Most small birds that regularly sit on branches belong to a group known as perching birds (passerine). Have you ever seen a bird sleeping on a thin tree branch and wondered why it does not fall? While humans may lose their grip when their muscles relax during sleep, many birds can remain safely perched for…
The approach is based partly on earlier laboratory research suggesting that carbon dioxide can be more harmful to zebra mussels than to some native freshwater mussels. Zebra mussels are small, but their impact on freshwater ecosystems can be enormous. Once established, the invasive shellfish can blanket lakebeds, crowd out native species and alter the communities…
Representative Image of a tent in a natural setting utilizing wind and rain to harvest energy for low-power devices (AI Generated Image) Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles have developed a tent that can generate small amounts of electricity from everyday movements, wind and raindrops. The prototype uses a phenomenon called magnetoelasticity, in…
A new MIT-backed company is turning discarded plastic into structural parts for buildings and infrastructure. Atlas Building Composites has developed an AI-powered robotic manufacturing platform that shreds single-use plastic, melts it, and fuses it with American-made fiberglass. The resulting composite is then formed into parts such as foundations, decks, and trusses using large-scale 3D printing….
A proposal to use crocodile-filled moats around Israeli prison facilities has brought an unusual environmental question into focus: what happens when wildlife conservation, security and land management intersect? The plan, which was first proposed in December 2025 by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, involves using crocodiles around maximum-security prison wings. The idea was reportedly…
Kelp forests are among the most productive ecosystems in the ocean. They provide habitat for fish and invertebrates while supporting marine mammals and other wildlife. [Photo credit: Enric Sala, National Geographic] Beneath the waves off Southern California, a once-lush underwater forest had been reduced to something resembling a desert. Kelp that had provided shelter and…
Melinda French Gates is committing $1 billion through 2026 to advance women’s power and influence, while her investment platform is backing women-led funds working on climate solutions. Through Pivotal Ventures, Gates has invested in Planeteer Capital, a climate-tech fund led by Sophie Purdom that backs early-stage companies developing solutions to climate change. The investment comes…
Scientists have developed a floating farm that uses sunlight to turn seawater into fresh irrigation water, allowing vegetables to grow without relying on conventional freshwater supplies. The experimental system, known as a double-layered vertical solar sea farm, produced enough clean water to support broccoli, lettuce and Pak Choi in outdoor trials. All three crops recorded…
Solar panels are designed to capture sunlight above the water, but researchers have now shown that specially designed solar cells can also generate electricity underwater. The team developed wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells and tested them at a depth of 10 metres in the South China Sea. The cells produced electricity from the limited light available…
Woodland standing in Epping Forest, south of High Beach, England. Image Credit: Wikipedia Britain has been planting new woodland on former farmland, but a 25-year study found that these new woods can take much longer to develop like ancient woodland. Researchers studied an old farmland site and found that its soil and plants were still…
