Earth & Climate

Seagrass meadows become “short grasslands”

Where lush neptune grass (left) still grows today, Halophila seaweed (right), introduced from the Red Sea, could soon spread. © Stephanie Helber Leibniz...

What distinguishes flight plumage

This wing of a species of lark illustrates the rule: nine flight feathers with an asymmetrical structure emerge from the “hand segment” of the...

The ecological consequences of fishing

Fishing is one of the most popular leisure activities in Germany. But what ecological consequences are associated with this? Image: Pexels.com, Lum3n...

On the trail of the “thermostat” in the brain

Researchers have looked into the brains of transparent zebrafish larvae to determine their temperature regulation behavior. © Image: Portugues Labor / TU Munich ...

Cretaceous frog fossil discovered with eggs

Fossil of the Cretaceous female frog with her eggs. © Baoxia Du et al. In northwest China, researchers have discovered the extraordinary fossil of a...

“Climate plantations” really make sense

Can “climate plantations” slow down global warming? © fotojog/ iStock On so-called climate plantations, fast-growing plants are supposed to extract the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide...

Secret of blue fruit color revealed

Blue fruits such as mahonia berries (left) have a wax layer with nanostructures (right) that are responsible for the color impression. © Rox...

Photo worth seeing: One last hug

In 2000, during the construction of a highway in Altwies in southern Luxembourg, archaeologists discovered two graves from the Early Bronze Age. One of...

Sea otter: Comeback protects against erosion

Sea otters eat burrowing crabs in the marshes along the California coast, protecting them from erosion. © Killiii Yuyan ...

Hurricanes: Is the Saffir-Simpson scale still enough?

Hurricanes are becoming stronger due to climate change because warmer seas give them more energy. © Elen11/ iStock ...

Do clownfish count stripes?

The different number of stripes in the different anemonefish species apparently has a special meaning. Pictured: Amphiprion ocellaris, © Kina Hayashi ...

How long do discarded straws last?

Plastic straws are a major problem for the world's oceans. © Bryan James/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ...

3D fossils of bizarre ancient trees discovered

Artist's impression of the approximately 350 million year old Sanfordia tree with human silhouettes as a scale. © Tim Stonesifer ...

Natron lakes as a cradle of life?

In late summer, the mineral-rich soda lake "Last Chance Lake" in Canada is usually dried out to the point where people can walk on...

This butterfly has sensitivity

A pigeon tail drinking nectar © Anna Stöckl Highly developed eyes and a complex brain enable our human hands to perform even difficult tasks, such...

Volcanism: Warning rumblings cleverly captured

View of the so-called Geldingadalir eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland. © Eva Eibl, University of Potsdam ...

Photo worth seeing: Stone witnesses to early life

Paleontologists assume that microbial life forms already existed around 3.5 billion years ago. However, insights into the diversity of the ecosystems of the time...

Groundwater levels are falling worldwide

This irrigation well in Bangladesh extracts groundwater. © Ahmed Ziaur Rahman Groundwater reserves are declining at an ever-increasing rate around the world. This is confirmed...

Invasive ants influence the hunting success of lions

Acacias previously provided lions with privacy when hunting - but due to the spread of an invasive species of ants, the small trees are...

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