Antarctica’s Larsen Ice Shelf has been breaking up for decades, but the 2002 Larsen B collapse was particularly dramatic. After being stable for at least 10,000 years, a large section of the shelf broke apart, with repercussions felt across the planet. The widespread changes in Antarctica have been extensively studied and published, but contextualizing and … Read more
A quarry with bands of layered limestone from the ancient seabed in what is now Mercato San Severino, Italy. Credit: Mariano Remírez, George Mason University Approximately 183 million years ago, during the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE), volcanic eruptions in what is now South Africa released approximately 20,500 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the … Read more
Today, few deny the impact of global warming. Now that the term has become slang for everything that is wrong with the planet, experts have been conducting empirical studies of its impact on the Antarctic ice sheets. What used to be called “forever” is now melting rapidly, at a rate that was previously unimaginable. This … Read more
A recent study shows that the extraordinary lifespan of the Greenland shark, the oldest living vertebrate species, may be significantly influenced by muscle metabolic activity. These insights could be crucial for protecting this species, which is facing threats from climate change, and could even provide new opportunities to improve cardiovascular health in humans. “Aging is … Read more
A new study reveals the crucial role of zinc in regulating nitrogen fixation in legumes via a sensor called FUN. This discovery could help improve crop efficiency and reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers by adapting to environmental and soil conditions. Researchers have discovered that zinc has a significant impact on the nitrogen fixation process … Read more
A 2023 study highlighted unexpected extreme cold events in Antarctica during a year of global heat records, emphasizing the need to understand such atmospheric anomalies for improved operational safety in the region. Credit: SciTechDaily.com A 2023 study documented unprecedented cold spells in Antarctica, which stands in stark contrast to global heat records and underlines the … Read more
A special high-speed winch that the researchers used to quickly raise and lower instruments to track the movements of the dye underwater. Credit: San Nguyen Until now, no large-scale ocean circulation in which deep water rises to the surface had ever been observed. For the first time, researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at … Read more
Higher ambient temperatures can cause mutations in fungi that lead to increased infectivity, more aggressive growth, or resistance to multiple antifungal drugs. Microbiologist examines mold and fungal cultures in petri dishes. Getty Public health officials have long been concerned that rising global temperatures could make mold more harmful to humans. Sure, some people get ringworm … Read more
Thousands of satellites have been deployed in “mega constellations” to meet the growing need for global internet services, and many more are scheduled for launch soon. However, these compact satellites have a short operational life and are known to emit pollutants that can damage the ozone layer when they disintegrate upon re-entry. A recent study … Read more
“Families and businesses will have lower bills forever.” That is a promise the Labor Party will make to the British public when it comes to power. One of Labour’s six ‘missions’ for the government is to make Britain a ‘clean energy superpower’ by 2030, investing in wind, solar and carbon capture and energy storage. Great … Read more