Research shows that phthalates, a class of chemicals associated with plastics, can shed from the wrapping, packaging and even from plastic gloves worn by food handlers into food. Once consumed during pregnancy, the chemicals can get into the bloodstream, through the placenta and then into the fetal bloodstream. The chemical...
What turned Earth into a giant snowball 700m years ago? Scientists now have an answer
Inspired during field work in South Australia's Flinders Ranges, geoscientists have proposed that all-time low volcanic carbon dioxide emissions triggered a 57 million year-long global 'Sturtian' ice age.
Inexpensive, carbon-neutral biofuels are finally possible
When it comes to making fuel from plants, the first step has always been the hardest -- breaking down the plant matter. A new study finds that introducing a simple, renewable chemical to the pretreatment step can finally make next-generation biofuel production both cost-effective and carbon neutral.
Dinosaurs’ success helped by specialized stance and gait, study finds
Dinosaurs' range of locomotion made them incredibly adaptable, researchers have found.
EVs that go 1,000 km on a single charge: Gel makes it possible
Engineers apply electron beam technology to develop an integrated silicon-gel electrolyte system.
How kelp forests persisted through the large 2014-2016 Pacific marine heatwave
New research reveals that denser, and more sheltered, kelp forests can withstand serious stressors amid warming ocean temperatures.
New approach to tackling bacterial infections identified
Researchers have identified a new approach to controlling bacterial infections. The team found a way to turn on a vital bacterial defense mechanism to fight and manage bacterial infections. The defense system, called cyclic oligonucleotide-based antiphage signaling system (CBASS), is a natural mechanism used by certain bacteria to protect themselves...
New study finds ‘sweet spot’ for length of yarn-shaped supercapacitors
Researchers have identified a 'sweet spot' at which the length of a threadlike energy storage technology called a 'yarn-shaped supercapacitor' (YSC) yields the highest and most efficient flow of energy per unit length.
Microfluidic environments alter microbe behaviors, opening potential for engineering social evolution
A research group explored how the social evolution of microbes can be manipulated by tuning the physical parameters of the environment in which they live.
Complex tree canopies help forests recover from moderate-severity disturbances
Extreme events wipe out entire forests, dramatically eliminating complex ecosystems as well as local communities. Researchers have become quite familiar with such attention-grabbing events over the years. They know less, however, about the more common moderate-severity disturbances, such as relatively small fires, ice storms, and outbreaks of pests or pathogens.