The ocean surrounding the Windmill Islands of East Antarctica is polluted, and an ecological research station is to blame. The pollution jeopardizes some of the most unique ecosystems on the planet — and scientists’ ability to study them. It’s a stark warning to the other hundred research stations at the South Pole, and now, the […]
In the state of Massachusetts, it is punishable by imprisonment to frighten a pigeon. This law may seem surprising to most modern-day Bay Staters, many of whom abhor the seemingly infinite number of so-called “rats with wings” multiplying across their urban areas, but to people from the not-so-distant past, this law is a way to
Venerated to vermin: A brief history of pigeons Read More »
As the days get shorter and the weather colder, keeping that frown upside down becomes an arduous task. While you might think you have what it takes to bear the elements through sheer willpower, your genetics and neurochemistry disagree. Studies of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in Iceland and in various regions globally show that genetics
Fishing for happiness: Omega-3 and seasonal affective disorder Read More »
In the Fenway Victory Gardens, just minutes from Northeastern University, lizards reign supreme. The Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus, is a non-native species that recently established itself in the gardens. This small green and tan lizard has remarkably managed to survive and thrive in Boston — and in several other cities and towns in the
Meet the lizards of the Fenway Victory Gardens Read More »
While the wooly mammoths, smilodons, and giant ground sloths starred in Disney’s “Ice Age,” do prehistoric creatures have a place on Earth today? When species go extinct, evolution fills the ecosystem gap with modern species, renewing balance and moving forward in evolutionary history. The hot-topic term “de-extinction” describes the process of using genetic engineering to
Reincarnation: Dodo or do-don’t Read More »
New York City typically turns into a snow globe by mid-December, gracing its residents with a white Christmas, but not this season. Setting a record for the longest wait for snowfall since 1869, the first flurries came to the Big Apple on February 1, 2023. The overnight dusting covered the city with 0.4 inches of
New York City breaks record for the latest first snowfall Read More »
As climate change escalates, preventative measures to reduce global warming are almost futile without a uniform attempt by civilization. Damage control is likely the future of sustainability and fungi may be an effective way to help in the restoration of forests after a wildfire. Below the typical fruiting body or mushroom we see on the
Fungi’s role in fighting the climate crisis Read More »
Inconspicuously, house keys and the location of home dissipates from memory. Progressing further along, even the familiar faces of loved ones fade out of recollection. The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. This neurodegenerative disorder primarily affects the cognitive functioning responsible for retrieving, storing,
Exposure to air pollution, even at low levels, increases risk of Alzheimer’s Read More »
Trees are the underrated superheroes of planet Earth. They sustain human life by mediating droughts, capturing rainwater, increasing healthy soil, conserving energy, providing food, preventing water pollution, and creating and cleaning the air we breathe. Trees serve as essential caretakers for humans and the environments we inhabit. Moreover, trees heal. They have been shown to