by Wei Lifigures by Catherine Ding The universe is massive, with an estimated 70 quintillion planets—that is 70 followed by an additional 18 zeros. In the Milky Way alone, where we reside, there are billions of planets. With these huge numbers, Earth seems very insignificant in the grand scheme of things. This raises the question: are we truly alone in this vast space of the … Continue reading Finding Life in Space: Why are we so special?
by Sanjana Kulkarnifigures by Jovana Andrejevic The average global temperature is increasing faster now than at any time in the last 2 million years. This has fueled record-breaking droughts, heat waves, and wildfires, and has intensified weather patterns, causing more extreme and damaging hurricanes and rainfall. Human activity is driving this change, primarily through the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, which … Continue reading Reversing Climate Change with Geoengineering
Songbird migration paths are shifting due to global changes in temperature. Continue reading Changing Course: Climate Change Leads Songbirds to Reverse Migration Routes
Potty-training cows could help us combat climate change. Continue reading Bathroom Stalls in the Barnyard: How Potty-Trained Cows are Combating Climate Change
Animals frightened by a close call with a predator eat less and produce fewer offspring in the future. Continue reading Frightening Interactions with Predators Have Long-Term Impacts on Animal Brain and Behavior
Alaska is experiencing fast and expansive consequences of climate change, resulting in an increase in greenness in Arctic areas. Continue reading Climate Change Drives Arctic Greening
by Jaclyn Long figures by Wei Wu Grasslands are a type of ecosystem that make up over a quarter of the earth’s land. These habitats are often found in between deserts and forests, and are characterized by low levels of rainfall and regular fires. In North America, grasslands are usually called prairies. The rich soil held in place by grass roots makes them particularly useful for … Continue reading Understanding Life on the Prairie through Ecological Networks
Rainfall in Africa drives the growth of plants that allow painted lady butterflies to make their flight to Europe and back each year. Continue reading Rainfall in Africa Drives Butterfly Populations in Europe
Plastic waste is a huge problem in the world, but only 9% of plastic waste each year is recycled. Recently, researchers discovered a more efficient method of plastic recycling that can hopefully incentivize plastic recycling in the near future. Continue reading Converting Plastic Waste into Fuel
A theoretical study finds that restructuring the US electricity power grid to rely solely on renewable energy sources will improve the grid’s resilience to local disruptions. Continue reading Improving the Power Grid’s Resilience with Renewable Energy Resources