Researchers find quantitative evidence that stress turns hair grey

The first quantitative evidence linking psychological stress to greying hair in people has been found by researchers at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. The findings were published in the journal eLife. While it may seem intuitive that stress can accelerate greying, the researchers were surprised to discover that hair colour […]

Scientists use NASA satellite data to track ocean microplastics from space

Scientists from the University of Michigan have developed an innovative way to use the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) satellite data to track the movement of tiny pieces of plastic in the ocean. Microplastics from when plastic trash in the ocean breaks down from the sun’s rays and the motion of ocean waves. These […]

Excess nitrogen puts butterflies at risk, researchers affirm

Nitrogen from agriculture, vehicle emissions and industry is endangering butterflies in Switzerland. The element is deposited in the soil via the air and has an impact on vegetation- to the detriment of the butterflies, as researchers at the University of Basel have discovered. In the journal Conservation Biology, the research team reports a connection between this unintentional […]

Climate change increases extreme rainfall, chance of floods: Experts

Climate experts at the Newcastle University warn that, without urgent action, climate change will continue to cause an increase in the intensity of extreme rainfall that can lead to severe flooding. An international research team have concluded that increases in extreme rainfall and associated flooding are projected to continue as global temperatures continue to rise. Efforts to limit warming […]

Study confirms invasive lionfish now threaten species along Brazilian coast

A study led by the researchers at the California Academy of Sciences confirms invasive lionfish now threaten species along the Brazilian coast; management is critical to protecting local biodiversity. Since arriving at the northern Atlantic Ocean less than 30 years ago, lionfish have quickly become one of the most widespread and voracious invasive species, negatively impacting marine […]

Air quality improved during lockdown in India, study shows

Research by scientists from the University of Southampton (UK) and the Central University of Jharkhand (India) and has shown the first COVID-19 lockdown in India led to an improvement in air quality and a reduction in land surface temperature in major urban areas across the country. The study found that travel and work restrictions […]

Scientists indentify viruses in human genes that damage brain development

As new study has been able to prove for the first time that activation of distinct human endogenous retroviruses, which are part of our genome, impair brain development dramatically. The findings of the study, which is originated from an international collaboration led by researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen – German Research Center for Environmental Health, could help […]

Structural details of how SARS-CoV-2 variants escape immune response revealed

Fast-spreading variants of the COVID-19-causing coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, carry mutations that enable the virus to escape some of the immune response created naturally or by vaccination. A new study by a team of researchers has revealed key details of how these escape mutations work. The scientists at Scripps Research, along with […]

New research could help scientists better estimate Earth’s carbon budget

A team led by University of Minnesota researchers have discovered that deep-sea bacteria dissolve carbon-containing rocks, releasing excess carbon into the ocean and atmosphere. The findings will allow scientists to better estimate the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere, the main driver of global warming. The study is published in The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of […]