natural
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Earth
Climate change is accelerated “by reducing natural carbon storage,” the study says
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The natural process of locking carbon dioxide (CO2) appears to be diminished. As a result, climate change will accelerate, a study from the University of Stratreid warns. Researchers found that CO2 levels were maintained in vegetation through this process known as sequestration, increasing by 0.8% per year in the 1960s, but peaked in 2008 and now…
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Earth
Iron oxide acts as a natural catalyst for unlocking phosphorus, which is fueled by plant growth
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers at Northwestern University are actively overturning the traditional view of iron oxide as merely phosphorus. A lifelong important nutrient, most phosphorus in the soil, is organic matter from plants, microorganisms, or animal debris. However, plants need inorganic phosphorus, a type found in fertilizers, for food. Researchers traditionally thought that only enzymes from microorganisms and plants…
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Earth
Climate change increases the risk of Himalayas continuous natural disasters
Rampo floods and destruction, 130 km downstream of Lake South Ronak. Credit: Prabled Rao International studies surveyed the causes and effects of the catastrophic flood disasters of Himalayas in October 2023, and destroyed vast areas along the Tista River in India. Research teams from nine countries, including researchers from the University of Zurich (UZH), have analyzed the complex drivers, causes,…
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Earth
500-year simulation reveals natural drivers of North Atlantic Oscillation shift
Research led by a team from the University of Barcelona is helping to solve some mysteries about the causes of NAO migration, one of the most influential patterns of climate change in the Northern Hemisphere. Credit: npj Climate and Atmospheric Science (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41612-024-00842-8 Much remains unknown about what causes the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a significant climate phenomenon in…
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Chemistry
Natural substances derived from edible cyanobacteria may fight skin aging by strengthening collagen
Credit: ACS Agricultural Science and Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acsagscitech.4c00571 Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, have existed for billions of years, adapting to diverse environments. Their remarkable ability to photosynthesize and make their own food and their adaptability to a variety of habitats have made them the focus of the research fraternity. One such cyanobacterium native to Japan, Aphanothece sacrum (also known…
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Earth
Study finds that natural regeneration of tropical forests has immense potential to address environmental challenges
Joshua Slaughter (left) and Matthew Fagan discuss a map of Costa Rica’s forested areas. A global map of potential natural forest regrowth areas, developed in a nature study led by Brooke Williams and Hawthorne Beyer and based on the Global Forest Lands Database developed by Fagan, covers the area of ​​tropical Mexico. This suggests that larger areas may be able…
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Other Sciences
Study finds which students suffer the worst when schools close due to natural disasters
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers examined the effects of school closures due to natural disasters and found that these closures had similar effects on student performance across economic groups. The researchers found that nearly all student groups saw test scores decline, although white students and high-achieving students were the least affected. The topic is of particular interest after Hurricane Helen,…
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Chemistry
Natural compounds in flowers block the activity of enzymes linked to multiple sclerosis and cancer
Structure of flavonoids extracted from dahlia and coreopsis flowers. Red boxes indicate similarities between compound structures and sulfretin (A), and blue boxes indicate differences. Credit: Journal of Biological Chemistry (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107916 Scientists have identified a natural compound that halts processes involved in the development of certain forms of cancer and demyelinating conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, that damage the…
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Chemistry
Advances in processable natural biopolymers: cellulose, chitosan, eggshell membranes, silk fibroin
Key aspects of four processable natural biopolymers, including their preparation, structure, properties, and diverse applications in biomedical engineering, biosensors, environmental engineering, and energy applications. Credit: Science China Press A study published in Science Bulletin explores recent advances in the development of processable natural biopolymers and their myriad applications. With the growth of the world’s population and rapid economic development, the…
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Science
Researchers use training models to map planted and natural forests from satellite imagery
(a) World, (b) Europe, (c) Asia, (d) North America, (e) Oceania, (f) South America, (g) Africa. Photo credit: Xiao Yuelong, Tongji University. Reforestation may seem like a simple way to combat climate change, but planted forests often encroach on natural forests, wetlands and grasslands, which can reduce biodiversity, disrupt natural habitats and disrupt carbon and water cycles. Forest cover is…
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