The researchers say that one possible explanation for this residual glow is that our inner solar system contains a tenuous sphere of dust from comets that are falling into the solar system from all directions, and that the glow is sunlight reflecting off this dust.
Dinosaur teeth reveal what they didn’t eat
Scratches on dinosaur teeth could reveal what they really ate. Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) has now been used to infer the feeding habits of large theropods, including Allosaurus and T. rex. By taking 3D images of individual teeth and analyzing the pattern of marks scratched into them, researchers could...
Microbial miners could help humans colonize the moon and Mars
The biochemical process by which cyanobacteria acquire nutrients from rocks in Chile's Atacama Desert has inspired engineers at the University of California, Irvine to think of new ways microbes might help humans build colonies on the moon and Mars.
Fjords: Small-But-Mighty Planetary “Thermostats” Whose Role in the Global Carbon Cycle Is Both Sink and Source
If you’re worried about escalating human-induced climate change, consider adding fjords to your thank-you list during this season of gratitude.
Organic Aerosols in Remote Regions Are Forming Clouds and Have an Underestimated Effect on Climate Change
A research group from Nagoya University in Japan has developed a model to clarify the importance of analyzing the formation of clouds from human and natural particles.
Working In Extreme Heat Puts Strain on Fetus
The fetuses of women working in the fields in extreme heat can show signs of strain before their mothers are affected, new research has shown.
Arsenic-contaminated water associated with antibiotic resistance in children, study finds
In rural Bangladesh, areas with high levels of arsenic contamination in drinking water, compared to areas with less contamination, have a higher prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in both water and child stool samples, according to a new study.
Immune system of modern Papuans shaped by DNA from ancient Denisovans, study finds
Modern Papuans' immune system likely evolved with a little help from the Denisovans, a mysterious human ancestor who interbred with ancient humans, according to a new study.
New Web Tool for Measuring Health of Soils
A new free web tool to help land managers monitor and improve the health of soil in common habitats in Britain is now available.
The 30 Percent Goal: Is Bigger Always Better for Biodiversity?
In 2009, the U.S. government turned more than 190,000 square miles of pristine ocean centered on the Mariana Trench in the remote Pacific into one of the world’s largest protected areas.