ScienceX Newsletter

Seagrass decline poses issues for carbon storage projects

Muon g-2 experiment measures the positive muon anomalous magnetic moment to 0.20 ppm

Study unveils organizational complexity of the prefrontal cortex and neuron subtypes regulating chronic pain

Nasal suctioning method for infants with bronchiolitis found to affect parental satisfaction more than disease outcomes

Five new pulsars discovered with FAST

Researchers demonstrate field-free switching of a commercial PMA ferromagnet at room temperature

Japanese scientist conquers the board game Othello

Researchers identify brain network that is uniquely activated through injection vs. oral drug use

Extracellular vesicles captured by sustainable wood cellulose-based nanofiber may identify and improve cancer treatment

Genetics of nearby healthy tissue may help catch lung cancer’s return

Scientists engineer potent immune cells for ‘off-the-shelf’ cancer immunotherapy

Why a surprising discovery, warming seas and the demise of the ‘Meg’ may spell trouble for more and more sharks

Study shows willow bark extract has broad-spectrum antiviral effect

Cheetahs become more nocturnal on hot days. Climate change may trigger fights among predators

New research reveals an advanced form of meditation impacts the brain and is linked to aspects of well-being

Seagrass decline poses issues for carbon storage projects

Climate change is an ever-pressing concern, with innovative ways to remove excess carbon from the atmosphere a continued focus of scientists. One such carbon sequestration method turns to an unlikely sink—seagrass—a marine flowering plant (angiosperm) that is found in shallow coastal waters up to 50m depth on all continents except Antarctica.

Melting ice, falling snow: Sea ice declines enhance snowfall over West Antarctica

As the world continues to warm, Antarctica is losing ice at an increasing pace, but the loss of sea ice may lead to more snowfall over the ice sheets, partially offsetting contributions to sea level rise, according to Penn State scientists.

Why do climate models underestimate polar warming? ‘Invisible clouds’ could be the answer

Stratospheric clouds over the Arctic may explain the differences seen between the polar warming calculated by climate models and actual recordings, find researchers from UNSW Sydney.

Study projects how mountain climate systems will change with rising carbon dioxide

Mountains create their own weather or climate systems by changing airflow and precipitation patterns. Orographic, or mountain-influenced, precipitation occurs as moisture-laden air rises over the high topography; the air cools, condenses, and releases water; and the atmosphere warms with latent heat. But as the world warms and emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) increase, predicting changes in mountain precipitation is becoming more complex.

Study finds bacteria use organic phosphorus and release methane in the process

Off Barbados, researchers from Bremen have investigated how bacteria inadvertently release methane in order to obtain phosphorus—with significant effects on atmospheric greenhouse gases.

New AI system can map giant icebergs from satellite images 10,000 times faster than humans

Scientists have trained an artificial intelligence (AI) system to accurately map—in one-hundredth of a second—the surface area and outline of giant icebergs captured on satellite images. The paper, titled “Mapping the extent of giant Antarctic icebergs with Deep Learning,” is published in The Cryosphere.

Red hot October almost guarantees 2023 will be the hottest year on record

This October was the hottest on record globally, 1.7 degrees Celsius (3.1 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the pre-industrial average for the month—and the fifth straight month with such a mark in what will now almost certainly be the warmest year ever recorded.

Nasty drought in Syria, Iraq and Iran wouldn’t have happened without climate change, study finds

A three-year drought that has left millions of people in Syria, Iraq and Iran with little water wouldn’t have happened without human-caused climate change, a new study found.

El Nino set to last at least til April: UN

The El Niño weather phenomenon, which triggers higher global temperatures, is expected to last until at least April 2024, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

Overcoming the climate crisis with trade-based strategies

Global warming is making weather patterns more extreme and increasing inequalities across regions. However, economic growth is still possible, with economies showing a range of responses to the impacts of global heating.

Study suggests link between feral horses and peatland carbon emissions

A new study by RMIT has found carbon emissions from Australian alpine peatlands to be much higher in areas disturbed by feral horses. The paper, “Carbon emissions from Australian Sphagnum peatlands increase with feral horse (Equus caballus) presence,” was published in the Journal of Environmental Management .

New analysis finds strong El Niño could bring extra floods this winter

An analysis by NASA’s sea level change science team finds that if a strong El Niño develops this winter, cities along the western coasts of the Americas could see an increase in the frequency of high-tide flooding that can swamp roads and spill into low-lying buildings.

A series of powerful earthquakes shakes eastern Indonesia. No immediate reports of casualties

A series of powerful and shallow earthquakes shook a sparsely populated island chain in eastern Indonesia on Wednesday. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Fossil fuel plans by producing nations threaten global climate goals: UN

Plans to expand oil, gas and coal production by major fossil fuel countries would push the world far beyond agreed global warming limits and are “throwing humanity’s future into question”, the UN warned Wednesday.