Decades of selective breeding and intensive agricultural practices have reshaped cattle genetics - often at the expense of valuable diversity preserved in traditional herds - according to new research from Aberystwyth University.

A global study led by an international research team found that mountain tree species respond to climate warming in different ways, with their water-use and drought-resistance traits largely determining whether they move uphill or expand into lower elevations.

On July 14, 2026, the Forum on Biochar and Carbon Research brought together researchers and members of the public for an online presentation examining three decades of progress in biochar science.

By combining satellite data captured from space with measurements of plants and animals taken on the ground, researchers hope to better predict where species are likely to thrive in the years to come.

A research team led by the University of California, Santa Cruz, set out to determine the best timing for retiring a gas-powered car and replacing it with an electric vehicle in order to maximize climate benefits. As it turns out, from a carbon emissions standpoint, you’d be better off sending a brand new internal combustion engine car directly to the scrap heap in order to replace it with a battery electric car. It typically takes about three years for the lower emissions of driving a battery electric vehicle to offset the emissions required to produce it. And the benefits add up quickly from there—resulting in up to a 58% reduction in carbon emissions over a 16-year period, if gas cars are retired at year-one.

Researchers at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance have validated a less invasive way to estimate the body temperature of hatchling Mojave desert tortoises using a handheld infrared thermal camera. The study addresses a gap in turtle research by evaluating infrared thermography for estimating internal body temperature and could help scientists collect critical physiological data while reducing handling stress on threatened animals. The findings may also support future research in additional turtle species and other ectothermic wildlife as scientists study how animals respond to a changing climate.

As record-breaking heat grips communities worldwide and Australia prepares for an intense El Niño summer, new research provides the first global review linking high temperatures and heatwaves to poorer mental health in children and young people.

Drawing on examples from across the Great Lakes Basin, a new synthesis paper is examining the ecological structures and processes that help ecosystems withstand disturbances while continuing to provide the benefits that people and wildlife depend on. It highlights the importance of what ecologists call "portfolio effects": the stabilizing influence that arises when ecosystems contain a diversity of species, habitats, and ecological interactions operating across multiple levels of ecological organization. Much like a diversified financial portfolio reduces risk, ecological diversity can buffer ecosystems against environmental change and help maintain the production of natural resources over time.