Newswise Feature Channel: Nature

DOE Announces Funding for Climate Resilience Centers

Department of Energy, Office of Science — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:25:27 EST

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Climate Resilience Centers (CRCs). These new centers will be dedicated to rapidly developing new science and talent to address the nation's most pressing climate resilience challenges.

Grassroots Movement Protects 200 km² of Puerto Rico's Ocean Ecosystems

Wildlife Conservation Society — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 08:40:48 EST

After 16 years of grassroots efforts, local communities in northern Puerto Rico are celebrating the creation of a new marine protected area (MPA) - Jardines Submarinos de Vega Baja y Manati.

Six Global Environmental Organizations Unite to Scale Climate and Conservation Outcomes Through Sovereign Debt Conversions

Wildlife Conservation Society — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:10:37 EST

Today, at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Re:wild, The Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund in the US announced the formation of a coalition to scale climate and conservation outcomes through the use of sovereign debt conversions.

Governments at UN Biodiversity Meeting Are Poised to Take Important Step to Prevent the Next Deadly Pandemic

Wildlife Conservation Society — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:30:57 EST

Governments at the United Nations biodiversity meeting are poised to take an important step to integrate health and conservation and lessen the chances of future deadly pandemics of zoonotic origin, with the adoption of the Global Action Plan for Biodiversity and Health at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16).

H5N1 Virus Isolated From Infected Dairy Worker Is 100% Lethal in Ferrets, but Does Not Appear to Be Circulating in Nature Anymore

University of Wisconsin-Madison — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:35:01 EST

A strain of H5N1 avian influenza virus found in a Texas dairy worker who was infected this spring was able to spread among ferrets through the air, although inefficiently, and killed 100% of infected animals in studies University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers performed with the strain earlier this year.

Thin Skin Significantly Blunts Injury From Puncture, Study Finds

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 09:45:01 EST

Thin, stretchy skin -- like that of a pig or human -- lessens the underlying damage that occurs when it's punctured. Pig skin even outperforms synthetic materials designed to mimic skin, a study led by the University of Illinois finds. Its qualities, in particular its ability to dissipate the energy of a puncturing object, greatly reduce the damage to deeper tissues.

Expert Unravels Truth on Spiders as Friend, Foe

University of Florida — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:35:20 EST

As Halloween approaches, Johnalyn Gordon, an urban entomologist, responds to the top five questions she receives to ease fears and help celebrate our spooky spider friends.

Watershed Moment: Engineers Invent High-Yield Atmospheric Water Capture Device for Arid Regions

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 19:30:21 EST

As a megadrought stresses the water supply throughout the Southwest, revolutionary research out of UNLV is answering this problem with a groundbreaking technology that pulls large amounts of water from the air in low humidity.

University of Idaho-Led Study Uncovers Effects of Food Subsidies on Wood Stork Reproductive Rates

University of Idaho — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 15:30:57 EST

Green Leaf Volatiles: A Natural Ally in Plant Stress Resistance

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:55:59 EST

Scientists have identified a natural compound, (Z)-3-hexenyl butyrate (HB), that can induce stomatal closure in plants, a defense mechanism to conserve water and protect against pathogens. This discovery could lead to more sustainable agricultural practices by enhancing crop resilience to environmental stresses without the need for synthetic pesticides.

Revamping Chinese Cabbage: CRISPR Edits for Healthier Flavonoids

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:35:41 EST

Scientists have leveraged CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to enhance the nutritional properties of Chinese cabbage. By targeting the BrFLS1 gene, they engineered a variety with reduced flavonol content and increased levels of dihydroflavonols, compounds associated with enhanced health benefits and stress tolerance. This advancement paves the way for developing cabbage varieties with improved nutritional value, offering potential benefits in both health and agriculture.

The Rosy Future of Fruits: A Genomic Leap with ROFT Database

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:20:41 EST

A new study presents a significant leap in our understanding of Rosaceae fruits, unveiling a comparative genomic resource that could transform fruit breeding. The research provides insights into the gene expression patterns across different developmental stages of apples, peaches, strawberries, and raspberries, offering a robust platform for future crop improvement and variety development.

New Tool Enables a More Complete and Rapid Decoding of the Language of Algal Gene Expression

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:10:27 EST

A new method that research teams can use to measure and compare different forms of proteins and protein complexes helped reveal a previously unseen molecular signature of how algal genomes are controlled during the cell cycle.

Saving the Bats: Researchers Find Bacteria, Fungi on Bat Wings That Could Help Fight Deadly White-Nose Syndrome

McMaster University — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:00:39 EST

Bacteria and fungi from the wings of bats could play a significant role in saving them from white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease affecting the skin of wings and muzzle, which has nearly wiped out vulnerable bat populations across North America.

Soils from Six Continents Add Up to Largest Database of Viruses Beneath Our Feet

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:00:19 EST

Scientists have plumbed the depths of nearly 3,000 soil samples from around the globe to put together the heftiest atlas of soil viruses ever created. But what are all those viruses doing in the soil? More than 97 percent are considered "viral dark matter" that have no known function.

Aromatic Arms: Waterlilies Wage Scent-Based War on Aphids

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 08:55:00 EST

A recent study has uncovered how the night-blooming waterlily Nymphaea prolifera uses its floral scents to ward off aphids. Researchers explored the biosynthesis and ecological role of these floral compounds, revealing new insights into early plant-insect dynamics and the plant's natural defenses.

Decoding Rose's Immune Crosstalk: The Power of Proteomics in Combating Plant Pathogens

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 04:40:03 EST

A cutting-edge study offers fresh insights into how roses defend themselves against the damaging fungus Botrytis cinerea, which causes severe losses in ornamental plants. Researchers uncovered how phosphorylation and ubiquitination--two key protein modifications--work together to regulate the plant's immune response. Their findings may lead to the development of roses with stronger resistance to fungal infections, potentially benefiting both commercial growers and horticulturists.

Gardens Prevent Pollinators From Starving When Farmland Nectar Is Scarce, New Study Finds

University of Bristol — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 19:05:00 EST

Gardens offer a steady and reliable source of nectar all year round, helping to keep pollinators fed when farmland sources are limited, researchers have discovered.

Can a UN Meeting Help Save Jaguars?

Wildlife Conservation Society — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:50:52 EST

"The CBD CoP16 in Cali, Colombia is important for the future of jaguars. This magnificent spotted neotropical big cat has already lost more than 50% of its original distribution and the trend in the species' populations continues to decline. Thus, a significant change must occur to conserve them for the long term."

Colombia Advances in the Protection Of Its National Natural Parks Amid Ongoing Threats

Wildlife Conservation Society — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:00:05 EST

The effective management of Colombia's National Natural Parks, with the participation of communities, the private sector, and society at large, is essential to ensuring peace with nature. This was the main recommendation of the 2024 report presented by the civil society initiative Parques Nacionales Como Vamos (PNCV) today in Cali.