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New Dartmouth-led studies show climate warming can slow how tree roots feed soil microbes. Researcher Thomas Muratore said, "Research into belowground plant systems is critical to helping us make informed decisions." While nitrogen levels increased root activity, higher temperatures actually reduced the carbon compounds that keep soil microbes healthy today.
A University of Sydney student created the first comprehensive classification system for Martian soils. Daniel Irving mapped 800 million locations into 2,000 soil classes to help future exploration and farming. "This is the first time a classification system of this scale has been developed for Martian soils," Irving said.
SpaceX Crew-12 commander Jessica Meir shared her experience viewing Earth from the International Space Station on Thursday, Oct. 15. She said, "I think it really does change you philosophically." The mission showed the crew how fragile our planet is and that we must work together to protect our home.
Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered that cell division helps reshape tissues. A study published in Current Biology showed that cells actively reorganize neighbors during mitosis to maintain structure. "Epithelial tissues are doing something remarkable all the time," said Matt Gibson, as they grow and replace cells.
A new 3D model shows how shadows in stellar nurseries change chemistry and influence infrared light. Dr. Brandt Gaches led the team that published these findings in Astronomy & Astrophysics. "The Orion Bar is an ideal natural laboratory for studying these processes," said Gaches about the distant, clumpy gas clouds.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope revealed that the atmosphere of planet WASP-17b is asymmetrical. Researchers found the gas giant’s atmosphere extends farther on one side due to extreme heat and winds. Lead author Dr. Lili Alderson said, "This is proof of concept that planets are in fact 3D objects."
The Japan Meteorological Agency mistakenly issued a 9.9-magnitude earthquake alert on Friday after a 6.9 tremor hit Russia. The false warning triggered alarms across Japan at 12:36 pm. Officials retracted the alert by 12:48 pm, as they got the magnitude wrong. Thankfully, the actual quake caused no shaking in Japan.
Bengaluru-based space-tech firm The Guild unveiled a 150-acre rocket testing facility near Sriharikota on Friday. Named The Anchorage, the site will support the development of the company’s reusable medium-lift launch vehicle, Razor Crest Mk 1. Manu J. Nair said, "The Anchorage represents a long-term investment in the capacity development required."
The Nicobar pigeon could help scientists bring back the dodo, which went extinct over 300 years ago. Colossal Biosciences used AI to identify genetic targets in the pigeon to recreate dodo features. "These targets are now being validated in the lab," said chief science officer Beth Shapiro about the project.
Researchers examined surviving uranium cubes to reveal why Nazi Germany’s 1945 experimental nuclear reactor failed. The project lacked enough uranium and heavy water to work. Allied forces sabotaged the Norsk Hydro plant in Norway, which stopped the supply of heavy water. Germany simply could not get the materials they needed.
Victoria Watson-Zink studied how land crabs evolved to survive on land. She said, "All crabs are, originally, aquatic species." Her research showed that crabs moved to land as many as 17 times. By checking gut bacteria in 14 species, she found that land-acclimated crabs use microbes to digest tough leaves.
Astronomers discovered a star being torn apart by a massive black hole more than 1,000 parsecs from the center of its host galaxy. The event, named TDE 2023mfm, was detailed in a paper posted on Sept. 28. This rare find helps experts understand how wandering black holes move through space.