Combining genetic diversity data with demographic information reveals extinction risks of natural populations
Genetic diversity, a key pillar of biodiversity, is crucial for conservation. But can snapshot estimates of genetic diversity reliably indicate population extinction risk? New research shows that genome-wide genetic diversity is a strong predictor of extinction risk, but only when confounding factors are accounted for. ⌘ Read more

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Why isn’t Colorado’s snowpack ending up in the Colorado River? Research suggests it might be the lack of spring rainfall
The Colorado River and its tributaries provide water for hydropower, irrigation and drinking water in seven U.S. states and Mexico. Much of this water comes from the snowpack that builds up over the winter and then melts each spring. Every year in early April, water managers use the snowpack to predict how much water will be available for the upcoming year. ⌘ Read more

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Large Hadron Collider pipe brings search for elusive magnetic monopole closer than ever
New research using a decommissioned section of the beam pipe from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN has brought scientists closer than ever before to test whether magnetic monopoles exist. ⌘ Read more

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New research shows unprecedented atmospheric changes during May’s geomagnetic superstorm
On May 11, a gorgeous aurora surprised stargazers across the southern United States. That same weekend, a tractor guided by GPS missed its mark. ⌘ Read more

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Study of Earth’s rotation history shows deceleration has been in a staircase pattern
A multi-institutional team of geoscientists has found evidence that the Earth’s rotation slows in a staircase pattern, with two stable periods that stand out. In their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group analyzed sediment sample data going back more than a half-billion years. ⌘ Read more

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Fijian coral reveals new 627-year record of Pacific Ocean climate
An international team of climate scientists have used a 627-year coral record from Fiji to reveal unprecedented insights into ocean temperatures and climate variability across the Pacific Ocean since 1370. ⌘ Read more

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Study finds impacts of 4.2 ka climate event no big deal, actually
A megadrought that occurred 4,200 years ago had catastrophic impacts, potentially wiping out early empires and leading to large-scale changes worldwide. It was so significant it marked a turning point in the Earth’s geologic history. ⌘ Read more

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Photon entanglement could explain the rapid brain signals behind consciousness
Understanding the nature of consciousness is one of the hardest problems in science. Some scientists have suggested that quantum mechanics, and in particular quantum entanglement, is the key to unraveling the phenomenon. ⌘ Read more

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