Mycelium is the root system of fungi — like mushrooms — that consists of thin, hair-like tissue filaments. This rich network of fungal threads — called hyphae — grows in soil substrate or on places like rotting tree trucks. The mass of roots collects nutrients and water, as well as anchors and supports the mushroom […]
After a few years of the La Niña weather pattern, which cools ocean surface temperatures and can make global temperatures feel cooler, climate models are predicting the return of El Niño. With a returning El Niño weather pattern, we can expect to feel higher temperatures — so high, in fact, that experts believe Earth could […]
Beneath Earth’s coastal waters lie vast forests of a nutritious and useful brown algae seaweed known as kelp. For thousands of years, kelp has sustained and been a part of the culture of people around the world. A new study published in Nature Communications has found that the planet’s vast undersea kelp forests generate an […]
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an essential tool used to identify the likely environmental — as well as socio-economic and cultural — impacts of a proposed project or development prior to decision making. The purpose of the report is to find ways to reduce adverse impacts by providing information and options to those making […]
Designated as a protected area in 1998, the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest marine protected areas on Earth. Covering approximately 51,352 square miles, the GMR is home to Galápagos penguins, Galápagos brown pelicans, Galápagos sea lions, the blue-footed booby and other unique animal species. Recently, […]
A newly published study has found that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) added to packaging can migrate into food and drinks. The study noted this phenomenon occurring with subgroups of PFAS considered safer than previous PFAS additives. PFAS are a group of chemicals added to many products, from outdoor gear to carpeting, for their waterproof, […]
The increasing problem of light pollution can have negative effects on both humans and wildlife. In people, it can cause sleep deprivation, increased stress, headaches and even anxiety. Artificial light can attract animals like sea turtles, moths and frogs, leading them astray and making them more vulnerable to predators and exhaustion. A new study has […]
The global ocean surface temperature reached 21.1°C (69.98°F) in early April, the highest recorded ocean surface temperature since records began. The recorded high beat the previous highest ocean surface temperature of 21.0°C, recorded in 2016. The daily Sea Surface Temperature hit 21.1°C on April 1 and remained there through April 6, as recorded by the […]
Why have the number of home runs struck at baseball games gone up since the 1980s? There are many possible factors, from steroids to alterations in bat and ball design to improved analytics. But one part of the answer may surprise you: climate change. “There’s a very clear physical mechanism at play in which warmer […]