Mercury soars in Europe, several countries’ records broken
Several European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Belgium, have witnessed temperature records being broken this week. In the French capital Paris, the mercury seared to 42.6 degrees Celsius. More on The Guardian and Accuweather.
Alaska’s underwater glaciers are melting 100 times faster than expected
Staying with the climate emergency, scientists have discovered that large sections of glaciers that are underwater are actually melting much faster than expected.
Using sonar, time-lapse photography and other tools to monitor loss of underwater ice in Alaska for three years, scientists discovered that ice is melting at a rate that’s 100 times faster than previously thought. More on Time.
Plants that steal genes
Some parasitic plants seem to have the capability to steal genes off a host plant, and then in turn utilise them to better suck up nutrients from the host itself. This was revealed by studying the commonly-found parasitic plant dodder, which has stolen over 100 functioning genes. More on phys.org.
A tree stump that continues to live
In a New Zealand forest, biologists have discovered that a tree stump, whose tree had fallen several years ago, continues to be alive. The stump sticks out in the middle of a hiking trail and was discovered by accident.
It turns out that the stump is most likely connected to other trees around it through hydraulic mechanisms, driving water and nutrients into it even though there are no leaves for photosynthesis. More on The Atlantic.