Great Barrier Reef’s Microbiome Mapped for the First Time
Scientists from The University of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Marine Science have mapped the Great Barrier Reef’s microbiome for the first time. The project identified 876 species of bacteria and archaea and more than 360,000 viruses. It also revealed that a virus once thought to exist only in human and animal waste naturally inhabits the open ocean. This breakthrough gives researchers a powerful new tool to better understand how climate change, coral bleaching, pollution, and other environmental stressors affect the health of the world’s largest coral reef system.
Nature’s Playlist is Good for Your Mind
A new experiment out of North Carolina State University suggests that your surroundings can have a powerful impact on your well-being. Participants sat in a restored forest wearing noise-canceling headphones. They spent 10 minutes listening to birdsong and another 10 minutes listening to traffic noise. Listening to birds while surrounded by nature not only reduced the participants’ mental stress compared with hearing traffic, but it also uplifted their moods.
Human Sweat Could Power the Next Generation of Wearable Tech
Scientists at the Tokyo University of Science in Japan may have found an unexpected power source that will make wearable technology lighter, more efficient, and less dependent on batteries: human sweat. The research focuses on harvesting the small but continuous amount of electrical energy associated with compounds found in perspiration to power wearable devices.
Fresh Start For Climate Information
Former staffers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have launched Climate.us, an independent website dedicated to providing science-backed climate information that’s easy to understand. The platform, which replaces the terminated Climate.gov site, aims to make reliable climate data accessible to everyone without the noise of misinformation.
Brazil Bets on Tropical Fruit to Make Sustainable Jet Fuel
A tropical palm fruit in Brazil, called macaúba, could become an unexpected player in the future of sustainable aviation. Researchers are exploring how the oil-rich fruit can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel. Macaúba palms can grow in degraded areas, require fewer agricultural inputs, and produce oil that could help expand the supply of lower-carbon aviation fuels.
