Top Stories

As Ochre Sea Star ‘Baby Boomers’ Grow Up, Species Showing Signs of Recovery

The “baby boom” of ochre sea stars that followed a population crash a decade ago is enabling the species to recover on the Oregon Coast, according to new research by scientists at Oregon State University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

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UW-Led Study Links Wildfire Smoke to Increased Odds of Preterm Birth

About 10% of American babies are born prematurely. Birth before 37 weeks can lead to a cascade of health risks, both immediate and long-term, making prevention a vital tool for improving public health over generations.

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Sprayable RNA Pesticide Works Best When Potato Beetles are Small

The first sprayable insecticide made of RNA can target and kill ravenous Colorado potato beetles while sparing most beneficial insects, making it a promising environmentally friendly option.

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Tiny Ponds in the Andes Pack a Big Climate Punch, UNC Study Finds

Small mountain ponds high in the tropical Andes may be playing an outsized role in global climate change, according to new research led by scientists at the University of North Carolina.

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How Algae Help Corals Bounce Back After Bleaching

Using advanced technology to understand natural reef resilience, and boost it.

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Cul-De-Sac Effect: Why Mediterranean Regions Are Becoming More Prone to Extreme Floods in a Changing Climate

By analyzing the devastating floods that affected Emilia-Romagna, Italy, in 2023 and 2024, a team of researchers from CMCC – the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change – describes for the first time how a particular orographic configuration makes certain regions particularly prone to extreme flooding. 

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After Distractions, Rotating Brain Waves May Help Thought Circle Back to the Task

To get back on track after a distraction, the cortex appears to employ a rotating traveling wave, a new study by MIT neuroscientists finds.

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Plastic-Munching Bacteria Found Across the Seven Seas

New enzyme motif shows how ocean microbes are evolving to digest plastic — and could help future cleanup efforts.

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Unprecedented Decline in Marine Viruses in the Western Mediterranean Linked to Climate Change Revealed

A team led by the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) has described a sustained and unprecedented decrease in the abundance of marine viruses in the northwestern Mediterranean over the last two decades. 

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Carbon Cycle Can Plunge Earth Into an Ice Age

Until now, the slow weathering of silicate rocks has been considered as the main factor in climate regulation.

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