Abstract Luminescence constitutes a unique source of insight into hot carrier processes in metals, including those in plasmonic nanostructures used for sensing and energy applications. However, being weak in nature, metal luminescence remains poorly understood, its microscopic origin strongly debated, and its potential for unraveling nanoscale carrier dynamics largely unexploited. Here, we reveal quantum-mechanical effects…

Growing evidence indicates that insects such as bees show some forms of consciousness, according to a new scientific statement.Credit: Phil Savoie/Nature Picture Library Crows, chimps and elephants: these and many other birds and mammals behave in ways that suggest they might be conscious. And the list does not end with vertebrates. Researchers are expanding their…

Attention nature enthusiasts! Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium have announced the return of the annual City Nature Challenge. The global event will be held from April 26-29. Participants need to download the free iNaturalist app (or access it on their computer), join the City Nature Challenge Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area iNaturalist project, and snap photos of…

Abstract Here we report the discovery of fossils representing partial vertebral column of a giant madtsoiid snake from an early Middle Eocene (Lutetian, ~ 47 Ma) lignite-bearing succession in Kutch, western India. The estimated body length of ~ 11–15 m makes this new taxon (Vasuki indicus gen et sp. nov.) the largest known madtsoiid snake, which thrived during a warm geological…

Monday, April 22nd is Earth Day, the 54th annual celebration of our planet and all of its rich and varied life. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Planet vs. Plastics. Here in Corvallis, as usual, we have a packed week of events, including nature walks, webinars, talks, and even a family-friendly parade.    Our…

WASHINGTON — The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing titled “Academic Malpractice: Examining the Relationship Between Scientific Journals, the Government, and Peer Review” to explore any potential inappropriate influence exerted by the federal government related to COVID-19 over research publications. The Select Subcommittee is disappointed that the Editors-in-Chief of Nature and The…

Volcanoes are the homes of gods, language tells us – across most of Europe, people who may never have laid eyes on one call them after the smoking forge of Vulcan, Roman god of fire and smithery. (In the tectonic hotspot of Iceland, where people live cheek-by-jowl with 130-odd volcanoes, they are simply “fire mountains”.)…

Borderlands Science is a casual mini-game released within a mass-market video game that crowdsources the alignment of one million RNA sequences from the human microbiome. In 3 years, 4 million participants generated over 135 million puzzle solutions that were used to build a reference alignment and improve microbial phylogeny. This is a preview of subscription…

Daniel Balakov, iStock This post is authored by Brian Buma, Senior Climate Scienist, Environmental Defense Fund. Nature is vital to our success in fighting climate change and its real-world impacts. To unlock nature’s climate potential, we need investments to go to impactful nature-based climate solutions (NbCS), which refer to strategies to conserve, restore or improve…