Researchers see a realistic path forward to the manufacture of bio-derivable wind blades that can be chemically recycled and the components reused, ending the practice of old blades winding up in landfills at the end of their useful life.
Coastal cities must adapt faster to climate change
Coastal cities play a key role in the global economy and have important functions for society at large. At the same time, they are severely affected by the impact of climate change. That is why their role in global climate adaptation is crucial.
Are crops worldwide sufficiently pollinated?
Scientists have analyzed crop yields of more than 1,500 fields on six continents, and found that production worldwide of important, nutritionally dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes is being limited by a lack of pollinators.
Matching dinosaur footprints found on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean
An international team of paleontologists has found matching sets of Early Cretaceous dinosaur footprints on what are now two different continents.
Scientists use evolution to bioengineer new pathways to sustainable energy, pharmaceuticals
Using evolution as a guiding principle, researchers have successfully engineered bacteria-yeast hybrids to perform photosynthetic carbon assimilation, generate cellular energy and support yeast growth without traditional carbon feedstocks like glucose or glycerol. By engineering photosynthetic cyanobacteria to live symbiotically inside yeast cells, the bacteria-yeast hybrids can produce important hydrocarbons, paving...
Public trust in drinking water safety is low globally
A new study finds more than half of adults surveyed worldwide expect to be seriously harmed by their water within the next two years. The study sought to understand public perceptions of drinking water safety. Because perceptions shape attitudes and behaviors, distrust in water quality has a negative impact on...
Study finds salamanders are surprisingly abundant in northeastern forests
Two recent amphibian-focused studies shed light on the ecological importance of red-backed salamanders, while confirming that proactive measures would prevent costly impacts from a wildlife disease spreading across Europe that has not yet reached North America.
CRISPR-based genome editing in Nile grass rats
A team of researchers has discovered a set of methods that enabled the first successful CRISPR-based genome editing in Nile grass rats.
Study finds nearly half of U.S. counties have at least one ‘pharmacy desert’
Nearly half of counties in the United States have at least one 'pharmacy desert' where there is no retail pharmacy within 10 miles, according to a new study.
Bioengineers develop lotus leaf-inspired system to advance study of cancer cell clusters
Bioengineers have harnessed the lotus effect to develop a system for culturing cancer cell clusters that can shed light on hard-to-study tumor properties. The new zinc oxide-based culturing surface mimics the lotus leaf surface structure, providing a highly tunable platform for the high-throughput generation of three-dimensional nanoscale tumor models.