Beyond the problem of greenhouse gas emissions and their contribution to the climate crisis, the widespread use of hydrocarbons, the fundamental components of fossil fuels, presents significant environmental challenges. “Hydrocarbons represent the…
Scientists harvest electricity from the movement of molecules
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…
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…
To form pink diamonds, build and destroy a supercontinent
The world’s largest source of natural diamonds — and of more than 90 percent of all natural pink diamonds found so far — may have formed due to the breakup of Earth’s…
A laser gyroscope measured tiny variations in the lengths of days on Earth
Some days really are longer than others. And now scientists know by precisely how much. Using a laser gyroscope, scientists have measured variations in Earth’s rotation rate smaller than a millionth of…
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…