Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Researchers take major step toward developing next-generation solar cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers have discovered a new way to manufacture solar cells using perovskite semiconductors. It could lead to lower-cost, more efficient systems for powering homes, cars, boats and drones.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Revolutionizing hydrogen production: Economical and efficient solutions unveiled      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists introduce superaerophobic three-dimensional nickel nanostructured catalysts for accelerated water electrolysis.

Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction
Published

Bees need food up to a month earlier than provided by recommended pollinator plants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Plant species which are recommended as 'pollinator friendly' in Europe begin flowering up to a month too late for bees, resulting in low colony survival and low production of queens. This research has quantified the decline in colony survival and queen production due to a shortage of early season food. Enhancing existing hedgerows with early blooming species has the potential to increase the probability that a bee colony survives from 35% to 100%.

Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Marine Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
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Rays were more diverse 150 million years ago than previously thought      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have explored the puzzling world of rays that lived 150 million years ago and discovered a previously hidden diversity -- including a new ray species. This study significantly expands the understanding of these ancient cartilaginous fish and provides further insights into a past marine ecosystem.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Zoology Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Rose essential oil: A safe pesticide for organic agriculture      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Following injury, plants release terpenoids to enhance their defenses. Researchers studying terpenoid-enriched essential oils (EOs) have found that rose EO (REO) can stimulate defense genes in tomato leaves. Furthermore, REO attracts herbivores that protect the plant from the moth species, Spodoptera litura, and Tetranychus urticae, a mite pest. This suggests that applying REO could be a sustainable approach to pest management in organic farming.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Endangered Species Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
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Maize genes control little helpers in the soil      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Tiny organisms such as bacteria and fungi help to promote the health and function of plant roots. It is commonly assumed that the composition of these microbes is dependent on the properties of the soil. However, researchers have now discovered when studying different local varieties of maize that the genetic makeup of the plants also helps to influence which microorganisms cluster around the roots.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Ecology: Endangered Species Geoscience: Geochemistry Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Decoding the plant world's complex biochemical communication networks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has begun translating the complex molecular language of petunias. Their grammar and vocabulary are well hidden, however, within the countless proteins and other compounds that fill floral cells. Being rooted to the ground, plants can't run away from insects, pathogens or other threats to their survival. But plant scientists have long known that they do send warnings to each other via scent chemicals called volatile organic compounds.

Biology: Botany Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Ecology: Endangered Species Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

New route to recyclable polymers from plants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Cellulose, abundantly available from plant biomass, can be converted into molecules used to make a new class of recyclable polymers, to sustainably replace some plastics.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life
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Scientists weigh up current status of blue whale populations around the world      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The largest living animal, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) which averages about 27 meters in length, has slowly recovered from whaling only to face the rising challenges of global warming, pollution, disrupted food sources, shipping, and other human threats. In a major new study, biologists have taken a stock of the number, distribution and genetic characteristics of blue whale populations around the world and found the greatest differences among the eastern Pacific, Antarctic subspecies and pygmy subspecies of the eastern Indian and western Pacific.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Ancient giant dolphin discovered in the Amazon      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Measuring between 3 to 3.5 meters, 16 million years old: Paleontologists have announced the discovery of a new species of freshwater dolphin in the Peruvian Amazon region. Surprisingly, its closest living relatives can be found in the river dolphins of South Asia.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Offbeat: General
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Research suggests how turbulence can be used to generate patterns      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Physicists show how patterns can emerge from chaos in turbulent fluids.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Harnessing hydrogen at life's origin      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new report uncovers how hydrogen gas, the energy of the future, provided energy in the past, at the origin of life 4 billion years ago. Hydrogen gas is clean fuel. It burns with oxygen in the air to provide energy with no CO2. Hydrogen is a key to sustainable energy for the future. Though humans are just now coming to realize the benefits of hydrogen gas (H2 in chemical shorthand), microbes have known that H2 is good fuel for as long as there has been life on Earth. Hydrogen is ancient energy.

Biology: Botany Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Endangered Species
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Cacao plants' defense against toxic cadmium unveiled      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers used bright X-rays to unveil how cacao trees protect themselves from toxic metal cadmium.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Environmental: General Physics: Optics
Published

Reimagining the future of solar energy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research suggests that there might be other ways to generate solar energy than just trying to make individual solar cells super-efficient.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
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Shark-bitten orcas in the Northeastern Pacific could be a new population of killer whale      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers believe a group of killer whales observed hunting marine mammals including sperm whales, as well as a sea turtle, in the open ocean off California and Oregon could be a new population. Based on available evidence, the researchers posit that the 49 orcas could belong to a subpopulation of transient killer whales or a unique oceanic population found in waters off the coast of California and Oregon.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
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Groundbreaking study reveals extensive leatherback turtle activity along U.S. coastline      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study provides groundbreaking findings that offer insights on the migration and foraging patterns of leatherback sea turtles along the Northwest Atlantic shelf.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Physics: Optics
Published

Perovskite solar cells: Vacuum process may offer a short track to commercialization      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Which process is best suited for mass production of perovskite solar cells? While solvent-based manufacturing processes are used in laboratories around the world, vacuum vapor-phase deposition processes are still the standard for the production of thin films for photovoltaics or organic light-emitting diodes. A new study that reveals major differences in the scientific discussion of these production processes.

Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Rope entanglement cause of low breeding rates in right whales, analysis finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New findings show the severe impact of fishing gear entanglements on the survival of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, with every injury from entanglements impacting population recovery.