In the wide grasslands of northern China, two types of plants often compete for space: tough perennial grasses and colorful flowering forbs. Scientists have long noticed that these plants don’t just look different—they also affect the soil and nutrients in contrasting ways. Leaves from grasses and f
On May 13, at 6:30 p. m. , the Middleborough Public Library will host an open discussion where locals can learn how research shapes the area’s natural environment. Three guest speakers will break down important topics like pollinators, salt marshes, and natural pest control. Instead of diving straig
The loss of nature terms in our language is more than a spelling issue; it signals that many people no longer recognize the plants, birds, and animals around them. When a popular dictionary dropped words like “bee” or “bird, ” artists and writers saw the problem in action. One project that sprang up
Stories have become a hot topic in humanities and social sciences. Scholars from Indigenous, Black, Feminist, and many other traditions have shown how powerful narratives can be. A recent study looks at how telling and listening to stories can help people understand the link between nature and socie
Ever wondered why being outside makes you feel so good? It turns out, nature has a lot to teach us about spirituality. For a long time, people have thought of holy places as buildings with stained glass and pews. But what if the real sacred spaces are all around us, in the trees, the rain, and the q
In cities, leaves falling into water containers can be a mixed bag for mosquito larvae. These leaves can either help or harm the young mosquitoes, but scientists are still figuring out why. Two common city trees, Tipuana tipu and Handroanthus heptaphyllus, were studied to see how their leaves affect
The world is seeing a big jump in female genital cosmetic surgeries. This is creating more business chances, but it also brings up big ethical questions. Many of these surgeries are not needed for health reasons. There is not enough solid science to back up their safety or long-term effects. Market
Getting and holding onto a job is super important for people's money, social life, and feeling part of society. This review looks at what helps or makes it harder for workers over 50 to find and keep jobs. It checked out 244 studies and reports. The review used a theory called Human Ecology Theory.
The herb Corydalis yanhusuo is in high demand because of its medicinal properties. But growing it over and over in the same soil can cause problems. The soil can get worse over time. This makes it harder for the plants to grow well. It also makes them more likely to get sick from soil diseases. One
People often think of early humans as skilled hunters, but what if scavenging played a bigger role in their survival than we realized? Recent studies suggest that scavenging might have been a smart and essential strategy for our ancestors. Early humans had some key advantages when it came to scaven
