331 news posts in Earth and beyond

Climate action

17 Aug 2020

Effects of nutrient pollution in marine ecosystems are compounded by human activity

Climate change worsens effect of eutrophication on coastal ecosystems: Frontiers in Marine Science

Earth science

06 Aug 2020

Citizen scientists help geologists to identify earthquakes and tectonic tremors

Citizen scientists help earth scientists to identify seismic events: Frontiers in Earth Science

Environment

05 Aug 2020

Bird nests attract flying insects and parasites due to higher levels of carbon dioxide

By Nora Belblidia, science writer Researchers in Spain have examined bird nests in order to understand how flying insects and parasites detect gases as a way to locate their hosts. The study found that nests that had higher concentrations of carbon dioxide attracted more biting midges, a type of insect that carries a common blood parasite that infects local birds. The findings have implications regarding how diseases spread, which will be affected as carbon levels rise due to climate change. Flying insects and parasites are often vectors for disease, but a mosquito needs to first find someone before they can bite them. In a recent study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, researchers examined bird nests in order to understand how insects and parasites detect gases such as carbon dioxide and methane as a way to locate their hosts. The researchers focused on blue tit bird nest boxes located in a deciduous forest in central Spain. They found that the nests contained more biting midges when concentrations of carbon dioxide were higher inside the nest compared to the forest air. “This is important because biting midges are the main vector of Haemoproteus, the most abundant blood parasite infecting birds […]

Environment

05 Aug 2020

Tracking humanity’s latest toxins in stranded whales and dolphins

High levels of anthropogenic toxins found in stranded cetaceans: Frontiers in Marine Science

Climate action

31 Jul 2020

Global significance of boreal forest and Indigenous-led conservation within it

Indigenous people take lead on conservation of boreal forests: Frontiers in Forests and Global Change

Sustainability

20 Mar 2020

Impact of a second Dust Bowl would be felt worldwide

Catastrophic shock to US agriculture would deplete reserves, including those of other countries: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.

Space sciences and astronomy

14 Feb 2020

Are we alone? The search for new planets continues

Exoplanets, a new specialty section in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, is now open for submissions.

Environment

14 Feb 2020

Satellite image data reveals rapid decline of China’s intertidal wetlands

Study shows a loss of nearly 40% of wetlands since the 1970s and calls for new legislation for their protection: Frontiers in Earth Science

Climate action

04 Feb 2020

Coral Reef Research Collection wins $100,000 International Science Prize

A team of scientific editors has been awarded US $100,000 by Swiss open-access publisher Frontiers in recognition of an outstanding special issue research collection on coral reef science and conservation.

Sustainability

31 Jan 2020

Understanding the Social and Political Dynamics of Sustainable Food Systems

New Specialty Section on Social Movements, Institutions and Governance led by Hannah Wittman (University of British Columbia) and Rachel Bezner Kerr (Cornell University)

Sustainability

30 Jan 2020

New Frontiers journal to address humanity’s global sustainability challenges

Led by Prof Sangwon Suh (University of California), the journal hopes to advance our understanding of the causes, current status and future prospects of global sustainability challenges.