Biology: General Biology: Marine Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Increasing risk of invasive species colonization on marine debris      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A groundbreaking scientific study conducted along the Southeast coast of India has unearthed a pressing environmental concern -- the increasing risk of invasive species colonization on marine debris. The research delves into the critical interplay between plastic pollution and the introduction of non-indigenous organisms into Indian waters.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate
Published

Meltwater flowing beneath Antarctic glaciers may be accelerating their retreat      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new Antarctic ice sheet modeling study suggests that meltwater flowing out to sea from beneath Antarctic glaciers is making them lose ice faster.   

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Robot stand-in mimics movements in VR      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a souped-up telepresence robot that responds automatically and in real-time to a remote user's movements and gestures made in virtual reality.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Engineers develop breakthrough 'robot skin'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Smart, stretchable and highly sensitive, a new soft sensor opens the door to a wide range of applications in robotics and prosthetics. When applied to the surface of a prosthetic arm or a robotic limb, the sensor skin provides touch sensitivity and dexterity, enabling tasks that can be difficult for machines such as picking up a piece of soft fruit. The sensor is also soft to the touch, like human skin, which helps make human interactions safer and more lifelike. 

Environmental: Water Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Volcanoes Paleontology: Climate
Published

Mystery of volcanic tsunami solved after 373 years      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The explosion of the underwater volcano Kolumbo in the Aegean Sea in 1650 triggered a destructive tsunami that was described by historical eye witnesses. A group of researchers has now surveyed Kolumbo's underwater crater with modern imaging technology and reconstructed the historical events. They found that the eyewitness accounts of the natural disaster can only be described by a combination of a landslide followed by an explosive eruption.

Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Marine protected areas and climate change      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research offers a way to build climate resilience into the designs of ocean and coastal areas intended to protect marine species. The researchers recommend establishing numerous marine protected areas across political borders, starting with the Southern California Bight.

Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

'Dim-witted' pigeons use the same principles as AI to solve tasks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study provides evidence that pigeons tackle some problems just as artificial intelligence would -- allowing them to solve difficult tasks that would vex humans.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate
Published

Light, freshwater sticks to Greenland's east coast      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Meltwater that runs along the east coast of Greenland, hardly enters the open ocean before reaching the western side of the island.  In the changing climate, fresh water from Greenland and the Arctic could disrupt the circulation in the Atlantic Ocean.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Plant-based materials give 'life' to tiny soft robots      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers has created smart, advanced materials that will be the building blocks for a future generation of soft medical microrobots. These tiny robots have the potential to conduct medical procedures, such as biopsy, and cell and tissue transport, in a minimally invasive fashion.

Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Simulating cold sensation without actual cooling      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The perception of persistent thermal sensations, such as changes in temperature, tends to gradually diminish in intensity as our bodies become accustomed to the temperature. This phenomenon leads to a shift in our perception of temperature when transitioning between different scenes in a virtual environment. Researchers have now developed a technology to generate a virtual cold sensation via a non-contact method without physically altering the skin temperature.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Increased West Antarctic Ice Sheet melting 'unavoidable'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet will continue to increase its rate of melting over the rest of the century, no matter how much we reduce fossil fuel use, according to new research. A substantial acceleration in ice melting likely cannot now be avoided, which implies that Antarctica's contribution to sea level rise could increase rapidly over the coming decades.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: General Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Soft, living materials made with algae glow under stress      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed soft yet durable materials that glow in response to mechanical stress, such as compression, stretching or twisting. The materials derive their luminescence from single-celled algae known as dinoflagellates, which are embedded within the materials. The work was inspired by the bioluminescent waves caused by dinoflagellates during red tide events at San Diego's beaches.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

El Niño's chang­ing pat­terns: Human influ­ence on nat­u­ral vari­abil­ity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Two recent scientific studies provide new insights into Earth's climate dynamics, with a particular focus on the El Niño phenomenon. The results show how El Niño responds to natural factors over extended periods, while highlighting the increasing role of human activities in shaping this climatic phenomenon in the modern era.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Computer Science: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Mathematics: Modeling Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

International team develops novel DNA nano engine      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of scientists has recently developed a novel type of nano engine made of DNA. It is driven by a clever mechanism and can perform pulsing movements. The researchers are now planning to fit it with a coupling and install it as a drive in complex nano machines.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Scientists discover deepest known evidence of coral reef bleaching      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have discovered the deepest known evidence of coral reef bleaching, more than 90 metres below the surface of the Indian Ocean. Identified during a research cruise, the damage to the deeper reefs in the Central Indian Ocean has been attributed to significant changes in the region's ocean temperature caused by the Indian Ocean Dipole. The researchers have also warned such incidences are only likely to increase as a result of present and future climate change.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Wearable device makes memories and powers up with the flex of a finger      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have invented an experimental wearable device that generates power from a user's bending finger and can create and store memories, in a promising step towards health monitoring and other technologies.

Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Choosing exoskeleton settings like a radio station      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Taking inspiration from music streaming services, a team of engineers has designed the simplest way for users to program their own exoskeleton assistance settings.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Ocean circulation, ice melt and increasing tourism could all be contributing to Arctic microplastics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists measured microplastic concentrations in the highly productive Barents Sea and suggest that ocean circulation, ice melt, tourism, inadequate waste management, shipping and fishing are all likely contributors.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate
Published

Ice sheet surface melt is accelerating in Greenland and slowing in Antarctica      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Surface ice in Greenland has been melting at an increasing rate in recent decades, while the trend in Antarctica has moved in the opposite direction, according to researchers.