ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

Invasive species are taking over some American forests

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 01:25 PM PDT

A new botanical survey of southwest Ohio found that invasive species introduced to the United States over the past century are crowding out many native plants.

Rethinking the rabies vaccine

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 11:34 AM PDT

Researchers may have discovered the path to better rabies vaccine design. Researchers share one of the first high-resolution looks at the rabies virus glycoprotein in its vulnerable 'trimeric' form.

Mangrove and reef restoration yield positive returns on investment for flood protection, study shows

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 09:23 AM PDT

Restoration of mangroves and coral reefs can be a cost-effective solution for coastal flood reduction in more than 20 countries across the Caribbean. Researchers used methods from the risk and insurance industry to provide rigorous valuations of these natural defenses and show that they can deliver a positive return on investment, with the benefits from reduced flood damage exceeding the costs of restoration. The results point toward new opportunities to support restoration efforts with funds from sources that support hazard mitigation, climate adaptation, and disaster recovery, including FEMA.

Biogas and biomethane supply chains leak twice as much methane as first thought

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 08:14 AM PDT

A new analysis has found that biogas and biomethane, while more climate friendly, leak more than twice as much methane as previously thought.

Are new corals in Sydney dangerous invaders or harmless refugees?

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 07:18 AM PDT

A new study has found that invading subtropical corals will survive and thrive in coastal Sydney, which could spell trouble for existing Sydney coral species.

Forest to pasture: Keeping trees could reduce climate consequences

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 07:18 AM PDT

Researchers studied a practice known as silvopasture which intentionally preserves trees in pastures where livestock graze. They found that compared to a completely cleared, tree-less, open pasture, the integrated silvopasture released lower levels of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide and soil carbon storage remained the same, offering a possible alternative for farmers with less climate consequences.

Sharks may be closer to the city than you think, new study finds

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 04:47 PM PDT

The world's coastlines are rapidly urbanizing, but how this increased human presence may impact species living in the ocean is not fully understood. Scientists tracked the movements of three shark species, bull, nurse and great hammerhead, in relation to the city of Miami. Given the chemical, light, and noise pollution emanating from the coastal metropolis, researchers expected sharks to avoid areas close to the city, but that's not what they found.

Understanding learning by inference

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 12:25 PM PDT

Both humans and other animals are good at learning by inference, using information we do have to figure out things we cannot observe directly. New research shows how our brains achieve this by constructing cognitive maps.

Soy sauce's salt-enhancing peptides

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 12:24 PM PDT

Soy sauce deepens the flavor of soup stocks, gives stir-fried rice its sweet-salty glaze and makes a plate of dumplings absolutely enjoyable. But what exactly makes this complex, salty, umami sauce so tasty? Now, researchers have discovered the proteins and other compounds that give soy sauce its distinctive flavors and they say that proteins and peptides help make it salty.

Largest study of domestic cat DNA identifies disease-causing variants in new breeds

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 11:27 AM PDT

Thirteen genetic variants associated with disease in cats are present in more pedigreed breeds than previously thought, according to the largest ever DNA-based study of domestic cats. However, these variants are declining in frequency in breeds that are regularly screened for the genetic markers.

Newly documented population of polar bears in Southeast Greenland sheds light on the species' future in a warming Arctic

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 11:27 AM PDT

A new population of polar bears documented on the southeast coast of Greenland use glacier ice to survive despite limited access to sea ice. This small, genetically distinct group of polar bears could be important to the future of the species in a warming world.

Humans responsible for over 90% of world's oil slicks

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 11:27 AM PDT

Scientists mapping oil pollution across the Earth's oceans have found that more than 90% of chronic oil slicks come from human sources, a much higher proportion than previously estimated.

Once seen as fleeting, a new solar tech proves its lasting power

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 11:27 AM PDT

Researchers have developed the first perovskite solar cell with a commercially viable lifetime, marking a major milestone for an emerging class of renewable energy technology. The team projects their device can perform above industry standards for around 30 years, far more than the 20 years used as a threshold for viability for solar cells.

Repeated hurricane exposure linked to adverse psychological symptoms

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 10:52 AM PDT

Repeated exposure to hurricanes, whether direct, indirect or media-based, is linked to adverse psychological symptoms and may be associated with increased mental health problems, according to a new study.

Off-season cattle grazing to help control fire danger from invasive cheatgrass

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 10:52 AM PDT

Cheatgrass, an invasive annual grass that has invaded Nevada rangelands, is responsible for much of the increasing wildfire danger in the Intermountain West. However, scientists have discovered that fire danger can be reduced through the application of targeted cattle grazing in the dormant growing season by attracting the cattle with stations containing protein feed supplements.

100,000-year-old polar bear genome reveals ancient hybridization with brown bears

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 09:16 AM PDT

An analysis of ancient DNA from a 100,000-year-old polar bear has revealed that extensive hybridization between polar bears and brown bears occurred during the last warm interglacial period in the Pleistocene, leaving a surprising amount of polar bear ancestry in the genomes of all living brown bears.

Who wants to be a billionaire? Most don't -- which is good news for the planet

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 09:15 AM PDT

A new study busts the long-held economic belief that humans are all motivated to want more and more, which could have important implications for sustainability policies.

Researchers reconstruct the genome of centuries-old E. coli using fragments extracted from an Italian mummy

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 09:15 AM PDT

Researchers have identified and reconstructed the first ancient genome of E. coli, using fragments extracted from the gallstone of a 16th century mummy.

Seagrass meadows are reliable fishing grounds for food

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

A new study in Ocean and Coastal Management shows that seagrass fisheries provide a reliable safety-net for poor, since fishermen perceive those habitats to maintain large fish catches over time. Surprisingly, even more so than coral reef fisheries, which people normally associate with small-scale fishery.

Inadequate charging networks could thwart EV adoption goals

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT

Encouraging the large-scale adoption of EVs is seen by many governments as a key pillar of efforts to build a carbon-neutral economy. But failing to properly plan a resilient network of charging stations could be an Achilles' heel that undermines efforts to encourage car owners to switch to electric vehicles.