Research News
The Research news feed includes stories about new climate change and energy research from research press releases, Nature Publishing Group, and ScienceDaily.
Swimming microorganisms stir things up, and the LHC takes over
(American Physical Society) Studies of microscopic swimming creatures show that the fluid flow they produce is much more complex than previously believed, and leads to large scale stirring of oceans and lakes that could affect the global carbon cycle.
Half the productivity, twice the carbon
(Rice University) Unless the IT industry adopts new energy-efficient technologies in the coming decade, it runs a serious risk of being unable to contribute to growing the global economy if limits are placed on carbon emissions.
Reservoirs: A neglected source of methane emissions
Substantial amounts of the greenhouse gas methane are released not only from large tropical reservoirs but also from run-of-the-river reservoirs in Switzerland, especially in the summer, when water temperatures are higher. Hydropower may therefore not be quite as climate-neutral a method of generating electricity as thought.
Climate change remains a real threat to corals
Hopes that coral reefs might be able to survive, and recover from, bleaching caused by climate change may have grown dimmer for certain coral species, according to new research.
Coral records show ocean thermocline rise with global warming
Researchers looking at corals in the western tropical Pacific Ocean have found records linking a profound shift in the depth of the division between warm surface water and colder, deeper water traceable to recent global warming.
Green technologies key for IT industry profitability in 2020
Unless the IT industry adopts new energy-efficient technologies in the coming decade, it runs a serious risk of being unable to contribute to growing the global economy if limits are placed on carbon emissions. The findings come from an 18-month investigation.
Microbial hair: It's electric
(University of Southern California) Some bacteria grow electrical hair that lets them link up in big biological circuits, according to a study in PNAS. The finding suggests that microbial colonies may survive, communicate and share energy in part through electrically conducting hairs known as bacterial nanowires.
Huge parts of world are drying up: Land 'evapotranspiration' taking unexpected turn
The soils in large areas of the Southern Hemisphere, including major portions of Australia, Africa and South America, have been drying up in the past decade, a group of researchers conclude in the first major study to ever examine "evapotranspiration" on a global basis.
Rutgers discovery paves way for development of efficient, inexpensive plastic solar cells
(Rutgers University) Rutgers physicists have discovered new properties in a material that could result in efficient and inexpensive plastic solar cells.
Turtle, dugongs 'at risk under climate change'
The "turtle and dugong capital of the world", the northern Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait region, faces increased pressure under climate change from human actions such as fishing, hunting, onshore development and pollution.