Millions of Californians are considering leaving the state due to the high cost of living. A new study by the California Policy Lab has dug deep into the data to discover who leaves, where they go, and what happens to their finances in their new communities. According to Evan White, co-executive director of the lab, the number of people leaving in recent years is just a tiny percentage of California's overall population. However, the trend is a cause for concern, as it may indicate a larger issue with the state's affordability.

A joint international research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a new data-driven model that incorporates the decline in the agricultural workforce into analysis of future food security. The research findings, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, show that a shortage of agricultural workers could act as a key constraint on farmland use in most regions of the world. This hidden risk to future food security is a pressing concern, as the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.

A team of researchers from the University of Oxford has sequenced the DNA of Yersinia pestis bacteria found in the teeth of plague victims in southeastern Siberia. The discovery reveals that a plague outbreak occurred in the region 5,500 years ago, making it the earliest known plague outbreak. The findings have significant implications for our understanding of the evolution of diseases and the impact of plague on human societies.

Scientists from the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester and Sun Yat-sen University have captured the growth of semiconducting tellurium nanostructures in liquid in real time. The study, published in Matter, reveals how tiny seed particles form, grow into nanowires, and compete for material as the structures develop. The research has potential applications in electronic, thermoelectric, and optoelectronic devices.

An international study led by Curtin University has revealed new insights into the preservation of a 113-million-year-old pterosaur fossil found in northeastern Brazil. The fossilized wing phalanx of the prehistoric flying reptile was remarkably preserved in three dimensions, even retaining chemical traces hinting at its diet. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into a vanished world and has significant implications for our understanding of fossilization processes.

• Who: Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, the University of Oxford, the National Graphene Institute, and Curtin University
• What: Studies on the high cost of living in California, future food security, ancient plague outbreaks, nanotechnology, and fossil discoveries
• Impact: Significant implications for our understanding of societal trends, disease evolution, and scientific breakthroughs

As scientists continue to uncover hidden risks and breakthroughs, it is essential to consider the implications of these findings for our world. From the high cost of living to future food security, and from nanotechnology to fossil discoveries, these studies offer valuable insights into the complexities of our world and the challenges we face.