Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines top the global per capita list of dietary uptakes of microplastics, while China, Mongolia and the United Kingdom top the list of countries that breathe the most microplastics, according to a new study by Cornell researchers mapping microplastic uptake across 109 countries. Southeast Asian countries such…
Without immediate action to help the world’s most vulnerable people adapt to climate change, millions face the prospect of their homes becoming unlivable, with no option but to leave. Without immediate action to help the world’s most vulnerable people adapt to climate change, millions face the prospect of their homes becoming unlivable, with no option but…
In the occupied far east of Ukraine, Russian forces are aiming waves of missiles against Ukrainian civilian targets. Each of Russia’s state-of-the-art missile launch systems costs more than US$100 million (A$150 million). They allow Russia to launch attacks from safe positions many kilometers behind the front lines. In the occupied far east of Ukraine, Russian forces…
University of Michigan physicists have devised a way to manipulate active fluids, a type of fluid composed of individual units that can propel themselves independently, by taking advantage of topological defects in the fluids. University of Michigan physicists have devised a way to manipulate active fluids, a type of fluid composed of individual units that can…
Extreme heat can harm human health, but so can extreme temperature swings. Large daily temperature variation (DTV) has been associated with elevated mortality in studies around the world. Trees and other vegetation can lower DTV, as trees reduce temperature through transpiration during the day and also trap long-wave radiation in the atmosphere under the canopy…
How do migrants choose their destinations? Existing models, known as “gravity models,” use population size and travel distance as explanatory variables—and often fail, especially at the neighborhood scale. Many migrants prefer to move to a location near friends, family, or co-nationals. How do migrants choose their destinations? Existing models, known as “gravity models,” use population size…
Researchers have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to significantly advance the discovery and optimization of multicomponent metal oxide electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Researchers have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to significantly advance the discovery and optimization of multicomponent metal oxide electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Phys.org –…
Having extra chromosomes is typically an issue for an organism and can disrupt development or cause disease. But some cells benefit instead. For example, cancer cells or pathogenic yeasts can use extra chromosomes to escape treatment and become drug-resistant. Having extra chromosomes is typically an issue for an organism and can disrupt development or cause disease….
Huge black holes are firing powerful beams of particles into space—and then changing their aim to fire at new targets. This discovery, made using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Radio Astronomical Observatory’s (NRAO) Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), shows what kind of widespread impact black holes can have…
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft passed its six-month checkup with a clean bill of health, and there’s no holding back now. Navigators are firing its futuristic-looking electric thrusters, which emit a blue glow, nearly nonstop as the orbiter zips farther into deep space. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft passed its six-month checkup with a clean bill of health, and there’s…