An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team used hourly precipitation data from 1981 to 2020 and spatial modeling to predict extreme precipitation events for the next 100 years in Japan.

Insects play a critical role in ecosystems, but because they are rarely preserved as fossils it’s hard to study their part in the ecosystems of the distant past. Rare inclusions of multiple insects in amber, which is fossilized tree resin, provide a priceless opportunity to learn more about insects in past geological eras. But were these insects trapped together really preying on each other, parasitizing each other, cooperating — or just in the wrong place in the wrong time? To investigate, researchers analyze six pieces of amber containing fossilized ants from as far back as the Cretaceous.

A newly dated fossil site in Newfoundland reveals a more severe early animal extinction about 10 million years before the Cambrian radiation.

Short-term changes in sea level can greatly affect coastal communities and maritime industries, making accurate predictions essential. A team of researchers recently optimized the training of an AI model to improve the accuracy of North Pacific Ocean sea level anomaly (SLA) forecasts compared to current state-of-the-art numerical and AI models.

The Gulf of America is experiencing accelerated sea-level rise driven by ocean dynamics, vertical land motion and warming waters, intensifying flood risks for coastal communities – especially rural, under-resourced areas with limited planning capacity. A new four-year, $900,000 grant supports high-resolution modeling, machine learning and community engagement to deliver precise local projections, deploy water sensors and build an accessible AI platform, equipping communities with actionable forecasts to strengthen resilience and long-term adaptation.