Environment

Ocean water samples helped discover 5,500 new RNA viruses
Environment

Ocean water samples helped discover 5,500 new RNA viruses

Researchers have collected ocean water samples from around the world and discovered a huge number of unknown RNA viruses: this will help expand ecological research and change our knowledge of how these viruses evolved. The authors of the new work combined the analysis of machine learning with traditional methods of studying evolution and identified 5,500...
Three earthquakes have occurred on the west coast of Japan
Environment

Three earthquakes have occurred on the west coast of Japan

In Ishikawa Prefecture on the west coast of Japan, three earthquakes occurred in less than an hour, the Main Meteorological Department reported. The first earthquake was recorded at 10:26 local time, the magnitude was 4.3. The second, magnitude 4.1, followed two minutes later. The hearth lay at a depth of ten kilometers. The third earthquake...
A large glacier in Antarctica has completely disappeared. Look at NASA pictures
Environment

A large glacier in Antarctica has completely disappeared. Look at NASA pictures

The Konger Ice Shelf completely collapsed on March 15, 2022. NASA specialists have published a series of satellite images that show how the glacier disappeared. The Conger Glacier was located off the east coast of Antarctica. Its area was almost 1200 square km. This is slightly larger than the area of ​​Moscow before the expansion...
Geneticists have figured out how bats adapted to a bloody diet
Environment

Geneticists have figured out how bats adapted to a bloody diet

The researchers compared the genome of common vampires (desmods) with 26 other bat species. It turned out that 13 different genes are absent or inactive in blood-fed mice. It was these changes that helped animals adapt to feeding on blood, geneticists say. Vampire bats are the only mammals that feed exclusively on blood. To identify...
Winter in the Arctic is over. See how ice gradually covered the north of the Earth
Environment

Winter in the Arctic is over. See how ice gradually covered the north of the Earth

The maximum area of ​​Arctic ice this year was 14.88 million square km. This figure is among the top ten anti-records in the history of observations, according to the US National Ice and Snow Center. Arctic sea ice peaked this year on February 25th. The total ice cover area was 14.88 million square km. This...
The poison of sea snails was able to replace morphine
Environment

The poison of sea snails was able to replace morphine

A new study from the University of Copenhagen has shown that the venom of Conus rolani snails can act as a pain reliever, Scienceblog reports. Scientists have learned that a certain component of the poison can block pain in mice for even longer than morphine. University of Copenhagen researcher Bea Ramiro began studying sea snails...
Bamboo will increase the strength of composite materials
Environment

Bamboo will increase the strength of composite materials

Scientists at the University of British Columbia have come up with a way to increase the strength of biocomposite materials using plastination. The study was published in the journal Composite Structures. Canadian researchers have shown that adding 10% laminated bamboo to a fiberglass composite improves its ability to absorb impact energy. At the same time,...