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A treasure map to search for past marine life

Fossils offer a glimpse into Earth's distant past. They provide insights into extinct animals and plants, as well as past ecosystems. However, the fossil record is incomplete: Fossilization is rare, and only a small fraction of Earth's organisms are preserved this way. In

Arctic Sea ice reaches 2026 annual minimum extent

Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent on Sept. 12, according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The ice covered an estimated 1.78 million square miles (4.6 million square kilometers), tying 2008, 2010 and

Learning style predicts survival skills in young orangutans

Orangutan infants spend their first eight years with their mothers, and throughout this time, they can draw on their knowledge. After that, however, orangutans are entirely on their own. To fare well as independent orangutans, infants need to learn many survival skills,

A new venomous British snake? Why there's no need to panic

Great Britain has long been thought to be home to a single venomous snake species, the adder. Although its bites are rarely life-threatening, they require a trip to the emergency department and will more than likely ruin your week. The other two native British snakes, the grass

New ways to protect crops by targeting pathogen weaknesses

Scientists from the Biosciences Department at Durham University have outlined possible new approaches to protecting crops from devastating diseases by finding common weaknesses in the proteins pathogens use to attack plants. The researchers presented their ideas in a recent

Major survey reveals public support for UK nature recovery

A new survey from the University of Exeter and the University of Surrey reveals broad public support for policies to protect and restore nature in the U.K. Researchers surveyed almost 3,000 people across the country, exploring their feelings, concerns, opinions and experiences

The science gap fueling Africa's water wars

As countries across Africa face growing pressure over shared water resources, USC water scientists argue that one of the most powerful tools for preventing conflict may be found not at the negotiating table, but in the mathematical models used to understand water itself.