While it is easy to assume that climate change only comes in the form of rising oceans or extreme weather events, signs of global warming are all around us every single day. An example of this comes from David Inouye, a researcher from the University of Maryland who studied when wildflowers and their pollinators began appearing around the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab. … [Read more...] about Global warming signs are everywhere
Antarctica Steadily Rising Over Time, Study Reports
Thinning ice has caused bedrock deposits underneath Antarctica to rise higher than ever before, a new study published in the journal Science reports. As the ice melts, it takes the weight off the bedrock below. Though that process does not happen right away, large amounts of ice have melted across Antarctica through the years. That in turn caused the … [Read more...] about Antarctica Steadily Rising Over Time, Study Reports
Melanin Discovery May Shake-Up Fossil Record
A group of international palaeontologists have found new sources of the pigment melanin, a discovery that could completely alter the way scientists restructure the color of certain fossils. Recently, a range of studies focused on the color of different fossils assumed that fossilized melanin -- otherwise known as melanosomes -- only come from the skin. However, the … [Read more...] about Melanin Discovery May Shake-Up Fossil Record
Ancient Leaf-Like Creatures Were Actually Animals, Study Finds
A team of researchers from multiple international universities found that an ancient species known as Stromatoveris psygmoglena was indeed an animal, a new study published in Palaeontology reports. Though many people assume that fossils are easy to identify, that is only the case for perfectly preserved ones. Older rocks or ones that are broken down by wear and tear, are much … [Read more...] about Ancient Leaf-Like Creatures Were Actually Animals, Study Finds
Mayan Deforestation Permanently Affected Rainforests
Deforestation caused by the Mayans may have a long-lasting impact on a rainforest’s ability to keep carbon locked in the ground, according to recent research published in the journal Nature Geoscience. The Mayans spread out across the Yucatán Peninsula roughly 3,000 years ago. During that time, they cleared rainforests for agriculture and chopped down trees to … [Read more...] about Mayan Deforestation Permanently Affected Rainforests
Arctic Permafrost Thawing at Unprecedented Rate
Permafrost in the Arctic could be thawing out decades faster than previous estimates guessed, according to a new report published in National Geographic. That news is cause for concern on many levels. Not only does it suggest that current timelines and future predictions are off, but the melting will likely release tons of trapped greenhouse gases and further accelerate climate … [Read more...] about Arctic Permafrost Thawing at Unprecedented Rate
Yellowstone Microbes Could Help Explain Origin of Life
according to new research published in the journal Nature Microbiology, new evidence discovered at Yellowstone National Park may give insight into the origin of life on Earth. In the study, scientists from Montana State University stumbled upon a new archaeal lineage living in sections of Yellowstone. Such a finding is significant because the creatures are not just interesting … [Read more...] about Yellowstone Microbes Could Help Explain Origin of Life
Bright Pink Is the Oldest Biological Color on Earth
Bright pink was the first color on Earth, according to a new study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This new discovery comes from scientists at Australian National University, who made the finding by crushing 1 billion-year-old rock uncovered in a marine shale deposit beneath the Sahara desert. From there, researchers took the powder and used … [Read more...] about Bright Pink Is the Oldest Biological Color on Earth
‘Dragon’ Dinosaur Fossil Found in China
A fossil unearthed in China comes from a never-before-seen sauropod species, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. The long-necked animals are some of the most iconic dinosaurs. While there are many on record, the new species -- known as Lingwulong sharqi -- is truly unique. A team of international researchers pieced the remains together using seven to … [Read more...] about ‘Dragon’ Dinosaur Fossil Found in China
Humans Cause Animals to Become Nocturnal
Many animals are now nocturnal as a way to avoid interacting with humans, according to a recent study published in the journal Science. Humans constantly displace wildlife. However, as cities and towns continue to expand there are fewer places for animals to hide. As a result, many have switched their schedules from during the day to at night. This … [Read more...] about Humans Cause Animals to Become Nocturnal
Coyotes Have Spread Throughout North America
For the first time ever, researchers have compiled evidence on how coyotes rapidly spread throughout North America. Although scientists have long been aware that the dog-like mammals moved quickly throughout North America over the past century, little is known about where they came from or how they spread so fast. To shed light on that, scientists from the North … [Read more...] about Coyotes Have Spread Throughout North America
Conservation Efforts May Have Saved Belize Barrier Reef
The world heritage organization Unesco has removed the Belize Barrier Reef from the list of endangered World Heritage Sites, the first time the protected areas has been off the list in nine years. This new move is an important step from a conservationist standpoint because it shows that the so-called “visionary” steps taken by the country to protect the area worked and could … [Read more...] about Conservation Efforts May Have Saved Belize Barrier Reef
Analysis Sheds Light on How Birds Evolved Beaks
Scientists at Yale University have found new evidence that could help explain how modern birds evolved to have beaks, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. It is well known that modern gulls evolved from dinosaurs like velociraptor and T. Rex. However, researchers have never been able to fully compile how the feathered animals … [Read more...] about Analysis Sheds Light on How Birds Evolved Beaks
Most Americans Feel Lonely, Especially Younger Generations
Loneliness is one of the most widespread problems in modern America, according to a new survey put out by the health insurer Cigna. Using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the company analyzed 20,000 adults across the country and found that 54 percent of respondents reported they often felt as if nobody knew them well. In addition, 56 percent reported that they felt as if the people … [Read more...] about Most Americans Feel Lonely, Especially Younger Generations
Five Healthy Habits Could Add a Decade to Your Life Expectancy
Just a few healthy habits could add years to a person’s life, according to a new study published in the journal Circulation. Currently, the average 50-year-old American lives roughly 30 to 33 years past that point. However, the recent information reveals that those who adopt five healthy lifestyle habits -- no smoking, regular exercise, healthy eating, keeping a normal weight, … [Read more...] about Five Healthy Habits Could Add a Decade to Your Life Expectancy
Collision Experiment Shows How Water May Have Come to Earth
Researchers from Brown and John Hopkins University have shed light on how water may have first arrived on Earth, according to new research in the journal Science Advances. Water is one of the most common substances on our planet. Even so, nobody is sure how it initially got here. The question has perplexed scientists for years because, though there is a chance it came from … [Read more...] about Collision Experiment Shows How Water May Have Come to Earth
The Drain Does Create New Cells as it Ages, New Study Reports
The human brain makes cells during old age, according to a new paper published in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Scientists have long believed that the brain stops making new cells as humans age. However, the new study -- which comes from researchers at Columbia University -- directly contrasts that common belief. In fact, the team found direct evidence that aging brains produce … [Read more...] about The Drain Does Create New Cells as it Ages, New Study Reports
Footprints shed light on ancient human migration
Researchers from Hakai Institute and the University of Victoria have discovered the earliest known human footprints in North America, a study published in PLOS ONE reports. The fossilized prints are 13,000 years old, which means they could help shed light on the way humans moved from Asia to North America. Typically, it is believed that humans traveled to North America by way … [Read more...] about Footprints shed light on ancient human migration
Amazon May Be Much More Densely Populated Than Previously Believed
The discovery of 81 new archaeological sites across the Amazon basin suggest that nearly a million previously unaccounted for people once called the region home. For over 10 years researchers have tried to study mysterious ancient trenches cut through the soil of the Amazon. The unique lines are organized in range of shapes shapes, including rings, squares, and hexagons. The … [Read more...] about Amazon May Be Much More Densely Populated Than Previously Believed
Ground-Running Birds Could Shed Light on Dinosaur Locomotion
Modern birds could help scientists better understand the way dinosaurs managed to shift and move their massive bodies as they ran, according to recent research published in the journal PLOS One. Though the age of the dinosaurs ended some 60 million years ago, their legacy lives on through modern birds. The feathered animals are direct descendants of the ancient reptiles, … [Read more...] about Ground-Running Birds Could Shed Light on Dinosaur Locomotion
Dropping temperatures could send Earth into a “mini Ice Age,” study reports
A group of researchers from Northumbria University have found evidence that Earth could be hit by a “mini Ice Age" within the next decade, according to research published in Astronomy and Geophysics. This new prediction is based on a mathematical model of the Sun's magnetic energy that suggests the Earth's temperature will begin to drop in 2021. That plummeting temperature … [Read more...] about Dropping temperatures could send Earth into a “mini Ice Age,” study reports
Photosynthesis first occurred 1.25 billion years ago, study reports
Scientists at McGill University have found evidence that the first instance of photosynthesis happened roughly 1.25 billion years ago, according to new research outlined in the journal Geology. In the study, the team analyzed the remains of Bangiomorpha Pubescens, an ancient algae that is believed to be the oldest known ancestor of modern plants and animals. Previous studies … [Read more...] about Photosynthesis first occurred 1.25 billion years ago, study reports
Hybrid bird species uncovered in the Amazon
For the first time in history, researchers have uncovered a hybrid bird species in the Amazon jungle. The unique creature is known as the golden-crowned manakin, and it is the offspring of both the snow-capped manakin -- known for its crown of snow-white feathers -- and the Opal-crowned manakin, which has a similar crown of bright, luminous feathers. The mixing of the two … [Read more...] about Hybrid bird species uncovered in the Amazon
Ancient plesiosaur uncovered in Antarctica
A group of paleontologists from the University of La Matanza have discovered a 150-million-year-old plesiosaur under Antarctica's frozen ice. Plesiosaurs are giant, extinct marine carnivores that once hunted in waters all across the Earth . They had four fins, a small head, and a long, streamlined neck. The specimen found in the study measures 12 feet long and existed during … [Read more...] about Ancient plesiosaur uncovered in Antarctica
Fungal infection threatening global snake populations
A fungal infection caused by a pathogen known as Ophidiomyces ophidiodiicola is threatening snakes all across the world, according to a new study published in Scientific Advances. This discovery comes from scientists at the American Museum of Natural History, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of Maryland, who found that snake fungal disease (SFD) can infect almost … [Read more...] about Fungal infection threatening global snake populations
500-Million-Year Old Hunter Sheds Light on Arthropod Evolution
Archaeologists have discovered new details about Habelia optata, a small, extinct aquatic predator first found by scientists over 100 years ago. The 508-million-year-old creature measured just 2 centimeters long. It had a segmented body with an external skeleton, jointed limbs, and a long tail. The odd animal was a chelicerate, which means it was an arthropod like spiders, … [Read more...] about 500-Million-Year Old Hunter Sheds Light on Arthropod Evolution
Ancient Bear-Like Species Might Have Had a Sweet Tooth, Study Reports
The remains of an ancient bear discovered in Canada’s High Arctic could shed light on how modern bears came to be, according to new research published in the journal Scientific Reports. The bones come from a close relative of modern bears known as Protarctos abstrusus. The extinct mammal -- which lived 3.5 million years ago -- was slightly smaller than the modern black … [Read more...] about Ancient Bear-Like Species Might Have Had a Sweet Tooth, Study Reports
Ancient, D-shaped Horseshoe Crab Uncovered in Idaho
Paleontologists working in Idaho have discovered an ancient species of a horseshoe crab that crawled around Pangea some 245 million years ago, according to a new study published in the journal Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie. Horseshoe crabs are an odd animal that first appeared on Earth roughly 470 million years ago. The one in the study -- known … [Read more...] about Ancient, D-shaped Horseshoe Crab Uncovered in Idaho
Fossilized Eggs Shed Light on Ancient Pterosaurs
Archaeologists working in China have discovered a cache of hundreds of eggs that could provide new insight into the development and nesting behavior of pterosaurs, a new study published in the journal Science reports. Pterosaurs were ancient flying reptiles that co-existed with dinosaurs during the Lower Cretaceous period. The team believes the species analyzed in the study … [Read more...] about Fossilized Eggs Shed Light on Ancient Pterosaurs
Rising Sea Levels Could threaten Key Archaeological Sites
Rising sea levels may threaten many landmarks and important historical sites around the world, according to a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE. As global warming continues to affect climates across the world, ocean levels continue to rise. In the new study, a group of researchers from the University of Tennessee found that higher tides may threaten Jamestown, … [Read more...] about Rising Sea Levels Could threaten Key Archaeological Sites
Fossilized Teeth Could Change Assumptions About Humanity’s Past
Fossilized teeth uncovered in Germany could change the way researchers look at human evolution, according to a pre-print study available online. An international team of researchers found the 9.7 million-year-old bones while sifting through gravel and sand in a river bed near the town of Eppelsheim. While the teeth looked like the ones that belong to the fossil “Lucy,” they do … [Read more...] about Fossilized Teeth Could Change Assumptions About Humanity’s Past
Flowers’ Ridges Allow Them to Attract Pollinators, Study Reports
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered that certain flowering plants have tiny ridges on their petals that scatter light and cast a blueish hue over their blooms. Human eyes are not trained to pick up that strange glow, but it is extremely visible to bees. As a result, the scattering is likely a way for plants to attract pollinators. “The exciting … [Read more...] about Flowers’ Ridges Allow Them to Attract Pollinators, Study Reports
Alligators Hunt and Eat Sharks, Study Reports
Researchers from Kansas State University have found that American alligators are hunting sharks that venture out into freshwater, according to a new study published in Southeastern Naturalist. The team made this discovery by analyzing the stomach contents of 500 living alligators. They found that the reptiles had feasted on four different shark species, including both nurse … [Read more...] about Alligators Hunt and Eat Sharks, Study Reports
2011 Tsunami Brought New Species to Pacific Coast
Researchers from Williams College have found that the deadly tsunami in 2011 brought hundreds of aquatic Japanese species to the U.S. coastline, a new study published in the journal Science reports. The foreign animals moved across the Pacific Ocean when a huge earthquake off the coast of north-eastern Japan caused a giant tsunami. That event displaced a wide number of … [Read more...] about 2011 Tsunami Brought New Species to Pacific Coast
Billion-Year-Old Rocks could Rewrite Timeline of Life on Earth
Researchers working at a sedimentary rock formation in northern Canada have uncovered evidence of early life in 3.95 billion-year-old rocks, a new study published in the journal Nature reports. This controversial research suggests that microbial life came about right after Earth first formed. During the Eoarchaean Era -- when our planet was only 500 … [Read more...] about Billion-Year-Old Rocks could Rewrite Timeline of Life on Earth
Botanical Gardens Hold Nearly a Third of all Plant Species, Study Reports
The world’s botanical gardens harbor more than 30 percent of all known plant species, providing a haven for both threatened and endangered flora. A team from the University of Cambridge made this discovery by analyzing a series of datasets compiled by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). This allowed them to cross-reference the list of all known plant species … [Read more...] about Botanical Gardens Hold Nearly a Third of all Plant Species, Study Reports
Another Massive Glacier has Broken Free From Antarctica
Recent satellite images show that a new 100-square-mile iceberg has broken off of Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier. While this new calving event did not come as a surprise, it is another concerning sign of how climate change is affecting the world’s oceans. Pine Island Glacier (PIG) -- which loses 45 billion tons of ice each year -- is the fastest melting glacier in … [Read more...] about Another Massive Glacier has Broken Free From Antarctica
5.7-Million-Year-Old Footprints Could Challenge Timeline of Human Evolution
Human-like footprints uncovered in the Grecian island of Crete could alter the way scientists view human evolution, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of Geologists' Association. Most of the time, it is hard to identify ancient animal prints. Not only does time wear them down, but there are many common characteristics shared among different species. … [Read more...] about 5.7-Million-Year-Old Footprints Could Challenge Timeline of Human Evolution
Australian Reef Loss Could Be Worse Than Previously Predicted, Study Reports
Researchers from the University of Queensland have mapped both the loss of branching corals and changes in coral community structure in Australia's Palm Islands region over the past century and found the region may be in worse shape than previously thought, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports. While scientists have long been … [Read more...] about Australian Reef Loss Could Be Worse Than Previously Predicted, Study Reports
Looted Skeleton Could be Oldest in the Americas
Bones uncovered in Mexico are likely the oldest human remains ever found in the Americas, according to a new study published in the journal Plos ONE. A team of international researchers uncovered the first specimen -- which dates back 13,000 years -- in a cave in the Yucatan Peninsula during a dig in 2007. Three years later, divers then found a similar set of remains in the … [Read more...] about Looted Skeleton Could be Oldest in the Americas