A recent study found that many of the fossils from Germany's Posidonia shale do not get their gleam from pyrite, commonly known as fool's gold, which was long thought to be the source of the shine. Instead, the golden hue is from a mix of minerals that hints at the...
Researchers model ‘link’ between improved photosynthesis and increased yield
A team has modeled improving photosynthesis through enzyme modification and simulated soybean growth with realistic climate conditions, determining to what extent the improvements in photosynthesis could result in increased yields.
Too much water can make whiskies taste the same
While adding a little water is popularly thought to 'open up' the flavor of whisky, a new study indicates there's a point at which it becomes too much: about 20%. Researchers chemically analyzed how volatile compounds in a set of 25 whiskies responded to the addition of water, including bourbons,...
Toys demonstrate how biological machines move
By connecting small self-propelling toys in a chain, researchers have found the key to studying the movement of microscopic organisms and molecular motors inside our cells.
Wiggly proteins guard the genome
Dynamic network in the pores of the nuclear envelope blocks dangerous invaders.
New mechanisms regulating plant response to temperature
Discovery of a new protein complex helps scientists understand how plants interpret changes in temperature over time
The science behind the life and times of the Earth’s salt flats
Researchers have characterized two different types of surface water in the hyperarid salars -- or salt flats -- that contain much of the world's lithium deposits. This new characterization represents a leap forward in understanding how water moves through such basins, and will be key to minimizing the environmental impact...
Prolonged power outages, often caused by weather events, hit some parts of the U.S. harder than others
New research found that Americans already bearing the brunt of climate change and health inequities are most at risk of impact by a lengthy power outage.
Exposure to airplane noise increases risk of sleeping fewer than 7 hours per night
As major airline officials predict another record summer air travel season, a new analysis has found that exposure to even moderate levels of airplane noise may disrupt sleep, building upon a growing body of research on the adverse health effects of environmental noise. People who were exposed to airplane noise...
West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreated far inland, re-advanced since last Ice Age
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is melting rapidly, raising concerns it could cross a tipping point of irreversible retreat in the next few decades if global temperatures rise 1.5 to 2.0 degrees Celsius (2.7 to 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels. New research finds that 6,000 years ago, the grounded...