Along with Russia, the United States possesses nearly 90% of all nuclear weapons on Earth. The country has over 5,044 total warheads and is known to have the most balanced and heavily maintained strategic triad delivery systems. While it has no need to amp up on developing more nuclear weapons, it needs to urgently clear…
The introduction of agriculture, around 11,500 years ago in the Middle East was a milestone for humankind. For decades, the image of the prehistoric hunter-gatherer has been remarkably consistent: hunters skilled in living off mainly meat, with plants as occasional supplements. It’s an image deeply embedded in popular culture, in documentaries and even in modern…
Green roofs offer a solution to urban heat by absorbing sunlight and releasing water. Vegetation shades surfaces and evapotranspiration naturally cools surrounding areas. These living roofs also manage rainwater and provide habitats for urban wildlife. Extensive and intensive systems cater to different building needs and budgets. Cities worldwide are adopting green roofs to combat rising…
Industrial plants release vast amounts of carbon dioxide every day, yet much of the conversation around cutting those emissions has focused on capturing the gas and storing it underground. Turning it into something useful has always been a more attractive idea, but one that has struggled outside laboratory conditions. Factory exhaust is not made up…
SpaceX has been achieving many of its targets these days, even by accident. After months of anticipation, a discarded upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is believed to have careened into the Moon early Wednesday morning near the Einstein Crater. It exploded on impact, causing a flash that may have been visible from…
A new study has found that coating common raven eggs with non-toxic mineral oil can reduce raven reproduction and improve the survival of vulnerable greater sage-grouse. Researchers reported that sage-grouse nest survival more than doubled, while their relative abundance increased by 44% in treated areas. However, they said long-term conservation also requires protecting habitat and…
Honey bees are one of the most important insects across the globe. The buzzing bees do more than just make sweet nectar, they pollinate crops, maintain ecosystems and produce natural goods. According to the UN Environment Programme, they directly contribute to food security and a third of the world’s food production depends on bees. However,…
Somewhere along the East African Rift Valley sits a chain of lakes holding more than a quarter of all the surface freshwater on the planet. Most people have never heard of them. The African Great Lakes span ten countries, keep over 50 million people fed and employed, and rarely get a mention alongside the world’s…
Scientists reviewed 54 Asian oak species; 40 had no backup in any botanical collection A detailed study of 54 Asian oak species has found that 40 have no living backup in any botanical garden around the world. This means that nearly three-quarters of the trees could disappear completely if their wild populations are lost.One of…
Snakes aren’t simple tubes. Their bodies have five regions—including a short neck By measuring every vertebra along the bodies of 13 native Australian snakes, evolutionary biologists have discovered that a snake’s spine is much more organized than previously believed. Instead of being one long, uniform structure, it contains five distinct anatomical regions, including a surprisingly…