Category: Science and Nature

  • Earth experiences hottest year on record

    Earth experiences hottest year on record

    Share this article Featured in This Article November 20, 2023 by The Wildlife Society Report finds 90% of the world experienced at least 10 days of temperatures “strongly affected by climate change” If you felt like this has been a warm year, you’re not alone. Researchers say the past 12 months have been the hottest…

  • Plants can absorb more carbon dioxide than we thought

    Plants can absorb more carbon dioxide than we thought

    Plants will store more CO2 in a very high-emissions world, according to a new study in Science Advances. The study finds that “gross primary production” – the rate of energy captured by photosynthesis – could increase towards the end of the century with high emissions. “Plants take up a substantial amount of carbon dioxide every…

  • Taming computers’ energy consumption with a new “spin glass” material

    Taming computers’ energy consumption with a new “spin glass” material

    A newly discovered material and its intriguing properties could pave the way for more efficient computing. In a new study, a team of European physicists has discovered a distinctive collective behavior in the atoms of a material called manganese-doped germanium telluride, which occurs at very low temperatures and gives rise to fascinating properties.  These findings…

  • Click chemistry used to weave customizable spider silk

    Click chemistry used to weave customizable spider silk

    Click chemistry spins bacterial-produced spider silk into a biomedical marvel, promising innovations in fiber optics, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. For centuries, silk farmers reigned supreme, their coveted threads gleaned from silkworms, making them the envy of the ancient world. In modern times, spider silk has become a material to envy due to its amazing…

  • Core family estate gifts strengthen nature, history resources at WVU

    Core family estate gifts strengthen nature, history resources at WVU

    A late relative of longtime West Virginia University biology professor and local historian Earl L. Core is providing more than $1.8 million to support the study of nature and history in his memory. The bequest gifts from daughter-in-law Roberta Sue Core total $1,813,719 to date, with more funds expected as her estate is settled. Those…

  • BirdLife International announces the appointment of Martin Harper as its new CEO.

    BirdLife International announces the appointment of Martin Harper as its new CEO.

    A biologist by training, Martin has 27 years’ experience of conservation leadership in a variety of Non-Governmental Organisations including serving as Global Conservation Director of the RSPB prior to joining the BirdLife International Secretariat in 2021. As an experienced advocate and communicator, Martin will work with his leadership team to implement the ambitious BirdLife strategy…

  • Expected Utility Forecasting for Science Funding – Federation of American Scientists

    Expected Utility Forecasting for Science Funding – Federation of American Scientists

    The typical science grantmaker seeks to maximize their (positive) impact with a limited amount of money. The decision-making process for how to allocate that funding requires them to consider the different dimensions of risk and uncertainty involved in science proposals, as described in foundational work by economists Chiara Franzoni and Paula Stephan. The Von Neumann-Morgenstern…

  • Recharge and Reconnect: Nature’s Influence on Nurse Mental Health

    Listen to this article. A recent paper in Science Advances reveals the value of nature experience for mental health. Nurses are no strangers to long shifts and hectic work environments where the stakes can often be life or death. High stress levels can drain nurses’ energy, impede attention and critical thinking, and ultimately lead to declining patient care and…

  • Sweet potatoes: A comprehensive guide to nature’s sweet gift

    Sweet potatoes: A comprehensive guide to nature’s sweet gift

    In the realm of nutritious and versatile foods, sweet potatoes stand out as a vibrant and nutrient-rich delight. Beyond their sweet taste and comforting nature, these root vegetables offer an array of health benefits and culinary versatility. Let’s explore the world of sweet potatoes, uncovering their essence, benefits, uses, and more. Advertisement What are Sweet…

  • Four Issues to Watch at the Upcoming UN Climate Talks

    Next week, the 28th annual United Nations climate meetings (also known as COP, meaning “conference of the parties”) will kick off in in Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates that is best known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture, artificial islands—and its oil wealth.  After this year’s wild ride on the climate change roller…