There are some magical limits to how much energy we can get out of a heat pump. This story is about pushing the technical limits. It is about getting more energy out than you put in. And it's about how SINTEF—one of Europe's largest applied research organizations—the renewable
In marine environments, sponges tend to eat other organisms to get their nutrients. But a study published in Functional Ecology by researchers at the University of Amsterdam's Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), demonstrates how sponges may also use
A comprehensive 15-year study published in Biodiversity Data Journal details the growing threat of extreme weather to white storks (Ciconia ciconia) in Bulgaria. The research, which is part of the topical collection "Restoration of species of conservation importance," analyzes
New research led by a University of Alaska Fairbanks archaeologist reveals that the earliest Native Americans had highly specialized diets, primarily hunting the largest animals on the landscape, and they targeted these megafauna consistently from Alaska to South America.
Searching for habitable worlds beyond our solar system involves more than having a planet orbit within its star's habitable zone, the region where temperatures could be just right for liquid water to exist on the surface. On Earth, where water comprises approximately 75% of the
Decades-old hospital samples have helped University of East Anglia (UEA) researchers uncover how a deadly antibiotic-resistant "superbug" quietly tightened its grip across the globe. It lurked in hospital corridors for decades, largely unnoticed by the wider public.
A study published in the journal Biological Invasions indicates that Brazil currently has at least 82 non-native mollusk species, in addition to 13 whose origin cannot be determined. This represents a 215% increase compared with 2011, when 26 species were reported.
A researcher at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, has published a new study in The Astrophysical Journal suggesting that tiny charged dust grains near the sun may significantly influence how energy moves through the solar
They knew their gesture was futile and could have serious personal repercussions, but that didn't stop more than 1.5 million Russians from signing anti-war petitions after their country invaded Ukraine.
Published in Nature Climate Change, new research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison finds that reaching net-zero emissions by midcentury would substantially improve public health in the United States. However, climate strategies that heavily depend on carbon dioxide
Carbon materials, such as carbon fibers and activated carbons, are essential across a wide variety of fields, encompassing everything from aerospace engineering to fuel cells and thermal insulation. For decades, Raman, infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have
The byproducts of modern society appear to be messing with the love life of two tiny fish species that have long coexisted in Mexican rivers.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer products because of their resistance to heat, water and oil. However, these same properties also make them highly resistant to environmental
Empowering patients to retake control of their back pain produced surprising results The post When It Comes to Back Pain, Maybe You Should be Your Own Doctor appeared first on Nautilus .
The media is full of news of war, terrorism and armed conflict, and this shapes our perceptions of violence. However, if we look at the costs resulting from these forms of violence, the numbers are surprising: About 12% of the global cost comes from war and terrorism. A much
A study titled "Monitoring major biodiversity stronghold in war zones: model predicts Lake Chad remains Africa's most important wetland for waterbirds" estimates that Lake Chad supports nearly 2.5 million waterbirds, making it one of the most important wetlands for birdlife in
Bugs run rampant in the summer, and if you have ever suffered a mosquito bite and regretted not putting on bug spray, you should know about nature's insect repellent: the Indiana bat. Federally endangered since 1967, the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) helps with pest control and
Exoplanet atmospheres have become prime targets for astrobiologists in the search for life beyond Earth. This is because exoplanet surfaces can't be directly imaged yet, so astronomers must get creative in how they search for signs of life, also called biosignatures. Presently,
A prototype cell partly capable of replicating itself has been created using 36 existing bacterial genes, but it's not really a living organism – yet
Contrary to common stereotypes, seniors' digital savvy is surging. New research from Rutgers University-New Brunswick suggests one reason: Digital tools are essential for the development and maintenance of age-friendly initiatives—programs and policies designed to support and
Superworms, a mealworm-like form of beetle larva commonly used as pet food, are efficient cleaners of skeletons, according to a study published in PLOS One by Fatemeh Rastekar of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, and colleagues.
Solar cells and photocatalysts can be surprisingly inefficient. Despite light consisting of many wavelengths, the range that even highly efficient devices use is limited. Other wavelengths, especially long wavelengths, simply pass through the material without being used as
Well-being is increasingly regarded as an important indicator of societal progress, extending beyond economic growth to capture how people experience and evaluate their lives. It is also closely connected to health, longevity, productivity and quality of life. It has also been
The reproductive organs might have hidden role The post Ovaries Might Take on an Immune Function After Menopause appeared first on Nautilus .
The next time you post a nature photo online, you might be contributing to a major scientific breakthrough—just as several citizen scientists did when they helped discover the wasp Eupelmus curvator in Japan.
England chalked up its warmest June since records began in 1884, the United Kingdom's weather agency said Wednesday, after a month that saw temperatures soar to new highs.
In the northern hemisphere, the summer season is rolling in, and the heat is on the rise. For horses, these high temperatures also mean an increased risk of respiratory issues, such as recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN).
Parts of Portugal, including the Lisbon region, will be placed on red alert after being relatively spared from Europe's worst heat wave, which set records in several countries.
A study by ESMT Berlin shows that startups often learn the wrong lessons when entering a market if they do not coordinate pricing, advertising and inventory decisions. The researchers show that targeted experiments with price and advertising help firms better understand
Human evolution is generally explained through changes in brain size, locomotion or tool use, but new research from Wits University suggests that gum disease and changes in facial structure may have been important factors in shaping the evolutionary path that ultimately led to
Blistering temperatures and humidity gripped swaths of the United States on Wednesday, with the worst yet to come for the densely populated East Coast as the nation co-hosts the World Cup and prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday.
Sea surface temperatures in late June reached nearly 70 degrees Fahrenheit on average, shattering records
Millions of women worldwide suffer from vaginal yeast infections. These infections are most commonly caused by the fungus Candida albicans and can lead to symptoms ranging from itching and burning to recurrent inflammation. An international research team has now shown that an
A new study of wild bats reveals that an animal's immune system is shaped by more than its need to fight infections. Researchers from the University of Maryland have found that sex, age and competition for mates influence how bats balance different types of immune
For the first time, NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) mission has identified a planet orbiting a distant star thanks to its warping of space-time. Unlike the star-hugging transiting planets TESS regularly reveals, the newfound microlensing world is a
A new evolutionary theory suggests that some asexual parasites may temporarily be able to infect a wider range of hosts as harmful genetic mutations build up. In a paper published in Trends in Parasitology, Cock van Oosterhout, a professor from the University of East Anglia
A new big-data analysis of the U.S. pinpoints how urban design aids the health of city residents—especially when cities provide walking opportunities, greenery and mixed-use streets with a blend of commercial and residential activity.
A surprising discovery is overturning a long-held assumption about how the brain’s movement center works. Researchers found that two key cerebellar cell types—thought to be tightly linked—often don’t behave in predictable ways, even though one directly influences the other. The
As humans, our eyes take in two-dimensional images that our brains convert to three-dimensional experiences. This ability enables us to be aware of our position in space, judge distances, possess depth perception, and visually examine and enjoy all manner of objects and
The growing use of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, requires energy storage systems that can charge quickly, deliver power efficiently and remain stable over long-term use. Batteries can store large amounts of energy, but they often take longer to charge.
Citizen scientists strike again The post How a Twitter Post Discovered a New Wasp Species to Japan appeared first on Nautilus .
Some creative calculations using bug traps, epidemiology and trees suggest there are some 20 million unique insect species on Earth
Imagine a piece of space debris the size of a hockey puck slams into a Starlink satellite at about 10 kilometers per second. The kinetic energy is equivalent to 2 kilograms of TNT, or a fully loaded semitruck traveling at 100 kilometers an hour.
Scientists have engineered a nanoscale switch using DNA "origami." Inspired by macroscale mechanical switches, the device achieves long-term functionality without the continuous forcing mechanism that past versions required while remaining capable of fast switching. The paper
Before a leaf dies, plants recover nutrients that the rest of the plant can reuse for growth and survival. Researchers at Umeå Plant Science Center have now identified a metabolic "point of no return" linked to the amino acid arginine. The study suggests that plants use
The challenges and consequences surrounding children's screen use are a leading concern for UK families.
A Korean research team has developed a new viral vector technology that significantly improves the production efficiency of next-generation cell and gene therapies known as CAR immune cell therapies, which are designed to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
AI-generated impersonations of political figures are judged by members of the public to be more authentic, relevant and coherent than the speakers' actual debate responses, according to a study appearing in PLOS One, written by Steffen Herbold of the University of Passau in
In cancer research, one person's junk is increasingly becoming another person's treasure. Scientists have uncovered new evidence showing how recently evolved "junk DNA" genetic elements can become integrated into ancient cellular pathways that regulate cancer. These findings
Beneath the surface of soybean fields, an invisible threat is costing farmers billions. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri are uncovering how nature itself may hold the key to fighting back. The soybean cyst nematode—a microscopic worm that attacks plant roots and
