Earth
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Health & Medicine
Some South American rodent-borne viruses may spread as climate warms
Some rodents in South America carry arenaviruses and hantaviruses. Climate change may bring both to regions where neither is currently a threat.
- Life
Cows’ methane burps may be fueled by a newfound organelle in gut microbes
In cows’ guts, ciliates contain a tiny organelle called a hydrogenobody that may drive production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
- Earth
Seismic data captured the sound of awe during a solar eclipse
From the hush of people coming to a standstill to the reverberations of fans, seismic data can capture the ebbs and flows of human activity.
- Earth
Can ‘extinct’ volcanoes still erupt? A Greek peak holds surprising clues
Tiny crystals suggest extinct volcanoes could still grow underground, a finding that could reshape how scientists assess eruption risk.
- Microbes
How climate change may increase antibiotic resistance
Rising heat and drought may spur bacteria to exchange antibiotic resistance genes, with potential risks to human health.
- Oceans
Got pesky, invasive corals? Blast ‘em away with air guns
Compressed air bids bye-bye to invasive sun corals in Brazil. The blasts obliterated soft tissue and fragments couldn't regenerate.
- Health & Medicine
Increasing heat can boost malnutrition among children
In a study of 6.5 million children in Brazil, higher temperatures were associated with worse nutrition outcomes, especially in vulnerable groups.
- Animals
An endangered mouse may need a helping hand to adapt to climate change
Pacific pocket mice are geographically isolated, but the species may retain the genetic diversity needed to adapt to climate change.
- Animals
For gray whales, San Francisco Bay is becoming a deadly pit stop
Climate change could be forcing gray whales to seek food in San Francisco Bay, where vessel strikes may be driving rising deaths.
- Climate
Emperor penguins are marching toward extinction. Antarctica fur seals too
Conservationists now list the penguins and seals as “Endangered.” Climate change in Antarctica has led to plunging populations.
- Environment
Hawaii is turning ocean plastic into roads to fight pollution
The ocean plastic that washes up on Hawaii’s beaches is recycled into asphalt to pave roads. The roads are then tested for microplastic pollution.
- Agriculture
Heavy soil tilling for agriculture can do more harm than good
The tiny seismic signals of rainwater moving through the ground show how heavy tilling damage soil.
