Ecosystems

Life

Mega El Niños kicked off the world’s worst mass extinction

Long-lasting, widespread heat and weather extremes may have caused the Great Dying extinction event 252 million years ago.

Agriculture

Can scientists make fruits and veggies resilient to climate change?

Combining traditional plant breeding with new genomics tools is allowing scientists to grow plants that are better adapted to a warming climate.

Oceans

In a seafloor surprise, metal-rich chunks may generate deep-sea oxygen

Instead of sinking from the surface, some deep-sea oxygen may be created by battery-like nodules that split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Animals

Tiny saunas help frogs fight off chytrid fungus

Balmy shelters could bolster resistance to the deadly fungus in amphibian populations, but experts caution they won’t work for all susceptible species.

Animals

‘Cull of the Wild’ questions sacrificing wildlife in the name of conservation

In his new book, ecologist Hugh Warwick seeks middle ground in the waging battle that is wildlife management.

Environment

‘The High Seas’ tells of the many ways humans are laying claim to the ocean

The book explains how the race for ocean resources from fish to ores to new medicines — the Blue Acceleration — is playing out.

Animals

Want to see butterflies in your backyard? Try doing less yardwork

Growing out patches of grass can lure adult butterflies and moths with nectar and offer lawn mower–free havens for toddler caterpillars.

Environment

A new approach to fighting wildfires combines local knowledge and AI

Land managers in the western United States are using potential operational delineations, or PODS, to prepare for — and take advantage of — wildfires.

Ecosystems

Noise pollution can harm birds even before they hatch

Exposing zebra finch eggs and hatchlings to traffic sounds had lifelong health impacts, raising concerns about increased anthropogenic noise.

Plants

Plant ‘time bombs’ highlight how sneaky invasive species can be

Sycamore maples and some other plant invaders lurked for centuries before starting to choke out native ecosystems and species.

Ecosystems

A new road map shows how to prevent pandemics

Past viral spillover events underscore the importance of protecting wildlife habitats.

Ecosystems

Flowers may be big antennas for bees’ electrical signals

The finding suggests a way for plants to share information about nearby pollinators and communicate when to trigger nectar production.