Rising temperatures of the world’s oceans threaten to accelerate the melting and splintering of glaciers—thereby potentially increasing the number of icebergs and, with it, the need to better understand more about their movement and impact. Through a series of experiments, a team of scientists has pinpointed some of the factors that cause icebergs to capsize, offering insights into how climate change may affect Earth’s waters.

Dinosaurs were "ecosystem engineers," preventing dense forests from growing. Their sudden demise led to widescale ecological changes, according to a University of Michigan study.

A new study has revealed that biochar, a carbon-rich material made from crop residues, can significantly reduce the persistence of the widely used herbicide fluridone in agricultural soils, while also protecting soil microbes and improving crop growth.

Tokyo, Japan – Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have determined the genetic lineage of a now extinct plant population from Nishinoshima, a volcanic island whose frequent eruptions periodically “reset” the vegetation. While they traced the lineage to a nearby island, they discovered distinct genetic quirks due to the rarity of seeds making it there, including a “founder’s effect”. Their findings offer a rare glimpse into the very earliest stages of ecosystem development in an isolated environment.

Earthquake-induced liquefaction of loose, sandy soil can be extensively damaging for built environment. In recent times, chemical grouting of the sand is being used as a method to enhance soil stability and reduce the risk of liquefaction. However, a standardized and effective method to test the resistance is necessary in order to refine the method. In this study, scientists explored the potential of stress-controlled and strain-controlled cyclic triaxial testing.