Multiple long-term physical health problems increase risk of depression later in life

Middle-aged people in the UK with at least two long-term physical health conditions are at a greater risk of developing depression or anxiety later in life compared to those with none or only one long-term physical health condition, according to new research from King's College London.

No northern escape route for Florida's coral reefs

Warming seas are driving many species of marine life to shift their geographic ranges out of the tropics to higher latitudes where the water is cooler. Florida's reefs will not be able to make that northward move, however, as they will be caught between intolerably hot tropical waters and increasingly frequent water-cooling cold snaps, according to new findings from Florida Institute of Technology, the U.S. Geological Survey, and several other institutions to be published June 22 in Scientific Reports.

Aviation's contribution to cutting climate change likely to be small

Although the emissions targets for aviation are in line with the overall goals of the Paris Agreement, there is a high likelihood that the climate impact of aviation will not meet these goals, according to a new study.

Future wood use assures long-term climate benefit from commercial forests

A new study published in Nature Communications demonstrates the important role that planting new commercial forests could play in the fight against climate change by including new accounting of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation achieved from future use of harvested wood.

Ballooning spiders leave Australian region covered in webs

An arachnid invasion left swathes of Australia's Gippsland region covered in webs as the spiders sought higher ground to escape flooding.

Watchdog: Nursing home deaths up 32% in 2020 amid pandemic

Deaths among Medicare patients in nursing homes soared by 32% last year, with two devastating spikes eight months apart, a government watchdog reported Tuesday in the most comprehensive look yet at the ravages of COVID-19 among its most vulnerable victims.

Turtle carcasses wash ashore in Sri Lanka after ship fire

Nearly a hundred carcasses of turtles with throat and shell damage, as well as dozens of dead dolphins and a blue whale, have washed ashore in Sri Lanka since a container ship burned and sank, raising fears of a severe marine disaster.

Amid clamor to increase prescribed burns, obstacles await

In the 1950s, when University of California forestry professor Harold Biswell experimented with prescribed burns in the state's pine forests, many people thought he was nuts.

Australia fights UN downgrade of Great Barrier Reef health

Australia said Tuesday it will fight against plans to downgrade the Great Barrier Reef's World Heritage status due to climate change, while environmentalists have applauded the U.N. World Heritage Committee's proposal.

India tests longer-range drone flights, eyes COVID-19 vaccine deliveries

An aviation firm has carried out the first tests in India of longer-range drone deliveries, as hopes grow that they could deliver medicines as well as COVID-19 vaccines to remote areas.

COVID eases but US won't join EU in opening borders

As the COVID pandemic recedes dramatically in the West, Europe is opening its doors to Americans—but the reverse is not holding true, with the United States not budging on restrictions imposed 15 months ago.

Italy says face masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors from June 28

Facemasks will no longer be compulsory outdoors in Italy, one of the countries in Europe worst hit by the coronavirus, from June 28, the health ministry said Monday.

Cuban COVID vaccine Abdala 92 percent 'effective', maker says

Cuba's Abdala coronavirus candidate vaccine showed "efficacy" of more than 92 percent after three doses, its maker said Monday, though it did not specify whether this was measured against infection, disease, or death.

Australia struggles to quash persistent coronavirus outbreaks

Sydney was battling a fresh COVID-19 cluster on Tuesday just as Melbourne's latest outbreak receded, highlighting Australia's difficulty in quashing persistent small virus flare-ups.

Bee-impersonating flies show pollinator potential

A tiny bee imposter, the syrphid fly, may be a big help to some gardens and farms, new research from Washington State University shows.

Engineers examine urban cooling strategies using reflective surfaces

If you've ever been in a city's central core in the middle of summer, you know the heat can be brutal—and much hotter than in the surrounding region.

Researchers trace dust grain's journey through newborn solar system

A research team led by the University of Arizona has reconstructed in unprecedented detail the history of a dust grain that formed during the birth of the solar system more than 4.5 billion years ago. The findings provide insights into the fundamental processes underlying the formation of planetary systems, many of which are still shrouded in mystery.

Urban health collaborative launches COVID-19 data dashboard on vaccination disparities

The Urban Health Collaborative, housed in Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health, recently published its "COVID-19 Health Inequities in Cities" dashboard—which exposes deeply entrenched inequities in cities across the United States through the lens of comprehensive data on COVID-19 outcomes. Unlike other COVID-19 dashboards that look at data at broader scales, the Drexel website offers data on inequities at the individual (racial/ethnic disparities), neighborhood (using zip code and social vulnerability measures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and city (characteristics such as overcrowding, health infrastructure, etc.) levels on COVID-19 outcomes including vaccination rates.

Mental well-being higher in the summer vs. fall

Mental distress tends to be lower in the summer when compared to the fall, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Study shows cigarette tax hikes can help boost bigger brands, hurt consumers

For decades, governments and health authorities have tried to steer people away from "vice" products such as tobacco, soda and alcohol through counter-marketing measures—things like tax increases, usage restrictions and ad campaigns.

'Background' adverse event study will inform global COVID vaccine safety monitoring

COVID vaccine surveillance efforts are a global priority, but safety monitoring for vaccines should not reflect a single population. The largest, most extensive international study of the background rates of adverse events of special interest (AESI) that are being tracked in vaccine surveillance efforts show that adverse event rates vary substantially by age, sex, and method of data capture.

Metal catalysts used for environmental sustainability found to degrade and become less effective

New research is showing that some tiny catalysts being considered for industrial-scaled environmental remediation efforts may be unstable during operation.

Study: Removing 'bad apples' from police forces unlikely to significantly reduce use-of-force complaints

The idea that a small number of "bad apples" are responsible for an outsized share of complaints against police officers has gained considerable traction over the last four decades. A new study considered the extent to which police misconduct is likely to be reduced by removing police officers identified early in their careers as being at risk for misconduct. The study concluded that replacing the top 10 percent of police identified as being the most likely to generate use-of-force complaints with officers who have not or are less likely to do so would reduce use-of-force complaints by just 6 percent over a 10 year period.