Much research has been dedicated to studying the effects of climate change and global warming on the Antarctic ice sheet and sea levels; but the same can’t be said about the ice-free parts of the region, which cover less than 1% of the continent. Researchers modelled the potential effect of climate change under two Intergovernmental […]
GPS-like data can be used to help predict volcanic eruptions
Scientists are learning to use satellite imaging and mathematical calculations to better predict volcanic activity. Modern satellite technologies, similar to GPS, can now track the ground movements that happen as magma shifts beneath the Earth’s surface. A team of geoscientists are pioneering the use of a process called data assimilation, which incorporates new measurements with […]
There’s a difference between how younger and older people listen to speech-like sounds 
Hearing analysis reveals differences in perception of speech-like noises among younger versus older people. A new study suggests that people in different age groups use two distinctive techniques to filter out noise and focus on auditory signals resembling human speech. When younger people listen to these sounds, their brains naturally synchronize to the rhythm, and […]
Concussion protocols not followed in majority of cases at World Cup 2014
In over 60 cases of head collisions at the World Cup 2014, proper concussion assessment protocols were not followed, a new study concluded. Researchers reviewed video footage of 64 matches, identifying 72 head collisions affecting 81 players—far more than the 19 head injuries reported by team physicians to FIFA. The researchers then recorded the number of […]
Fracking byproducts contaminate lakewater with radioactive and carcinogenic chemicals
Results of a new study show that there’s still much to be improved when it comes to the treatment of the byproducts of hydraulic fracturing, which has become a popular method of oil and gas extraction in US and Canada over the past decade. Researchers sampled sediments and porewaters from a lake downstream from two […]
Special carbon compounds in Bobolink bird feathers contain information about their diet
You are what you eat; and in the case of a tiny migratory grassland bird, the Bobolink, their contain the secrets to what they eat. Information stored within the Bobolink’s plumage can also help with the efforts to protect the declining species. Researchers have found that carbon compounds from the elusive winter diet—what the Bobolink eats […]
Material for flexible electronics created by mimicking plant properties
For the first time ever, scientists have a lead on creating an aerogel that is lightweight, resilient, and flexible enough to bend. The graphene-based aerogel mimics the structure of Thalia dealbata, or the powdery alligator-flag: a strong, lean plant that can withstand harsh winds. This kind of aerogel can be used in creating bendable screens for tablets or smartphones, […]
Immune cells that go from helpful to harmful under the influence of toxins
A certain type of immune cell, which normally helps the body recover by fighting off infection, can bring about a disproportionately aggressive response and do more damage than the original pathogens. Such is the case with toxic shock syndrome, which is not brought about directly by bacteria or toxins, but rather by inflammation triggered by the […]
Human voices scare off mountain lions, disrupting mealtimes
New study of mountain lion behavior suggests that the big cats don’t like their encounters with humans any more than we do. Researchers studied the behavior of pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains to see how the animals react to the sound of human voices. The team placed audio equipment at the puma kill sites; […]
Killer heatwaves are more common than we think
Results of an extensive literature review show that lethal heatwaves are more common than previously thought, and suggest that the extreme heat conditions will continue to arise even if greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced in the future. Researchers found over 1,900 cases of locations worldwide since 1980 where heatwaves have killed people, and identified […]
Older and wiser: with age, female elk learn to avoid hunters
A new study suggests female elk wise up to better hiding behaviors with age, in order to keep safe from hunters. Over the period of four years, researchers tracked 49 female elk, ranging between one and 18 years old in BC and Alberta. Using GPS trackers, scientists collected data, such as distance traveled with time, […]
Lower mercury levels in polar bears could be a sign of climate-related diet shift
A drop in mercury levels was discovered among southern Beaufort Sea polar bears, something the researchers say may suggest a changing diet and a shift in foraging habits. Scientists collected hair samples from Beaufort polar bears over a seven-year period, and measured the mercury concentration in these samples. Results showed a 13% drop in mercury […]
New type of paint produces clean energy out of water vapor
Scientists have found a way to produce clean energy out of thin air—as long as it’s got some moisture in it—using a new type of paint. The paint is made up of synthetic molybdenum-sulphide, which helps it absorb solar energy and collect moisture. The compound catalyzes the splitting of water vapor into oxygen and hydrogen. […]
Scientists may have found a way to tan without damaging the skin with UV radiation
Researchers have developed a way to increase skin pigmentation without damaging it. These results come out of a follow-up experiment to an earlier study, where a team of scientists successfully induced tanning in a mouse species that normally does not produce the protective form of the pigment melanin. This was accomplished by introducing a new […]
Recipe for a comeback: predictive characteristics for replenishing depleted marine fish species
What does it take for a depleted fish species to make a comeback? A group of researchers reviewed abundance trends for over 50 populations of marine fish in attempts to determine what, if any, characteristics are common among species that have successfully recovered after overfishing. Their results suggest that recovery is related to a combination […]
Female Steller sea lions breed near their birthplace
Steller sea lions keep their family close and their breeding spots even closer, as a new study suggests that females choose to breed near the rookery where they themselves were born. Researchers gathered tracker data from 269 female sea lions over the course of 14 years to see how often the sea lions switched rookeries, […]
