#1
Journey to Belize
From coral reefs to rainforests, tropical ecosystems in Belize were immersive classrooms for students in the marine ecology travel course, led by Brian Silliman. 糖心传媒s encountered many species discussed during classroom lectures, and independent research projects enabled them to further study organisms that piqued their interest.
#2
Earthly Business
Researchers and entrepreneurs at the Nicholas School are coming together to transform energy system management. Dalia Pati帽o-Echeverri joined forces with Jesko von Windheim to launch GridSeer, an artificial intelligence-driven software and analytics platform that provides smarter energy system forecasting and robust risk analysis.
#3
Study Identifies Global Upswing in Photosynthesis Driven by Land, Offset by Oceans
Terrestrial plants drove an increase in global photosynthesis between 2003 and 2021, a trend partially offset by a weak decline in photosynthesis among marine algae, according to a study published by Nicholas School researchers in Nature Climate Change. The findings could inform planetary health assessments, enhance ecosystem management, and guide climate change projections and mitigation strategies.
#4
Deepfake Whales Could Be Key Conservation Tool
Nicholas School researchers used generative AI to create hyper-realistic whale images. These 鈥渄eepfake whales鈥 could be used to train wildlife detection systems when real-life footage is lacking.
#5
Examining the Potential Environmental Effects of Mining the World鈥檚 Largest Lithium Deposit
A trove of lithium-rich brine exists underground in Bolivia. Nicholas School researchers conducted the first comprehensive chemical analysis of wastewater associated with mining this resource, publishing their findings in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
#6
Is Biodiversity a Luxury?
Urban ecologists from the Nicholas School and North Carolina State University developed a new approach to understanding biodiversity patterns in cities. Their work, described in Ecosphere, could inform efforts to improve access to nature鈥檚 benefits.
#7
Ocean 鈥楪reening鈥 at Poles Could Spell Changes for Fisheries
Ocean waters are getting greener at the poles and bluer toward the equator, according to an analysis of satellite data published by Nicholas School researchers in Science. The change reflects shifting concentrations of a green pigment called chlorophyll made by photosynthetic algae at the base of the ocean food chain.
#8
Rising Deep-Ocean Oxygen Levels Opened Up New Marine Habitats, Spurred Speciation
Some 390 million years ago in the ancient ocean, marine animals began colonizing depths previously uninhabited. Reporting in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nicholas School researchers found that this underwater migration occurred in response to a permanent increase in deep-ocean oxygen, driven by the aboveground spread of woody plants 鈥 precursors to Earth鈥檚 first forests.
#9
Roots of Resilience
Two hurricanes and a global pandemic exposed a need to support coastal North Carolina youth struggling with upheaval in their lives. Harnessing lessons from nature, a team of Duke and North Carolina State University researchers, students and staff, North Carolina teachers, and community partners created a versatile middle school program that now guides kids across the state through turbulent times.
#10
Small-Scale Fisheries Essential to Global Nutrition, Livelihoods
Small-scale fisheries play a significant but overlooked role in global fisheries production and are key to addressing hunger and malnutrition while supporting livelihoods around the world, according to research featured in Nature. Published by Nicholas School researchers and international partners, the study is the first to rigorously quantify how marine and inland small-scale fisheries contribute to aquatic harvests and nutritional and socioeconomic security on a global scale.
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