MS-LS2-4

Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.

  1. Climate

    Some tree leaves are finding it too hot for photosynthesis

    Earth’s ongoing fever threatens to push entire forests toward this heat limit — and possible death.

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  2. Oceans

    Summer 2023 is when the ocean first turned ‘hot tub’ hot

    Unfortunately, scientists worry that this atypical sea warming may actually be the beginning of an unwelcome new ‘normal.’

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  3. Animals

    This bird nest becomes a ‘fortress’ using antibird spikes

    The spikes were meant to keep birds away. But five nests found in Europe may use the bird deterrents for structure and to scare off predators.

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  4. Animals

    This biologist uses microwave radiation to save endangered species

    Pei-Chih Lee works to preserve genetic material that can help researchers learn more about endangered animals, such as pandas and clouded leopards.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    Let’s learn about allergies

    Allergies are caused by the body’s immune system overreacting to harmless substances.

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  6. Microbes

    Mouth-crawling superbugs cause severe cavities in kids

    In kids with severe tooth decay, fungi and bacteria team up to create superorganisms that can crawl across teeth.

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  7. Archaeology

    Neandertals were a lot like our human ancestors

    From toolmaking to healthcare, new research finds that Neandertals shared many cultural and social similarities with our human ancestors.

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  8. Environment

    Microplastic pollution aids viruses and prolongs their infectivity

    The tiny plastic bits give these germs safe havens. That protection seems to increase as the plastic ages and breaks into ever smaller pieces.

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  9. Health & Medicine

    An asthma treatment may also help tame cat allergies

    Adding a therapy used to treat asthma improved cat allergy symptoms for more than a year, a small study found.

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  10. Health & Medicine

    Scientists Say: Infection

    Infections range from mild illnesses, such as the common cold, to deadly diseases, such as rabies.

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  11. Animals

    Cougars pushed out by wildfires took more risks around roads

    After an intense burn in 2018 in California, big cats in the region crossed roads more often. That put them at higher risk of becoming roadkill.

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  12. Earth

    Analyze This: Wildfires are pumping more pollution into U.S. skies

    Researchers wanted to study the health effects of wildfire smoke. But they realized they didn’t know where it was and how much exposure people had.

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