Higher exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) during infancy was associated with lower economic earnings in adulthood, according to a new study. The association was most pronounced in the midwestern and southern U.S.
Cattle raised by Maasai farmers aren’t the conservation villains they’ve been made out to be, study finds
A new study has found the pastoral practices of the Indigenous Maasai people of Kenya had almost no discernible positive or negative effect on the ecological well-being of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Extreme weather to strengthen rapidly over next two decades
The study shows how global warming can combine with normal variations in the weather to produce decade-long periods of very rapid changes in both extreme temperatures and rainfall.
Microwaving waste cooking oil into useful chemicals
Converting biomass such as waste cooking oil into useful chemicals through catalysis can help create a more sustainable chemical industry. However, conventional techniques require enormous energy and generate harmful chemicals. Moreover, such techniques reduce the lifetime of catalysts. Now, researchers reveal a zeolite catalyst that can be efficiently heated up...
New chickadee research finds cognitive skills impact lifespan
Western animal behavior and cognition researchers tracked the spatial cognition and lifespan of 227 mountain chickadees for more than a decade. They found the birds with better spatial learning and memory abilities lived longer.
Mathematical proof: Five satellites needed for precise navigation
What is the shortest route to the next stop or the agreed meeting point? Global positioning systems (GPS) have become a routine part of everyday life for most people. Until now, however, the minimum number of GPS satellites needed to determine the exact position of a mobile phone or other...
Molecular simulations, supercomputing lead to energy-saving biomaterials breakthrough
Scientists have identified and demonstrated a method to process a plant-based material called nanocellulose that reduced energy needs by a whopping 21%, using simulations on the lab's supercomputers and follow-on analysis.
‘Some pterosaurs would flap, others would soar’ — new study further confirms the flight capability of these giants of the skies
Some species of pterosaurs flew by flapping their wings while others soared like vultures, demonstrates a new study. Findings include a new pterosaur with a five-meter wingspan, which is one of the most complete pterosaurs ever recovered from Afro-Arabia.
New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water
A new filtration material might provide a nature-based solution to water contamination by PFAS chemicals. The material, based on natural silk and cellulose, can remove a wide variety of these 'forever' chemicals as well as heavy metals, and its antimicrobial properties can help keep the filters from fouling.
‘Ice bucket challenge’ reveals that bacteria can anticipate the seasons
Bacteria use their internal 24-hour clocks to anticipate the arrival of new seasons, according to research carried out with the assistance of an 'ice bucket challenge.'