Scientists have uncovered evidence that Europe was dominated for more than 20 million years by open woodlands, colorful meadows, and large grazing animals, not the dense forests long considered its natural state. The surprising discovery challenges modern reforestation strategies, suggesting that planting thick forests could actually harm the biodiversity conservationistsContinue Reading
Storm events spread microplastics across the environment, even to places that are nearly unreachable. A UC Riverside scientist skied into wilderness far off the beaten path, and found the polluting particles everywhere she looked.Continue Reading
As Nepal’s mountains warm, mosquitoes are spreading dengue, once strictly a lowland disease, to higher-elevation, densely-populated areas. Story by Avery Schuyler Nunn, photos by Yuri Segalerba The warming of Nepal’s mountains is dramatically transforming some of the grandest landscapes on Earth, leading melting glaciers to collapse, thawing permafrost that canContinue Reading
Humans collectively produce more than 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually just by turning food into energy, a 74% increase over three decades largely driven by population growth. Unlike fossil fuel emissions, however, the CO2 we exhale is part of the natural carbon cycle, and scientists say measuring itContinue Reading
Alan Armstrong pushed for a provision in a bipartisan permitting bill that would limit states’ power to block gas pipelines. He could stand to gain financially. By Nicholas Kusnetz, Lauren Dalban Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma entered the U.S. Senate to fill a vacancy in March with a clear priority: passContinue Reading
A photographer travels the Southwest to capture the rare lifelines of these hidden waters. The post Chronicling the West’s hidden springs before they’re gone appeared first on High Country News.Continue Reading
Drifting through the polar darkness, a team of scientists is documenting a rapidly changing Arctic. As sea ice retreats and oil tankers move in, a conversation with the UN chief reveals why the battle for climate science matters far beyond the North Pole.Continue Reading
China, the source of more than half the world’s sulfur hexafluoride emissions, will be key to the pledge’s success. By Phil McKenna The German government has launched an international initiative to curb emissions of sulfur hexafluoride, an exceptionally potent greenhouse gas that it says has long been overlooked in effortsContinue Reading
Scientists have solved a mystery surrounding destructive beetles attacking blueberry bushes in North Carolina, identifying a species whose massive larvae can grow up to five inches long and destroy plant roots. Although farmers have reported damage for more than a decade, the insects responsible remained unidentified until researchers used DNAContinue Reading
Topology optimization is a computer design method that can help engineers design beams using reduced amounts of concrete and steel. But those intricate shapes produced from the tool are often too complex or expensive to pour into conventional rigid molds. The few that have been built have mostly relied onContinue Reading
The nonprofit Hispanic Federation said the money would equip 10 community-run resiliency hubs across the island with increased water storage capacity; some also would receive rain-collection systems, kitchen infrastructure and solar power with battery storage.Continue Reading
Mounting opposition and a changed political landscape could derail the legislation. By Dan Gearino, Marianne Lavelle Democrats’ electoral sweep has shaken the ground beneath a permitting reform bill in Congress, raising doubts about whether the measure has enough support to advance in an initial Senate vote scheduled for Monday.Continue Reading
Scientists have discovered chemically confirmed traces of ancient blood inside 115-million-year-old dinosaur bones, challenging assumptions about how long biological molecules can survive. The extraordinary preservation could unlock new clues about dinosaur physiology and even help scientists search for ancient life elsewhere in the universe., Read MoreContinue Reading