegal shooting kills most birds found dead near power lines
Birds can be electrocuted if they come into contact with two energized parts of a power line at once -- which can happen when they spread their wings to take off from or land on a power pole. Because of this, energy companies invest substantial time and money into making...
When cheating pays — survival strategy of insect uncovered
Researchers have revealed the unique 'cheating' strategy a New Zealand insect has developed to avoid being eaten -- mimicking a highly toxic species.
How heat treatment affects a milk alternative made from rice and coconut water
Whether they're made from soybeans, almonds, oats, or just sourced straight from the cow, milk products must go through heat treatment to prevent harmful bacterial growth and keep them safe. But understanding how these processes affect new, plant-based milk formulations could make the beverages more pleasant to drink as well....
Nuisance vegetation removal in Senegalese waterways reduces the overall prevalence of parasitic infections and increases local food production
It's an elegant solution: Remove the habitat of a parasite-carrying aquatic snail and reduce the level of infection in the local community; all while generating more feed and compost for local farmers.
Lignin separation method could make renewable material profitable
A novel method to extract lignin could help spin wheat straw into gold. Lignin produced using the new method was color-neutral, odorless and homogenous, an advance that could make this carbon-neutral material a more viable candidate for development of high-value products. Researchers extracted up to 93% lignin with up to...