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Gibbons’ large, long-term territories put them under threat from habitat loss

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Wild gibbons living in the peat swamps of southern Borneo require between 20 and 50 hectares of forest territory for each group, making their populations particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, according to a study publishing July 31 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Dr. Susan Cheyne at the Borneo Nature Foundation, and colleagues. Gibbons are highly … Read more

Plants use more water in soils leached by acid rain, West Virginia forest study shows

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In one of the first long-term studies to explore how changing soils have impacted plant water uptake, researchers report that plants in soil leached by polluted rain drink more water. These findings reveal acid rain’s long-term impact on large-scale forest water cycles, which is critical for understanding future water availability, and they could also help … Read more

Mapping Oregon coast harbor seal movements using wearable devices

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Wearable devices fitted to harbor seals reveal their movements around the Oregon coast, for a population that has been increasing following the implementation of marine reserves and protection acts. The study publishes July 31, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Sheanna Steingass from Oregon State University, USA, and colleagues. Approximately 10,000-12,000 harbor seals, Phoca vitulina … Read more

Cutting pollution won’t cause global warming spike, study finds

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Scientists have long worried that air pollution, while having a devastating impact on human health, may paradoxically have been acting as a ‘brake’ on the heating of the atmosphere. Pollution particles help clouds to form with more water droplets, meaning they reflect more of the sun’s energy back into space. Until now, the extent to … Read more

Experiments explore the mysteries of ‘magic’ angle superconductors

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In spring 2018, the surprising discovery of superconductivity in a new material set the scientific community abuzz. Built by layering one carbon sheet atop another and twisting the top one at a “magic” angle, the material enabled electrons to flow without resistance, a trait that could dramatically boost energy efficient power transmission and usher in … Read more

Magnetic ‘springs’ break down marine microplastic pollution

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Plastic waste that finds its way into oceans and rivers poses a global environmental threat with damaging health consequences for animals, humans, and ecosystems. Now, using tiny coil-shaped carbon-based magnets, researchers in Australia have developed a new approach to purging water sources of the microplastics that pollute them without harming nearby microorganisms. Their work appears … Read more