Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

May 19, 2015 01:15 PM EDT

Giant Pandas Don't Have the Gut Bacteria to Properly Digest Bamboo

Giant pandas may munch on bamboo, but it turns out that their gut bacteria aren't designed for that meal. Scientists have discovered that the gut bacteria of giant pandas can't efficiently digest bamboo.

May 19, 2015 11:18 AM EDT

Waterways May be Contaminated with High Levels of BPA Released into the Atmosphere

Our water may be contaminated by hormone-disrupting pollutants. Scientists have discovered that harmful concentrations of Bisphenol-A (BPA) may have been deposited directly into rivers and streams by municipal or industrial wastewater.

May 19, 2015 10:59 AM EDT

Climate Change May Cause More Powerful but Less Frequent Hurricanes

Climate change may be altering the frequency and intensity of hurricanes. Scientists have found that global change could be the driving force behind fewer and yet more powerful hurricanes and tropical storms.

May 19, 2015 10:11 AM EDT

How to Make Old Brains Young Again: Scientists Restore Flexibility to Older Mice

Scientists may have given old mice their youthful brains back. Researchers have managed to restore the flexibility of the juvenile brain to the adult brain.

May 19, 2015 09:57 AM EDT

How the Burmese Python's Extreme Body Changes Occur After It Eats

The Burmese python has the amazing ability to eat massive meals, allowing its body to grow to massive proportions before shrinking as it digests. Now, scientists have discovered how this extreme body transformation takes place in these snakes.

May 19, 2015 09:40 AM EDT

Brightly Painted Jumping Spiders are Masters of Color Vision

When it comes to vision, jumping spiders are masters. Scientists have long known that these arachnids see in remarkably high resolution. Now, researchers have discovered that these spiders see in three color "channels," as most humans do.

May 19, 2015 09:31 AM EDT

The Impact of Climate Change on the American Midwest May Not be Drought Conditions

Climate change is impacting the United States in many ways. But will it cause the U.S. Midwest to become drier or wetter during the summer growing season? Many say that drought will be a huge issue, but scientists have found that this may not be the case.

May 19, 2015 09:13 AM EDT

Tiny Ocean Microbes May Have a Direct Impact on Climate Change and Cloud Formation

Tiny, ocean microbes may actually impact climate change. Scientists have discovered that a factor that determines the properties of clouds that help moderate our planet's temperature may be decided in the oceans.

May 19, 2015 08:53 AM EDT

United States' Exposure to Extreme Heat May Increase Four to Six Times by Mid-Century

Get ready for summer and while you're at it, get ready for heat waves. Scientists have found that the United States could experience a four- to six-fold increase in exposure to extreme heat by mid-century.

May 19, 2015 08:30 AM EDT

Modern Humans Have Weaker and Lighter Bones Than Their Ancient Ancestors

It turns out that our modern lifestyles may have made our bones weaker. Scientists have studied the bones of hundreds of humans who lived during the past 33,000 years and found that over time, human bones became lighter and weaker.

May 18, 2015 10:18 AM EDT

Historical Land Use Has a Major Role on Carbon Cycling

Scientists have discovered that historical land use has a major role on carbon cycling, which means we may need to look to the past to predict the future.

May 18, 2015 10:02 AM EDT

Tiny Microbes May Cleanse Urban Waterways of Pollutants

Scientists have discovered tiny microbes with the potential to cleanse polluted waterways. They've found that microbial communities in urban waterways not only clean the water, but also act as raw water quality indicators.