Antarctica yields oldest fossils of giant birds with 21-foot wingspans
Some of the largest birds in history, called pelagornithids, arose a few million years after the mass extinction that killed off the dinosaurs and patrolled the oceans with giant wingspans for some 60 million years. A team of paleontologists has found two fossils — each from individual pelagornithids with wingspans of 20 feet or more — that show this gigantism arose at least 50 million years ago and lasted at least 10 million years.
Ancient lake contributed to past San Andreas fault ruptures
The San Andreas fault, which runs along the western coast of North America and crosses dense population centers like Los Angeles, California, is one of the most-studied faults in North America because of its significant hazard risk. Based on its roughly 150-year recurrence interval for magnitude 7.5 earthquakes and the fact that it’s been over 300 years since that’s happened, the southern San Andreas fault has long been called ‘overdue’ for such an earthquake.
Artificially sweetened drinks may not be heart healthier than sugary drinks
Sugary drinks and artificially sweetened beverages are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, which suggests artificially sweetened beverages may not be the healthy alternative they are often claimed to be, according to a research letter.
Modern computational tools may open a new era for fossil pollen research
(Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) By integrating machine-learning technology with high-resolution imaging, scientists are improving the taxonomic resolution of fossil pollen identifications and greatly enhancing the use of pollen data in ecological and evolutionary research.
UCF researcher is working to extend battery life in smartphones, electric cars
(University of Central Florida) A University of Central Florida researcher is working to make portable devices and electric vehicles stay charged longer by extending the life of the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries powering them.He is doing this by making the batteries more efficient, with some of his latest work focusing on keeping the anode from falling apart over time. The new technique is detailed in the journal Advanced Materials.
Seabird response to abrupt climate change 5,000 years ago transformed Falklands ecosystems
A 14,000-year paleoecological reconstruction of the sub-Antarctic islands has found that seabird establishment occurred during a period of regional cooling 5,000 years ago. Their populations, in turn, shifted the Falkland Islands ecosystems through the deposit of high concentrations of guano that helped nourish tussac, produce peat and increase the incidence of fire.
SPOTlight supercharges cell studies
Researchers develop a new method to isolate specific cells, and in the process find a more robust fluorescent protein.
Where will the seabirds go?
(Lehigh University) A new study of a 14,000-year record, published in Science Advances, shows that seabird poop transformed an entire ecosystem in the Falkland Islands, raising questions about the birds’ survival and the potential impact of climate change on sensitive terrestrial-marine ecosystems
Where will the seabirds go?
(Lehigh University) A new study of a 14,000-year record, published in Science Advances, shows that seabird poop transformed an entire ecosystem in the Falkland Islands, raising questions about the birds’ survival and the potential impact of climate change on sensitive terrestrial-marine ecosystems
DNA in fringe-lipped bat feces reveals unexpected eating habits
By examining the guano of the fringe-lipped bat (Trachops cirrhosus), biologists encountered surprising results about its eating habits and foraging abilities.
Recent Comments