Researchers have changed the way to look at DNA. They show that DNA is much more than a linear sequence of building blocks; it has a 3D structure that influences the variation of human genome-wide mutation rates meaningfully and consistently, and this is likely conserved among species.
Sea urchins are struggling to ‘get a grip’ as climate change alters ecosystems
As global climate change causes weather extremes ranging from heat waves and droughts to heavy rains and flooding, the large amounts of freshwater pouring into nearshore ecosystems are altering habitats. A team of biologists studied the impacts of low salinity and how it alters sea urchins' ability to grip and...
Scientists dig into wildfire predictions, long-term impacts
Wildfires are an ancient force shaping the environment, but they have grown in frequency, range and intensity in response to a changing climate. Scientists are working on several fronts to better understand and predict these events and what they mean for the carbon cycle and biodiversity.
Researchers are using monkey poop to learn how an endangered species chooses its mates
Northern muriquis, which live in the Atlantic forest of Brazil, are one of the most endangered species of monkey in the world. To better understand what goes on in the mating lives of muriquis, researchers turned to the monkeys' poop to help gain insight into how the primates choose their...
Clearcut logging leads to more frequent flooding, including extreme floods
Loss of forest cover is associated with more frequent extreme flooding, as well as more frequent floods of any size, according to new research. While it's widely thought that loss of forest cover is strongly linked to increased flooding, most studies have suggested that the impact is limited to smaller...
Fiber optic cables detect and characterize earthquakes
The same fiber optic networks that provide internet can simultaneously act as earthquake sensors, as demonstrated in a new study.
Nature’s kitchen: how a chemical reaction used by cooks helped create life on Earth
A chemical process used in the browning of food to give it its distinct smell and taste is probably happening deep in the oceans, where it helped create the conditions necessary for life. Known as the Maillard reaction after the French scientist who discovered it, the process converts small molecules...
Irregular sleep patterns associated with harmful gut bacteria
New research has found irregular sleep patterns are associated with harmful bacteria in your gut.
Sea level rise shifts habitat for endangered Florida Keys species
A newly published study describes the response to sea level rise by the silver rice rat, an endangered species only found in the Florida Keys.
Earth’s most ancient impact craters are disappearing
Earth's oldest craters could give scientists critical information about the structure of the early Earth and the composition of bodies in the solar system as well as help to interpret crater records on other planets. But geologists can't find them, and they might never be able to, according to a...