ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE
Avian cranial kinesis is the result of increased encephalization during the origin of birds
Modern birds are the living relatives of dinosaurs. Take a look at the features of flightless birds like chickens and ostriches that walk upright on two hind legs, or predators like eagles and hawks with their sharp talons and keen eyesight, and the similarities to small theropod dinosaurs like the velociraptors of Jurassic Park fame are striking.
Yet birds differ from their reptile ancestors in many important ways. A turning point in their evolution was the development of larger brains, which in turn led to changes in the size and shape of their skulls.
New research from the University of Chicago and University of Missouri shows how these physical changes affected the mechanics of the way birds move and use their beaks to eat and explore their habitats — adaptations that helped them evolve into the extraordinarily diverse winged creatures we see today.
The benefits of ‘wiggly’ skulls
Modern birds, as well as other animals like snakes and fishes, have skulls with jaws and palates that aren’t rigid and fixed in place like those in mammals, turtles, or non-avian dinosaurs. Alec Wilken, a graduate student in integrative biology at UChicago and lead author of the new study, calls this kind of flexible skull “wiggly.” He says this characteristic makes it that much harder to figure out how the pieces work together.
“Just because you have a joint there, that doesn’t mean that you know how it moves,” Wilken said. “So, you also have to think about how muscles are going to be pulling on the joint, what kind of torque they have, and how other joints in the head limit the mobility.”
Wilken joined the project in 2015 when he was an…
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Defense Secretary Announces U.S. Forces Japan’s Upgrade to Joint Force Command
During a joint press conference in Tokyo on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that
Defense Department Nominees Promise Better Warfighting Tools, Improved Medical Care
More efficient and faster acquisition, better technology and military hardware, and better medical care to
U.S. Department of Energy Announces $65 Million Funding Opportunity for Small Businesses in Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization
On Dec. 27, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $65 million funding opportunity to support projects through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. This investment includes $1.1 million in Phase I/Release 2 proof of concept grants for projects funded by…
Senator Padilla Announces $122.9 Million in Federal Funding for Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Projects in California
Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will award $122.9 million for six California projects to build zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, including over $55 million for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. The funding comes through the Federal Highway Administration’s…
Flying Green: Transforming Aviation With Sustainable Goals
The aviation industry is at a transformative moment globally, driven by sustainability goals that aim to minimize the environmental impact of flying. Airlines, manufacturers, and regulators are under pressure to adopt greener technologies, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), electric aircraft, and hydrogen propulsion. These innovations promise to revolutionize…
Study Reveals Lingering Indoor Air Pollutants in Homes After Colorado’s Marshall Fire
2021’s Marshall Fire became the most destructive fire in Colorado history, burning nearly 1,000 homes and forcing more than 37,000 residents of Boulder County to evacuate.
New research by scientists at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder found compromised indoor air quality…
Natural disasters are occurring more frequently, disrupting lives and economies worldwide. With these events becoming harder to predict, reliable climate data has never been more essential. Advanced analysis of weather patterns, historical trends, and environmental changes provides valuable insights that can save lives. Dr. Philippe Smith discusses how data shapes predictions, so communities and leaders can better prepare for what’s ahead.
Understanding Climate Data
Accurate natural disaster prediction relies on analyzing climate data, which records Earth’s atmospheric and environmental conditions over time. This data helps experts identify potential disaster warning signs by revealing key environmental trends.
Climate data is grouped into categories reflecting significant environmental factors. Temperature records track daily highs and lows, seasonal averages, and long-term shifts, providing insight into trends like heat waves or ice melting, which can lead to flooding. Precipitation data, including rainfall and snow measurements, assess the risks of storms and droughts. Analyzing changes in these patterns helps predict floods, landslides, or water scarcity. Atmospheric pressure data highlights shifts in weather systems; low-pressure areas often indicate storms, while high-pressure areas may signal dry conditions, aiding in hurricane forecasts.
Reliable predictions draw from a variety of data sources.
“Advances in technology and research have enhanced data collection methods,…
Soldiers assigned to the 172nd Chemical Company and the 21st Chemical Company removed hazardous waste from sites where homes once stood in Southern California as part of the wildfire response mission
U.S. Army Chemical Corps Soldiers recently worked with joint and interagency partners to support the wildfire response mission in Southern California, Feb. 12-17, 2025.
Highly trained Soldiers from the 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response) and the 21st Chemical Company (Hazard Response) joined together with Sailors, Marines and Airmen under the command of U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Task Force-Civil Support to remove hazardous waste from debris ridden homesites in California.
The Fort Riley, Kansas-based 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response) “Gladiators” are part of the 2nd Chemical Battalion and the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based 21st Chemical Company (Hazard Response) “Blackjacks” are part of the 83rd Chemical Battalion. Both units are part of the 48th Chemical Brigade, under the Army’s 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command — the U.S. military’s premier multifunctional and deployable CBRNE formation.
Capt. Addison M. Love, the commander of the 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response), said the Soldiers were selected for the mission based on their readiness.
“Fifty-three Soldiers from 172d Chemical Company and 12 Soldiers from 21st Chemical Company combined under my command activated in response to the Southern California wildfires to assist FEMA and support the Environmental Protection Agency hazardous material collection and removal effort in the Los Angeles,…
Overfishing Leads to a 50% Decline in Shark and Ray Populations Since 1970, New Study Reveals
A new analysis published last Thursday in the journal Science reveals that overfishing has caused populations of chondrichthyan fishes – sharks, rays, and chimaeras – to decline by more than 50% since 1970. To determine the consequences, a team of researchers developed an aquatic Red List Index (RLI)…
U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby Achieves LEED Gold Certification, Showcasing Commitment to Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
In recognition of the Department’s commitment to environmental leadership and sustainable design, the new U.S. Embassy Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council.
Designed in collaboration by KCCT Architecture and Krueck Sexton Partners and constructed…
Guardsmen Deliver Food to Alaska Community Hit by Typhoon
Alaska National Guardsmen delivered nearly 14,000 pounds of frozen beef, chicken and pork this month to Toksook Bay, Alaska, helping residents still recovering from losses sustained when Typhoon Merbok flooded thousands of communities in September 2022.
The storm’s impact and ensuing power outages caused vital meat stores to spoil. After…
New Study Identifies Key Traits Linked to Bird Extinctions, Highlighting Urgent Need for Conservation Efforts
Looking to inform the conservation of critically endangered bird species, University of Utah biologists completed an analysis identifying traits that correlate with all 216 bird extinctions since 1500.
Species most likely to go extinct sooner were endemic to islands, lacked the ability to fly, had larger bodies and sharply angled wings,…
JMU researcher: Andean vicuñas promote rapid ecosystem development
By Sandy Di Angelis / Associate WriterRecent research from James Madison University reveals that animal dung is crucial in accelerating ecosystem development on nutrient-poor soils exposed by melting glaciers in the Andes Mountains. Led by biology professor Kelsey Reider, this study highlights the significant impact of wild vicuñas, relatives of alpacas and llamas, in transforming barren landscapes into thriving habitats.
In the tropical Andes, vegetation growth is often stunted for long periods post-glacier melt due to nutrient-deficient soils. However, the presence of vicuñas has been shown to considerably enhance the potential for new plant life, as detailed in a study published on nature.com.
Collaborating with researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, Reider examined the ecosystems at elevations reaching 17,700 feet, revealing that animal excrement significantly alters the soil’s biotic and abiotic components. The dung, found in concentrated areas known as latrines, maintains a more stable soil temperature amidst the drastic fluctuations typical of high-altitude environments — where nights can feel like winter while days are reminiscent of summer.
Furthermore, these latrines contribute essential organic matter and nutrients, fostering a more conducive environment for plant growth than latrine-free areas. This process benefits flora and creates nutrient hotspots that serve as habitats for various animal species, including Andean foxes and pumas, which prey on them.
Reider and her team continue their investigation, supported by a $470,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. They are currently analyzing samples and data in the lab and plan to return to Peru for further research in June and December.
With over a decade of experience working in…
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HyVelocity Hub Secures $1.2 Billion Federal Funding to Launch Largest Clean Hydrogen Initiative in the Gulf Coast
The HyVelocity Hub has executed a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) to receive up to $1.2 billion in federal funding to build and expand low-carbon hydrogen and hydrogen infrastructure across Texas and the Gulf Coast.
Kicking off with about $22…
Elephant Seal Population Struggles After Devastating H5N1 Outbreak in Argentina: Only a Third of Expected Returns
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Holcim and Detroit Wayne County Port Authority Secures EPA Grant to Propel Zero-Emission Initiatives at Detroit Port
Holcim, in close partnership with the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA), was awarded a grant through the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports program. The joint grant supports the Detroit Port Authority’s broader Zero-Emission Technology Deployment program to accelerate the decarbonization of the port and improve…
Defense Department unveils conservation strategy to support monarch butterfly protections while ensuring military readiness
Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed the monarch butterfly be afforded new protections under the Endangered Species Act.
The Defense Department, with nearly 27 million acres of land, air and water resources, already plays a role in providing protections for the monarch butterfly. However, the new “Conservation Strategy for the Monarch Butterfly” details what its role will be if the monarch butterfly becomes federally listed as a threatened species under the ESA.
In preparation for the monarch’s potential listing, the department has been collaborating with USFWS to develop a conservation strategy that allows DOD to contribute to the monarch’s conservation. That same collaborative effort also ensures that the department will still be able to perform its mission and maintain military readiness.
The strategy’s key tenets are to enable DOD to meet its mission with flexibility and certainty while participating in the conservation of the monarch butterfly.
The strategy promotes the continued implementation of existing conservation programs to benefit the monarch butterfly on the over 1.7 million acres of grasslands that the department manages by providing nectar and milkweed resources and protecting 53 sites for overwintering monarchs. These efforts allow for realistic military training, testing and operations on natural landscapes that…
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U.S. Department of Defense Deploys 500 Troops and Aircraft to Combat California Wildfires
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $15.3 Million to Support New American Climate Corps Projects in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA
Leaders from the Biden-Harris Administration, the State of Pennsylvania, and municipal agencies gathered in Philadelphia today to announce that PowerCorpsPHL, in collaboration with Landforce in Pittsburgh, has been selected to receive $15.3 million to expand urban forestry, repurpose wood waste from down and dead trees to higher value lumber…
New Study Reveals Harmful Effects of Tire-Wear Particles on Aquatic Life
In a study published in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, researchers from Hangzhou Normal University uncovered the adverse health effects of tire-wear particles (TWPs) on aquatic organisms. The study, led by Zhiquan Liu, focused on the hepatotoxicity of TWP leachates, revealing significant impacts on the gut-liver axis and oxidative stress levels…
AmeriCorps Ramps Up Disaster Response in North Carolina and Florida Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, announced today that more than 140 additional AmeriCorps members are deploying to North Carolina and Florida this week in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. These AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team members will join ongoing recovery…