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Arctic faces rapid, permanent
change

This should not come as a surprise: Researchers at University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Manitoba, University of Ottawa, Northern Arizona University and University of Hamburg warn that if global temperatures rise as predicted, the Arctic will undergo irreversible changes.

Key findings, published in Science, suggest that the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free for months each summer, the Greenland Ice Sheet will melt at an accelerated rate, and permafrost will shrink by 50 percent, leading to major impacts on global sea levels, ecosystems and infrastructure.

The researchers emphasize that these changes are already underway and could worsen without urgent global action.

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Underwater light tech helps corals
survive bleaching

Researchers at Ohio State University and University of Hawai’i have developed an autonomous, programmable underwater light that attracts zooplankton, the coral’s food source.

The Underwater Zooplankton Enhancement Light Array (UZELA) “greatly enhanced” local zooplankton density in tests on two species of coral native to Hawaii, increasing the feeding rates of both healthy and bleached coral.

Coral reefs face growing threats from climate change, with heat stress weakening their ability to survive.

By providing a steady food source, UZELA could improve coral resilience and boost restoration efforts. The study was published in Limnology and Oceanography: Methods.

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Air pollution impairs cognitive
function

Breathing polluted air can impair cognitive function within just four hours, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham and University of Manchester found that short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) significantly reduces selective attention and the ability to recognize emotions. The findings suggest that even brief encounters with air pollution can affect higher-level brain functions.

The study tested 26 adults under controlled conditions, exposing them to either clean air or high levels of particulate pollution for one hour. Cognitive tests before and after exposure showed that participants had more difficulty focusing and interpreting facial expressions after breathing polluted air.

The researchers highlighted the need for further research into PM2.5 and its effects on brain health, especially long-term.

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1 in 4 chance space junk will fall
back to earth

Uncontrolled rocked re-entries pose a growing risk to the aviation industry, a new study in Scientific Reports warns.

As space launches increase, more rocket bodies are abandoned in orbit, eventually falling back to Earth unpredictably.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia estimate that in high-traffic airspace, such as over northern Europe or the northeastern United States, there is a 26 percent annual chance of a re-entry passing through busy skies, posing a collision risk to aircraft.

While the likelihood of a direct impact remains low, even small debris could cause catastrophic damage.

The study highlights a 2022 incident when European airspace was temporarily closed due to a re-entry threat, delaying hundreds of flights. With rocket launches and flights increasing, the researchers say policymakers need to take action.

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Bonobos adjust their communication
based on ignorance

Bonobos can recognize when others lack knowledge and adjust their communication accordingly, a new study published in PNAS suggests.

In a study by Johns Hopkins University researchers, male bonobos were sat opposite a human partner one by one. A second person would place a treat – usually a Cheerio – under one of three cups. The bonobo would always be able to see where the treat was, but the human partner was sometimes kept in the dark.

The bonobo would only be able to have the treat if the human could find it.

When the bonobo knew the human didn’t know, he would “quite demonstratively” point to the right cup. This behavior indicates that bonobos may possess a basic understanding of others’ ignorance and use it to guide cooperative interactions.

These findings challenge long-standing beliefs that non-human primates cannot communicate based on mental state attributions and suggest that bonobos at least have a more flexible and advanced social cognition than previously thought.