Some types of fungi borrowed a gene from ancient bacteria that gave the ability to make ice and trigger rain. Some fungi can produce proteins that freeze water, which may allow them to reach into the atmosphere and trigger rain. Now, scientists have discovered the secret to this process: a gene from ancient bacteria. Read more […]
Live Science
Drought paradox study reveals plants around Colorado River turn to groundwater when it gets too hot and dry, reducing flow into the already strained basin
Vegetation draws on groundwater during dry summers, leaving less water for the river and, ultimately, people. Thirsty plants are sucking up water that would otherwise end up in the Colorado River, according to a new study. The findings could have important implications for water management in regions that rely heavily on snowmelt for their water, […]
The biggest trees in the Peruvian Amazon store the most carbon — and they also face the greatest threat from humans
The Amazon’s biggest trees store disproportionately more carbon than smaller trees do, new study finds. But in the Peruvian Amazon, large trees are currently prioritized for harvest. The biggest trees in the Peruvian Amazon store disproportionately more carbon than smaller trees do, a new study finds. But these larger trees are also the ones most […]
Canada could remove 5 times its annual carbon emissions by planting trees on edge of boreal forest, study finds
Planting trees on 6.4 million hectares of northern taiga forest could remove 3.9 gigatons of CO2 by 2100 — five times Canada’s annual emissions. Canada could remove more than five times its annual carbon emissions from the atmosphere by the end of the century by planting trees along the northern edge of its boreal forest, […]
Once-in-a-century floods set to become annual events in northeastern US in the next 75 years, study finds
Rising sea levels and storm surges from hurricanes will bring more frequent extreme floods to northeastern U.S. states, including Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Extreme flooding events caused by hurricanes that used to happen once every 100 years in the northeastern U.S. may become annual occurrences by the end of this century, according to […]
New viruses identified in bats in China
Bats found near orchards harbor pathogens that could be passed to livestock or humans. Scientists in China have discovered a host of never-before-seen viruses in bats that live near humans. These viruses include two that are closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses, which can cause severe brain inflammation and respiratory disease in […]