Nature & Environment

News

Apr 29, 2013 03:05 PM EDT

Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions: Unusual Seismic Activity Discovered in Redoubt

We may be able to forecast volcanic eruptions a bit more easily. A new study has examined the sequence of seismic events that led up to the eruption of Redoubt and has discovered a little bit more about these explosive events.

Apr 29, 2013 01:53 PM EDT

Great Tits Can Handle Climate Change: Songbirds More Resilient Than Expected

Songbirds are more resilient than we thought. New research reveals that a bird called the great tit can handle climate change far better than expected.

Apr 29, 2013 11:49 AM EDT

Turtles are Not Primitive Reptiles: Genome Analysis Reveals Evolutionary Origin of Shells

Turtles are known for their hard shells, but how did they evolve this unique adaptation? A new study reveals that turtles are not the primitive reptiles we once thought they were; instead, they're part of a sister group of birds and crocodiles.

Apr 29, 2013 10:55 AM EDT

How to Moderate Climate Change: Plant More Trees to Avoid Warming

How do we moderate climate change? Plant more trees. A new study reveals that plants can actually release gases that help form clouds and cool the atmosphere.

Apr 29, 2013 10:09 AM EDT

Massive Basking Shark Washes Ashore: Scientist to Perform Necropsy

A massive, 28-foot-long basking shark washed ashore on a Rhode Island beach just this morning.

Apr 29, 2013 09:37 AM EDT

Earth's Crust Permanently Deformed by Chile Earthquakes: Scars that Don't Heal

Major earthquakes in Chile have deformed our planet's crust permanently, scarring Earth's surface.

Apr 29, 2013 08:08 AM EDT

Endangered Sea Turtles Set Free After One-Year Recovery

One juvenile green turtle and five endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles were set free into the wild after spending one year in rehabilitation overcoming injuries.

Apr 28, 2013 06:36 PM EDT

Plants Help Cool Down the Climate, Aerosol Moderates Weather

Just as the summer comes, it's important to remember that plants release gases to help form clouds and cool the atmosphere, or at least that's what researchers from IIASA and the University of Helsinki believe.

Apr 28, 2013 06:11 PM EDT

First Phosphorescent Sheep Born in Uruguai

The first genetically modified phosphorescent sheep have been born in Uruguai, scientists announced Friday (26).

Apr 27, 2013 06:33 PM EDT

Fighting Fish: Aggression More Likely than Size to Win a Battle

When it comes to the wild, we certainly think that survival of the fittest always rings true. But does that always mean that the bigger, greedier animals take the cake? Not necessarily, according to a recent study by scientists at the University of Exeter and Texas A&M University. In fact, for fish,...

Apr 27, 2013 09:24 AM EDT

It's Not Survival of the Fittest: Evolution Occurs Without Competition

Is it really survival of the fittest? That may not be the case when it comes to evolution. Computer scientists have discovered that the popular explanation of competition to survive in nature may not actually be necessary for evolvability to increase.

Apr 27, 2013 08:47 AM EDT

Scientists Discover Earth's Fiery Core is as Hot as the Surface of the Sun

Researchers have discovered that the temperature of the Earth's center is about 1,000 degrees hotter than previously thought, making the fiery core as hot as the surface of the Sun.