Top Stories

Flood, Drought and Disease Tolerant – One Gene to Rule Them All

An international collaboration between researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Nagoya University and the University of Western Australia has resulted in a breakthrough in plant biology. Since 2014, the researchers have worked on identifying the genetic background for the improved flood tolerance observed in rice, wheat and several natural wetland plants. In a New Phytologist, article, the researchers describe the discovery of a single gene that controls the surface properties of rice, rendering the leaves superhydrophobic.

>> Read the Full Article

Could the LRT help reduce greenhouse effect?

Could the LRT help reduce greenhouse effect?

A rising trend in some countries, urban rail transit systems are an alternative to freight transport through cities.

>> Read the Full Article

A laser focus on super water-repellent metals

In a laboratory at the University of Rochester, researchers are using lasers to change the surface of metals in incredible ways, such as making them super water-repellent without the use of special coatings, paints, or solvents.

>> Read the Full Article

Unravelling the Mystery of Ice Ages Using Ancient Molecules

Researchers from Cardiff University have revealed how sea ice has been contributing to the waxing and waning of ice sheets over the last million years.

>> Read the Full Article

Studies Show Urbanization Impacts Storms, Rainfall Despite Surroundings

Two Purdue University studies show that urbanization changes storm patterns and rainfall amounts, highlighting the need for urban planning and infrastructure design that considers how the landscape will affect the weather.

>> Read the Full Article

Elephant Declines Imperil 96 Percent of Central Africa's Forests

Poaching and habitat loss have reduced forest elephant populations in Central Africa by 63 percent since 2001. This widespread killing poses dire consequences not only for the species itself but also for the region’s forests, a new Duke University study finds.

>> Read the Full Article

Four Kinds of Algal Toxins Found in San Francisco Bay Shellfish

Researchers monitoring San Francisco Bay for algal toxins have found a surprising array of different toxins in the water and in mussels collected from the bay. Four different classes of toxins, including one produced in freshwater environments, occur regularly throughout the bay, according to a study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers and published March 10 in Harmful Algae.

>> Read the Full Article

Humans Behind Majority of Raptor Deaths in Ontario, Study Finds

Human encroachment is the leading cause of death among Ontario’s at-risk birds of prey, according to a first-ever University of Guelph study.

>> Read the Full Article

Why Is It So Hot At Night In Some Cities?

During the nighttime, it is hotter in the city than in nearby suburbs or the countryside. But just how much hotter differs between cities. Researchers from the MSE2 (CNRS / MIT) international joint research laboratory and the Centre Interdisciplinaire des Nanosciences de Marseille (CNRS / Aix-Marseille University)1 have shown that the determining factor is how cities are structured: more organized cities, like many in North America with straight and perpendicular streets, trap more heat. Conversely, cities that are less organized, like those founded long ago, shed heat easily. The team's findings, published in Physical Review Letters (March 9, 2018), suggest new directions to explore for optimal urban planning and energy management.

>> Read the Full Article

Research Could Improve Management of Conflict Between Wildlife and Farmers Across the Globe

A new study led by the University of Stirling highlights improvements in the way conflicts between wildlife conservation and farming are managed worldwide.

>> Read the Full Article