Earth News, Earth Science, Energy Technology, Environment News

July 07, 2016

California droughts caused mainly by changes in wind, not moisture
Austin TX (SPX) Jul 07, 2016
Droughts in California are mainly controlled by wind, not by the amount of evaporated moisture in the air, new research has found. The findings were published in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union, on June 30. The research increases the understanding of how the water cycle is related to extreme events and could eventually help in predicting droughts and floods, said lead author Jiangfeng Wei, a research scientist at The University of Texas at Austin's Jackson ... read more

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Weird pupils let octopuses see their colorful gardens Octopuses, squid and other cephalopods are colorblind - their eyes see only black and white - but their weirdly shaped pupils may allow them to detect color and mimic the colors of their background, ... more		Wide range of venomous fishes, tout potential for medical therapies Upon hearing the word "venom," most people probably think of a snake's fang. But the ability to produce and inject toxins into another animal is so useful, it has evolved multiple times in creatures ... more		Characteristics improving bean resistance to drought identified The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume in the tropics. It is an inexpensive source of proteins and minerals for almost 400 million people, mainly from Africa and L ... more
				Coconuts could inspire new designs for earth-quake proof buildings Coconuts are renowned for their hard shells, which are vital to ensure their seeds successfully germinate. But the specialised structure of coconut walls could help to design buildings that can with ... more		The history of human genetic ancestry in Madagascar More than 4,000 years ago, a proto-globalization process started in the Indian Ocean, one of the outcomes being a great human migration of African and Asian peoples spreading across the Indian Ocean ... more

Transition from Operations to Decommissioning by Preparing a Safe, Cost-Effective Shut Down and Waste Management Strategy

Penn engineers develop $2 portable Zika test University of Pennsylvania engineers have developed a rapid, low-cost genetic test for the Zika virus. The $2 testing device, about the size of a soda can, does not require electricity or technical ... more		Understanding forest fire history can help keep forests healthy For nearly a century, forest fires have been viewed by scientists and the public as dangerous and environmentally damaging disasters. However, recent research has shown that forest fires are vital t ... more		Collaborative Agreement to Advance Solar Arrays for Satellite Power Systems Diraq progresses to new stage in DARPA drive for practical quantum computers FSU physicists discover new state of matter in electrons, platform to study quantum phenomena		Transforming water fleas prepare for battle Water fleas can thwart their enemies by growing defensive structures such as helmets and spines. What's more, this predator-induced 'arming' process is not a one-size-fits-all approach - they can ev ... more
				A new tool to study plant cell biomechanics We know that within every living plant there are millions of cells working together in a wonderfully complex harmony. But what we don't know is, within each of these cells, what exactly is going on. ... more		Teaching drones about the birds and the bees Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) of the future will be able to visually coordinate their flight and navigation just like birds and flying insects do, without needing human input, radar or even GPS sa ... more

2nd Integrated Air and Missile Defense - Securing the Complex Air Domain: Requirements for Sustainable, Global, and Reliable Solutions to Next Generation Air & Missile Threats - 28-30 September, 2016 | Washington D.C.

The World's Largest Commercial Drone Conference and Expo - Sept 7-9 - Las Vegas

Erupting volcano in South Atlantic putting penguin colonies at risk For the last three months, Mount Curry, a volcano on Zavodovski Island in the South Atlantic, has been erupting. In a new report, ecologists with the British Antarctic Survey warn that the eruption is putting local penguin populations at risk. ... more		HK offers protection to bookseller after China warning Hong Kong police offered protection on Wednesday to a bookseller who was detained in China for eight months without access to a lawyer, as Beijing warned that he was violating his bail terms. ... more		Arrival of US aircraft carrier fuels Venezuelan fears of attack Russia offers US nuclear talks in bid to ease tensions US-China tensions weigh on Lisbon's Web Summit		Nepal selling rice donated for quake victims Nepal is selling thousands of tonnes of rice donated by China and Bangladesh to help earthquake victims, an official said Wednesday, despite aid agencies warning that survivors remain at risk of food shortages. ... more
Thousands flee as super typhoon barrels towards Taiwan Taiwanese were Wednesday told to brace for extreme winds and lashing rains as the first typhoon of the season approached, prompting the evacuation of thousands of tourists from offshore islands. ... more		Up to 50 pilot whales killed in Faroes: activists A militant conservation group claimed Wednesday that up to 50 pilot whales have been killed in the first traditional whale hunt of the year in the Faroe Islands, but authorities there defended the practice and slammed the activists. ... more		Evidence of cannibalism among late Neanderthals found in Europe Neanderthal bones found in Belgium shows signs of intentional butchering, evidence the human ancestors consumed their own. ... more		Ancient Brazilians occupied the same houses for centuries New research suggests the pit house dwellers of Brazil's southern highlands occupied the same houses for centuries, maintaining their in habitability though regular repairs. ... more

	Apple will promote organ donations in Health app Apple on Tuesday announced that the coming version of software for iPhones will include an easy way for people in the US to become organ donors. ... more		Study: Venomous fish could be repository of medicinal compounds New research out of the University of Kansas shows the ability to produce venom has independently evolved 18 times among fresh and saltwater fish species. ... more

New Structures Could Keep Astronauts Fit During Long Missions

Aerospace modules completed for Artemis lunar crew mission

MIT researchers propose a new model for legible, modular software

Scientists observe first signs of healing in the Antarctic ozone layer		Vegetation in Russian Arctic has memory		Decoding the genome of the olive tree		Seaweeds get sick too when they're stressed		Crucial peatlands carbon-sink vulnerable to rising sea levels
Ocean circulation implicated in past abrupt climate changes		Researchers identify human fingerprint on Indo-Pacific warm pool growth		Watching a forest breathe		E. coli: The ideal transport for next-gen vaccines?		Ocean acidification affects predator-prey response

Scientists find bouncing droplets can remove contaminants

North America once hosted a relative of the ostrich

More than 120 dead in China floods

China must free US woman held for 'spying': rights group

New study compares transportation energy efficiency of local and conventional food

The Smithsonian celebrates the Panama Canal expansion

Climate change is affecting North American fish

Hong Kong officials to visit Beijing for talks over bookseller

Tears, smoke and loss at site of deadly Baghdad blast

Encounters between gators, humans on the rise in Florida

Pacific Ocean radiation back near normal after Fukushima: study

Flash floods kill 43 in northern Pakistan: officials

Aide to former Chinese president Hu Jintao jailed for life: media

China passes law to 'regulate' wild animal products

Study finds that plant growth responses to high carbon dioxide depend on symbiotic fungi

Conservation key to curbing emissions from palm oil agriculture in Africa

What does the sperm whale say

New farming strategies can help prevent soil runoff while maintaining high crop yields

Scientists observe first signs of healing in the Antarctic ozone layer

York chemists lead breakthrough in carbon capture

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