University of Washington scientists have tracked the long-term rise in atmospheric acidity by examining Greenland’s ice. ATMO‘s Lei Geng presented this research at last week’s fall meeting of the American Geophysicists’ Union; read more here! 

Last week, researchers published a possible identification of the earliest known dinosaur—a creature no bigger than a Labrador retriever that lived about 243 million years ago. UW’s Sterling Nesbitt is the lead author on this work. Learn more here! 

Moths are able to enjoy a pollinator’s buffet of flowers — in spite of being among the insect world’s picky eaters — because of two distinct “channels” in their brains, scientists at the University of Washington and University of Arizona have discovered.  Read more about these research findings here. 

Need to add a little wow-factor to your day?  Check out these colorful – but toxic – sea-slugs! 

Across the world, big old trees face a dire future globally from agriculture, logging, habitat fragmentation, exotic invaders, and the effects of climate change, warn leading scientists in an article published this week in Science magazine.  Jerry Franklin – School of Environmental and Forest Sciences – is a co-author.  Read more here.