Where an additive settles may be just as important as what it does.
Earth and environment
Carbon storage in the deep sea linked to Earth’s cooling over 4.5 million years
A positive feedback loop may have driven carbon sequestration within the deep Pacific and shaped a cooling climate over millions of years.
Mixed mycorrhizal forests foster a richer diversity of understory herbs
In temperate forests, canopy trees shape understory herb diversity through the fungal partnerships they make
Stress-resistant electrode design could advance calcium and magnesium batteries
A new design strategy reduces the strain that has long challenged multivalent batteries.
Albatrosses reveal how a volatile environment reshapes the pace of life
Decades of tracking two albatross colonies showed that unpredictable conditions push birds toward slower reproductive strategies.
Soil biodiversity drives ecosystem recovery after wildfires
While wildfire initially disrupts life below ground, healthy and diverse soil communities drive ecosystem restoration.
Nature-inspired coating repels both water and ice
A PFAS-free coating could help protect aircraft, wind turbines, and power lines from hazardous ice buildup.
Fossilized plants offer a new route to analyze Earth’s past atmosphere
By decoding carbon trapped in ancient plant matter, scientists track carbon fluxes back beyond ocean records.
Leaftronics: greener electronics learnt from leaves
Hans Kleeman describes how inspiration from leaves will enable a new generation of sustainable, biodegradable electronics.
Beneath Bergmann’s Rule: Why burrowing owls grow bigger in the North
Bergmann’s rule is driven not only by evolution, but also early-life stress and short-term environmental shifts.