News

Estuaries around the world expected to become saltier in coming decades
In estuaries—the transitional zones between rivers and the sea—fresh and salt water are constantly battling for dominance. But due to climate change, the saltwater is gaining ground. New research by ...
Volcanic ash is a silent killer, more so than lava: What Alaska needs to know with Mount Spurr likely to erupt
Volcanoes inspire awe with spectacular eruptions and incandescent rivers of lava, but often their deadliest hazard is what quietly falls from the sky.
Electron transporter identified in mammals protects against low oxygen
Ubiquinone, a metabolite critical to generating energy in cells, has long been thought to be the only mitochondrial electron transport chain carrier in mammals. Although other electron transporters ...
Mysterious objects from other stars are passing through our solar system. Scientists are planning to study them
In late 2017, a mysterious object tore through our solar system at breakneck speed. Astronomers scrambled to observe the fast-moving body using the world's most powerful telescopes. It was found to be ...
Emotions and levels of threat affect communities' resilience during extreme events
Tightly connected communities tend to be more resilient when facing extreme events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or wildfires, says Jose Ramirez-Marquez, who develops metrics to analyze, ...
With a dash of water and sunlight, researchers turn propane into propylene using copper single-atom catalyst
Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) reaction is a highly endothermic reaction, typically requiring temperatures above 600°C in conventional thermo-catalysis. However, elevated temperatures lead to ...
Scientists trace hailstone origins using chemical fingerprints, overturning decades-old theories
A team of scientists has cracked open one of meteorology's enduring mysteries—how hailstones grow inside storm clouds—using an innovative approach that analyzes chemical signatures locked in the ice.
Monsoons and groundwater pumping: How climate change and human interventions drive greening of the Thar desert
Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar-led research suggests climate change, increased monsoon rainfall and expanded groundwater pumping have driven substantial vegetation growth in the Thar ...
Success in enzyme research: New class of active compounds regulates inflammatory reactions
Inside cells, two important enzymes act like small central regulatory hubs: dipeptidyl peptidase 8 and 9—DPP8/9 for short. Among other things, they regulate inflammatory reactions and influence ...
Molten Martian core could explain red planet's magnetic quirks
Like Earth, Mars once had a strong magnetic field that shielded its thick atmosphere from the solar wind. But now only the magnetic imprint remains. What's long baffled scientists, though, is why this ...
Mapping change: Decades of satellite imagery reveal new insights into river mobility
An analysis of satellite imagery of major river systems in the Philippines has revealed surprising insights into how rivers behave, with significant implications for river management in tropical ...