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News at phys.org

Thursday, Mar 28

23

Atmospheric observations in China show rise in emissions of a potent greenhouse gas

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To achieve the aspirational goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change—limiting the increase in global average surface temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels—will require its 196 signatories to dramatically reduce…

22

Sawfish are spinning, and dying, in Florida waters as rescue effort begins

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Endangered smalltooth sawfish, marine creatures virtually unchanged for millions of years, are exhibiting erratic spinning behavior and dying in unusual numbers in Florida waters. Federal and state wildlife agencies are beginning an effort…

21

Study suggests starvation decimated gray whales off the Pacific Coast: Can the giants ever recover?

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When large numbers of gray whales began washing up along North America's Pacific Coast nearly six years ago, marine scientists could only speculate on the reason: Was it disease? Ocean pollution? Increasing ship collisions?

What do scientists hope to learn from total solar eclipse in US?

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When a rare total solar eclipse sweeps across North America on April 8, scientists will be able to gather invaluable data on everything from the sun's atmosphere to strange animal behaviors—and even possible effects on humans.

20

Last coal-burning power plant in New England set to close in a win for environmentalists

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The last coal-fired power plant in New England, which had been the focus of a lawsuit and protests, is set to close in a victory for environmentalists.

How carbon removal fits into the architecture of EU climate policy

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The EU has recently made far-reaching decisions on rapid greenhouse gas emissions reduction. For example, from 2027, like in the energy and industry sectors, it will also cap emissions in the problem sectors of heating and transport…

Faintest known star system orbiting the Milky Way discovered

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A team of astronomers led by the University of Victoria and Yale University has detected an ancient star system traveling around our galaxy named Ursa Major III / UNIONS 1 (UMa3/U1)—the faintest and lowest-mass Milky Way satellite ever…

UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 5.4% in 2023: data

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UK greenhouse gas emissions fell by 5.4 percent in 2023, largely due to a reduction in the amount of gas used in power stations, according to official data published on Thursday.

NASA's mission to an ice-covered moon will contain a message between water worlds

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NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft, headed to Jupiter's ice-covered moon Europa in October 2024, will carry a laser-etched message that celebrates humanity's connection to water. The message pays homage to past NASA missions that carried…

ESA and NASA team up to study solar wind

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In the run up to April's total solar eclipse, ESA-led Solar Orbiter and NASA-led Parker Solar Probe are both at their closest approach to the sun. Tomorrow (March 29), they are taking the opportunity to join hands in studying the driving…

Venomous snakes could start migrating in large numbers if we hit 5ºC warming, predict scientists

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A global group of scientists has predicted that climate change may cause dramatic movements in venomous snake populations across many countries in Africa. The scientists took into account climate change predictions about changes to the…

19

Same-sex marriage a decade on: More choice for all couples is the best legal way forward, study argues

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An increasing number of places of worship are offering same-sex weddings, a decade on from same-sex marriage in England and Wales becoming legal, a new study shows.

UK's summer 2022 drought provides warning for future years, say scientists

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The UK will be increasingly tested by more droughts like 2022, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for similar extreme weather in future, say scientists who have analyzed that summer's events.

Small satellite launch advances comms experimentation, international collaboration

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In the dark, early morning sky of March 21 over NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility on the Virginia coast, a Rocket Lab Electron rocket carried a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) manifest featuring three collaborative research…

Marine protected areas safeguard more than ecology—they bring economic benefits to fisheries and tourism

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Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been used as a conservation measure for decades, but critics continue to argue that evidence of their economic benefits is weak, particularly with regard to fisheries.

Perceptions of 'good' schools are heavily dependent on the preparation of the students entering them, study finds

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Are schools that feature strong test scores highly effective, or do they mostly enroll students who are already well-prepared for success? A study co-authored by MIT scholars concludes that widely disseminated school quality ratings…

Open waste burning linked to air pollution in Northwestern Greenland

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A case study on the effects of open waste burning on air quality in Northwestern Greenland calls attention to the importance of no-one-left-behind sustainable air quality monitoring in the Arctic region.

18

Study reveals Pacific Islanders used fire to shape landscapes

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Hawaiʻi is not the only Pacific island where wildfire is a concern. Using fire histories, vegetation and soil maps, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa wildfire expert Clay Trauernicht led new research that examined the relationships between…

Economic performance of wine production in the EU

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A study of economic indicators in the wine industry across the European Union has shown significant variation between member states. Many of these are influenced by factors such as vineyard size and specialization.

Coastal dunes are retreating as sea levels rise. Research reveals the accelerating rate of change

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In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely oblivious to the changes.

How can schools make sure gifted students get the help they need?

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Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state.

The total solar eclipse in North America could shed light on a persistent puzzle about the sun

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A total solar eclipse takes place on April 8 across North America. These events occur when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun's face. This plunges observers into a darkness similar to dawn or dusk.

17

Plan to shoot thousands of West Coast owls ignites protest

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A federal government plan for hunters to kill thousands of invasive owls to protect the rapidly declining northern spotted owl has ruffled the feathers of dozens of animal advocacy groups.

Going 'back to the future' to forecast the fate of a dead Florida coral reef

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Rising temperatures and disease outbreaks are decimating coral reefs throughout the tropics. Evidence suggests that higher latitude marine environments may provide crucial refuges for many at-risk, temperature-sensitive coral species.…

Model suggests how ancient RNA may have gained self-cutting ability essential for life

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Scientists have long pondered the beginnings of life on Earth. One theory is that RNA, which is ubiquitous across all domains of life, played a central role in early life. Similar to DNA, RNA possesses the ability to store genetic…

Texas county issues disaster declaration for solar eclipse, expects 200K people

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A North Texas county issued a disaster declaration ahead of the April 8 solar eclipse, warning of traffic and potential gridlock as the celestial event ends.

What can Charleston and other coastal cities teach South Florida about sea-level rise?

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South Florida is considered one of the most at-risk areas of the U.S. when it comes to sea-level rise. But what can the region learn from other areas facing similar challenges?

Ancient DNA reveals the appearance of a 6th century Chinese emperor

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What did an ancient Chinese emperor from 1,500 years ago look like? A team of researchers reconstructed the face of Chinese Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou using DNA extracted from his remains.

DNA study IDs descendants of George Washington from unmarked remains

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New DNA sequencing technologies have identified the historical remains of George Washington's grandnephews, Samuel Walter Washington and George Steptoe Washington Jr., and their mother, Lucy Payne Washington, from unmarked, fragmentary…

16

Researchers find first experimental evidence for a graviton-like particle in a quantum material

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A team of scientists from Columbia, Nanjing University, Princeton, and the University of Munster, writing in the journal Nature, have presented the first experimental evidence of collective excitations with spin called chiral graviton…