Environment

A new study used the 2023 heat wave in Texas and Louisiana as a test case for establishing processes that tease out whether particular weather events are climate change related. When extreme weather events occur, can we tell if they’re directly attributable to climate change? A new study used the 2023 heat wave in Texas

Amid growing pressure to report on nature-related risks and impacts, an open-source footprinting tool offers a scientific and transparent approach. Global economic development, while providing many benefits to people worldwide, has largely been at the expense of nature. Yet increasingly, governments, financial institutions, and companies are recognizing that this paradigm undermines the long-term viability of

A research collaboration has developed a simple model to help inform the complex decision-making that goes into managing water quality and fishery output in Lake Erie and similar ecosystems. There's a famous piece of advice from hockey, attributed to Wayne Gretzky, about how it's better to skate to where the puck is headed rather than

A new study reveals that invasive plants are reshaping soil microbial communities across the U.S., making them more uniform and altering how ecosystems function. Invasive plants are doing more than just taking over landscapes -- they're also changing the soil beneath them. A new study co-authored by Matthew McCary, assistant professor of biosciences at Rice

Red deer may become less sociable as they grow old to reduce the risk of picking up diseases, while older house sparrows seem to have fewer social interactions as their peers die off, according to new research which shows humans are not the only animals to change our social behaviour as we age. Red deer

Researchers are showcasing how a focused outreach initiative in Palm Beach County has led to a successful increase in reports of invasive reptiles in Florida. Invasive species in Florida like Nile monitors and Argentine black-and-white tegus pose a growing threat to the Sunshine State's environment, economy and public safety. South Florida's warm climate, disturbed habitats

The warming climate in polar regions may significantly disrupt ocean circulation patterns, a new study indicates. Scientists discovered that in the distant past, growing inflows of freshwater from melting Arctic sea-ice into the Nordic Seas likely significantly affected ocean circulation, sending temperatures plummeting across northern Europe. "Our finding that enhanced melting of Arctic sea-ice likely

A recent review suggests new temperature measuring technologies could make that process much simpler, amid growing agricultural challenges fueled by fluctuating climates. Before your favorite produce arrives at the grocery store, it must be carefully harvested and maintained across long stretches of time. A recent University of Georgia review suggests new temperature measuring technologies could

Meat grown in a lab isn't science fiction anymore. Cultured meats have existed for over a decade, and as of 2023, you might even find lab-grown chicken in restaurants (in the U.S., at least). Now, with the literal support of plant-based scaffolds, 'clean meat' options are expanding. Researchers have created a prototype cultured pork using

Burmese pythons can consume prey even larger than scientists realized, according to a new study. That means more animals are on the menu across southern Florida, where the nonnative, invasive snakes have decimated populations of foxes, bobcats, raccoons and other animals. Burmese pythons can consume prey even larger than scientists realized, according to a new

There is a yawning gap between national policies to enhance biodiversity and the individual and small group behavioral changes that are critical to making a real difference. There is a yawning gap between national policies to enhance biodiversity and the individual and small group behavioural changes that are critical to making a real difference, according

Cultured meat is grown from animal muscle cells, and animal serum is required to promote the growth of these cells. However, the use of serum poses significant challenges because of its high cost and associated ethical concerns. Now, researchers have developed a system where growth factor-secreting liver cells and photosynthetic microorganisms can be grown together