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We report the discovery of 11 high-velocity H I clouds at Galactic latitudes of 25°–30°, likely embedded in the Milky Way’s nuclear wind. The clouds are detected with deep Green Bank Telescope 21 cm observations of a 3.2° × 6.2° field around QSO 1H1613-097, located behind the northern Fermi Bubble. Our measurements reach 3sigma limits on NHI as low as 3.1 × 10^17/cm^2, more than twice as sensitive as previous HI studies of the bubbles. The clouds span −180 ≤v_LSR≤ −90 km/s and are the highest-latitude 21 cm high-velocity cloud detected inside the bubbles. Eight clouds are spatially resolved, showing coherent structures with sizes of 4–28 pc, peak column densities of log HI = 17.9–18.7, and HI masses up to 1470M⊙. Several exhibit internal velocity gradients. Their presence at such high latitudes is surprising, given the short expected survival times for clouds expelled from the Galactic center. These objects may be fragments of a larger cloud disrupted by interaction with the surrounding hot gas. 

Abstract As part of the Deciphering the Interplay between the Interstellar medium, Stars, and the Circumgalactic medium (DIISC) survey, we present the UV metal absorption features in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) near the Higas disk (<4.5R_HI) of 31 nearby galaxies through quasar absorption-line spectroscopy. Of the ions under study, Siiiiλ1206 was most frequently detected (18 of 31 sight lines), while Ciiλ1334 and Siiiλ1260 were detected in 17 and 15 of 31 sight lines, respectively. Many components were consistent with photoionization equilibrium models; most of the cold and cool gas phase clouds were found to have lengths smaller than 2 kpc. Sight lines with smaller impact parameters (ρ) normalized by the galaxy’s virial radius (R_vir) and Hiradius (R_HI) tend to have more components and larger rest-frame equivalent widths (W_r) than those that probe the CGM at larger radii. In particular, we find that the location of metals are better traced byρ/R_HIrather than the traditionalρ/R_vir. Larger covering fractions are found closer to galaxies, with a radial decline that depends on theW_rlimit used. Our results provide new insights into the spatial distribution of metals around the Hidisks of low-redshift galaxies. 

Abstract Our ability to forecast the spatial and temporal patterns of ecological processes at continental scales has drastically improved over the past decade. Yet, predicting ecological patterns at broad scales while capturing fine-scale processes is a central challenge of ecological forecasting given the inherent tension between grain and extent, whereby enhancing one often diminishes the other. We leveraged 10 years of terrestrial and atmospheric data (2012–2021) to develop a high-resolution (2.9 × 2.9 km), radar-driven bird migration forecast model for a highly active region of the Mississippi flyway. Based on the suite of candidate models we examined, adding terrestrial predictors improved model performance only marginally, whereas spatially distant atmospheric predictors, particularly air temperature and wind speed from focal and distant regions, were major contributors to our top model, explaining 56% of variation in regional migration activity. Among terrestrial predictors, which ranked considerably lower than atmospheric predictors in terms of variable importance, vegetation phenology, artificial light at night, and percent of forest cover were the most important predictors. Furthermore, we scale this model to demonstrate the capacity to generate real-time, high-resolution forecasts for the continental United States that explained up to 65% of national variation. Our study demonstrates an approach for increasing the resolution of migration forecasts, which could facilitate the integration of radar with other data sources and inform dynamic conservation efforts at a local scale that is more relevant to threats, such as anthropogenic light at night. 

Abstract The inner circumgalactic medium (CGM) of galaxies, where disk and halo processes intersect, remains poorly characterized despite its critical role in regulating galaxy evolution. We present results from Project AMIGA Insider, mapping Andromeda’s (M31) inner CGM within 0.25R_vir(∼75 kpc) using 11 QSO sightlines, bringing our total sample to 54 sightlines from the disk to 2R_vir. We detect a clear transition between M31’s thick disk and CGM atR ≲ 30 kpc, where low/intermediate ions show thick-disk corotating components with higher column densities than the CGM ones, while high ions exhibit similar column densities in both the CGM and thick disk. Beyond this region, all ion column densities decrease with impact parameter, with steeper gradients for low ions than high ions. The inner CGM (R ≲ 100 kpc) shows more complex gas phases and multicomponent absorption compared to the predominantly single-component outer CGM. We find no significant azimuthal dependence for any observed ions, suggesting M31’s CGM is shaped by radial processes (e.g., cooling flows, precipitation) rather than disk-aligned outflows. We estimate the total metal mass in M31’s cool (Siii, Siiii, Siiv) CGM withinR_virto be (1.9 ± 0. 3_stat ± 0. 7_sys) × 10⁷M_⊙, leading to a cool gas mass of $\approx 6\times 10^9{(Z/0.3Z_{\odot })}^{-1}$M_⊙. The warmer Ovigas may contain at least 10 times more metal and gas mass. Compared to the COS-HalosL*galaxies, M31’s cool CGM shows lower Si column densities atR ≲ 0.4R₂₀₀and overall lower cool CGM masses, likely reflecting differences in galaxy mass and environment. 

The research objective is to estimate consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for electricity grid fortification. Data are from a representative survey of Oklahoma citizens. Extreme weather events, aging utility infrastructure, increased demand for affordable energy, and terrorism threaten the safety and security of the way most citizens access electricity. This study is a first look at public willingness to support energy grid security measures in the United States Southern Great Plains. Findings suggest that consumers would pay an additional 14.69 in monthly utility bills for a fortified grid. This WTP estimate is close to a recent energy bill hike of 14 initiated by local electricity providers. The findings provide policymakers and energy providers with information on consumer willingness to support efforts to modernize the current grid. 

Abstract We explore the growth of the stellar disks in 14 nearby spiral galaxies as part of the Deciphering the Interplay between the Interstellar medium, Stars, and the Circumgalactic medium (DIISC) survey. We study the radial distribution of specific star formation rates (sSFRs) and investigate the ratio of the difference in the outer and inner sSFRs (Δ_sSFR= sSFR_out– sSFR_in) of the disk and the total sSFR, Δ_sSFR/sSFR, to quantify disk growth. We find Δ_sSFR/sSFR and the Higas fraction to show a mild correlation of Spearman’sρ= 0.30, indicating that star formation and disk growth are likely to proceed outward in galactic disks with high Higas fractions. The Higas fractions and Δ_sSFR/sSFR of the galaxies also increase with the distance to the nearestL_⋆neighbor, suggesting that galaxies are likely to sustain the cold gas in their interstellar medium and exhibit inside-out growth in isolated environments. However, the Hicontent in their circumgalactic medium (CGM), probed by the Lyαequivalent width (W_Lyα) excess, is observed to be suppressed in isolated environments, as is apparent from the strong anticorrelation between theW_Lyαexcess and the distance to the fifth nearestL_⋆neighbor (Spearman’sρ= −0.62). As expected,W_Lyαis also found to be suppressed in cluster galaxies. We find no relation between theW_Lyαexcess of the detected CGM absorber and Δ_sSFR/sSFR, implying that the enhancement and suppression of the circumgalactic Higas does not affect the direction in which star formation proceeds in a galactic disk or vice versa. 

Light pollution is a global threat to biodiversity, especially migratory organisms, some of which traverse hemispheric scales. Research on light pollution has grown significantly over the past decades, but our review of migratory organisms demonstrates gaps in our understanding, particularly beyond migratory birds. Research across spatial scales reveals the multifaceted effects of artificial light on migratory species, ranging from local and regional to macroscale impacts. These threats extend beyond species that are active at night – broadening the scope of this threat. Emerging tools for measuring light pollution and its impacts, as well as ecological forecasting techniques, present new pathways for conservation, including transdisciplinary approaches. 

The overuse and expansion of artificial light at night (ALAN) has emerged from complex social, economic, and political factors, making it a societal problem that negatively impacts wildlife and people. We propose that a convergence research approach combining ecological forecasting with community engagement and public policy is needed to address this diverse societal problem. To begin this convergence research approach, we hosted a workshop to strengthen connections among key biodiversity‐oriented ALAN stakeholders and to better understand how stakeholder groups function across the United States through facilitated discussions. We have prioritized the input of stakeholders early in our research design by including them in the formulation of a national survey on public perceptions surrounding ALAN and received their input on existing ecological forecasting tools to improve those research products for their future use. 

Anxiety disorders are a major public health concern and current treatments are inadequate for many individuals. Anxiety is more common in women than men and this difference arises during puberty. Sex differences in physiological stress responses may contribute to this variability. During puberty, gonadal hormones shape brain structure and function, but the extent to which these changes affect stress sensitivity is unknown. We examined how pubertal androgens shape behavioral and neural responses to social stress in California mice (Peromyscus californicus), a model species for studying sex differences in stress responses. In adults, social defeat reduces social approach and increases social vigilance in females but not males. We show this sex difference is absent in juveniles, and that prepubertal castration sensitizes adult males to social defeat. Adult gonadectomy does not alter behavioral responses to defeat, indicating that gonadal hormones act during puberty to program behavioral responses to stress in adulthood. Calcium imaging in the medioventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) showed that social threats increased neural activity and that prepubertal castration generalized these responses to less threatening social contexts. These results support recent hypotheses that the BNST responds to immediate threats. Prepubertal treatment with the nonaromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone acts in males and females to reduce the effects of defeat on social approach and vigilance in adults. These data indicate that activation of androgen receptors during puberty is critical for programming behavioral responses to stress in adulthood.