New research reveals more information about the Louisiana State University (LSU) Campus Mounds, including the discovery of thousands of years old charred mammal bone fragments and a coordinated alignment of both mounds toward one of the brightest stars in the night sky. This new information offers more insight into the...
A more environmentally friendly air conditioner
Summer is in full swing, and people are turning up their air conditioners to beat the heat. But the hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants in these and other cooling devices are potent greenhouse gases and major drivers of climate change. Today, scientists report a prototype device that could someday replace existing 'A/Cs.' It's...
Sulfur shortage: A potential resource crisis looming as the world decarbonizes
A new study highlights that global demand for sulfuric acid is set to rise significantly from '246 to 400 million tons' by 2040 -- a result of more intensive agriculture and the world moving away from fossil fuels. A projected shortage of sulfuric acid, a crucial chemical in our modern...
Compost to computer: Bio-based materials used to salvage rare earth elements
What do corncobs and tomato peels have to do with electronics? They both can be used to salvage valuable rare earth elements, like neodymium, from electronic waste. Researchers used micro- and nanoparticles created from the organic materials to capture rare earth elements from aqueous solutions.
Which animals can best withstand climate change?
A new study investigates how different mammals react to climate change. Animals that live for a long time and/or produce less offspring -- like bears and bison -- are more resilient than small animals with a short life -- like mice and lemmings.
Climate change likely to raise wheat prices in food-insecure regions and exacerbate economic inequality
Wheat is a key source of nutrition for people across the globe, providing 20% of calories and protein for 3.4 billion people worldwide. Even if we meet climate mitigation targets and stay under 2°C of warming, climate change is projected to significantly alter the yield and price of wheat in...
Wave created by Tonga volcano eruption reached 90 meters — nine times taller than 2011 Japan tsunami
New research reveals more about the magnitude of January eruption, as researchers call for better preparedness The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in January created an initial wave 90 meters high -- almost the height of the Statue of Liberty (93m). Tsunami expert calls for better warning systems...
Natural substances show promise against coronavirus
Three natural compounds present in foods like green tea, olive oil and red wine are promising candidates for the development of drugs against the coronavirus. In a comprehensive screening of a large library of natural substances at DESY's X-ray source PETRA III, the compounds bound to a central enzyme vital...
Wildfire experts provide guidance for new research directions
A new paper by dozens of wildfire experts across the nation highlights the need for a more strategic and interdisciplinary approach to pursuing wildfire research and protecting vulnerable communities.
Next generation patient avatars: Expanding the possibilities with micro-organospheres
Scientists have developed improved methods for generating micro-organospheres (MOS) and have shown that they can be used as patient avatars for studies involving direct viral infection, immune cell penetration and high-throughput therapeutic drug screening -- something that is not obtainable with conventional patient-derived models.