ScienceDaily: Environment - February 15, 2025
Top environment research news
Study finds consumer openness to smoke-impacted wines, offering new market opportunities
Certain groups of consumers appear to be open to drinking smoke-impacted wines, a finding in a new study that could provide market opportunities for winemakers increasingly dealing with the effects of wildfire smoke on grapes.
Mouse study finds impaired cell development: Intermittent fasting could be unsafe for teenagers
A recent study reveals that age plays a significant role in the outcomes of intermittent fasting. Researchers discovered that chronic intermittent fasting disrupted the development of insulin-producing beta cells in young mice. The findings raise concerns about potential risks for humans, especially teenagers.
Brake pad emissions can be more toxic than diesel exhaust
A study has found microscopic particles emitted from certain types of commonly fitted brake pads can be more toxic than those found in diesel vehicle exhaust.
Under-sea mountains are key 'hubs' for sharks
Under-sea mountains are key locations for predators -- with 41 times more sharks than the open ocean, new research shows.
Evidence of play-like interaction with carousel in insects
Scientists have for the first time demonstrated play-like behavior in flies. They found that fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) voluntarily and repeatedly visited a carousel.
Climate change threatens global cocoa production: New study highlights pollination-based solutions
This Valentine's Day, millions of pounds worth of chocolate will be exchanged as gifts, but climate change and biodiversity loss imperil future global supplies of this treat. A new research study demonstrates that sustainable agricultural practices that both protect pollinator populations and mitigate climate risks could help secure -- and even improve -- global cocoa yields.
Ancient Egyptian mummified bodies smell 'woody,' 'spicy' and 'sweet'
Ancient Egyptian mummified bodies smell 'woody,' 'spicy' and 'sweet', finds a new study, revealing new details about mumification practices.
Scientists herald active matter breakthrough with creation of three-dimensional 'synthetic worms'
Researchers have made a breakthrough in the development of 'life-like' synthetic materials which are able to move by themselves like worms. Scientists have been investigating a new class of materials called 'active matter', which could be used for various applications from drug delivery to self-healing materials.
Jacket uses AI to keep you comfortable
Electronic textiles, such as heating pads and electric blankets, can keep the wearer warm and help ease aches and pains. However, prolonged use of these devices could possibly cause heat-related illnesses, including hyperthermia or burns. Recently, a group of researchers designed and tested a 'smart' jacket equipped with environmental sensors, heat-generating and color-changing yarns, and artificial intelligence (AI) to control temperature and prevent overheating.
Dessert stomach emerges in the brain
Who hasn't been there? The big meal is over, you're full, but the craving for sweets remains. Researchers have now discovered that what we call the 'dessert stomach' is rooted in the brain. The same nerve cells that make us feel full after a meal are also responsible for our craving for sweets afterwards.
Birds have developed complex brains independently from mammals
New research has revealed that birds, reptiles, and mammals have developed complex brain circuits independently, despite sharing a common ancestor. These findings challenge the traditional view of brain evolution and demonstrate that, while comparable brain functions exist among these groups, embryonic formation mechanisms and cell types have followed divergent evolutionary trajectories.
ChatGPT for birdsong may shed light on how language is wired in the human brain
Just like ChatGPT and other generative language models train on human texts to create grammatically correct sentences, a new modeling method trains on recordings of birds to create accurate birdsongs. The results could improve understanding of the structure of birdsong and its underlying neurobiology, which could lend insight in the neural mechanisms of human language.
Can artificial intelligence save the Great Barrier Reef?
Researchers are designing a global real-time monitoring system to help save the world's coral reefs from further decline, primarily due to bleaching caused by global warming.
Where do invasive species spread and why? Researchers take a novel approach to find the answer
Researchers took a deep dive to understand why certain locations are more susceptible and attractive to invasions by non-native plants or animals, making them prime targets for these species to spread.
Global warming and mass extinctions: What we can learn from plants from the last ice age
Global warming is producing a rapid loss of plant species -- according to estimates, roughly 600 plant species have died out since 1750 -- twice the number of animal species lost. But which species are hit hardest? And how does altered biodiversity actually affect interactions between plants? Experts have tackled these questions and, in two recent studies, presented the answers they found buried in the past: using fragments of plant genetic material (DNA) deposited in lake sediments, they were able to gain new insights into how the composition of flora changed 15,000 to 11,000 years ago during the warming at the end of the last ice age, which is considered to be the last major mass extinction event before today. This comparison can offer an inkling of what might await us in the future.
Nighthawks: Wild medaka actively court female fish in wee hours
esearch team finds wild medaka engage in surprisingly active nocturnal behavior in their natural river environment.
Climate scientists present a realistic supercomputer simulation that resolves the complex interactions between fire, vegetation, smoke and the atmosphere. The authors find that increasing greenhouse gas emissions will likely increase the global lightning frequency by about 1.6% per degree Celsius global warming, with regional hotspots in the eastern United States, Kenya, Uganda and Argentina. Locally this could intensify wildfire occurrences. However, the dominant drivers for the growing area burned by fires each year remain shifts in global humidity and a more rapid growth of vegetation, which can serve as wildfire fuel.
Unraveling the complex role of climate in dengue dynamics
A research team has unveiled new insights into how weather influences the spread of dengue fever. The study identifies temperature and rainfall as critical factors driving the global surge in dengue cases and offers actionable strategies for mitigating the disease's impact.
Economically, culturally important marine species vulnerable to changing climate
Dungeness crab, Pacific herring, and red abalone are among the marine species most vulnerable to the changing climate's effect on California's coastal waters, a new study finds. The team seeks to help the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in its efforts to develop and implement climate-ready fisheries management strategies that adapt to challenges such as rising ocean temperatures, acidification, and deoxygenation.
Worm surface chemistry reveals secrets to their development and survival
A new study has revealed the clearest-ever picture of the surface chemistry of worm species that provides groundbreaking insights into how animals interact with their environment and each other. These discoveries could pave the way for strategies to deepen our understanding of evolutionary adaptations, refine behavioural research, and ultimately overcome parasitic infections.
Splicing twins: Unraveling the secrets of the minor spliceosome complex
Human genes that encode proteins often contain non-coding segments known as introns. Removing introns is crucial for the proper expression of genetic information. Understanding how our cells differentiate between coding and non-coding genetic material is crucial to human health. A specialized molecular complex known as the minor spliceosome removes some rare but critical introns, and several genetic disorders are associated with its dysfunction.
Engineered animals show new way to fight mercury pollution
Using genes borrowed from bacteria, researchers have demonstrated fish and flies can be engineered to break down methylmercury and remove it from their bodies as a less harmful gas, offering new ways to tackle one of the world's most dangerous pollutants.
Antarctica's only native insect's unique survival mechanism
What's the only native insect of Antarctica have to do to survive? A research team has uncovered the special ability of the Antarctic midge to prosper in an extreme environment.
PIK PR: Little potential for 'climate plantations' within planetary boundaries
Planting fast-growing crops, burning them, capturing the released CO2 and storing it: this is being discussed as a way to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and limit global heating to 1.5 degrees in the long term. But if this is done on land beyond existing agriculture, it endangers the stability of the biosphere. A study puts a figure on the potential of such novel 'climate plantations', also known as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). The study considered not only the carbon balance but also other planetary boundaries.
Mpox: Better understanding of tecovirimat resistance
A virus originally found in animals, mpox -- which causes the disease of the same name -- is now circulating in humans. Since 2022, it has been the cause of major epidemics spreading outside endemic areas in Central and West Africa. Two hundred and fifteen cases of mpox infection were reported to Sant publique France in 2024. Tecovirimat is the drug most commonly used to treat patients infected with the mpox virus. Unfortunately, it is sometimes ineffective against certain variants of the virus that have mutations in an enzyme. Scientists have been studying this resistance, and have been able to describe more precisely how this enzyme interacts with tecovirimat. This research will make it possible to develop novel antiviral therapeutic approaches.
Underwater fossil bed discovered by collectors preserves rare slice of Florida's past
Fossil collectors in Florida have discovered an ancient sinkhole, now at the bottom of a river, which holds the remains of animals rarely seen in the state, including a type of giant armadillo, giant ground sloths and an odd-looking tapir.
Ovarian cancer discovery could turn failed treatment into lifesaver
Gut bacteria are to blame for the failure of immune checkpoint therapy for ovarian cancer, new research reveals.
Arctic cyclones could be missing link in sea ice depletion models
A study gives possible insight into the underprediction of sea ice depletion and the formation of Arctic cyclones. The study could lead to more accurate weather and climate models and better forecasting of Arctic cyclones.
Masquerading moth deploys unique optical tricks to evade predators
Scientists have described a nocturnal moth's unique evolutionary trick in replicating the appearance of 3D leaf, with potential applications for the development of advanced camouflage materials and technologies.
The next-generation solar cell is fully recyclable
Researchers developed a method to recycle all parts of a solar cell repeatedly without environmentally hazardous solvents. The recycled solar cell has the same efficiency as the original one. The solar cell is made of perovskite and the main solvent is water.
Long-term yogurt consumption tied to decreased incidence of certain types of colorectal cancer
Researchers looked at the role of long-term diet and the gut bacteria in colorectal cancer using data on participants who had been followed for three decades. They found that people who consumed two or more servings of yogurt per week tended to have lower rates of colorectal cancer positive for Bifidobacterium. The findings suggest that yogurt consumption may change the microbiome, leading to a protective effect for some types of colorectal cancer.
Inability of cells to recycle fats can spell disease
Accumulation of fat molecules is detrimental to the cell. Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how our cells manage to stay healthy by recycling important fat molecules. Their study reveals how a protein called Spinster homolog 1 (Spns1) helps transport fats out of cell compartments known as lysosomes.
Why we need to expand the search for climate-friendly microalgae
As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, microalgae stand out as an underutilized yet promising resource.
Breast cancer treatment advances with light-activated 'smart bomb'
Scientists have developed new light-sensitive chemicals that can radically improve the treatment of aggressive cancers with minimal side effects. In mouse tests, the new therapy completely eradicated metastatic breast cancer tumors.
Micro-nano plastics make other pollutants more dangerous to plants and intestinal cells
Researchers find that tiny plastic particles increase the absorption of environmental arsenic and pesticides in lettuce and human intestinal cells, raising new safety concerns about plastic pollution.
Colorado forests are releasing more carbon than they capture each year
Colorado's forests store a massive amount of carbon, but dying trees -- mostly due to insects and disease -- have caused the state's forests to emit more carbon than they absorbed in recent years, according to a new report.
Turning car and helicopter exhaust into thermoelectric energy
Combustion engines, the engines in gas-powered cars, only use a quarter of the fuel's potential energy while the rest is lost as heat through exhaust. Now, a study demonstrates how to convert exhaust heat into electricity. The researchers present a prototype thermoelectric generator system that could reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions -- an opportunity for improving sustainable energy initiatives in a rapidly changing world.
International Shark Attack File Report: Unprovoked shark bites plummeted in 2024
2024 was an exceptionally calm year for shark bites. Worldwide, there were only 47 unprovoked attacks, down 22 from the previous year and well below the 10-year average of 70.
Validation technique could help scientists make more accurate forecasts
A new evaluation method assesses the accuracy of spatial prediction techniques, outperforming traditional methods. This could help scientists make better predictions in areas like weather forecasting, climate research, public health, and ecological management.
Outokumpu's bedrock reveals a smelly surprise
Volatile organic compounds (VOC), usually associated with poor indoor air, were discovered in Finland in a borehole more than two kilometres deep. Previously, groundwater dating back tens of millions of years was found in the hole.
Putting least calorific meals first on menu makes teenagers more likely to order them
New research has found that putting lower-calorie meal choices at the top of a restaurant menu, and reducing the availability of high-calorie options, makes teenagers more likely to order the healthier options.
Birds-of-paradise are biofluorescent
New research reports, for the first time, the widespread occurrence of biofluorescence in birds-of-paradise. The study, based on specimens collected since the 1800s, finds biofluorescence in 37 of the 45 known birds-of-paradise species and suggests that this special 'glow' is important among males for hierarchy and mating displays.
Model of Antarctica's water enhances sea level forecasts
Researchers have generated the first dataset of water flow beneath the entire Antarctic Ice Sheet, which will lead to more accurate projections of sea level rise. The team modeled Antarctica's subglacial environment. The dataset represents the researchers' best approximation of what the water flow underneath the ice sheet might currently look like. The results include numerous subglacial lakes developing below ice streams in both East and West Antarctica, and an extensive network of subglacial water channels that discharge large fluxes of water under many major glaciers.
Foods that evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort and have good texture variety are important considerations in prepared meals aimed at older adults, according to new research.
Scientists harness AI to help protect whales, advancing ocean conservation and planning
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that will help predict endangered whale habitat, guiding ships along the Atlantic coast to avoid them. The tool is designed to prevent deadly accidents and inform conservation strategies and responsible ocean development.
Study takes a 'bite' out of shark depredation using citizen science
Shark depredation is a rising issue in recreational fishing, especially in Florida, where sharks steal fish straight off anglers' lines. Researchers harnessed citizen science -- social media, angler surveys, charters -- and genetic analysis, to investigate the problem. Findings reveal that snapper-grouper species are the most targeted, with bull and sandbar sharks as the primary culprits. Nearly half of anglers reported depredation. These insights help shed light on the extent of this human-wildlife conflict and its impact on different fishery sectors.
Rhobo6, a light microscopy probe, gives scientists an unprecedented look at the extracellular matrix -- the collection of organized molecular structures that fills the spaces between cells in our bodies.
Cold temperatures promote spread of a bird pink eye pathogen at winter feeders
A recent study by two biological science researchers found that a pathogen for bird pink eye remained viable on bird feeders in winter months much longer than in summer months, without losing any of its severity.
Evidence of cannibalism 18,000 years ago
An international research team has gained new insights into the burial rituals of Late Ice Age societies in Central Europe. Signs of human remains from the Maszycka Cave in southern Poland being manipulated indicate systematic dissection of the deceased, as well as cannibalism.
New study unravels the history of the largest pastoral population in Africa
Researchers have uncovered the origins and genetic diversity of the Fulani, one of Africa's largest pastoral populations. The study reveals a complex genetic ancestry with influences from both North and West Africa, shaped by historical migrations that have left a lasting impact on their genetic landscape.
Satellite data identifies warning signs ahead of 2018 volcanic eruption, tsunami
In 2018, the side of the Anak Krakatau volcano collapsed in a powerful eruption and produced a tsunami that killed hundreds and injured thousands on nearby Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. A new analysis of satellite data showed the mountainside was slipping for years and accelerated before the eruption -- information that could have potentially offered a warning of the collapse.
Native bee populations can bounce back after honey bees move out
Managed honey bees have the potential to affect native bee populations when they are introduced to a new area, but a new study suggests that, under certain conditions, the native bees can bounce back if the apiaries are moved away.
'Junk' RNA segments play role in protein production, cell stress response
Scientists have discovered that some tiny segments of RNA thought to be junk instead have a functional role in suppressing production of certain messenger RNAs and appear to help cells respond to oxidative stress.
A wealth of evidence: 85,000 individual studies about climate policy
Research on climate policy is growing exponentially. Of the approximately 85,000 individual studies ever published on policy instruments for mitigating global heating, a good quarter are from 2020 or later. A study using machine learning methods now shows how this vast knowledge is distributed -- by instrument, country, sector and policy level -- and identifies research gaps. A corresponding web tool, the 'living systematic map', will help to guide science and policy. It will be continuously updated to reflect the current state of research.
California's marine protected areas boost fish populations across the state
It's 1999, the 21st century is on the horizon, and California has big plans for marine conservation. New legislation has presented a mandate to establish an ambitious network of marine protected areas (MPAs) unlike anywhere else in the world. The goal is to craft strategic protections to safeguard the state's marine life for preservation and economic benefits alike.
Born too late? Climate change may be delaying births
New research has found exposure to outdoor air pollution and extreme temperatures during pregnancy may increase the risk of prolonged pregnancy, offering new insights into the impact of climate change on maternal health.
Examining the potential environmental effects of mining the world's largest lithium deposit
A trove of lithium-rich brine exists underground in Bolivia. Researchers conducted the first comprehensive chemical analysis of wastewater associated with mining the resource.
Influenza A viruses adapt shape in response to environmental pressures
Influenza A virus particles strategically adapt their shape -- to become either spheres or larger filaments -- to favor their ability to infect cells depending on environmental conditions, according to a new study. This previously unrecognized response could help explain how influenza A and other viruses persist in populations, evade immune responses, and acquire adaptive mutations, the researchers explain.
Physicists hit major milestone in advancing superconductor applications
New research, working toward ambient-pressure high-temperature superconductivity, brings us one step closer to finding superconductors that work in everyday conditions -- and potentially unlocking a new era of energy-efficient technologies.
Researchers are driving the charge of zero emissions
New research finds that electric vehicles generally produce less non-exhaust emissions compared with gasoline-powered vehicles.