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Categories: Environmental: Ecosystems, Mathematics: Statistics
Published Efficient discovery of improved energy materials by a new AI-guided workflow
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists have recently proposed a workflow that can dramatically accelerate the search for novel materials with improved properties. They demonstrated the power of the approach by identifying more than 50 strongly thermally insulating materials. These can help alleviate the ongoing energy crisis, by allowing for more efficient thermoelectric elements, i.e., devices able to convert otherwise wasted heat into useful electrical voltage.
Published How do microbes spread globally? A study clarifies how they travel from end to end of the world
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study compiles the scope of the problem of the global dispersal of harmful microorganisms through the upper layers of the atmosphere.
Published Into the unknown: NASA space laser provides answers to a rainforest canopy mystery
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The space laser GEDI has allowed researchers to 3D map Earth's rainforests for the first time ever, helping us understand the forest canopy and providing vital information for understanding Earth's carbon cycle and how it is changing.
Published In Florida, endangered coral finds a way to blossom
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source In a new study, researchers have found that the restoration efforts of the critically endangered species elkhorn coral depend largely on the animal's location, microbiome, and the right conditions to provide an abundance of food.
Published Multiple uses of tropical mosaic landscapes
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Many landscapes in the tropics consist of a mosaic of different types of land use. How people make use of these different ecosystems, with their particular plant communities, was unclear until now. Researchers, many of them from Madagascar, have now investigated this. When considering biodiversity, forests often get the most attention. But this research shows that rural households use a wide range of plant species and services provided by many nearby ecosystem types.
Published Small-winged and lighter colored butterflies likely to be at greatest threat from climate change
(via sciencedaily.com) Small-winged and lighter colored butterflies likely to be at greatest threat from climate change. The family, wing length and wing colour of tropical butterflies all influence their ability to withstand rising temperatures, say ecologists. The researchers believe this could help identify species whose survival is under threat from climate change.
Published Participating in genetic studies is in your genes
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Why do some people take part in genetic studies while others do not? The answer may lie within our genetic makeup. According to a groundbreaking study, people who participate in genetic studies are genetically more likely to do so, leaving detectable 'footprints' in genetics data. This breakthrough equips researchers with the ability to identify and address participation bias, a significant challenge in genetic research.
Published Building a better forest tree with CRISPR gene editing
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers use CRISPR techniques to modify lignin levels in poplar trees.
Published Plastic pollution on coral reefs increases with depth and mostly comes from fishing activities
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers reveal the extent of plastic pollution on coral reefs, finding that debris increases with depth, largely stems from fishing activities, and is correlated with proximity to marine protected areas.
Published Forest can adapt to climate change, but not quickly enough
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source America's forests have a tough time in store for them. Climate change is increasing temperatures and decreasing moisture levels across the country, not a winning combination for trees.
Published Conservation in Indonesia is at risk, a team of researchers who study the region argues
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Indonesia, home to the largest tropical rainforest in Southeast Asia and over 17,500 islands, is a country packed with biodiversity and endangered species. However, scientists studying the region's species and ecosystems are getting banned from Indonesia, and conservation plans are being blocked. A team of conservation researchers with long-term experience in Indonesia discuss scientific suppression and other research challenges they have witnessed while working in the region. They offer suggestions for how to promote nature conservation, protect data transparency, and share research with the public in this and other regions of the world.
Published Arctic dust found to be a major source of particles that form ice crystals in Arctic low-level clouds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists in Japan have used a global climate model to show that dust from land without snow cover in the Arctic is a major source of particles that form ice crystals in Arctic low-level clouds. This finding could help improve predictions of Arctic warming, which is suggested to be much faster than in other parts of the world.
Published Queensland native forestry can help achieve global environment goals
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Research has revealed that Queensland native forestry, including timber harvesting, could actually help conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate risks.
Published Number cruncher calculates whether whales are acting weirdly
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source We humans can be a scary acquaintance for whales in the wild. This includes marine biologists tagging them with measuring devices to understand them better. These experiences can make whales behave erratically for a while. Such behaviour can affect research quality and highlights an animal ethics dilemma. Now, researchers have figured out how to solve the problems with math.
Published Shrinking Arctic glaciers are unearthing a new source of methane
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source As the Arctic warms, shrinking glaciers are exposing bubbling groundwater springs which could provide an underestimated source of the potent greenhouse gas methane, finds new research.
Published Tracking ships' icy paths amidst climate change
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Understanding when and where ships are entering areas of Arctic sea ice can help elucidate the potential impacts of vessel traffic in the region.
Published Hedging strategy for coral restoration balances diversity, ecosystem benefits
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source An international team of researchers developed an innovative new strategy for choosing a set of key coral species that will best maintain ecosystem functions critical for reef health. Their hedging approach provides a simple framework for aiding restoration practitioners in selecting target species for their projects, depending on spatial scale and resources.
Published Expanding large-scale agriculture is escalating flooding in the largest South American breadbasket
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Driven by soaring international demand, extensive areas of grasslands, and forests across South American plains have rapidly been converted to the production of annual crops, such as soybean and maize. This agricultural expansion has been taking place at a staggering rate of 2.1 million hectares a year. A new study shows how these shifts to annual crop agriculture, which relies on rainfall rather than irrigation, is also rapidly disrupting the water table across the large flat regions of the Pampas and Chaco plains and contributing to significantly increased risks of surface flooding.
Published A seed survival story: How trees keep 'friends' close and 'enemies' guessing
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study that included millions of tree-year observations worldwide for the first time documents and analyzes the intricate balance between seed defense and dispersal by forest trees at a global scale.
Published Geologists are using artificial intelligence to predict landslides
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Many factors influence where a landslide will occur, including the shape of the terrain, its slope and drainage areas, the material properties of soil and bedrock, and environmental conditions like climate, rainfall, hydrology and ground motion resulting from earthquakes. Geologists have developed a new technique that uses artificial intelligence to better predict where and why landslides may occur could bolster efforts to protect lives and property in some of the world's most disaster-prone areas. The new method improves the accuracy and interpretability of AI-based machine-learning techniques, requires far less computing power and is more broadly applicable than traditional predictive models.