Natural Sciences - latest news

How do trees know when to awake in spring?

April 4, 2018 in Natural Sciences

Trees can see, feel and calculate time. Norwegian researchers have helped reveal another of trees’ tricks for surviving frigid winters.

What's the (dark) matter?

March 15, 2018 in Natural Sciences

We don’t know what it looks like, and can’t even be certain it exists. Welcome to the frustrating and fascinating world of dark matter.

When two raven species become one

March 14, 2018 in Natural Sciences

On the outside, they look similar, but common ravens in North America contain a counterintuitive tale about evolution in their genes.

Can nature clean up oil spills in the Arctic?

March 13, 2018 in Natural Sciences

Oil-eating microbes often perform the bulk of the clean-up after an oil spill. But we might not be able to rely on these bacteria to clean up oil in the cold Arctic.

Are laboratory animals representative of their wild counterparts?

March 10, 2018 in Natural Sciences

Despite being born and grown in the laboratory, our research suggests that their traits aren’t so different, making them perfect for studying how wild animals might respond to their environment.

Stunning starfish illuminates the dark Arctic

March 6, 2018 in Natural Sciences

In the dark deep ocean around Greenland, scientists have discovered starfish with surprisingly good eyes and the ability to light up the dark

Climate Change draws invasive species to the Arctic

February 26, 2018 in Natural Sciences

Warmer temperatures and declining sea ice pulls foreign animals and plants to the Arctic, with drastic consequences for these sensitive ecosystems.

Can Greenlandic mud help feed the world?

February 25, 2018 in Natural Sciences

Can nutrient-rich mud from Greenland transform poor tropical soils to produce more and higher quality food? This is what a new research project will study.

Climate change boosts algae growth in the Arctic

February 21, 2018 in Natural Sciences

Microscopic algae living underneath sea ice are an essential source of food in the Arctic ocean. But do we really know how little light they need to survive?