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Manatees congregate in warm waters near power plants as US winter storms graze Florida

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A polar vortex that has hit much of the U.S. with ice and snow has dealt a glancing blow to Florida, dropping coastal temperatures and causing the Sunshine State's manatee population, still recovering from a mass starvation event several…

Biden issues land protections after LA fires delay ceremony

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US President Joe Biden on Tuesday designated two large areas of California as protected national monuments, after the initial ceremony was called off due to wildfires breaking out in Los Angeles.

Not all Hot Jupiters orbit solo, observations suggest

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Hot Jupiters are giant planets initially known to orbit alone close to their star. During their migration towards their star, these planets were thought to accrete or eject any other planets present. However, this paradigm has been…

Tuesday, Jan 14

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Wealth tax linked to increased savings, study finds

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With Uncle Sam running chronic trillion-dollar deficits, one proposal to increase revenue has been to raise it from the wealthiest Americans: through a tax, not on their yearly income, but on their accumulated wealth.

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Simulated universe previews panoramas from NASA's Roman Telescope

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Astronomers have released a set of more than a million simulated images showcasing the cosmos as NASA's upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will see it. This preview will help scientists explore Roman's myriad science goals.

New NOAA dataset to help improve flood mitigation tools, flood-risk assessment

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The first modeled, historical water level and wave dataset for the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf coasts was released today by NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS). This comprehensive dataset—known as Coastal Ocean Reanalysis (CORA)—advances…

22

Bird flu kills 20 million chickens in US, driving egg prices sky-high

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A deadly bird flu outbreak has wreaked havoc on U.S. chicken farms, claiming the lives of over 20 million egg-laying chickens last quarter, marking the worst impact on America's egg supply since the outbreak began in 2022.

Exploration of root-lesion nematodes in New Zealand maize crops reveals a potential new species

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A new study has lifted the lid on five species of root-lesion nematodes living in maize crops across New Zealand—and suggested the existence of a hitherto-unsuspected cryptic species.

Ancient artifacts unearthed in Iraq shed light on hidden history of Mesopotamia

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New discoveries by a UCF researcher and her team at the ancient Mesopotamian site of Kurd Qaburstan, including clay tablets with ancient cuneiform writing, a game board and large structural remains, may provide a wealth of knowledge about…

21

Chemicals in sewage sludge fertilizer pose cancer risk, EPA says

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Harmful chemicals in sewage sludge that is spread on pasture land as fertilizer are causing cancer, the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday. The risk is highest for people who regularly consume milk, beef and other products from…

Mission to moon carries tiny red Swedish home to space

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A Swedish artist is about to have the dream of a lifetime fulfilled: A little red model house he created will be launched into space this week and, if all goes according to plan, put on the surface of the moon.

Two simple steps reduce worker fatigue during busy seasons, study finds

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Crunching numbers at crunch time equals high stress for public accountants, but a new study led by a Virginia Commonwealth University professor suggests two steps toward relief during the busy season—whether in accounting, medicine, law or…

Smartphone program encourages effective parenting, strengthens rural families

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An online parenting skills program developed at the University of Oregon can help parents in rural areas who struggle with substance use or mental health and may have limited access to community resources.

19

Madagascar supports more unique plant life than any other island in the world according to new study

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Researchers have long known that islands are hotspots for species diversity. But, until recently, there weren't precise figures to quantify the diversity of plant life on islands. A study involving an international team of scientists has…

'Rage giving' boosted immigrant-serving nonprofits during first Trump administration, study finds

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As Donald Trump prepares to take office for a second term as President, research led by the University of California, Santa Cruz is demonstrating the important role nonprofits played during Trump's first term as a counterforce that…

Do aliens exist? We studied what scientists really think

phys.org

News stories about the likely existence of extraterrestrial life, and our chances of detecting it, tend to be positive. We are often told that we might discover it any time now. Finding life beyond Earth is "only a matter of time", we were…

Vaccine hesitancy among pet owners is growing: A public health expert explains why that matters

phys.org

When most people think about vaccines, they typically think about humans: Experts warn that when large numbers of people are unvaccinated, it can lead to severe consequences, including disease outbreaks and higher rates of illness and…

Study shows how Ukraine war impacts global food supply chain, urges alternative routes for grains

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A study in the journal Transportation Science reveals the severe and far-reaching consequences of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on global food security. The research highlights an urgent need to address disruptions in the…

L.A. fires: Why fast wildfires and those started by human activities are more destructive and harder to contain

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Investigators are trying to determine what caused several wind-driven wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes across the Los Angeles area in January 2025. Given the fires' locations, and lack of lightning at the time, it's likely…

18

Evaluating cost-effective fire management strategies in a changing climate

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Globally, wildfire seasons are getting worse with climate change, resulting in more frequent, more severe and larger wildfires.

17

Fire-hit LA faces new peril as dangerous winds ramp up

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Hot, powerful winds Tuesday threatened to rekindle and whip up major fires that have devastated the hills and suburbs of Los Angeles, killing at last 24 people and changing the face of America's second biggest city forever.

Contaminated drinking water is a growing concern for cities facing wildfires

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As fires continue to burn across Los Angeles, several utilities have declared their drinking water unsafe until extensive testing can prove otherwise.

16

Exploring evolution: Strength connected to sexual behavior of women as well as men

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While many studies have looked at possible evolutionary links between men's strength and sexual behavior, a Washington State University study included data on women with a surprising result. Women, as well as men, who had greater upper…

Paleolithic ingenuity: 13,000-year-old 3D map discovered in France

phys.org

Researchers have discovered what may be the world's oldest three-dimensional map, located within a quartzitic sandstone megaclast in the Paris Basin. The research is published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology.

The Dark Side of the ocean: New giant sea bug species named after Darth Vader

phys.org

Giant isopods of the genus Bathynomus, which can reach more than 30 cm in length, are known as bọ biển or "sea bugs" in Vietnam. For the first time, one such species was described from Vietnamese waters and named Bathynomus vaderi. The…

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Wildfires highlight challenges of living in high-risk environments

phys.org

The wind-driven wildfires that began on January 7 in Los Angeles—and continue to burn—have destroyed thousands of homes and killed some two dozen people, and more residential areas are threatened.

Satellite imagery tracks glacier surges, revealing hidden lake hazards

phys.org

New research has tracked the evolution of a glacier lake dammed by a glacier surge using satellite images, to help better understand its life cycle and the hazard it presents to nearby communities.

Colorado to start regulating emission of 5 air toxins that make people sick

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Colorado air pollution regulators spend a lot of time thinking about greenhouse gases that create a smog across the Front Range and contribute to global warming, But this week, they'll focus on five toxic chemicals that make people sick.

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Pink flame retardants are being used to slow California fires. What do we know about them?

phys.org

Aircraft battling fires raging through the Los Angeles area are dropping more than water: Hundreds of thousands of gallons of hot-pink fire suppressant ahead of the flames in a desperate effort to stop them before they destroy more…

Tsunami alert lifted after magnitude 6.6 earthquake rattles southwestern Japan

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A tsunami advisory was issued for part of southwest Japan after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Monday, but the warnings to stay away from coastal areas were later lifted. A few instances of minor damage were reported.