297 articles from WEDNESDAY 7.4.2021

Coral predators exert a much larger influence on young coral than expected

You might not think an animal made out of stone would have much to worry about in the way of predators, and that's largely what scientists had thought about coral. Although corallivores like parrotfish and pufferfish are well known to biologists, their impact on coral growth and survival was believed to be small compared to factors like heatwaves, ocean acidification and competition from algae.

The Guardian view on dark skies: we need them

Light pollution is killing insects and birds – and an ancient human connection with the heavenly bodiesSevere light pollution in Britain appears to have fallen, according to the CPRE, the countryside charity. Across a week in February, the charity asked volunteers to look up and count the stars they could see. The results suggest that 51% of participants were experiencing severe light pollution,...

Caught speeding: Clocking the fastest-spinning brown dwarfs

Using data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have identified the three fastest-spinning brown dwarfs ever found. More massive than most planets but not quite heavy enough to ignite like stars, brown dwarfs are cosmic in-betweeners. And though they aren't as well known as stars and planets to most people, they are thought to number in the billions in our galaxy.

Entropy measurements reveal exotic effect in 'magic-angle' graphene

Most materials go from being solids to liquids when they are heated. One rare counter-example is helium-3, which can solidify upon heating. This counterintuitive and exotic effect, known as the Pomeranchuk effect, may now have found its electronic analog in a material known as magic-angle graphene, says a team of researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science led by Prof. Shahal Ilani, in...

Ancient human migration into Europe revealed via genome analysis

Genetic sequencing dating back 45,000 years shows intermixing with Neanderthals more common than previously thoughtGenetic sequencing of human remains dating back 45,000 years has revealed a previously unknown migration into Europe and showed intermixing with Neanderthals in that period was more common than previously thought.The research is based on analysis of several ancient human remains –...

Mosel vineyards are preparing for climate change by sharing their soil with aromatic plants

The landscape of sloping vineyards on the banks of the Mosel River in Germany is a characteristic symbol of a region which cannot be understood without its wine: the Mosel wine region. Tourists from all over the world, especially from the neighboring countries of Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands visit the area in search of mountains and wine. However, the lack of new generations and the...

Foetus in bishop's coffin was probably his grandson

Bishop Peder Winstrup died in 1679, and is one of the most well-preserved human bodies from the 1600s. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden may now have solved the mystery of why a fetus was hidden in his coffin in Lund Cathedral. DNA from the bishop and the fetus, along with kinship analyses, has shown that the child was probably the bishop's own grandson.

The opportunities and risks of digitalization for sustainable development

Digitalisation can support transitions towards a more sustainable society if technologies and processes are designed in line with suitable criteria. This requires a systemic focus on the risks and benefits of digital technologies across the three dimensions of sustainable development: the environment, society, and the economy. This is the conclusion of a study prepared by a team of researchers at...

Losing weight through exercise

Worldwide 39 percent of the adults were overweight in 2016, according to statistics of the World Health Organization. Concurrently millions of people want to lose weight. One way to do this is exercising. But what influence does sport have on (direct) eating habits?

Episode 30 - Modern-Day Explorers Search for Life Beyond Earth

Is there life beyond Earth? NASA has been sending spacecraft to the far reaches of our solar system in search of an answer. But extreme forms of life on our own planet might reveal secrets of how life could form beyond Earth. Meet two NASA women who have ventured on remote expeditions and traversed Earth’s most extreme landscapes in the name of science and astrobiology. Send in your...

What's Up - April 2021

Look for the rosy arch known as the Belt of Venus at sunset, then find the constellation Leo overhead on April evenings. Also check out Jupiter and Saturn with the Moon on April 6. News Article Type: Homepage ArticlesPublished: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 -...

Fetus in bishop's coffin was probably his grandson

Bishop Peder Winstrup died in 1679, and is one of the most well-preserved human bodies from the 1600s. Researchers may now have solved the mystery of why a fetus was hidden in his coffin in Lund Cathedral. DNA from the bishop and the fetus, along with kinship analyses, has shown that the child was probably the bishop's own grandson.