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Smart News / Smart News Science

Previous studies have shown that white-tailed deer are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infections and can spread the virus to other deer in laboratory settings.

Coronavirus Antibodies Detected in Wild White-Tailed Deer in Several U.S. States

Forty percent of white-tailed deer sampled from four states between January and March 2021 had antibodies from the virus that causes Covid-19

Emperor penguins are the world's largest penguin, standing almost four feet tall and weighing around 88 pounds. They live almost exclusively in Antarctica and need sea ice to survive.

New Research

Climate Change Poised to Push Emperor Penguins to the Brink of Extinction

Study estimates 98 percent of colonies will be quasi-extinct by 2100 unless the world drastically reduces its greenhouse gas emissions

A perfect storm of high demand clashing with supply chain issues, worker shortage and delivery problems is forcing restaurant owners to raise seafood prices on their menus.

Seafood Prices Soar Amid Supply Chain Issues and Worker Shortage

As demand for fish rises, restaurants are slammed with employment losses, port congestion, lack of product, rising costs and shipment snags

Poland's coal-fired Belchatow Power Station released 38 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in 2018.

New Research

Just 5 Percent of Power Plants Release 73 Percent of Global Electricity Production Emissions

Targeting the world’s worst emitters could offer disproportionate benefits when it comes to fighting climate change

For liquid water to exist on the Red Planet, the water needs to be infused with large amounts of salts or heated by a heat source like geothermal activity.

Subsurface ‘Lakes’ on Mars May Actually Be Frozen Clay Deposits

After various studies suggesting liquid water may lie underneath the Red Planet’s south pole, a new study suggests it instead consists of smectites

The ascent module (pictured) may still be orbiting the moon—or it exploded. According to the new calculations, the space junk never crash-landed onto the moon's surface as previously expected.

Part of the Apollo 11 Spacecraft May Still Be Orbiting the Moon

New research suggests the ‘Eagle’ ascent stage either exploded in space or remains in orbit—but it likely didn’t crash land back on the lunar surface

An adult male transient or Bigg's killer whale.

Stranded Killer Whale Survives With the Help of Humans

The whale was spotted stuck among the rocks of an island in Southeast Alaska, but after about six hours on dry land the whale was able to swim off

Many videos and photos shares on social media showed areas dusted with up to an inch of snow and trees slicked with thick ice. Pictured: Sao Joaquim Brazil

Rare Snowfall Blankets Cities Across Brazil

Some parts of the country are seeing snow for the first time in decades, and its threatening crop production

The curved rim on a Frisbee acts as an airfoil, which generates lift almost like an airplane wing. For beer mats, however, gravity takes hold soon after becoming airborne, greatly affecting its lift and drag.

Why Beer Coasters Don’t Fly Like Frisbees

Researchers head to the bar to learn why beer mats fly erratically when tossed

A new article suggests that cats have been underutilized in studies of genetic disease and that studying their genomes, which are structured similarly to humans', could yield new treatments.

New Research

Human Genomes Are Surprisingly Cat-Like

Cat genomes are more similar to ours than those of mice and dogs, yet researchers say felines are underutilized in genetic studies of disease

Run, Cassie, run!

‘Star Wars’–Like Running Robot Finishes 5K on Two Legs

The untethered bipedal bot made history by completing the outdoor course in 53 minutes

While Spongebob and Patrick are friends in the animated world, the relationship between sea stars and sponges is not as friendly in real life. Sea stars are carnivores and are known to prey on sea sponges, crabs, oysters, clams, and coral.

See SpongeBob SquarePants’ and Patrick Star’s Real-Life Twins

The aquatic pals were discovered one mile deep in the Atlantic Ocean during a NOAA expedition

The outbreaks happened earlier in the year between January and April in Washington D.C. and Texas. While both outbreaks were unrelated to each other, they both occurred within long-term care facilities and hospitals where patients had extended stays.

CDC Reports Several Cases of Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection in Two U.S. Cities

In total, five cases of the fungal infection were resistant to three known classes of antifungal medications

Previously, in May, when coronavirus cases were dropping significantly, and vaccination rates were on the rise, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people could stop masking indoors and outdoors.

CDC Internal Report States Covid-19 Delta Variant Is as Contagious as Chickenpox

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people should wear masks indoors in high transmission areas, which accounts for half the country, according to the agency

This map shows how land and ocean temperatures have changed from June 2021 relative to the 1951-1980 base period. High values (darker red colors) indicate temperatures that are higher than those in the base period. The number in the top right is an estimate of the global mean temperature increase. All temperatures are in Celsius.

New Research

Study Measuring Earth’s Vital Signs Warns of Climate Tipping Points

The authors say tropical coral reefs, the Amazon rainforest, and the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets may have passed dangerous tipping points

Two researchers observe a bird carcass found at a wind energy facility.

Dogs Sniff Out Answers to Bat and Bird Fatalities Near Wind Turbines

Aided by canines, researchers found larger models do not necessarily pose a greater threat to wildlife

A 3D image of the spiral-shaped intestine of a Pacific spiny dogfish shark. In life, food would move through this intestine left to right.

Innovation for Good: Game Changers

Sharks’ Intestines Spiral Like a Valve Invented by Nikola Tesla

Tesla’s ingenious valve promoted a one-way flow of fluid without the need for moving parts, but, it turns out, evolution got there first

The butterflies have experienced major losses in populations on both the East and West coasts.

Climate Change Is Decimating Monarch Populations, Research Shows

Western monarchs have lost 99.9 percent of their numbers since the 1980s

A map from NOAA showing parts of the country that are under heat advisory as of July 27 (orange), excessive heat watch (brown) and excessive heat warning (fuchsia). The shaded areas of the map with heat related advisories or warnings encompass more than 30 million people.

‘Heat Dome’ Descends on Central United States

Forecasts suggest more than 30 million people could see temperatures topping 100 degrees this week

From the air samples, the research team was able to identify 17 species of animals that lived within the zoo enclosures or roamed around it, such as deer and hedgehogs. Pictured here is a binturong (Arctictis binturong) and was one of the mammals detected using this method.

Researchers Vacuum DNA From the Air to See What Animals Are Near

The method may help scientists survey animals in various ecosystems to inform conservation efforts

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