Friday, October 25, 2019

science news 25.10.2019

Today's selection of science news. Links are normally to press releases on EurekAlert (at the bottom end I may also add a couple of newspaper stories). I include quotes from the summary in italics in cases where the title alone doesn't reveal what the story is about. My own thoughts appear without italics if I have any.


earth

Climate science: 300-year thinning may have predisposed Antarctic ice shelves to collapse


The shelf life of pyrite
What exactly triggers the increase in carbon dioxide concentrations that causes the transition from a glacial stage to a warm stage is not fully understood. Together with colleagues, Dr. Martin Kölling from the MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen, has developed a new model in which the weathering of pyrite, a common mineral containing sulfur, plays a key role.

Imperfect diamonds paved road to historic Deep Earth discoveries
Oh damn, they're wrapping up the Deep Carbon Observatory already? Those 10 years went by quickly. I wrote a feature about it back in 2013.


evolution

New Colorado fossil record documents life's rebound after Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction
that moment when mammals filled the niches left by the dinosaurs.

Evolution is resetting the annual clock in migratory birds


conservation

What's driving tropical deforestation? Scientists map 45 years of satellite images
I have a funny feeling the answer might be: humans.


Scientists identify British butterflies most threatened by climate change


Scientists have discovered why climate change may be contributing to the decline of some British butterflies and moths, such as Silver-studded Blue.
Credit: Dr Callum Macgregor, University of York


biomedical

Rare diseases: Over 300 million patients affected worldwide


humans

Strong winter dust storms may have caused the collapse of the Akkadian Empire

Babies understand counting years earlier than believed



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From the news media:


SUV drivers driving climate change


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