Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that will help predict endangered whale habitat, guiding ships along the Atlantic coast to avoid them. The tool is designed to prevent deadly accidents and inform conservation strategies and responsible ocean development.
A wealth of evidence: 85,000 individual studies about climate policy
Research on climate policy is growing exponentially. Of the approximately 85,000 individual studies ever published on policy instruments for mitigating global heating, a good quarter are from 2020 or later. A study using machine learning methods now shows how this vast knowledge is distributed -- by instrument, country, sector and...
‘Junk’ RNA segments play role in protein production, cell stress response
Scientists have discovered that some tiny segments of RNA thought to be junk instead have a functional role in suppressing production of certain messenger RNAs and appear to help cells respond to oxidative stress.
Examining the potential environmental effects of mining the world’s largest lithium deposit
A trove of lithium-rich brine exists underground in Bolivia. Researchers conducted the first comprehensive chemical analysis of wastewater associated with mining the resource.
Born too late? Climate change may be delaying births
New research has found exposure to outdoor air pollution and extreme temperatures during pregnancy may increase the risk of prolonged pregnancy, offering new insights into the impact of climate change on maternal health.
Influenza A viruses adapt shape in response to environmental pressures
Influenza A virus particles strategically adapt their shape -- to become either spheres or larger filaments -- to favor their ability to infect cells depending on environmental conditions, according to a new study. This previously unrecognized response could help explain how influenza A and other viruses persist in populations, evade...
Eating gradually increasing doses of peanut butter enables children with high-threshold allergy to safely consume peanuts, study suggests
Findings suggest a safe, inexpensive, and effective pathway for allergists to treat children who already tolerate at least half a peanut.
Earth’s inner core is less solid than previously thought
Earth's inner core is undergoing structural transformation.
Boosting evolution: How humans unintentionally altered the skulls of pigs
Short snouts and a flat profile -- within a span of 100 years, humans have significantly changed the shape of the skulls of German domestic pigs. This is likely down to new breeding practices introduced at the beginning of the 20th century. The researchers analyzed 3D scans of 135 skulls...
An Arctic ‘beyond recognition’ by 2100
Based on the current pledges of countries for limiting their emissions of greenhouse gases, global temperatures are projected to reach 2.7 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrial levels by the end of this century. A new review paper highlights how this would dramatically reshape the Arctic, the fastest-warming region of Earth.