Two studies project the future of power supply and demand on the West Coast under different scenarios: one under climate change and another where power sources shift toward renewables and the climate follows historic trends.
New research shows gene exchange between viruses and hosts drives evolution
The first comprehensive analysis of viral horizontal gene transfer (HGT) illustrates the extent to which viruses pick up genes from their hosts to hone their infection process, while at the same time hosts also co-opt useful viral genes.
Ancient Maya lessons on surviving drought
A new study casts doubt on drought as the driver of ancient Mayan civilization collapse.
Mass die-off of Magellanic penguins seen during 2019 heat wave
In 2019, researchers witnessed the consequences of an extreme heat event at Punta Tombo in Argentina, one of the world's largest breeding colonies for Magellanic penguins. On Jan. 19, temperatures at the site spiked in the shade to 44 C, or 111.2 F, killing at least 354 penguins. Nearly three-quarters...
Climate change, invasive species drive native trout declines
Researchers have found that climate change drives native trout declines by reducing stream habitat and facilitating the expansion of invasive trout species.
Solving the disappearance of bears and lions with ancient DNA
Researchers suggest a change in climate is the likely cause of the mysterious disappearance of ancient lions and bears from parts of North America for a thousand years or more prior to the last Ice Age.
How plants respond to heat stress
Plants, like other organisms, can be severely affected by heat stress. To increase their chances of survival, they activate the heat shock response, a molecular pathway also employed by human and animal cells for stress protection. Researchers have now discovered that plant steroid hormones can promote this response in plants.
Study finds reduced microbial diversity in guts of wild bears that eat human food
A new study suggests that eating human food reduces microbial diversity in the guts of wild bears.
New method to complete genetic data
Genome sequencing is now much cheaper than it was, but still accounts for a large part of the costs in animal and plant breeding. One trick to reduce these costs is to sequence only a very small and randomly selected part of the genome and to complete the remaining gaps...
Anthropologists study the energetics of uniquely human subsistence strategies
Among our closest living relatives -- the great apes -- we humans are unique: We have larger brains, reproduce more quickly and have longer life spans. These traits are obviously valuable, but the extra energy required to sustain them is quite significant. So how did we manage to afford them?