A new frontier in clean energy may be on the horizon with nanoscale generators that capture electricity from molecules. The quest for cleaner, dependable energy sources is a global imperative. Beyond harnessing…
Author: Carolyn Gramling
First ever diagnostic test for chronic fatigue syndrome sparks hope
For David Polgreen, the past 35 years have been a relentless battle against chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition he developed following a university holiday he took with a friend back in 1988….
What’s driving an increasing number of hurricanes to rapidly intensify?
On the morning of September 5, a loosely swirling system of thunderstorms formed off the western coast of Africa. By September 6, the system had become a Category 1 storm, with maximum…
First animal model to show the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on fertility
Many trans or nonbinary individuals grapple with gender dysphoria, an enduring distress caused by a conflict between the sex assigned at birth and the gender they identify with. Among a myriad of…
Some leaves in tropical forests may be getting too hot for photosynthesis
Like people, leaves have their limits when it comes to heat. Scientists first reported in 1864 that the leaves of some plants could survive up to 50° Celsius, only to perish beyond…
Turning plastic waste into low-cost hydrogen fuels
As the impacts of the ongoing climate crisis and environmental challenges like pollution and ecosystem degradation become increasingly evident, the need for innovative solutions that address these complex issues on multiple fronts…
‘The Deepest Map’ explores the thrills — and dangers — of charting the ocean
The Deepest MapLaura TretheweyHarper Wave, $32 In 2019, the multimillionaire and explorer Victor Vescovo made headlines when he became the first person to visit the deepest parts of all five of Earth’s…
How Kenya is helping its neighbors develop geothermal energy
The dusty town of Naivasha sits within the Great Rift Valley, where the African continent is being divided into two. About 90 kilometers northwest of Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi, Naivasha welcomes…
When discussing flora and fauna, don’t forget ‘funga’
Fungi. They grow between toes, on bread and in the shower. But the organisms also produce food and medicine and act as ecosystem maids by decomposing dead matter — benefits that are…
Emperor penguins lost thousands of chicks to melting ice last year
Thousands of emperor penguins in western Antarctica lost their chicks last year, largely due to receding sea ice, satellite data suggest. Over the last two years, sea ice has reached record lows…