SciExplore Connect

The global rule that predicts where life thrives—and where it fails

A simple rule that seems to govern how life is organized on Earth is described in a new study published on June 4 in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

The research team led, by Umeå University and involving the University of Reading, believe this rule helps explain why species are spread the way they are across the planet. The discovery will help to understand life on Earth - including how ecosystems respond to global environmental changes.

The rule is simple: in every region on Earth, most species cluster together in small 'hotspot' areas, then gradually spread outward with fewer and fewer species able to survive farther away from these hotspots.

Rubén Bernardo-Madrid, lead author and researcher at Umeå University (Sweden), said: "In every bioregion, there is always a core area where most species live. From that core, species expand into…

Lithium-CO₂ ‘breathing’ batteries come closer to reality with new low-cost catalyst

Scientists at the University of Surrey have made a breakthrough in eco-friendly batteries that not only store more energy but could also help tackle greenhouse gas emissions. Lithium-CO₂ 'breathing' batteries release power while capturing carbon dioxide, offering a greener alternative that may one day outperform today's lithium-ion batteries.

Until now, Lithium-CO₂ batteries have faced setbacks in efficiency -- wearing out quickly, failing to recharge and relying on expensive rare materials such as platinum. However, researchers from Surrey have found a way to overcome these issues by using a low-cost catalyst called caesium phosphomolybdate (CPM). Using computer modelling and lab experiments, tests showed this simple change allowed the battery to store significantly more energy, charge with far less power and run for over 100 cycles.

The study, published in Advanced Science, marks a promising step toward real-world applications. If commercialised,…

Scientists Build First-Ever 'Black Hole Bomb' Analog

Researchers have created the first laboratory analog of the 'black hole bomb', a theoretical concept developed by physicists in the 1970s.

If there's one thing black holes are known for, it's their insatiable, inescapable gravity. Stuff goes into a black hole. You're not really going to get much out.

From beyond the event horizon, this is, as far as we know, true. But from the space around a black hole, you might be able to get something. As Roger Penrose proposed in 1971, the powerful rotational energy of a spinning black hole could be used to amplify the energy of nearby particles.

Then, physicist Yakov Zel'Dovich figured out that you didn't need a black hole to see this phenomenon in action. An axially symmetrical body rotating in a resonance chamber, he figured, could produce the same energy transfer and amplification, albeit on a…

How Thoughts Influence What the Eyes See

A surprising study could point to new approaches for AI systems.

When you see a bag of carrots at the grocery store, does your mind go to potatoes and parsnips or buffalo wings and celery?

It depends, of course, on whether you’re making a hearty winter stew or getting ready to watch the Super Bowl.

Most scientists agree that categorizing an object — like thinking of a carrot as either a root vegetable or a party snack — is the job of the prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for reasoning and other high-level functions that make us smart and social. In that account, the eyes and visual regions of the brain are kind of like a security camera collecting data and processing it in a standardized way before passing it off for analysis.