Scientists investigating the remains of an old wooden ship off the cold, windy coast of far southern Argentina say it almost certainly is the Dolphin, a globe-trotting whaling ship from Warren, R.I., lost in 1859. Archaeologists have spent years researching the ship's origin without making a definitive identification, but a...
Nitrous oxide emissions from Corn Belt soils spike when soils freeze, thaw
Nitrous oxide may be much less abundant in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, but as a greenhouse gas, it's a doozy. With a potency 300 times greater than CO2, nitrous oxide's warming potential, especially via agriculture, demands attention. Researchers are now answering the call. In a new study, they document...
Biologists track DNA ‘parasites’ in the hunt for disease treatments
Biologists offer new insights into entities known as transposons, providing knowledge that could one day help in the fight against cancers and aging-related diseases.
Ocean cooling over millennia led to larger fish
To investigate whether paleoclimatic temperature shifts are correlated with body size changes, biologists decided to test this hypothesis using tetraodontiform fishes as a model group.
Scientists evaluate Earth-cooling strategies with geoengineering simulations
A group of international scientists is rigorously and systematically evaluating if and how the stratosphere could be made just a little bit 'brighter,' reflecting more incoming sunlight so that an ever-warming Earth maintains its cool.
Study of ancient skulls sheds light on human interbreeding with Neanderthals
Research has established that there are traces of Neandertal DNA in the genome of modern humans. Now an exploratory study that assessed the facial structure of prehistoric skulls is offering new insights, and supports the hypothesis that much of this interbreeding took place in the Near East -- the region...
Researchers complete first comprehensive threat assessment of all U.S. trees
For the first time, researchers have completed threat assessments for all 881 native tree species in the contiguous United States, resulting in a comprehensive checklist and synthesis that will serve as a critical baseline to guide future tree conservation efforts.
Detecting nanoplastics in the air
Large pieces of plastic can break down into nanosized particles that often find their way into the soil and water. But they also float in the air, where their presence is less understood. As a step toward better understanding airborne nanoplastics, researchers have now developed a sensor that detects these...
Wind turbine blades could someday be recycled into sweet treats
Wind power is an increasingly popular form of renewable energy. But when it's time to replace the huge turbine blades that convert wind into electricity, disposal is a problem. Today, scientists report a new composite resin for making these behemoths that could later be recycled into new turbine blades or...
DNA profiling solves Australian rabbit plague puzzle
New study proves that single introduction of 24 animals shipped from England in 1859 caused the infamous invasion and argues that wild genetic traits gave these rabbits a devastating advantage over earlier arrivals.