Nature : Science World Report

Sep 17, 2013 12:26 PM EDT

Scientists Generate Electricity from Sewage with 'Wired Microbes'

When you think of electricity, you don't necessarily think of sewage. Yet they may have more in common than you might first think. Scientists have created a new way to generate electricity from sewage using naturally-occurring "wired microbes" that act as mini power plants.

Sep 17, 2013 09:59 AM EDT

Scientists Create New World Map to Assess Vulnerability to Climate Change

Climate change is affecting our planet. Now, though, scientists have found a way to help predict how it will impact the world's ecosystems. They've created a map that identifies Earths' most vulnerable and least vulnerable areas when it comes to climate change.

Sep 17, 2013 08:10 AM EDT

Blue Whale's Life History and Chemical Exposure Recorded in its Waxy Ears

You don't have to ask a whale to reveal its life history--just look at its earwax. Scientists have discovered that by analyzing the waxy buildup inside the ear of a deceased blue whale, they can figure out exactly how much exposure the animal has had to chemical pollutants over the course of its lif...

Sep 16, 2013 02:15 PM EDT

Time Perception in Animals Based on Pace of Life: How Fast Eyes Move

Time perception varies in animals. For example, flies observe motion on timescales that are far finer than our own eyes can perceive. Now, scientists have discovered that an animal's ability to perceive time is linked to its pace of life.

Sep 16, 2013 11:06 AM EDT

Achilles' Heel of Antarctic Ice Shelves is Underwater

What's the most vulnerable part of an ice shelf? It turns out that it's underwater. Scientists have discovered that more ice leaves Antarctica by melting from the underside of submerged ice shelves. In fact, it accounts for as much as 90 percent of ice loss in some areas.

Sep 16, 2013 10:16 AM EDT

Tropical Trees 'Fix' Themselves After Being Logged or Cleared: Capturing Nitrogen

Tropical forests may be making a comeback, and it could be their own doing. Scientists have discovered that trees "turn up" their ability to capture nitrogen from the air and release it into the soil as the forest makes a comeback after being logged or cleared for agriculture.

Sep 16, 2013 08:41 AM EDT

Origins of Life on Earth: How Molecular Fossils are the Key

Before life began on Earth, there were molecules. These molecules, while important building blocks, didn't possess the structure that characterizes life as we know today. Now, scientists have a new theory as to how life was jumpstarted on Earth.

Sep 15, 2013 11:48 PM EDT

Tarantula Venom: A New Selective, Effective Edible Insecticide

Insecticide resistance is the quieter, lesser-known relative of antibiotic resistance. Anyone who has been to a hospital recently knows about antibiotic resistant bacteria. But how many people think about insecticide resistance when they spray their home garden with insecticides?

Sep 14, 2013 07:53 AM EDT

Tiny Arctic Plankton Could Upset World's Oceans as Climate Changes

As the climate changes, the acidity increases in the world's oceans. Now, scientists have discovered that tiny plankton are succeeding in these conditions of elevated CO2 levels. This could imbalance the food web and decrease ocean CO2 uptake, which could spell drastic consequences for our environme...

Sep 13, 2013 03:35 PM EDT

Forever Young Microbe Discovered That is Immune to Ageing

While ageing remains an inevitable fact of life, Max Planck researchers have discovered a microbe that stays forever young by rejuvenating every time it reproduces. The findings provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of ageing.

Sep 13, 2013 02:33 PM EDT

Expert Says Climate Change is Up to Us

The best way to manage climate change is to have a target, says renowned climate physicist Thomas Stocker. He warns that mankind must adapt while there is still time because climate change is very much here and now.

Sep 13, 2013 12:34 PM EDT

Arctic Ocean Acidifying Far Faster Than Projected as Ice Melts

Acidification of ocean water is just one of the problems associated with climate change. Now, scientists have discovered that the Arctic Ocean is acidifying far faster than projected as sea ice rapidly melts.