Shihmen Reservoir releasing sediment through the power plant discharge outlet. Image Credit: Peellden The accumulation of sediment in reservoirs across the American West represents a significant challenge for water resource management. Since the early 20th century, thousands of dams have been constructed to provide essential services, including hydro-electric power, irrigation for agriculture, and reliable municipal…

Snakes aren’t simple tubes. Their bodies have five regions—including a short neck By measuring every vertebra along the bodies of 13 native Australian snakes, evolutionary biologists have discovered that a snake’s spine is much more organized than previously believed. Instead of being one long, uniform structure, it contains five distinct anatomical regions, including a surprisingly…