While compound extreme events across the bulk of the planet are characterized by hot and dry conditions, those over polar ice sheets are predominantly associated with hot and wet conditions, according to a new study by an international research team. Analyzing 42 years of global weather, the researchers found that extreme warm events, or heatwaves, and extreme precipitation events, such as heavy rainfall, overlapped far more in Antarctica than in lower latitudes. This co-occurrence may also accelerate polar ice sheet melting, the team said.

 

Marine and coastal geoscience play a critical role in understanding ancient and modern geological history, offshore and coastal hazards, and climate change. Deep-water environments prevent scientists from directly visiting field sites, so unique methods must be employed for researching the ocean floor.One common approach is offshore drilling, which provides core samples that can be analyzed in laboratories. While this method is useful for retrieving otherwise inaccessible materials, it is expensive and has its limitations. A new study in Geosphere explores a more cost-effective alternative: deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to record exposed rock layers on the ocean floor and construct virtual outcrops 

A research team led by Professor Chuyang Tang, Chair Professor from the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), has developed a novel nanofiltration membrane using natural silk, which could revolutionise the process of water purification or treatment.

A pioneering study has achieved the first-ever telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of Penthorum chinense Pursh, a medicinal plant revered in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties.

A pivotal study has unveiled the critical influence of gibberellins (GAs) in tomato ripening, a process long attributed primarily to ethylene.

Kyushu University researchers have successfully developed a new ferroelectric optical modulator that can exhibited modulation of up to 170 Gbps—an operating 10 times higher than existing devices—and a transmission rate of more than 300 Gbps. This modulator was made thanks to a new method the team developed that allowed them to grow thin films of ferroelectric crystals on silicon substrates.

The technology enhances an already existing treatment that improves limb recovery in stroke survivors

A pioneering study has uncovered the complex and dual roles of neutrophils in cancer development, demonstrating their remarkable ability to both stimulate and suppress tumor growth.