New research into lithium mining in the "Lithium Triangle" of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia—source of more than half of the world's lithium resources—shows that the commonly accepted models used to estimate how much water is available for lithium extraction and what the environmental effects may be are off by more than an order of magnitude. [...]
When waves come crashing over the sea wall in Chile's biggest port of San Antonio, dockers run for cover. [...]
By 2030, Coca-Cola products will account for an estimated 1.33 billion pounds (602,000 metric tonnes) of plastic waste entering the world's oceans and waterways each year, according to a stark new analysis published Wednesday by the nonprofit Oceana. [...]
Truck driver Lee Seung-joo was driving through South Korea's Andong mountains when the wildfires hit, engulfing the area in flames and turning it into "a literal hell." [...]
Highly charged heavy ions form a very suitable experimental field for investigating quantum electrodynamics (QED), the best-tested theory in physics describing all electrical and magnetic interactions of light and matter. A crucial property of the electron within QED is the so-called g factor, which precisely characterizes how the particle behaves in a magnetic field. [...]
An "unprecedented" mass bleaching event has been recorded off Australia's western coast, scientists said Wednesday, turning huge chunks of a celebrated reef system a sickly dull white. [...]
More states are moving to ban or restrict cellphones in school, a trend that continues to win bipartisan support in legislatures. [...]
Researchers at the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to observe the complete lifecycle of palladium nanoparticles in a liquid environment, from nucleation through growth to dissolution, with the entire cycle repeating multiple times. This study is published in Nanoscale. [...]
Many protoplanetary disks in which new planets are formed are much smaller than thought. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) scientists of the Leiden Observatory (the Netherlands) looked at 73 protoplanetary disks in the Lupus region. They found that many young stars host modest disks of gas and dust, some as small as 1.2 astronomical units. The research, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, establishes an important link between observed protoplanetary disks and exoplanets. [...]
A new study has revealed that African elephants have an extraordinary ability to meet their colossal food requirements as efficiently as possible. Data from over 150 elephants demonstrated that these giants plan their journeys based on energy costs and resource availability. [...]
The world's amphibians are in trouble. Because of their sensitivity to climate change, habitat loss, and pollution, they may be the canary in the coal mine for the nascent anthropogenic mass extinction. Approximately 200 amphibian species have become extinct since the 1970s, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates that 34% of the 7,296 known remaining species are likewise at risk. [...]
Monogamous and non-monogamous individuals report similar levels of satisfaction in both their relationships and sex lives, according to a comprehensive new meta-analysis. [...]
New technology can separate the fibers in the sugar beet pulp left over after sugar production. Part of the fiber can be used as a nutritional supplement due to its anti-inflammatory properties and beneficial effects on our gut flora. Another part of the fiber, the cellulose, can be made into components to replace, for example, plastic. [...]
Until the 1990s, Venezuela was home to one of the most established democracies in Latin America. Today, however, it stands as one of the region's most firmly entrenched authoritarian regimes. [...]
Wildlife conservation is critical to sustaining the planet's biodiversity and health. But putting together a conservation plan is a tall order. First of all, you need to determine what species you're conserving, along with their numbers, habitat needs, threats and how they fit into a complex ecosystem. [...]
Businesses invest billions in marketing automation, and many assume that Automated Lead Nurturing (ALN) is a proven driver of sales. However, a new Journal of Marketing study reveals that ALN is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The research finds that while ALN improves engagement and enhances salesperson–lead interactions, its impact on sales conversions varies significantly across industries and customer segments. [...]
The mortar, pestle and cutting board in your kitchen are modern versions of manos and metates—ancient cooking implements found in archaeological sites around the world. A mano is a hand-held stone tool used with a metate to grind and pulverize food materials from plants and animals. The metate is a large, flat piece of stone or a depression ground into a bedrock surface. These bedrock metates, also known as open-air metates, are particularly common at archaeological sites, with the oldest dating as far back as 15,500 years. [...]
There's no getting around it: Staying on top of the world's environmental challenges can be a grim experience. Climate change, floods, wildfires, collapsing biodiversity—it's enough to turn many readers off the news entirely. [...]
Children's musical abilities develop at different rates and not always to the same extent. But what factors play a role? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, have developed a questionnaire to assess the musicality of 3- to 10-year-olds. [...]
Researchers have shed new light on how tissues in the body are repaired following the damage and premature death of tissue cells. [...]
A research team affiliated with the Nano Optics Group within the Department of Physics at UNIST has announced the successful implementation of a plasmonic structure capable of precisely adjusting nanometer-sized gaps in response to temperature changes. This technology enables real-time adjustment of nanogaps to match the size of molecules, allowing for detection capabilities that significantly surpass conventional sensors. [...]
Two years ago, MIT professor of literature Arthur Bahr had one of the best days of his life. Sitting in the British Library, he was allowed to page through the Pearl-Manuscript, a singular bound volume from the 1300s containing the earliest versions of the masterly medieval poem "Pearl," the famous tale "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," and two other poems. [...]
The Dutch textile industry stands at a crossroads. Fast fashion and overconsumption are driving an ever-growing mountain of waste, while the Netherlands is committed to achieving a fully circular textile chain by 2050. But how do we get there? [...]
The latest review article from the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) in Portugal opens up horizons for the identification of bee species in a diversity of ecosystems and was based on the Caatinga biome in Brazil. [...]
Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), in collaboration with international partners, have developed a novel approach to addressing uncertainties in ecological and environmental projections, providing a more robust assessment of extinction risk for emperor penguins. [...]
Long-wave infrared birefringent crystals are essential materials in infrared optical applications in fields such as infrared imaging, laser technology, and optical communications. Due to limitations in birefringence, infrared transmission, and crystal growth, high-performance long-wave infrared birefringent crystals have rarely been reported. [...]
Mitochondria play a crucial role in maintaining energy balance and cellular health. Recent studies have shown that chronic stress in neuronal mitochondria can have far-reaching effects, not only damaging the neurons themselves but also influencing other tissues and systemic metabolic functions. [...]
A joint team of professors—Hajun Kim, Taejoon Kwon, and Joo Hun Kang—from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNIST has unveiled a novel diagnostic technique that utilizes artificially designed polymers known as peptide nucleic acid (PNA) as probes. The research is published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics. [...]
The arrangement of small molecules—known as ligands—around transition metal atoms affects how the metal atoms behave. This is important because transition metals are used as catalysts in the synthesis of a wide range of important materials. [...]
A breakthrough in safely delivering therapeutic DNA to cells could transform treatment for millions suffering from common chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. [...]