ENVIRO AONE

The Indian subcontinent is a hotspot for wild felines. A new study now shows that only 6-11 per cent of the areas where three rare cat species have their habitat are protected. Lack of knowledge about these species has been an obstacle to understanding their needs for reserves. Over a third of the world’s cat…

Soil bedding increases microbial and termite decomposition activity. But, outside, in the natural environment, termites are part of an entire ecological system. Their role is to help turn dead trees into valuable organic matter. And, a recent study showed that termite activity in the soils of wetlands can help improve soil structure and nutrient content.…

An assessment of 12 different strategies for reducing beef production emissions worldwide found that industry can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 50% in certain regions, with the most potential in the United States and Brazil. A research team led by Colorado State University (CSU) and funded by the Climate and Land Use…

A discovery of more than a thousand dinosaur teeth proves beyond reasonable doubt that Spinosaurus, the giant predator made famous by the movie Jurassic Park III as well as the BBC documentary Planet Dinosaur was an enormous river-monster. Research published today in the journal Cretaceous Research proves that Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, a 15 metre long, six-tonne…

A new study finds a naturally occurring ‘earthquake gate’ that decides which earthquakes are allowed to grow into magnitude 8 or greater. Sometimes, the ‘gate’ stops earthquakes in the magnitude 7 range, while ones that pass through the gate grow to magnitude 8 or greater, releasing over 32 times as much energy as a magnitude…

Researchers are using plant breeding and biotechnology to remove proteins associated with food allergies. Sachin Rustgi, a member of the Crop Science Society of America, studies how we can use breeding to develop less allergenic varieties of these foods. Rustgi recently presented his research at the virtual 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. Allergic reactions caused by…

Researchers at RIKEN, Japan have succeeded in creating the first genetically engineered marsupial. This study will contribute to deciphering the genetic background of unique characteristics observed only in marsupials. Genetically modified animals, particularly mice and rats, are extremely important tools for researching biological processes. For example, researchers often silence genes to find out what their…

A new imaging technique has been developed to improve our ability to visualize and track the symbiotic interactions between coral and algae in response to globally warming sea surface temperatures and deepening seawaters. «Corals are one of the most resilient organisms on the planet,» said Mayandi Sivaguru, the co-lead author of the study and Assistant…

2016’s Hurricane Nicole had a significant effect on the ocean’s carbon cycle and deep sea ecosystems. Hurricanes like Nicole can cause significant damage to human structures on land, and often permanently alter terrestrial landscapes. But these powerful storms also affect the ocean. Scientists have a good understanding of how hurricanes impact the surface layer of…