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Human-Shaped Sarcophagus Found in Newly Revealed Tombs Beneath The Notre-Dame

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Several tombs and a leaden sarcophagus likely dating from the 14th century have been uncovered by archaeologists at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris following its devastating 2019 fire.   The burial sites “of remarkable scientific quality” were unearthed during preparatory work for rebuilding the ancient church’s spire at the central spot where the transept crosses the … Read more

AI Helps Small City Pull Toxic Lead Water Service Lines from the Ground Faster

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Benton Harbor, Mich.—This is a city in crisis. “You can’t drink the water. You can’t brush your teeth with the water. You can’t cook with the water…. You can’t make baby formula with the water,” says Reverend Edward Pinkney, president of the Benton Harbor Community Water Council. The community’s water is not safe to drink … Read more

A Faster Way to Find Good Medical Treatments Is Gaining Ground

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A huge amount of money, skill and organizational complexity goes into testing a single new therapy in a randomized controlled trial—the “gold standard” type of study that forms the bedrock of modern medicine. Among the steps: devising a valid statistical design, determining dosages and measures of efficacy, passing ethical reviews, training collaborators in the study’s … Read more

New Quantum Gravity Sensor Can Look Under Earth’s Surface in Unprecedented Detail

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Scientists would be able to discover much more about what lies underground if our planet could be sliced open and viewed as a cross-section – but as that’s not really possible, they have to rely on a variety of other methods instead.   One new approach has just been proven in the field: A recently … Read more

In One Part of Europe, Soil Is Rapidly Degrading. It’s a Warning to Us All

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In the Mediterranean region, the soil is degrading, and land is turning to desert faster than anywhere else in the European Union, according to a new analysis. Experts warn that the combined effects of unsustainable land practices and climate change have depleted a finite resource to a critical point.   A recent publication by a … Read more

Lithium fields: Beautiful from the air, trouble on the ground

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By Gege Li Tom Hegen Photographer Tom Hegen THE vivid swathes of minerals in this lithium extraction field make for a dazzling sight, but also represent a troubling aspect of our rapidly electrifying world. Taken by photographer Tom Hegen, this image of the Soquimich lithium mine in the Atacama desert, run by major mining operator … Read more

Hibernation: Dormant ground squirrels recycle urine to maintain their muscles

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Hibernating animals find it hard to get the nitrogen they need to maintain muscles – but ground squirrels have gut microbes that can break down urea to free up the nitrogen it contains Life 27 January 2022 By Alex Wilkins Hibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrel Robert Streiffer Hibernating ground squirrels stay in shape by recycling urea, … Read more

Thawing Permafrost Is Poised to Unleash Havoc in The Arctic, Scientists Warn

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Thawing Arctic permafrost laden with billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases not only threatens the region’s critical infrastructure but life across the planet, according to a comprehensive scientific review.   Nearly 70 percent of the roads, pipelines, cities, and industry – mostly in Russia – built on the region’s softening ground are highly vulnerable to … Read more