Ecology-Evolution

By analyzing proteins extracted from dinosaur bones, researchers have concluded with high certainty that birds are the modern-day living descendants of dinosaurs.

The earth has approximately seven and a half billion years left to live, according to mathematical models made by researchers at University of Guanajuato in Mexico and the University of Sussex in England.

In all fields of science, researchers rely on mathematical models to make predictions about future events (will an asteroid hit earth?), predict how a system might react if perturbed, (does an excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to global warming?), and even to investigate why a process works the way it does (how do neurons in our brain communicate with each other?).

Recent studies of human genetic variation have provided some interesting perspectives on our evolutionary history and the degree to which people from distant lands are closely related, genetically speaking.

Virgin Atlantic Airways is the first airline to use biofuel on a commercial flight.  The fuel, derived from babassu nuts and coconut oil, formed 25% of the jet fuel.  The remainder was kerosene, the typical fuel for jet engines.

This interesting article in the New York Times details suburbanites’ efforts to “go green.”

Efforts include using corn kernels instead of fuel oil for heat, erecting personal wind turbines, and replacing high-maintenance grass lawns with vegetable and fruit gardens.

Historically, Americans have been active patrons of national parks, forest preserves, and other outdoor resources. A report in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes the declining interest of citizens in nature-based recreation activities, including parks, forests, and other public lands.