Canaries lava peninsula doubles in size as wind change raises risk

Lava from the erupting volcano on La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands that began cascading into the ocean two days ago has already covered an area bigger than 25 football pitches, with concerns rising over worsening air quality in nearby residential areas, experts said on Thursday.

EXPLAINER: Fountaining Hawaii lava creates molten rock lake

Kilauea, one of the most active volcanos on Earth, began erupting on Hawaii's Big Island Wednesday. The eruption is not in an area with homes and is entirely contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

A kagome lattice superconductor reveals a 'cascade' of quantum electron states

Researchers have discovered a complex landscape of electronic states that can co-exist on a kagome lattice, resembling those in high-temperature superconductors, a team of Boston College physicists reports in an advance electronic publication of the journal Nature.

Salt stress alters legume responses to symbiotic rhizobacteria by modulating gene expression

Crop legumes are an integral part of sustainable agriculture, as several of these species represent an important protein source for both human and animal populations. Legumes engage in a unique and beneficial interaction with a group of soil bacteria, collectively called rhizobia. Rhizobium-legume symbioses lead to the development of new plant organs on the roots called nodules, which host rhizobia. Competent rhizobia within these nodules use a process called nitrogen fixation to convert atmospheric nitrogen, which cannot be used by the plant, into ammonium, which can be used as a nitrogen source. This is a highly valuable process as nitrogen is limited in agricultural systems.

Scientists use nuclear physics to probe Floridan Aquifer threatened by climate change

As rising sea levels threaten coastal areas, scientists are using an emerging nuclear dating technique to track the ins and outs of water flow.

Brands can boost their own reputations and sales by praising rivals

Whether they're beefing on billboards or sparring on social media, big brands are known for taking jabs at their competitors (see the famous "Get a Mac" ads or "the chicken sandwich wars").

Using dunes to interpret wind on Mars

Dunes develop when wind-blown sand organizes into patterns, most often in deserts and arid or semi-arid parts of the world. Every continent on Earth has dune fields, but dunes and dune-like sand patterns are also found across the solar system: On Mars, Venus, Titan, Comet 67P, and Pluto. On Earth, weather stations measure the wind speed and direction, allowing us to predict and understand airflow in the atmosphere.

Study: Just 1 of 5 people with disabilities works from home; millions still do not have the option

Working from home could revolutionize job opportunities for people with mobility impairments, chronic medical conditions, and other disabilities, but a towering obstacle still stands in the way more than 18 months into the pandemic. A report by the Rutgers Program for Disability Research finds a disproportionate number of people with disabilities work in places like factories, restaurants, and retail stores, where remote work is typically not an option.

Linker histones tune the length and shape of chromosomes

Human life hinges on the ability of our cells to cram six feet of DNA into a 10-micron nucleus—equivalent to fitting a mile of string inside one green pea. But stuffing genes into cramped quarters is only half the battle. The DNA must also remain organized, carefully coiled into loops that ensure the information remains readily accessible and not a tangled mess.

A microscopic worm may shed light on how we perceive gravity

While humans rely on gravity for balance and orientation, the mechanisms by which we actually sense this fundamental force are largely unknown. Odder still, the model organism C. elegans, a microscopic worm, can also sense the direction of gravity, even though there is no known ecological reason for it to do so.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-microscopic-worm-gravity.html

How does positive cloud-to-ground lightning strike so far away from its origin?

A bolt of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning forms if a lightning leader develops out of the cloud and reaches the ground. Positive CG (+CG) lightning is formed by a downward positive leader and transfers positive charge into the ground.

Koala genome data released in push to protect vulnerable species

Scientists at the University of Sydney's Australasian Wildlife Genomics Group have loaded the entire genomes of 116 koalas to the public domain to accelerate vital genomic research to support the threatened species.

New method to deliver therapeutic drugs using elongated nanocrystals

Monash University researchers have used advanced techniques at ANSTO to investigate the production of new, elongated polymer nanocapsules with a high payload of drug nanocrystals to potentially increase drug targetability, and also decrease dosage frequency and side effects.

New fish species discovered after years of scientific studies

Scientists identify and name new fish species around the globe practically every week. Some turn up in unlikely places, and others display unusual characteristics and behaviors. But it's rare for an unidentified and unnamed fish to have played an important role in scientific research for several years before being officially identified and named.

A microscopic worm may shed light on how we perceive gravity

While humans rely on gravity for balance and orientation, the mechanisms by which we actually sense this fundamental force are largely unknown. Odder still, the model organism C. elegans, a microscopic worm, can also sense the direction of gravity, even though there is no known ecological reason for it to do so.

Critical groundwater supplies may never recover from drought

Along with hurricanes and wildfires, there's another important, but seldom-discussed effect of climate change—toxic water and sinking land made worse by groundwater drought.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-critical-groundwater-recover-drought.html

Critical groundwater supplies may never recover from drought

Along with hurricanes and wildfires, there's another important, but seldom-discussed effect of climate change—toxic water and sinking land made worse by groundwater drought.

Coral microbiome is key to surviving climate change, new study finds

The microbiomes of corals—which comprise bacteria, fungi and viruses—play an important role in the ability of corals to tolerate rising ocean temperatures, according to new research led by Penn State. The team also identified several genes within certain corals and the symbiotic photosynthetic algae that live inside their tissues that may play a role in their response to heat stress. The findings could inform current coral reef conservation efforts, for example, by highlighting the potential benefits of amending coral reefs with microbes found to bolster corals' heat-stress responses.

CNN blocks access to its Facebook page in Australia

CNN has blocked access to its Facebook page in Australia after a court ruled media companies were liable for defamatory user comments on their stories.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-cnn-blocks-access-facebook-page.html

Coral microbiome is key to surviving climate change, new study finds

The microbiomes of corals—which comprise bacteria, fungi and viruses—play an important role in the ability of corals to tolerate rising ocean temperatures, according to new research led by Penn State. The team also identified several genes within certain corals and the symbiotic photosynthetic algae that live inside their tissues that may play a role in their response to heat stress. The findings could inform current coral reef conservation efforts, for example, by highlighting the potential benefits of amending coral reefs with microbes found to bolster corals' heat-stress responses.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-coral-microbiome-key-surviving-climate.html

In the face of neurotechnology advances, Chile passes 'neuro rights' law

Chilean lawmakers on Wednesday approved a law establishing the rights to personal identity, free will and mental privacy, becoming the first country in the world to legislate on neurotechnology that can manipulate one's mind.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-neurotechnology-advances-chile-neuro-rights.html

'Belly of the beast': From 13, kids treated as adults online

Facebook drew outrage for its now paused plans for an Instagram app for kids aged 12 and under. But 13-year-olds are already welcome on social media with few protections and sometimes tragic effects, experts and parents said.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-belly-beast-kids-adults-online.html

Australia's Daintree rainforest returned to Indigenous owners

Australia's Daintree rainforest has been returned to its Indigenous owners as the government begins to cede control of the world's oldest tropical forest.

Why climate change is making it harder to chase fall foliage

Droughts that cause leaves to turn brown and wither before they can reach peak color. Heat waves prompting leaves to fall before autumn even arrives. Extreme weather events like hurricanes that strip trees of their leaves altogether.

Virgin Galactic says FAA has cleared it for further flights

Virgin Galactic said Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared it to resume launches after an investigation into why its spaceship veered off course while descending during a July flight with founder Richard Branson aboard.

Australia's Daintree rainforest returned to Indigenous owners

Australia's Daintree rainforest has been returned to its Indigenous owners as the government begins to cede control of the world's oldest tropical forest.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-australia-daintree-rainforest-indigenous-owners.html

Why climate change is making it harder to chase fall foliage

Droughts that cause leaves to turn brown and wither before they can reach peak color. Heat waves prompting leaves to fall before autumn even arrives. Extreme weather events like hurricanes that strip trees of their leaves altogether.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-climate-harder-fall-foliage.html

Virgin Galactic says FAA has cleared it for further flights

Virgin Galactic said Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared it to resume launches after an investigation into why its spaceship veered off course while descending during a July flight with founder Richard Branson aboard.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-09-virgin-galactic-faa-flights.html

Foes united vs Facebook over Instagram's effect on teens

Political adversaries in Congress are united in outrage against Facebook for privately compiling information that its Instagram photo-sharing service appears to grievously harm some teens, especially girls, while publicly downplaying the popular platform's negative impact.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-foes-facebook-instagram-effect-teens.html

Visa and Apple Pay vulnerabilities leaves iPhone users open to payment fraud

Vulnerabilities in Apple Pay and Visa could enable hackers to bypass an iPhone's Apple Pay lock screen and perform contactless payments, according to research by the University of Birmingham and University of Surrey.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-09-visa-apple-vulnerabilities-iphone-users.html