General — Environment — December 25th, 2024

Climate, migration and conflict mix to create 'deadly' intense tropical storms like Chido
Cyclone Chido was an "intense tropical cyclone", equivalent to a category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic. It made landfall in Mayotte, a small island lying to the north-west of Madagascar on December 14, generating wind gusts approaching 155mph (250km/hr). Later on, it hit Mozambique, East Africa, with the same ferocity.
December 25th, 2024 — Source

Grief, Hope, Joy: Faith in the Time of Climate Change
Leaders from different spiritual traditions share their unique approaches to wrestling with existential climate fears.
December 25th, 2024 — Source

In Mobile Bay, the Oysters’ Tale of Woe
Academics, conservationists, nonprofits, government agencies—and one passionate, retired scientist—are working to rebuild reefs, reduce the carbon imprint and educate the public about the importance of restoring the oyster population.
December 25th, 2024 — Source

Repression of climate and environmental protest is intensifying across the world
Climate and environmental protest is being criminalized and repressed around the world. The criminalization of such protests has received a lot of attention in certain countries, including the UK and Australia. But there have not been any attempts to capture the global trend—until now.
December 25th, 2024 — Source

Two populations of dark comets in the solar system could tell researchers where the Earth got its oceans
The water that makes up the oceans acted as a key ingredient for the development of life on Earth. However, scientists still do not know where the water here on Earth came from in the first place.
December 25th, 2024 — Source

‘What if this is the beginning?’ Singer-songwriter debuts climate album
Massachusetts-based musician Seth Glier wants to use the power of music to inspire people to take action.
December 25th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — December 20th, 2024

Agricultural Poisons Tell a Tale of Two Californias
The Golden Rule doesn’t apply in the Golden State when it comes to protecting Latino and Indigenous farmworker communities from toxic pesticides.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

AI-driven approach reveals hidden hazards of chemical mixtures in rivers
Artificial intelligence can provide critical insights into how complex mixtures of chemicals in rivers affect aquatic life—paving the way for better environmental protection.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Behind the Scenes: How a Burgeoning Industry in Kazakhstan Is Trying to Kickstart ‘Climate-Smart Beef’
The central Asian country is working to scale up its livestock industry without adding to global emissions. Experts are skeptical.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Cyanobacteria research unlocks potential for renewable plastics from carbon dioxide
Scientists at The University of Manchester have achieved a significant breakthrough in using cyanobacteria—commonly known as "blue-green algae"—to convert carbon dioxide (CO²) into valuable bio-based materials.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Dripstones from Romanian cave offer insights into climate dynamics in Europe
Investigations into precipitation patterns in eastern Central Europe since the end of the last ice age, conducted by an international research team led by Dr. Sophie Warken of Heidelberg University, have shown that dynamic processes in atmospheric circulation, such as the North Atlantic jet stream, influence regional changes in precipitation.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Ferns' ancient resilience aids modern ecosystem recovery after disasters
Scientists have suggested an updated framework for the role of ferns in environmental recovery from disaster. Instead of competing with other organisms, ferns may act as facilitators that ease the way for other plants and animals to re-establish themselves in a damaged landscape.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Geothermal aquifers offer green potential but quality checks required
The aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system, which uses geothermal heat as a renewable energy source, is one of the solutions to reducing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission. This system stores heat underground in aquifers, using groundwater as a heat medium. The heat is then extracted as needed according to the season to efficiently heat and cool buildings.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Global study reveals phenological divergence between plants and animals under climate change
A collaborative study reveals the distinct mechanisms by which plants and animals respond to climate change in their life-cycle phenology. This research, led by Piao Shilong's team and Zhang Yao's team from the Institute of Carbon Neutrality at Peking University, provides comprehensive global-scale evidence on the asynchronous phenological changes between plants and animals.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Growing safer spuds: Removing toxins from potatoes
Scientists have discovered a way to remove toxic compounds from potatoes, making them safer to eat and easier to store. The breakthrough could cut food waste and enhance crop farming in space and other extreme environments.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

How grocery stores can help protect the climate
Fridges, freezers, and cooling cases at most supermarkets rely on HFCs, which are potent global warming gases. But there’s an alternative.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Intense ribbons of rain also bring the heat, scientists say
The environmental threat posed by atmospheric rivers—long, narrow ribbons of water vapor in the sky—doesn't come only in the form of concentrated, torrential downpours and severe flooding characteristic of these natural phenomena. According to a new Yale study, they also cause extreme warm temperatures and moist heat waves.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Neural networks unlock potential of high-entropy carbonitrides in extreme environments
The melting point is one of the most important measurements of material properties, which informs potential applications of materials in various fields. Experimental measurement of the melting point is complex and expensive, but computational methods could help achieve an equally accurate result more quickly and easily.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Our favorite Eye on the Storm stories of 2024
A look back at some deep dives and reflective takes from our regular and special contributors.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Russia-Ukraine War's unexpected casualties: Hungry people in distant nations
The war in Ukraine is causing hunger thousands of miles from the battlefields, according to a study in Communications Earth & Environment. Nearly three years of war in the "breadbasket of the world" has left croplands destroyed and forced laborers who grow, harvest and process a bounty of wheat, barley and oats to flee. Combined with export bans from other countries, ripple effects resonated through global trade and upended food supply systems.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Shedding light on snow's crucial role in Earth's climate system
EU researchers are braving extreme Arctic conditions to shed light on snow's crucial role in Earth's climate system.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Strategic Roadmap for Modernizing Digital Operations: Transitioning from Legacy Development Models to Agile-Driven Integrated Frameworks
This case study outlines how a beauty e-commerce brand transitioned from Waterfall to Agile by establishing modular architectures, CI/CD pipelines, and functional pods.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

The Vergecast Matter Holiday Spec-tacularOn The Vergecast: a (possibly unnecessarily) deep dive into the state and future of our favorite smart home standard.
#2693
December 20th, 2024 — Source

This Biodegradable Sponge Collects Loose Microplastics—But There's a Catch
The materials used to make the sponge could trigger a host of additional environmental and ethical problems.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

US Forest Service Hiring Freeze Could Have Long-Term Impacts
Conservationists worry that the USFS’s inability to bring on more seasonal workers will hurt wildfire mitigation, watersheds, woodland species and climate resilience.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

Warming exacerbates oxygen depletion in the Baltic Sea, undermining nutrient reduction efforts
Eutrophication and rising water temperatures are taking an increasing toll on the Baltic Sea, leading to dangerous oxygen depletion in deeper water layers and threatening many marine organisms. Despite successful efforts to reduce nutrient inputs, rising temperatures are preventing the ecosystem from recovering.
December 20th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — December 16th, 2024

500-year simulations reveal natural drivers of North Atlantic Oscillation shift
There are still many unknowns about the causes leading to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) shift—a critical climate phenomenon in the Northern Hemisphere—to the east and west of Iceland. To date, some hypotheses suggest that this process known to the international scientific community might be related to the impact of greenhouse gases on the planet.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

AmeriCorps program aims to grow and diversify energy workforce
The North Minneapolis program trains people in energy efficiency and weatherization.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Ammonia production goes green: Biomethane approach offers net-zero emissions
Using biomethane to produce ammonia, a crucial chemical in agriculture, could drastically reduce the climate impact of the process. In a study published in One Earth, researcher Robert Istrate shows it's even possible to make ammonia production net-zero or carbon negative.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Building with earth could transform sustainable construction
Imagine you are standing in front of a multimillion-pound building in the center of the French city, Lyon. It radiates warmth and history with its rammed earth structural walls. Two hundred miles away, a small house in the Beaucastel winery, Provence, shares a similar texture and aesthetic.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Carbon capture in fish farms can address climate change while removing toxic sulfide
Scientists are exploring a new model for carbon capture in low-oxygen aquatic environments, such as fisheries, that will help address rising global temperatures and could potentially be cost-effective, according to a recent study published in Nature Food.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Collaborative power of AI and citizen science can advance Sustainable Development Goals
Citizen science and artificial intelligence (AI) offer immense potential for tackling urgent sustainability challenges, from health to climate change. Combined, they offer innovative solutions to accelerate progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Community Solar Buying Programs Provide Discounts and Protections to Homeowners, but Worry Some Companies
Some solar installers say bulk markdowns will negatively affect employee pay and company stability; others believe group-purchasing arrangements will encourage competition.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Decades After It Disappeared, Wild Rice Is Booming Again on the Upper Mississippi River
Better water quality could be driving the increase.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Dynamic model reveals best policies for clean energy adoption
How can we ensure that as many households as possible adopt not only solar panels, but also their own battery to store solar energy, a heat pump, and an electric car? Researchers at the Universities of Basel and Geneva have looked into just this question.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Geologists uncover how tectonic shifts reshaped prehistoric China's climate
Geologists have for the first time determined how coastal mountains in eastern Asia formed, resulting in significant changes to the continent's climate more than 100 million years ago.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

How to help a loved one who has experienced a disaster
Disaster survivors can experience emotional distress. The most important thing you can do for them is listen.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Hurricane Helene Killed 49 in South Carolina’s Upstate Region as Costs of Damage and Response Exceed $370 Million
High winds devastated trees and homes and, possibly, stirred some residents’ complacency about climate change.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Microfibers in India's open-air laundries a 'silent disaster'
India's traditional open-air laundries, known as dhobi ghats, hold cultural significance and have provided livelihoods to thousands of washers for generations.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Model suggests Earth's subsurface may hold up to 5.6 × 10⁶ million metric tons of natural hydrogen
A pair of geologists with the U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, has created a model that shows Earth's subsurface may hold up to 5.6 × 10⁶ million metric tons of natural hydrogen. In their study, published in the journal Science Advances, Geoffrey Ellis and Sarah Gelman added factors to a geological model to produce estimates regarding the likely amount of hydrogen in parts of the Earth.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

New data from 'the last ice area' may help long-term conservation efforts in the Arctic
Earlier this year our international team of scientists from the Refuge Arctic consortium departed Iqaluit, Nvt. on a 56-day research expedition in the far north. We were sailing aboard the icebreaker CCGS Amundsen and our main objective was to study the high latitudes of the Arctic Ocean.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Q&A with archaeologist: Are climate-related calamities erasing Illinois' cultural history?
In a new report, scientists with the Illinois State Archaeological Survey describe how increased flooding, erosion and other effects of human-induced climate change are degrading many of the state's cultural sites. ISAS research archaeologist Andrew White, a co-author of the report, spoke with News Bureau life sciences editor Diana Yates about the scope of the problem.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Rapid evolution: African clawed frog sex determination challenges prevailing theory
Researchers at McMaster University have uncovered unexpected diversity in the genetic processes that determine the sex of the African clawed frog, a significant discovery in what was already one of the most widely studied amphibians in the world.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Rising drought frequency poses new threats to US wildlife, study finds
People around the world are dealing with drought, so it's not shocking that it affects wildlife, too: lack of moisture contributes to habitat loss, affects how animals compete for resources, and leads to dehydration and heat stress. The surprising part? The extreme degree to which many animals may need to adapt.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Scientists can now predict how climate change will alter plant growth cyclesa
On February 2, 1887, residents of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, consulted a large rodent regarding the arrival of spring, marking the first official celebration of Groundhog Day. According to Rob Guralnick, curator of biodiversity informatics at the Florida Museum of Natural History, our ability to predict the timing of seasons hasn't improved much since then.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop 3D concrete printing method that captures carbon dioxide
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a 3D concrete printing method that captures carbon, demonstrating a new pathway to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Scientists propose strategy for increasing rice yield while reducing fertilizer use
Researchers from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a sustainable technology to selectively reduce nitrate to ammonium. This innovation delivers three benefits: It increases rice yield, reduces fertilizer usage, and mitigates nitrate pollution in groundwater.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Scientists struggle to explain record surge in global heat
The world has been getting hotter for decades but a sudden and extraordinary surge in heat has sent the climate deeper into uncharted territory—and scientists are still trying to figure out why.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Sea sponge-inspired microlenses offer new possibilities in optics
Beneath the ocean's surface, simple marine animals called sea sponges grow delicate glass skeletons that are as intricate as they are strong. These natural structures are made of a material called silica—also known as bioglass—that is both lightweight and incredibly durable, allowing the sea sponges to thrive in harsh marine environments.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Stem cell transplants could save the world's corals, say researchers
Climate change is bleaching and killing off vast amounts of the world's coral due to rising sea temperatures. Dr. Benyamin Rosental of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and his colleagues have proposed an out of the box potential solution: transplanting stem cells from resilient individuals to revive them.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Texas Regulators Report More Than 250 New Cases of Groundwater Contamination
An annual report documents 2,870 active cases of groundwater contamination around the state. Groundwater provides more than half of the state’s water supply.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Theorists propose new approach to electroluminescent cooling that works like inverted solar photovoltaic cells
In a study appearing in PRX Energy, researchers propose a way to improve the performance of electroluminescent cooling by using multilayer semiconductors. The approach, called a multijunction configuration, is already used in some special photovoltaic solar cells.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking the journey of gold through magmatic fluids
When one tectonic plate sinks beneath another, it generates magmas rich in volatiles such as water, sulfur and chlorine. As these magmas ascend, they release magmatic fluids, in which sulfur and chlorine bind to metals such as gold and copper, and transport these metals towards the surface of the Earth.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

We developed a way to use light to dismantle PFAS 'forever chemicals'
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have earned the nickname of forever chemicals from their extraordinary ability to stick around in the environment long after they've been used.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

What 92 years of data say about ice cover
Warming air temperatures are changing ice cover in seasonally frozen lakes worldwide. The timing of ice formation and melting, called ice phenology, affects lake temperatures, seasonal stratification, and lake ecology, though much about these dynamics remains unknown.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Why Scottish salmon's rebrand may end up harming the integrity of a top export and hurting producers
Scottish farmed salmon was the UK's top food export last year, ending up in restaurants and on dinner tables all over the world. But also in 2023, the industry trade body Salmon Scotland sought to drop the word "farmed" from its protected geographical indication of "Scottish farmed salmon" after two successive years of falling production.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — December 13th, 2024

AI tool enhances wildlife image analysis for climate change insights
A new AI image tool could aid the development of algorithms to analyze wildlife images to help improve understanding of how species around the world are responding to climate change, a study suggests.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

AI-driven satellite analysis helps protect rice farming in climate-vulnerable regions
A new North Carolina State University study combines satellite imagery with machine learning technology to help model rice crop productivity faster and more accurately. The tool could help decision-makers around the world better assess how and where to plant rice, which is the primary source of energy for more than half of the world's population.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Are wind power generators actually viable at home? I tried one, and the findings blew me away
Solar generators have gotten all the buzz, but what do you do when the clouds roll in? This gadget can keep your power running.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

As Demand for Electricity Soars, a Key Part of the Power Grid Is In Short Supply
Transformers keep everything running and the power industry can’t make them fast enough.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Buried landforms reveal North Sea's ancient glacial past
An international team of researchers, including a glaciologist at Newcastle University, UK, has discovered remarkably well-preserved glacial landforms buried almost 1 km beneath the North Sea.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Carbon Dioxide to 3D Printed Carbon Nanocomposites: A Sustainable Innovation
A recent study published in Nature Communications introduced a new method that combines the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) with the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). These nanotubes are then used to create advanced 3D-printed carbon nanocomposites.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Climate change and land use practices threaten traditional food sources in Russia's Far East
Climate change and land-use practices could significantly alter the make-up and availability of wild traditional foods in the vast Russian Far East, a region that is home to many Indigenous Peoples who depend on those native foods.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Climate Science Legal Defense Fund gears up for a busy four years
The nonprofit, which provides free legal and educational support to researchers facing harassment and intimidation for their work, is preparing for a protracted struggle to defend climate scientists during the coming Trump presidency.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Exposure to remote wildfire smoke linked to increased medical visits for heart and lung problems
Wildfire smoke has long been known to exacerbate health problems like heart disease, lung conditions, and asthma, but now a new study finds that smoke from these fires can lead to poor health thousands of miles away.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Farm women's well-being: The unseen 'triple burden'
Mental health challenges are a significant and growing concern for the nation's farmers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As much as farming is often a family affair, programs and resources to support mental health in agriculture have focused on the primary producers, of whom nearly 64% are men. Women have always played a crucial role in agriculture, yet, Penn State Associate Professor Florence Becot said, their mental health and well-being—much like their essential contributions to agriculture—largely have been overlooked.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Federal Regulators Say An Alabama Coal Mine’s Plans May Violate Law, Leaving Citizens At Risk
A “ten-day notice” issued to Alabama officials aims to mitigate risks to citizens living above Oak Grove Mine. It comes after months of state inaction and community outrage.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Fight Over Alabama Electricity Fuel Costs Heads to Court
Energy Alabama is challenging the position of the Alabama Public Service Commission that adjusting the rate customers pay Alabama Power for fuel costs does not constitute a “proceeding” of the commission.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

How an iconic desert tree survives extreme heat—and the unique risk it's facing now
New research has found that the punishing summer temperatures and persistent drought conditions in much of Arizona and the Southwest are dealing a double whammy to trees attempting to regulate their own temperature, putting a critical part of the desert ecosystem at risk.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

How Australia's ancient forests became an arid zone
I didn't plan to become a botanist, I just pursued activities that made me happy. Studying subjects that make you light up can guide you towards a career that doesn't really feel like work because you find it fascinating.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

In Houston, a City Council Member Questions ‘Advanced’ Recycling of Plastic and a City Collaboration with ExxonMobil
Councilmember Letitia Plummer said pyrolysis perpetuates fossil fuel extraction and pollution. Her conclusion: The most effective way to reduce plastic waste is to limit its production in the first place.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Infrared quantum ghost imaging illuminates—but doesn't disturb—living plants
A study published in the journal Optica demonstrates live plant imaging of several representative plant samples, including the biofuel crop sorghum. By employing a novel detector, researchers obtained clear images of living sorghum plants with a light far dimmer than starlight. This advance enables imaging of delicate, light-sensitive samples, such as biofuel crops, without disturbing or damaging the plants.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Land use in tropical regions: Biodiversity loss due to agricultural trade three times higher than thought
Exporting agricultural products from tropical regions to China, the U.S., the Middle East, and Europe is three times more harmful to biodiversity than previously assumed.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Low adoption of solar tech in the Philippines is not just due to cost, study finds
Despite the immense potential for solar energy in urban areas of the Philippines, the technology's upfront cost and a lack of public awareness of its benefits remain major hurdles to its widespread use. Government subsidies and promotional campaigns are seen to help boost its adoption.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Oxidation in glacial rivers and lakes could help mitigate methane emissions
A new study offers a rare glimmer of hope in the face of climate change, suggesting glacial rivers and lakes may play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of methane—a powerful greenhouse gas that recent studies have shown emerges as glaciers melt in warming global temperatures.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Prototype device produces critical fertilizer ingredient from thin air, cutting carbon emissions
The air around us contains a powerful solution for making agriculture more sustainable. Researchers at Stanford University and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia have developed a prototype device that can produce ammonia—a key fertilizer ingredient—using wind energy to draw air through a mesh.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Redefining wealth and embracing technological innovation for a more sustainable future
As the global climate crisis intensifies, the demands for innovative and scalable solutions grow increasingly urgent. In a recent article published in Frontiers in Energy, Nobel laureate Dr. Steven Chu, from Stanford University, and Qi Wang of the U.S.–China Green Energy Council outline key technological advancements and the pressing need for a paradigm shift in how societies define progress and "wealth."
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Satellites capture dramatic increase in HFC-125, a potent greenhouse gas
HFC-125 is a greenhouse gas becoming a major contributor to global warming, and in the first study to use satellites to measure its concentration in the atmosphere, researchers found it has increased exponentially in the past 20 years.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Scientists innovate breeding strategies to create climate-smart crops
A recent study has reported a novel breeding strategy to rapidly create climate-smart crops that show higher yield under normal conditions and greatly rescue yield losses under heat stress both in staple grain and vegetable crops.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Solar-powered plasma technology offers a sustainable solution for seed germination challenges
Seed aging is a critical challenge for seed banks and agricultural industries, significantly reducing germination rates and seedling vigor. This decline not only leads to economic losses but also undermines efforts to preserve genetic diversity.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Study suggests our sun could unleash a long-overdue catastrophic superflare this century
These could fry electronics and wipe data servers
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Teaching a robot its limits to complete open-ended tasks safely
If someone advises you to "know your limits," they're likely suggesting you do things like exercise in moderation. To a robot, though, the motto represents learning constraints, or limitations of a specific task within the machine's environment, to do chores safely and correctly.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

Unique copper nanocluster design boosts CO² reduction selectivity
While humble copper (Cu) may not boast the allure of gold or silver, its remarkable versatility makes it invaluable in cutting-edge research. A collaborative effort by scientists from Tohoku University, the Tokyo University of Science, and the University of Adelaide has unveiled a method to enhance the selectivity and sustainability of electrochemical CO² reduction processes.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

What are living shorelines?
They can provide critical wildlife habitats while reducing the risk of flooding and erosion.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

What Natural Disasters Occur in Hawaii
Hawaii is truly a harmonious blend of stunning beaches, volcanic wonders, lush rainforests, majestic cliffs, and vibrant marine life. But there’s a flip side, too – one that involves Mother Nature’s fury. Let’s take a look at the natural disasters that occur in Hawaii.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

With deadlines looming, Chesapeake Bay environmental agreement will be revised
The Chesapeake Bay Executive Council, a group of governors and other environmental leaders, announced plans to revise the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
December 13th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — December 10th, 2024

A Carbon Capture Project Faces a New Delay in a Year of Slow Progress for Coal Power Plants Looking for Retrofits
Project Tundra has lost its lead contractor, which pushes back the timetable for a high-profile and controversial plan.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

AI predicts Earth's peak warming
Artificial intelligence provides new evidence that rapid decarbonization will not prevent warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius
December 10th, 2024 — Source

AI Model Indicates Global Temperatures Will Rise Faster Than Expected
Ten climate models and a machine learning approach offer an alarming new timeline for the rate of climate change.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

AI's power demands driving toxic air pollution, study finds
Computer processing demands for artificial intelligence, or AI, are spurring increasing levels of deadly air pollution from power plants and backup diesel generators that continuously supply electricity to the fast-growing number of computer processing centers.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Adapting winter sports to climate change: Challenges and solutions
Climate change is beginning to make early-season cancellations a regular part of winter sport competitions.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Aerosols emissions over major cities may offer a temporary reprieve from rising heat
A trio of atmospheric and climate specialists at the University of Melbourne, has found evidence showing that the high amount of smog over some mega-cities may be temporarily protecting them from feeling the threat of global warming.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Alabama's Public Service Commission Shuts the Public Out While Setting Utility Fuel Cost Rates
Alabama law allows public participation in "any proceeding" before the PSC, but the commission says determining how electricity fuel costs affect consumers' bills does not constitute a "proceeding." Alabama's last official fuel cost "proceeding" was in 2008.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Antarctica's irregular rhythms show signs of rapid melting, say geoscientists
Periods of sudden melting in the Antarctic ice sheet have been unearthed in a new climate record from over 20 million years ago by geoscientists led by the University of Leicester and the University of Southampton.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Atlantic circulation collapse? New clues on the fate of a crucial conveyor belt
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which includes the Gulf Stream, is vital to Earth's climate. Its weakening could spell disaster.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Baobab is a superfood with growing global demand—that's bad news for the sacred African tree
Baobab trees grow in arid and semi-arid parts of Africa, and have deep cultural and ecological significance. Some of these trees are thousands of years old. Global demand for baobab products has surged in recent years, driven by the fruit's nutritional and health benefits.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Bighorn sheep face death by avalanche in Sierra Nevada range
Snow cover in the Sierra Nevada is expected to shrink overall as the climate warms, but avalanche frequency could remain the same or even increase at high elevations. That's bad news for bighorn sheep that live there, according to new research to be presented at AGU's 2024 Annual Meeting.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Chalcogenide perovskites: The next frontier in solar technology?
Chalcogenide perovskites: The next frontier in solar technology?
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Clay dust method turns CO² into food that zooplankton expel into the deep sea
A Dartmouth-led study proposes a new method for recruiting trillions of microscopic sea creatures called zooplankton in the fight against climate change by converting carbon into food the animals would eat, digest, and send deep into the ocean as carbon-filled feces.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Cosmic rays' vast energy traced to magnetic turbulence
Ultra-high energy cosmic rays, which emerge in extreme astrophysical environments—like the roiling environments near black holes and neutron stars—have far more energy than the energetic particles that emerge from our sun. In fact, the particles that make up these streams of energy have around 10 million times the energy of particles accelerated in the most extreme particle environment on earth, the human-made Large Hadron Collider.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Dual-branch model enables better crop-type mapping in scattered farmlands
In many Asian regions, especially in China, agricultural fields are typically small, scattered, and lack clear boundaries, which complicates effective crop distribution and agricultural analysis using remote sensing technology.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Fine particle pollution blamed for nearly 240,000 EU deaths in 2022
Fine particle air pollution killed nearly 240,000 people in the European Union in 2022, a five percent fall on the previous year, the European Environment Agency said in a report published Tuesday.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Google kicks off $20B renewable energy building spree to power AI
Nuclear power may have received the lion's share of attention from energy hungry tech companies over the past few months, with Google among them. But it appears that those new reactors won't be enough for their AI ambitions: Google is now working with partners to build gigawatts of renewable power, battery storage, and grid upgrades to power its data centers.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Long-distance friendships enhance trust in conservation efforts
While sustaining friendships from afar can be challenging, they may offer unexpected benefits for environmental conservation.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Longer Snowball Earth deglaciation could have driven multiple phases of sea level rise and fall
Longer Snowball Earth deglaciation could have driven multiple phases of sea level rise and fall
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Mountain permafrost is warming across Europe, study shows
Permafrost temperatures in Europe's mountain regions are rising steadily, in some cases by more than 1°C over the last decade. The results of a new study show larger and faster changes than before.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Novel green solvent could help scale up fabrication of perovskite-based tandem solar cells
In recent years, engineers have been trying to develop alternative photovoltaic (PV) technologies that could be more affordable and scalable than silicon-based solar cells, while also exhibiting good power-conversion efficiencies and retaining these efficiencies over time.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Optimizing network topology for safer, high-performance batteries
With rising greenhouse gas emissions, the urgency of addressing global warming and climate change has intensified, prompting a global shift towards renewable energy. The development of rechargeable batteries is essential for this effort.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Ozone recovery delayed 17 years by feedstock emissions, old gear
A new study published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics reveals a 17-year delay in the projected recovery of the ozone layer since 2006, underscoring the need for enhanced global environmental policies and enforcement.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Ravaged jungle: Just 25% of the world's surviving tropical rainforests are in good condition
We are now in the middle of the sixth mass extinction, caused by our emergence as a planet-shaping force. Species are going extinct far faster than the average natural rate of loss.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Social Media Is a Growing Vehicle for Climate Misinformation
Research shows that social media influencers can shape climate denialism around the world.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Students in Illinois get paid to learn skills for jobs in energy efficiency
'They're starting to see themselves as a part of the solution.'
December 10th, 2024 — Source

With $800,000 in New Grants, Inside Climate News to Expand Local Environmental Journalism
Grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Meadows Foundation and Knight Foundation will support ICN's efforts to bring high quality climate journalism to local communities across the U.S.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — December 6th, 2024

A nature conservation paradox: Invasive species are often threatened in their native habitat
Non-native species introduced by humans are among the main causes of global species decline—they were partly responsible for 60% of the species that have become extinct worldwide in recent decades. Non-native mammals in Central Europe include species such as the brown rat, the mouflon and the mink.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

A greener, cleaner way to extract cobalt from 'junk' materials
Siddarth Kara's bestseller, "Cobalt Red: How the Blood of Congo Powers Our Lives," focuses on problems surrounding the sourcing of cobalt, a critical component of lithium-ion batteries that power many technologies central to modern life, from mobile phones and pacemakers to electric vehicles.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Algorithm improves prediction of sunny days for solar energy applications
Directly benefiting the Philippines' solar power, agriculture, and other industries, an international team of researchers led by the Ateneo de Manila University and the Manila Observatory has pioneered a way to improve sunny weather forecasts by as much as 94%.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Ancient Life Discovered in Ice-Covered Antarctic Lake
Scientists thought the lake, buried deep beneath the ice, was frozen. They were wrong.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

California's tsunami alert was a mess for many. Here's why
After a California quake, confusion threatens to increase digital distrust in times of disaster.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Climate change is making Canada's ice roads hard to navigate
Walking on the ice of the Great Bear Lake in the N.W.T. is a truly unforgettable experience. It is simply one of Canada's most breathtaking (and also largest) lakes. However, it is also facing challenges.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Copenhagen takes on its biggest climate threat—water
In low-lying Copenhagen where rising sea levels, groundwater and rainfall pose a risk to infrastructure, the Danish capital is trying to adapt and protect urban areas from climate change.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Developing AI to supercharge smart irrigation for farmers
A smart irrigation system powered by artificial intelligence can tell sugarcane farmers when and where to water their crops in an advance that could one day revolutionize agriculture—and help preserve the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Diamond Battery Breakthrough Can Power Devices For Thousands Of Years
If you read that headline and thought "okay, what's the catch," we'll spoil it for you: the "catch" is that the battery can only provide a very small amount of power, on the order of milliwatts. It's still very exciting, though, because the new diamond battery technology can provide this power for, without exaggeration, thousands of years.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Digital twin model enables precise simulation of forest landscapes, depicting a forest in 100 years
Forest ecosystems of the future will have to cope with very different conditions to those of today. For this reason, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) state that a strategic approach to forest management is crucial. To this end, the research team has developed iLand: a simulation model that can compute long-term developments of large forest landscapes, right down to the individual tree—including disturbances from bark beetles to wildfires.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Discovery of diverse daphnane diterpenoids in Daphne pontica
A research group led by Professor Wei Li from the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University in collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmacy at Ankara University and Ankara Medipol University in Turkey revealed the presence of diverse daphnane diterpenoids in Daphne pontica (Thymelaeaceae).
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Emissions from four Punjab district shows stubble burning leads to poorer health
Punjab is the epicenter of stubble burning in India. Although the majority of residents are aware of the harmful effects of burning crop waste, it is still a widespread practice, with serious consequences for health, household expenditures and the environment.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Extensive antimicrobial usage sparks warning over increased resistance in locations across Australia
University of Queensland research has found antimicrobial usage is significantly higher in affluent communities in Australia. Samples have been collected from 50 wastewater treatment plants in locations across Australia servicing about 11.3 million people.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

From chip shop to pit stop—scientists make cooking oil biofuel as efficient as diesel
A new way to produce fuels made from leftover fat can create biofuel as effective as diesel and 1000-times more efficiently than current methods, a new study has suggested.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Genomic conservation in Thailand's mangroves
Thailand's coastal ecosystems, particularly its mangroves, are rich in biodiversity and play critical roles in coastal protection, carbon storage, and marine productivity. However, these ecosystems face severe threats from climate change, pollution, and habitat degradation. Genomic conservation in Thailand seeks to protect the genetic diversity of mangroves by using modern techniques such as DNA sequencing and genetic monitoring.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

High heat is preferentially killing the young, not the old, research finds
Many recent studies assume that elderly people are at particular risk of dying from extreme heat as the planet warms. A new study of mortality in Mexico turns this assumption on its head: it shows that 75% of heat-related deaths are occurring among people under 35―a large percentage of them ages 18 to 35, or the very group that one might expect to be most resistant to heat.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

How to give climate-friendly gifts this holiday season
Yale Climate Connections editors talk about buying sustainable new products, shopping secondhand, and choosing experiences over things.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Interdisciplinary research reveals impressive adaptation mechanisms of microscopic algae
Researchers from the University of Jena and the Leibniz Institutes in Jena have published new findings on the adaptability of the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The interdisciplinary study, largely carried out by scientists from the Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, shows how the tiny green alga can adapt its shape and metabolism under natural conditions without changing its genome.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Is a Solar Water Heater Worth It?
Solar water heaters can be expensive, but they can get you a tax credit and help you save money on energy.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

It's Do or Die Time for Philly Hydrogen Hub, and Some Green Groups Are Rooting for Death
The U.S. Department of Energy is dangling $750 million for the buildout of a hydrogen hub around Philadelphia. But the looming Trump presidency and strong economic headwinds endanger its prospects.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Lab Alumni share insights on scaling climate finance
The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab) hosted a panel during the Lab Summit at the 2024 New York Climate Week, featuring three alumni from diverse sectors, regions, and instrument types. They shared their experiences and insights from their time with the Lab program developing innovative climate finance solutions.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Meta-analysis of current global warming impacts suggests a third of all species could be extinct by 2100
A biologist at the University of Connecticut has found evidence that up to a third of all species alive today could go extinct by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions are not slowed or stopped. In his study published in the journal Science, Mark Urban conducted an analysis of 485 studies carried out over the past 30 years on the ability of species to adapt to climate change.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

New biodegradable material to replace certain microplastics
Chemical engineers designed an environmentally friendly alternative to the microbeads used in some health and beauty products
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Plankton study investigates how marine food webs respond to increasing alkalinity
The ocean naturally absorbs a quarter to a third of man-made CO² emissions, but this process also leads to the acidification of seawater. By increasing the alkalinity of seawater through the addition of certain minerals (e.g., carbonates and silicates), the ocean can chemically bind more CO² without further acidification.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Poll measures support for revenue-sharing plan on renewable energy
Democrats and Republicans don't see eye-to-eye on much. And they often don't agree on various aspects of renewable energy. But a recent report finds there is one area in which they're pretty much in sync: how certain national proceeds should be divvied up.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Quake prompts brief tsunami warning on the West Coast. Here's what to know about tsunamis
The powerful earthquake that struck in Northern California on Thursday prompted a brief tsunami warning affecting about 5 million people along a stretch of the West Coast—from Northern California to Oregon—before being canceled. Here are some things to know about tsunamis:
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Record-low Antarctic sea ice can be explained and forecast months out by patterns in winds
Amid all the changes in Earth's climate, sea ice in the stormy Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica was, for a long time, an odd exception. The maximum winter sea ice cover remained steady or even increased slightly from the late 1970s through 2015, despite rising global temperatures.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Recovering rare earth metals from waste permanent magnets
Korea imports 95% of its core minerals such as lithium, nickel, and rare earths. Rare earths, in particular, are characterized by chemical, electrical, magnetic, and luminescent properties that can be achieved by adding only a small amount, and their use has recently increased significantly as core materials in the eco-friendly automobile and renewable energy industries.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Robots give scientists unprecedented access to study coral reef biodiversity
Mesophotic coral ecosystems have some of the highest diversity of stony corals (Scleractinia) in the world, making them particularly important for researchers. These ecosystems are also unique because they host more native species compared to shallow-water coral ecosystems. However, they are difficult to monitor because they are often located at deeper depths of 30 to 150 meters.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Scientists urged to pull the plug on 'bathtub modeling' of flood risk
Recent decades have seen a rapid surge in damages and disruptions caused by flooding. In a commentary article published in the journal Earth's Future, researchers at the University of California, Irvine and the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom—the latter also executives of U.K. flood risk intelligence firm Fathom—call on scientists to more accurately model these risks and caution against overly dramatized reporting of future risks in the news media.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

So you want to build a solar or wind farm? Engineers show how to decide where
Deciding where to build new solar or wind installations is often left up to individual developers or utilities, with limited overall coordination. But a new study shows that regional-level planning using fine-grained weather data, information about energy use, and energy system modeling can make a big difference in the design of such renewable power installations. This also leads to more efficient and economically viable operations.
December 6th, 2024 — Source or Source

Study reveals presence of fentanyl in Gulf of Mexico dolphins
A team of faculty and student researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Precision Toxicological Consultancy, have detected traces of human pharmaceuticals in the blubber of live, free-swimming common bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico. Dolphins, like humans, consume fish and shrimp, suggesting potential human health impacts.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Superhot rock energy could power geothermal systems anywhere
Geothermal energy holds the potential to provide abundant renewable energy at equivalent cost to fossil fuels, and targeted investments could quickly speed its development, according to a new report from Cornell researchers and the nonprofit Clean Air Task Force (CATF).
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Utah's Quixotic Bid To Wrest Millions Of Acres From The Federal Government
State politicians have been striving for decades to take control of BLM lands in Utah. They maintain that the state could better manage the landscape.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Vicious cycle: Wildfires are making climate change worse
As climate change makes wildfires larger and more intense, they're putting more carbon pollution into the atmosphere.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

What to Know About Google's Breakthrough Weather Prediction Model
The latest forecast tool out of DeepMind shows how artificial intelligence could revolutionize the way we predict the weather.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — December 2nd, 2024

Ancient maize samples in Brazilian caves suggest the crop's domestication may have been completed in South America
Brazilian scientists have determined that ancient specimens of partially domesticated maize (Zea mays, also known as corn) originally from Peruaçu Valley in Minas Gerais state (Brazil) were the farthest from Mexico, the plant's historic center of origin, of any finds made so far.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Artificial photosynthesis learned from nature: New solar hydrogen production technology developed
Researchers have successfully developed a supramolecular fluorophore nanocomposite fabrication technology using nanomaterials and constructed a sustainable solar organic biohydrogen production system.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Avira Prime review: Comprehensive, user-friendly antivirus
Dig into this dead-simple antivirus suite and you'll find a sophisticated set of PC utilities.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Canada must turn its impressive biodiversity protection goals into real actions
With biodiversity declining at unprecedented rates worldwide, Canada stands at an important crossroads.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Climate change could bring more severe bacterial infections, including in corals
Could the fungal apocalypse of The Last of Us have roots in reality? A new UBC study Sourceublished in the journal PLOS Biology shows that climate warming can potentially make bacterial and fungal infections deadlier for cold-blooded animals like corals, insects, and fish, raising questions about the broader risks warming temperatures pose to ecosystems and biodiversity—and potentially humans.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Climate-friendly farming: Scientists find feeding grazing cattle seaweed cuts methane emissions by almost 40%
Seaweed is once again showing promise for making cattle farming more sustainable. A study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that feeding grazing beef cattle a seaweed supplement in pellet form reduced their methane emissions by almost 40% without affecting their health or weight.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Climate model combines generative AI and physics data to predict patterns 25 times faster than current methods
The algorithms behind generative AI tools like DallE, when combined with physics-based data, can be used to develop better ways to model the Earth's climate. Computer scientists in Seattle and San Diego have now used this combination to create a model that is capable of predicting climate patterns over 100 years 25 times faster than the state of the art.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Climate solution: Sails make a comeback in shipping, to dent its huge carbon footprint
Had he continued working aboard fuel-powered cargo ships, Yann Jourdan reckons he'd be earning perhaps four times what he now gets as captain of a sailboat that instead uses the wind's clean energy to transport goods across the Atlantic.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Cool water from the deep could protect pockets of the Great Barrier Reef into the 2080s
For coral reefs, climate change is an existential threat. Australia's Great Barrier Reef has endured seven mass bleaching events over the past 25 years. Five have occurred in the past eight years.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Creating biohydrogen from wood waste
Up to now, wood waste has had to be disposed of at great expense and, at best, has been used to generate energy in incineration plants. Fraunhofer researchers are now using this valuable resource to produce biohydrogen in the Black Forest region of Germany.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Deep-sea marvels: How anglerfish defy evolutionary expectations
A Rice University study sheds light on the extraordinary evolution of anglerfish, a group of deep-sea dwellers whose bizarre adaptations have captivated scientists and the public alike. The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, uncovers how these enigmatic creatures defied the odds to diversify in the harsh, resource-poor environment of the bathypelagic zone—part of the open ocean that extends from 3,300 to 13,000 feet below the ocean's surface.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Digital technologies help increase productivity and reduce agricultural impacts, researchers find
Growers of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) face the challenge of estimating the best time to harvest and the quality and yield of their crops. This is because these crops are subterranean, meaning the fruit develops below ground and is not visible until harvest time.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Digital twins of the Earth: Researchers are critical of the term
The term "digital twin of the Earth" creates the idea of the availability of a highly accurate virtual copy of our planet, enabling researchers to predict the most complex future climate developments and extreme natural events.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Disadvantaged urban populations are subject to greater heat stress, poor air quality
Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have employed a NASA open-source program to reveal that disadvantaged populations may be subject to greater heat stress and poor air quality.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Exploring the ecological role of deep-sea viruses
The significance of deep-sea virology and its impact on global climate and biogeochemical structures is not unknown, though its importance might be understated.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Getting to the bottom of Cenozoic deep-ocean temperatures
Understanding ancient ocean temperatures—particularly from the Cenozoic era (the past 66 million years), in which Earth experienced dramatic climate shifts—helps scientists reveal more about the planet's past climates.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Giving coral reefs a fighting chance for survival with coral reef restoration
Scientists are sounding the alarm: coral reef restoration is not a distraction, but a crucial weapon in the battle against climate change and other threats to these vital ecosystems. While some critics question the effectiveness of restoration efforts, a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change argues that dismissing restoration undermines a key component of coral reef conservation.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Global teabag study shows warming temperatures may shrink wetland carbon sinks
A major global study using teabags as a measuring device shows warming temperatures may reduce the amount of carbon stored in wetlands.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Harvard University Doubles Down on Emissions Reductions
Will new clean energy funding on and off campus be enough to meet its ambitious climate goals?
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

How a middle schooler found a new compound in a piece of goose poop
A group of young students became bonafide biomedical scientists before they even started high school. Through a partnership with a nearby university, the middle schoolers collected and analyzed environmental samples to find new antibiotic candidates. One unique sample, goose poop collected at a local park, had a bacterium that showed antibiotic activity and contained a novel compound that slowed the growth of human melanoma and ovarian cancer cells in lab tests.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

How hedges on the ski slopes could save Alps resorts
Ski resorts faced with falling visitor numbers due to climate change should hedge their income by taking out separate weather derivatives (insurance-like financial products) for each month of the season, academics suggest.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Impact of changes in gut environment on bacteria may help explain why we react differently to the same food
A new study from the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at the University of Copenhagen increases our knowledge about the gut and the life of gut bacteria. The study shows, among other things, that changes in the gut environment have an impact on the composition and activity of gut bacteria. Ultimately, this may help explain why we all have different gut bacteria and probably also why we react differently to the same food.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Kids in Portland, Oregon, take a ‘bike bus’ to school
They pedal with their parents in a parade of bikes.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Landmark study reveals stark failure to halt Murray-Darling River decline
Some A$13 billion in taxpayer dollars and 30 years of policy reform have failed to arrest the devastating decline in the health of Australia's most important river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, new research shows.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Largest oxygen-poor region of ocean is more variable than previously thought
Analysis of nitrogen isotope ratio in coral skeletons shows strong decadal oscillations in the size of the world's largest oxygen-deficient zone (ODZ) over the last 80 years. These findings imply that this ODZ is more dynamic than previously thought and could respond quickly to climate changes in the coming decades, with important consequences for marine ecosystems.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Marine conservation law and policy: Research investigates effectiveness of UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
A decade ago, a Singapore Management University academic took in the sights of colorful, healthy corals playing host and habitat to myriad marine creatures at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Mechanistic model validated for rice paddy methane reduction
Rice paddies, responsible for approximately 10% of global anthropogenic methane (CH₄) emissions, are increasingly recognized as a key contributor to global warming. Reducing emissions from rice cultivation is essential to achieving international climate goals, especially in light of commitments to carbon neutrality and peak emissions targets.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

People will share misinformation that sparks “moral outrage”
People can tell it's not true, but if they're outraged by it, they'll share anyway.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Rare whitefly fossils found in New Zealand shed light on ancient forest life
Newly discovered insect fossils are so small they can barely be seen by the human eye but have been preserved in an extraordinary way.Published in the journal Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, a study reveals rare whitefly insect fossils have been found in Miocene age crater lake sediments at Hindon Maar, near Dunedin.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Scientists predict bright future for fly ash in water treatment
The world has the potential today to sustainably manage nearly one billion tons of ash waste it produces every year and turn it into a useful material for water treatment applications, according to a study by scientists from the University of Sharjah published in the journal Separation and Purification Technology.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Simulation software boosts climate resilience in buildings
torms, hail, rising floodwaters—extreme weather events have caused billions of euros in damage in recent years. In the ResCentric project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI have developed a simulation software that can identify risks associated with construction infrastructure, calculate the likelihood and costs of damage and pinpoint measures to protect property against climate-related risks. The focus is on the resilience of buildings.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Solar-powered cookers improving the daily lives of communities in Rwanda
Coventry University researchers are easing access to cooked food in Rwanda by introducing solar-powered cookers to households with limited energy access.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Study introduces new approaches to engineer stable and robust perovskite solar cells
Perovskites are materials with advantageous optoelectronic properties that could be used to develop more affordable photovoltaics (PVs). While in recent years engineers were able to significantly improve the power-conversion efficiencies of perovskite solar cells, these devices remain less stable and scalable than conventional silicon-based solar cells.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Paul Bodnar: ‘Ten years ago, we could never have predicted the level of impact the Lab has achieved’
During the Lab Summit at New York Climate Week, Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director of Climate Policy Initiative, and Paul Bodnar, Director of Sustainable Finance, Industry, and Diplomacy at the Bezos Earth Fund, reflected on the Lab’s journey over the past decade. Established to bridge public and private finance to tackle climate change, the Lab has grown from pioneering into a transformative network.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Peatlands urgently need to be restored for UK to meet emissions targets
The headline goal of the UK's peatland strategy—a framework published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that sets out how to improve UK peatlands—is simple, yet ambitious. The aim is for 20,000km2 (2 million hectares) of UK peatland to be kept in good condition, restored or sustainably managed by 2040.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Peroxisomal protein boosts plant immunity to thrive under environmental stress
Salicylic acid is vital for protecting plants from pathogens, but its synthesis remains unclear. A team of Shinshu University researchers has discovered that the protein HSR201 is key to its production. They found that HSR201 localizes to specific organelles called peroxisomes through a unique targeting signal.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Research offers insights into Permian Basin earthquake hazards
A new collection of published papers offers the most detailed and comprehensive breakdown yet of how water injected into the Permian Basin during oil and gas operations is changing subsurface pressures and causing earthquakes.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers cultivate new variety of edible lily
Recently, a new variety of edible lily, the "Zhongbai No. 1," bred by the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was granted plant variety rights by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

The 'wood wide web': Research questions tree-to-tree nutrient sharing via fungi
The idea of trees "talking" to one another through underground fungal networks—the so-called "wood wide web"—has captured the imagination of the public. This concept, where trees supposedly share nutrients with each other via these networks, has been popularized by books and documentaries.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Ultrahigh pressure generation in Walker-type press could help with understanding Earth's interior
In a study published in Engineering, researchers from Jilin University have achieved a significant breakthrough in high-temperature ultrahigh pressure generation using a Walker-type large-volume press (LVP). This advancement has opened new avenues for exploring novel materials and understanding Earth's interior.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Unlocking nickel's potential: New study reveals how to use single atoms to turn CO² into valuable chemical resources
Nickel and nitrogen co-doped carbon (Ni-N-C) catalysts have shown exceptional performance in converting CO² into CO, a valuable chemical feedstock. However, the exact working mechanism of these catalysts has remained elusive—until now.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Unveiling a century of stress and deformation: Insights from Kīlauea Volcano's 1975 earthquake
Researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Department of Earth Sciences assessed an unprecedented 120 years of data from Kīlauea Volcano on Hawai'i Island, uncovering, for the first time, century-spanning patterns of deformation and stress changes. They had a particular focus on the transformative 1975 magnitude 7.7 Kalapana earthquake, which also resulted in a 20-foot high tsunami.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

Waste oil to wonder material: Transforming trash into supercapacitor gold
Amid an escalating global energy crisis, the need for high-performance energy storage solutions is more pressing than ever. Supercapacitors, known for their fast charge/discharge rates and longer cycle life compared to traditional batteries, have emerged as a critical component in future energy systems.
December 2nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — December 1st, 2024

3D ocean model shows ocean acidification moving deeper as atmospheric emissions increase
A pair of environmental physicists at the Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, has built a 3D model of the world's oceans and their currents to learn more about the depths that ocean acidification has reached due to increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

Aspiring Applicants Worry EPA Environmental Justice Grant Funding Will Be Rescinded Before It's Awarded
President-elect Donald Trump and his allies plan to cut money in the Inflation Reduction Act allocated for climate efforts. Hundreds of millions of dollars have yet to reach EJ organizations.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

Calls for extension as plastic treaty negotiations falter
Delegates seeking the world's first deal to curb plastic pollution began openly advocating for an extension of talks on Sunday, accusing a handful of nations of obstructing an ambitious agreement.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

Glittering dreams: India's big push for solar power
Vast lines of solar panels reflect the blazing sun in India's western deserts, a dazzling ocean broken only by bristling wind turbines.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

Is John Deere Building More Electric Tractors? Here's What We Know
For many, John Deere is the definitive tractor and lawn mower brand, and has been for decades. The image of a green piece of equipment emblazoned with that signature yellow deer logo is synonymous with farming, landscaping, and general outdoor work in the eyes of countless folks.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

Mining must become more responsible and sustainable: Where hi-tech solutions fit in
If you visit a commercial mining operation anywhere in the world today, some sights and sounds—workers descending in elevators to underground shafts, the roar of truck engines—will be much the same as they have been for decades.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

The farm fires helping to fuel India's deadly air
Blazing flames light the sky as Indian farmer Ali Sher burns his fields to clear them for new crops, a common but illegal practice that is fueling deadly pollution killing millions.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

These Climate Advocates Are Tapping Their Spiritual Reservoirs to Continue Their Cause
Donald Trump promises a new assault on climate policy and environmental regulations when he returns to the White House. Faith leaders say their beliefs compel a response.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

Uranium Mining Revival Portends Nuclear Renaissance in Texas and Beyond
State leaders want nuclear reactors to provide consistent, low-carbon power to large industrial facilities. But in South Texas, locals worry what a uranium boom means for their groundwater.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

Why is a global treaty on plastic pollution dividing the world?
What on earth to do about all the plastic polluting the oceans, the food supply, even our bodies?
December 1st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 30th, 2024

Apple @ Work: What happens when you trade in an old Apple product? Inside Assurant's new facility to save devices from landfills
Many people in the Apple ecosystem love to stay on the latest and great iPhones, iPads, and Macs. If you're trading in an old iPhone to one of your carriers, have you ever wondered what happens to them? Especially in recent years, old iPhones continue to offer a ton of value to new people, so I recently talked with the team at Assurant to learn more about their new facilities.
November 30th, 2024 — Source

Balloon system can produce localized solar electricity for the ground below
A team of engineers and environmental scientists from Mälardalen University, in Sweden, Southwest Jiaotong University, in China and Guizhou University, also in China, has developed a balloon system for producing and delivering electricity to the ground below.
November 30th, 2024 — Source

Climate VCs are cautiously optimistic about a second Trump term — here's why
President-elect Donald Trump made no secret during his campaigning that he doesn't think the U.S. should take an aggressive stance on climate change. From leading chants of "drill, baby, drill" to frequently criticizing everything from wind turbines to electric vehicles, he appears poised to cast a shadow over the climate tech sector for the next four years.
November 30th, 2024 — Source

How COP29 Came Close to Collapse, as Developed and Developing Nations Clashed Under the Weak Azerbaijanis
Climate analyst Alden Meyer says the annual climate talks did little to alter the world's path to warming at 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius, which would result in "truly terrifying impacts." Yet, without the 2015 Paris Agreement, warming might be heading toward 4 or 5 degrees.
November 30th, 2024 — Source

In Parts of New York City, a Vexing Mix of Stormwater and Sewage Have Made Flooding the 'New Normal'
City officials and water management experts are working to stop overflows from New York's archaic sewer system without really knowing how much worse climate change will make storm surges and extreme rainfall.
November 30th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 29th, 2024

After Initial Permits Are Granted, Activists Worry About Impacts of Enbridge's Line 5 Reroute in Northern Wisconsin
The 41-mile diversion would pass through more than 100 vulnerable waterways that feed into Lake Superior.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Art project encourages Philly residents to take the bus to city parks
A multimedia art project called 'Routes to Roots' aims to connect people to the outdoors without using a car.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

California Water Experts Prepare for Climate Whiplash
As climate change brings sudden shifts between extreme drought and catastrophic floods, water policy experts urge state resource managers to take a new approach.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Climate Scientists Can't Explain These 'Hotspots' Appearing Around the World
The global average temperature is rising, but some regions are experiencing extreme heatwaves way beyond what models predicted—and scientists don't know why.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Conceptual model illuminates role of polar ice sheets in climate tipping points
Polar ice sheets are critical for climate projections, according to new research published Nov. 27 in the journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment. Improving understanding of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is essential for reducing the uncertainty around climate tipping points, and vital for guiding projections for a rapidly changing future climate.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Early Neolithic genetic data suggest that central Europe's first farmers lived in equality
An international team of researchers led by Pere Gelabert and Ron Pinhasi of the University of Vienna and David Reich of Harvard University has produced the most complete set of Early Neolithic genetic data from Central Europe to date.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Has nuclear power entered a new era of acceptance amid global warming?
When Heather Hoff took a job at Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, she was skeptical of nuclear energy—so much so that she resolved to report anything questionable to the anti-nuclear group Mothers for Peace.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

How everyday activities inside your home can generate energy
Passive interfaces, such as light switches or doorknobs, refer to hardware that can store energy, but the energy can only be used for the purpose it was intended. However, research is imagining new ways for that energy to be harvested and adapted—turning your doorknob could power your alarm system or opening your freezer could turn on your kitchen light.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

New hydrovoltaic cell continuously generates electricity with little water and no sunlight
A team of engineers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has modified the approach used to generate electricity with a hydrovoltaic cell, building one that uses little water and no sunlight.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop Australia heat wave index with innovative data collection, improving data privacy
Heat waves are Australia's deadliest natural disaster, causing more deaths than any other natural hazard. The intensity and frequency of heat waves are predicted to increase due to climate change, posing great risks to human health—especially in cities where the urban heat island effect can exacerbate these impacts.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Researchers use eDNA metabarcoding to identify pollinators, aiming to boost crop production
A Curtin University study has revealed that a new method of capturing DNA could provide farmers with a valuable tool for boosting crop production—while also benefiting the environment.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Strategies for safe and equitable access to water: A catalyst for global peace and security
Water can be a catalyst for peace and security with a critical role in preventing conflicts and promoting cooperation among communities and nations—but only if managed equitably and sustainably, a study reveals.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Top UN court to open unprecedented climate hearings
The world's top court will next week start unprecedented hearings aimed at finding a "legal blueprint" for how countries should protect the environment from damaging greenhouse gases—and what the consequences are if they do not.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Toxic site is leaking cancer-causing chemicals in Grand Prairie, Texas: When will it be cleaned?
The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a plan to clean a toxic site leaking cancer-causing chemicals under dozens of homes in Grand Prairie, Texas.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 27th, 2024

A Pennsylvania Fracking and Gas Company Is Poised for Profits and Pipelines After GOP Wins
Toby Rice, the CEO of EQT, backed electoral winners, including Republican Dave McCormick for Senate. He hobnobbed with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Now, the Pittsburgh company is positioned to "unleash" LNG exports.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Addressing energy inequities in clean energy transitions
The transition to clean energy is hailed as a crucial step toward environmental and health benefits, but could it inadvertently widen the gap between the wealthy and the disadvantaged? This critical question is addressed by the research group led by Shen Guofeng, Assistant Professor at the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Americans will throw out 316 million pounds of food on Thanksgiving: How it fuels climate change
Each day, an army of trucks delivers tens of thousands of pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables to Mexico City's Central de Abasto, one of the world's largest wholesale food markets.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Climate change alone does not cause mass migration, says researcher
People are already being forced to flee the consequences of climate change to an alarming extent in the Global South, says Jan Freihardt. He believes, however, that Europe's fear of mass climate migration is exaggerated, since international migration has other root causes.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Colorado investigates reports of falsified data on cleanup of about 350 oil, gas sites
State oil and gas regulators are investigating reports that environmental consultants falsified results of tests on soil, groundwater and contamination at about 350 locations in Weld County between 2021 and this summer.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

COP29: Climate change could kill millions—and world leaders must work to limit fatalities
The COP29 climate change conference has come to a close—as per normal it looks like very little will be done.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Delicious ways to reduce food waste this Thanksgiving
You can put potato skins, turkey bones, and more to good use.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Earning money while making power grid more stable—energy consumers can have key role in supporting grid flexibility
By providing flexibility services to renewable energy systems, consumers can both help in balancing power grids and receive financial benefits. Hosna Khajeh's doctoral dissertation from the University of Vaasa, Finland, introduces new methods that enable the efficient utilization of energy users' flexibility resources in distribution and transmission networks.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Effects of extreme weather events on soil microbes shed light on climate change risks
New research has revealed how tiny soil microbes are impacted by extreme weather events, offering new insights into the risks posed by climate change.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Falcons exposed to heavy metals are a red flag for environmental health
Exposure to heavy metals compromises immune functions and reduces reproductive success in the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), according to a new paper by researchers working with the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) at Temple University in collaboration with the veterinary research group of the Department of Health Sciences at Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Fallen ancient civilizations show us why we must not ignore climate warnings
In 1177BC, Amurapi, the last king of Ugarit in modern-day Syria, wrote in cuneiform on baked clay to the Hittite emperor Suppiluliuma II: "My father behold, the enemy's ships have come; my cities were burned, and they did evil things in my country." Soon, both the Hittite and Ugaritic kingdoms were lost to history.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Five fairness flaws the UN's new plastics treaty must change
The UN's new plastics treaty is about to be finalized—marking a crucial opportunity to form an international agreement to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. Plastic waste is ubiquitous—damaging human health and livelihoods, as well as ecosystems in water and on land; yet plastic production is at an all-time high.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Future of deep-sea mining stands at a crucial juncture
Torn between the defenders of the world's seabeds and industrialists eager to exploit the vast, untapped resources of the deep, the international community faces a crucial year that could decide the future of mining in the high seas.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Fossil fuel supply: The elephant in the room at climate change conferences
"Natural resources … are a gift from God. Every natural resource, whether it's oil, gas, wind, sun, gold, silver, copper, they are all natural resources. Countries should not be blamed for having them, and should not be blamed for bringing these resources to the market because the market needs them. The people need them."
November 27th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

How fungi colonize plant roots
Researchers have identified two fungal enzymes that hijack the immune system of plants, playing a critical role in the colonization of plant roots. These findings open new avenues for interventions in both medicine and agriculture.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Is there enough land on Earth to fight climate change and feed the world?
Capping global warming at 1.5°C is a tall order. Achieving that goal will not only require a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, but also a substantial reallocation of land to support that effort and sustain the biosphere, including humans. More land will be needed to accommodate a growing demand for bioenergy and nature-based carbon sequestration while ensuring sufficient acreage for food production and ecological sustainability.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Marine heat waves' hidden depths revealed in study
As the ocean warms under climate change, a better understanding of how damaging marine heat waves develop and last may help scientists predict them more accurately and forecast their impacts on marine ecosystems.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Most NZ dairy farmers put profitability first—but some are planting native trees anyway
Globally, about 40% of ice-free land is used for agriculture, managed by farmers and herders.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Nanopesticide delivery system made with neem seed extract improves pesticide effectiveness
Pesticides can be made more effective and environmentally friendly by improving how they stick to plant surfaces, thanks to new research led by Dr. Mustafa Akbulut, professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Nick Saban for Public Office? Alabamians Who Wrote in PSC Candidates Had a Certain Twinkle in Their Eye
Twinkle Cavanaugh, president of Alabama’s primary utility regulator, engendered more write-in votes against her than any other candidate on the ballot in November. Could Alabama Power’s energy prices be to blame? Evidence suggests they may.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Researchers call for shift in reef restoration funding
Researchers are calling for a transformational shift in the funding of coral reef restoration efforts across the southeast Asia region.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Same plant, different tactic: Habitat determines response to climate, thale cress study finds
Plants need light to grow, but too much light can induce damage to the photosynthetic complex known as photosystem II. It is known that plants adapted to growing under full sun repair this light-induced damage more. But this repair activity slows down in colder temperatures.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Scientists Develop AI Tool That Generates Realistic Satellite Images of Future Flooding
Scientists have developed a new AI tool that lets users generate realistic satellite images of future flooding and prepare for approaching storms.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Seemingly simple climate adaptation strategy could backfire
A climate adaptation strategy that's meant to lower city temperatures could have the opposite effect for people living just outside the zone in which it's used, according to a new modeling study by Yu Cheng and Kaighin McColl published in Geophysical Research Letters.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Shells, teeth and bones of 'weird and wonderful organisms' provide historical environmental clues
An international study shows how chemical fingerprints left by "underappreciated" aquatic organisms could help scientists monitor global environmental change.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

The melting of Greenland: A climate challenge with major implications for the 21st century
The melting of Greenland is accelerating, with an estimated loss of between 964 and 1735 gigatons of ice per year by 2100 in a scenario of high greenhouse gas emissions (SSP585), according to three regional climate models. This melting will lead to a rise in sea levels of up to one meter, threatening millions of people in coastal areas. New research conducted by the University of Liège and supported in particular by its NIC5 supercomputer will contribute to future IPCC assessments.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

The future of tick control: Identifying genetic tools to control cattle fever ticks
Research collaboration by the Texas A&M Department of Entomology and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, creates potential for genetic tools to control disease-spreading ticks.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Traces of a giant landslide deep in the southern Baltic Sea—researchers investigate a potential tsunami
Off the coast of Blekinge, in southern Sweden, at a depth of around 50–60 meters, the bottom sediment has scars that are tens of kilometers long and appear to have been caused by a huge submarine landslide. However, what caused this landslide and exactly when it may have occurred are unknown. The Geological Survey of Sweden investigated the bottom layers and documented the scar in 2014, and now Elinor Andrén, professor of environmental science at Södertörn University, and nine other researchers will try to discover what happened.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Trump and his allies could kill funding for life-saving resiliency hubs
A federal climate law is helping an Atlanta church renovate a community center into a solar-powered emergency shelter. Other communities might not get the chance to do the same if Donald Trump follows through on his campaign promise to “terminate” the law.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

When (And Why) Did Ford Stop Making Tractors?
The Ford Motor Company has a long, rich history in which it has created a specific image for itself among the public. It's known as a rugged, American-made brand that has been on the cutting edge of automobile technology since the early 20th century, and it has created everything from cars to trucks and SUVs — including some especially large models.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 25th, 2024

$300 billion pledge at COP29 climate summit a “paltry sum”
Poorer countries reluctantly accept package from wealthy nations.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

A new carbon-negative method to produce essential amino acids
Amino acids are essential for nearly every process in the human body. Often referred to as "the building blocks of life," they are also critical for commercial use in products ranging from pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, to cosmetics, animal feed, and industrial chemicals.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Alternate stream water-testing method detects emerging contaminants
Pollutants known as "contaminants of emerging concern" or chemicals that could potentially harm human health and have been found in the environment, including pesticides, ingredients from personal care products, pharmaceuticals and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are increasingly found in streams and lakes.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Beeches thrive in France's Verdun in flight from climate change
An assisted migration of beech trees in need of protection from climate change is bearing its first fruits in France after 13 years, with saplings now gracing the former World War I battlefield of Verdun.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

'Bomb cyclone' adds to growing extreme weather trend
The "once-in-a-decade" storm that devastated the Pacific Northwest last week caused widespread outages, damage, and at least two deaths. Data shows the storms are becoming more common. Could climate change be a key driver?
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Concern as climate talks stalls on fossil fuels pledge
The failure of UN climate negotiations to double down on a global pledge to move away from planet-heating fossil fuels on Sunday was decried by experts as a "worrying" setback to global progress on curbing warming.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

COP29: Five critical issues still left hanging after an underwhelming UN climate summit in Azerbaijan
Billed as the "finance COP," the 29th UN climate change summit (otherwise known as COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, was expected to provide the money to enable the transition away from fossil fuels announced at last year's COP28.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Cop29: Indigenous communities still being sold short as the world decides how to regulate carbon markets
As the annual UN climate conference, Cop29, draws to a close, negotiators, civil society observers and activists are staying up late, poring over draft texts that will determine how the international community addresses climate change for years to come. Central among their concerns this year: the turbulent world of carbon markets. This, in theory, will allow carbon removals, renewable energy units and greenhouse gas emissions reductions and avoidance to be bought and sold as "credits."
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Decoding the cellular basis of floral fragrance
Floral fragrances are nature's allure, enticing pollinators and helping plants adapt to environmental challenges. These scents, primarily generated in petals, consist of complex compounds such as terpenoids and benzenoids/phenylpropanoids, which hold immense ornamental and commercial value.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

EcoCommons Australia: A powerful new tool for ecological modeling
The ecological modeling platform EcoCommons Australia is transforming biodiversity protection and deepening our understanding of how environmental policies advance international biodiversity goals.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Final Reflection of COP29
As we get ready to leave Baku, Azerbaijan for our long journey home and reflect back on our time here, I am filled with mixed emotions about what we experienced.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Firefighting foam contains more branched PFOA than anticipated
A new study has revealed there may be a significant underestimation of a specific type of PFAS "forever chemical" in the environment.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Five key takeaways from the Lab Summit
The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab) convened over one hundred climate finance practitioners for its 10th Anniversary Summit during New York Climate Week to discuss progress on mobilizing climate finance over the past decade. The summit identified key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the field of climate finance, informing the broader climate finance investment landscape.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Framework uncovers what makes large numbers of 'squishy' grains start flowing in biological processes
Researchers Samuel Poincloux (currently at Aoyama Gakuin University) and Kazumasa A. Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo have clarified the conditions under which large numbers of "squishy" grains, which can change their shape in response to external forces, transition from acting like a solid to acting like a liquid.
November 25th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Global heating is a social issue. The EU has a duty to mitigate it, and our data shows it is failing
This week, Azerbaijan has hosted the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, also known as COP29. Its main objectives are to agree on a financial framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and to present national plans for meeting the terms of the Paris Agreement. This includes limiting global heating to 1.5°C, a limit that we have, though temporarily, already passed.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Green hydrogen could decarbonize entire industries in NZ—but there's a long way to go
Hydrogen has been called the "Swiss army knife" of decarbonization because it can do many things. But not all of them make sense.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Hydropower decline due to climate change may increase price tag to decarbonize the grid
A new study warns that current plans to achieve zero emissions on the grid by 2050 vastly underestimate the required investments in generation and transmission infrastructure. The reason: These plans do not account for climate change's impacts on water resources.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Icelandic Volcano Erupts for the Seventh Time This Year
This volcano might have previously been dormant for 800 years, but clearly it's not ready to go back to bed.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Insurance Insiders Say Regulation and Mitigation Can Keep the Industry from Retreating in Colorado
Underwriters aren’t pulling back from Colorado like they have in Florida and California, but industry workers say the state is at a tipping point.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Mathematical modeling reveals the explosive secret of the squirting cucumber
A team led by the University of Oxford has solved a mystery that has intrigued scientists for centuries: how does the squirting cucumber squirt?
November 25th, 2024 — Source or Source

‘My life will never be the same.’ Widow speaks out about the dangers of extreme heat
Amy Dishion’s husband died while hiking in Arizona.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

New AI tool generates realistic satellite images of future flooding
Visualizing the potential impacts of a hurricane on people's homes before it hits can help residents prepare and decide whether to evacuate. MIT scientists have developed a method that generates satellite imagery from the future to depict how a region would look after a potential flooding event. The method combines a generative artificial intelligence model with a physics-based flood model to create realistic, birds-eye-view images of a region, showing where flooding is likely to occur given the strength of an oncoming storm.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

New design standards for stream crossings to help mitigate pollution
Since 2001, the Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, housed in the Larson Transportation Institute in the Penn State College of Engineering's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has worked to reduce the environmental impact of public dirt and gravel roads and undersized bridges and culverts by contributing to the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission's Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Maintenance Program (DGLVR).
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Plastics: lifesaver turned environmental threat
Before it threatened biodiversity, the oceans and the global food chain, plastics saved lives and transformed societies as a durable, malleable and cheap material.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Researchers create high-resistant starch rice by impaired amylopectin synthesis
Rice is one of the most important staple crops and an excellent starch-provider. Resistant starch (RS) has shown beneficial effects on diabetes, weight management and inflammatory bowel disease.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Rocket Lab gets up to $23.9 million in CHIPS funding for space-grade solar cells
Defense contractor BAE Systems will receive up to $35.5 million too.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Study Finds Humans Tilted Earth By A Shocking 31.5 Inches Contributing To Climate Change
Scientists are constantly on the lookout for ways to slow down climate change, such as one study that devised a $200 trillion diamond dust umbrella for Earth. They are also seeking all the possible contributors to climate change, which even includes belching cows (seriously). Now, a new study finds humans tilted the Earth by a shocking 31.5-inches in less than two decades, and in turn, contributed to climate change.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Study identifies path to design stable, durable polymer membranes for clean energy
Electrolytes that convert chemical to electrical energy underlie the search for new power sources with zero emissions. Among these new power sources are fuel cells that produce electricity.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

The Amborella genome: A window into the origins of plant sex and reproduction
Plant reproduction is a cornerstone of our food system and ecological balance; however, it is a complex process. Plants have fascinating reproductive strategies, some being either male or female, some being hermaphroditic, and still some changing sex over their lifetime. Understanding the mechanisms that determine plant sex is crucial for modern agriculture.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking cities' potential for climate-resilient urban futures
By 2040, 2 billion people living in cities are likely to be exposed to the impacts of climate change. It's a reality that was a driving force behind the UN-Habitat's newly published World Cities Report 2024.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Using sunlight to recycle black plastics: Researchers leverage additive to make materials chemically useful
Not all plastics are equal—some types and colors are easier to recycle than others. For instance, black foam and black coffee lids, which are often made of polystyrene, usually end up in landfills because color additives lead to ineffective sorting. Now, researchers report in ACS Central Science the ability to leverage one additive in black plastics, with the help of sunlight or white LEDs, to convert black and colored polystyrene waste into reusable starting materials.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 24th, 2024

As Time Runs Out on Climate Change Superfund, Hochul's Stance on the Bill Remains Elusive
With Trump's impending return to the White House, some see this legislation as a way for New York to make progress on climate adaptation.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

Main points of the $300 billion climate deal
The deal reached at UN climate talks in Azerbaijan ramps up the money that wealthy historic emitters will provide to help poorer nations transition to cleaner energy and adapt to global warming.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

Mounting economic costs of India's killer smog
Noxious smog smothering the plains of north India is not only choking the lungs of residents and killing millions, but also slowing the country's economic growth.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

NASA Funds New Low-Emission Plane Designs in Race to Green Aviation
NASA is investing $11.5M in sustainable aircraft design. The agency aims to develop a next-generation, low-emission aircraft that could revolutionize air travel within the next 25 years.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

Overtime Deal at COP29 Falls Short of Global Climate Finance Needs
Rich nations pledge $300 billion a year in aid, but developing countries that need help building out renewable energy and adapting to climate impacts say they again felt bullied to accept an inadequate agreement.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

Scientists seek miracle pill to stop methane cow burps
A scientist guides a long tube into the mouth and down to the stomach of Thing 1, a two-month-old calf that is part of a research project aiming to prevent cows from burping methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

Turning Kazakhstan Into a Beef-Producing Machine, the American Way
The vast central Asian country has millions of acres of pastureland. Can it produce steaks and burgers that offset emissions—and earn carbon credits for them?
November 24th, 2024 — Source

Two new tech documentaries you really need to see
Plus, in this week's Installer: Teenage Engineering did it again, a super-minimal podcast app, open-ear headphones, and much more.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

World approves UN rules for carbon trading between nations at COP29
New rules allowing wealthy polluting countries to buy carbon-cutting "offsets" from developing nations were agreed at UN climate talks Saturday, a move already raising fears they will be used to greenwash climate targets.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 23rd, 2024

Climate Change 'Burnout' Is Taking Its Toll
Activists and others on the front lines of the climate crisis, one therapist says, "are living in fight-or-flight mode constantly." Here's their battle-tested advice.
November 23rd, 2024 — Source

Developing nations slam 'paltry' $300 bn climate deal
The world approved a bitterly negotiated climate deal Sunday but poorer nations most at the mercy of worsening disasters dismissed a $300 billion a year pledge from wealthy historic polluters as insultingly low.
November 23rd, 2024 — Source

Environmental Activists Are Alarmed by Trump's Picks to Run the EPA, the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior
Trump could reverse the nation's progress on climate change, but rolling back the Biden administration's significant climate successes could be a low, slow and difficult process.
November 23rd, 2024 — Source

UN Task Force Proposes Crypto Mining Tax to Fund Climate Action
A global climate conference concluding today has sparked significant debate over a proposal to tax energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining.
November 23rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 21st, 2024

AI-assisted sorting system automates detection of aluminum-tolerant microbes in acidic soils
Researchers from the Single-Cell Center at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with collaborators, developed an artificial intelligence-assisted Raman-activated cell sorting (AI-RACS) system.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

A Virginia Circuit Court Finds Youngkin's Withdrawal from RGGI 'Unlawful'
Environmentalists and trade groups breathed a sigh of relief, while the governor promised to appeal the ruling.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

A vision-driven approach: Researchers advocate use of imagination in tackling climate crisis
In a new npj Ocean Sustainability article, ten researchers advocate the use of imagination in tackling the climate crisis. They focus specifically on urbanizing river deltas, which are of great social and economic importance and highly vulnerable to climate change.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Aquaculture researchers decode the genome of the African catfish to advance modern breeding approaches
Scientists at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) in Dummerstorf have decoded the genome of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), in collaboration with international partners.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Books to help you keep your head after the election and COP29
These reads offer insight into how to prepare for the coming years.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Climate-driven hazards increases risk for millions of coastal residents, study finds
A new study published in Nature Climate Change estimates that a 1-meter sea level rise by 2100 would affect over 14 million people and $1 trillion worth of property along the Southeast Atlantic coast, from Norfolk, Virginia, to Miami, Florida.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Confidence drives feedback-seeking behavior: Insights into learning and motivation
A new study from co-lead author Christopher J. Cagna, Ph.D., of the Kessler Foundation examines the determinants of feedback-seeking behavior and their impact on learning. In collaboration with fellow co-lead author, Jamil P. Bhanji, Ph.D., of Rutgers University, the study highlights that low confidence in task performance significantly motivates individuals to seek corrective feedback, which in turn enhances learning outcomes.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

COP29 so far: The good and bad news
Gradually, then suddenly is how Ernest Hemingway described going bankrupt. The climate crisis could be on a similar trajectory.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

COP29 viewpoint: 'Climate finance' for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with more debt
As this year's UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific scholars are calling on world leaders to improve the dispersal system of climate finance to support people living in small island nations.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Denver Water is Halfway Through Replacing Lead Pipes. Why Didn't This Happen Sooner?
The utility nears a major milestone, while new federal regulations will speed up the transition away from lead pipes across the country.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Design and imagination as essential tools during the climate crisis
Researchers advocate the use of imagination in tackling the climate crisis. They focus specifically on urbanizing river deltas, which are of great social and economic importance and highly vulnerable to climate change.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Engineering nature's blueprint: Dendron-based assemblies for chlorophyll's materials
Researchers often look to photosynthesis—a process that turns sunlight into chemical energy in plants and bacteria—as a model for innovation. Photosynthesis is in turn linked to chlorophyll pigments, tiny green molecules that play a key role in harvesting light.
November 21st, 2024 — Source or Source

Flooded streets plague Northeast Houston residents
The city's 2,000-mile system of roadside drainage ditches often fails during storms.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Following Capacity Price Spike, Mid-Atlantic States Call for Electric Grid Operator PJM to Change Rules
Governors and clean energy advocates believe reforming the rules will lessen pressure on customers, whose rates could increase when capacity prices rise.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Geospatial mapping study shows drought trend in ag-dominated Arkansas Delta
The Delta, a regional powerhouse for Arkansas agriculture built by river flows, is showing a trend of increasing droughts. Using satellite imagery, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers comprehensively analyzed drought dynamics over five years to reveal this and other short and long-term climate trends in Arkansas.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

German study suggests carbon cost offset for heating systems
A poorly insulated house with an oil heating system—this is the exemplary case that policymakers are struggling with these days. How can they protect people with such climate-unfriendly living spaces from being overburdened? They plan to make fossil heating more expensive via carbon pricing to accelerate the switch to heat pumps, for example, but they are deterred by the enormous heterogeneity of the building stock.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Greenland's meltwater will slow Atlantic circulation, climate model suggests
A team of climate scientists in Germany and China has found evidence, using a climate model, that in the coming years, freshwater inputs to the Irminger Sea Basin will have the biggest impact on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Growing grains and legumes in the same fields could be a win-win for crop performance and sustainability
An innovative experiment growing perennial cereal grains and legumes in the same fields is sprouting benefits for crop performance and sustainability, according to a new University of Alberta study appearing in the Journal of Animal Science.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

How Deep Is the Ocean?
Take a deep dive into the ocean's secrets. ExtremeTech reveals its hidden layers and life forms. Discover the depths of our planet today.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Indonesian social forestry often excludes women from decisions, risking greater inequality
Our analysis of Indonesia's social forestry permits shows that women remain underrepresented in forest management bodies despite efforts to boost their presence, leaving them out of decisions about their forests.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Inexpensive catalyst recycles methane emissions at room temperature
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that is widely used in the U.S. for heating, cooking, and electricity generation, and it is also used as a chemical feedstock for the manufacture of plastics and other products. But because it consists primarily of the greenhouse gas methane, natural gas is one of the leading sources of methane emissions.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Infrastructure and communication challenges can be barriers to food safety in the low-moisture food industry
Low-moisture foods such as dried fruits, seeds, tree nuts and wheat flour were once considered to carry minimal microbial risks. However, the increased number of outbreaks linked to bacteria-contaminated low-moisture foods has resulted in product recalls, lawsuits and financial losses.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Mining fuels global deforestation and CO² surge: Study warns of climate risks
Forests are often called the lungs of our planet, absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and playing a crucial role in regulating the climate. But what happens when mining operations carve through these vital ecosystems?
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Morning glory plants that can resist weed killer can also fend off chewing insects
Morning glory plants that can resist the effects of glyphosate also resist damage from herbivorous insects, according to a University of Michigan study.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Nations race to land climate deal as COP29 draft rejected
A fresh draft of a climate pact unveiled Thursday at COP29 failed to break an impasse between nations, with negotiators racing against the clock to broker a trillion-dollar finance agreement.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Nature-based solutions are cheap and effective, and governments have the tools to make them a reality
As the world gathers in Azerbaijan for this year's annual UN climate conference (COP29), the urgency to act on climate change has never been greater.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

New computer model could make using solar power more reliable
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have created an AI model that allows them to accurately predict the amount of solar energy that can be created in different climates, making grid integration easier in the UK.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Plant biologists uncover surprising ways transcription factors regulate plant development
Within all complex, multicellular living systems such as plants and humans, there exists a set of genetic elements that can be likened to the blueprints, tools, and specialized personnel at a construction site for an expanding development.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Plasma-derived atomic hydrogen advances low-temperature CO² methanation at high yield
Plasma-derived atomic hydrogen (PDAH) enables low-temperature carbon dioxide methanation reaction through the Eley−Rideal-type reaction channel, improving methane yield at low temperatures, as shown by scientists at Science Tokyo.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Plastics contribute to 'triple planetary crisis' impacts
The fact that plastics pollute the environment and generate problems has been well-researched in many areas. However, there is little information on the impacts of plastics on climate and biodiversity.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Protective coating significantly extends perovskite solar cell life
Northwestern University scientists have developed a new protective coating that significantly extends the life of perovskite solar cells, making them more practical for applications outside the lab.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Researchers investigate health risks of potentially toxic elements in surface water in Tarim River Basin, China
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in surface water in arid areas can pose a serious threat to natural environment and human health.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Satellite Image Reveals Staggering 'Bomb Cyclone' Hammering the Pacific Northwest
The huge storm shows how weather systems can rapidly intensify and wreak havoc on the ground.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Southeast Asia coastline research highlights the pressures human activities place on tropical marine ecosystems
The tropical coastlines of Southeast Asia are home to some of the most important and biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet. However, they are also among its most vulnerable, with areas of coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass beds under increasing threat from a wide range of human activities.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Staggering temperature rise predicted for the Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East and North Africa, which already include some of the hottest and driest spots on Earth, are undergoing accelerated climate change and will reach warming thresholds two to three decades earlier than the rest of the world, a new study reports. By 2100, parts of the Arabian Peninsula could experience up to 9 degrees Celsius (16.2 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Support for carbon pricing higher than expected, finds study
Viewed by many experts as one of the most effective tools of climate policy, carbon pricing seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, however, only 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions are subject to this climate tax, as it is seen as unpopular.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Urgent need to enable more farmers and contractors to revive England's network of hedgerows
A new comprehensive survey has highlighted an urgent need to enable more farmers and contractors to revive England's hedgerows to meet national restoration targets. While agri-environment schemes (AES) have improved the condition of these iconic landscape features, the overall length of hedgerows remains unchanged.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Utilities Are Spending a Lot for Power Lines We May Not Need, and Spending Less on Ones We Do Need
A new analysis examines a regulatory gap that allows for nearly unchecked spending on local transmission lines.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Utility-scale solar fields can foster abundant biodiversity, say researchers
The growth in utility-scale solar development is leading to questions about how best to use the land underneath solar panels and what impacts solar installations have on soil and habitat. An increasingly common practice is to establish habitat beneath and around solar modules that is beneficial to biodiversity and the local ecosystem.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Where are my people
I love the question: "Who are my people?"
November 21st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 18th, 2024

Americans face an insurability crisis as climate change worsens disasters
Home insurance rates are rising in the United States, not only in Florida, which saw tens of billions of dollars in losses from hurricanes Helene and Milton, but across the country.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Bee alert: Pesticides pose a real threat to more than 70% of wild bees
A new study reveals alarming risks that pesticides pose to ground-nesting bees, which are crucial for pollination and food production. As agriculture increasingly relies on pesticides to protect crops, the unintended consequences for these essential pollinators are becoming clearer.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Clean tech outlook: How investors are strategizing given Trump’s climate antagonism
Over the past five years, growth in climate tech has been so prolific that it has drawn comparisons to the Cambrian explosion — an era some 530 million years ago when evolution rapidly dished up a huge variety of new animals.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Forget snowbirds. These sunbirds are flocking north.
Hotter days and higher flood risk are prompting people across the South to reconsider where they live.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

How the Veterans Health Administration is preparing for flood emergencies
The agency has purchased six high-water trucks and extended its telehealth offerings.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Maryland looks to preserve more than 1,100 acres to protect against development and solar farms
Harford County is moving to preserve 1,110 acres of agricultural land to meet its goal of preserving 75,000 acres by 2040 as solar farms pose mounting pressure for land use across the state.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

More logging is proposed to help curb wildfires in the US Pacific Northwest
U.S. officials would allow increased logging on federal lands across the Pacific Northwest in the name of fighting wildfires and boosting rural economies under proposed changes to a sweeping forest management plan that's been in place for three decades.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

New Calls for Reform Emerge as COP29 Negotiations Struggle
A former UNFCCC chief and others say streamlined and more frequent science-based meetings are needed to address the escalating climate crisis.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Redefining net zero will not stop global warming
An international group of authors who developed the science behind net zero demonstrate that relying on 'natural carbon sinks' like forests and oceans to offset ongoing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use will not actually stop global warming. The science of net zero, developed over 15 years ago, does not include these natural carbon sinks in the definition of net human-induced CO2 emissions.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Transforming marine waste and carbonated water into hydrogels via CO² release behavior
Hydrogels, which are soft materials made of water-filled, crosslinked polymer networks, have a wide range of uses, from wound dressings to enhancing soil moisture for plant growth. They are formed through a process called gelation, where polymers in a solution are linked together to form a gel.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

The US’s Easternmost City Could Be a Model for the Country’s Renewable Future
Tidal power and solar would fuel a community microgrid protecting the island of Eastport, Maine, from outages.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

'Vague' net zero rules threaten climate targets, scientists warn
Countries must not count the carbon dioxide naturally sucked up by Earth's forests in their net zero climate plans, scientists said on Monday, warning that "vague" rules could end up with the world warming more than expected.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Viewpoint: Young people need a say in how we deal with the health impacts of climate change
In recent decades, we've seen the profound impact of climate change on human health.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

What is net zero? What is blue carbon? Experts explain key climate terms
Jargon is hard to decipher. And when it comes to climate science, it's rife. So, we've teamed up with top climate experts to explain the meaning, and the context, of some of the most crucial terminology.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Who Pays for Alabama’s $5 Billion ‘Zombie’ Highway Project? Not Alabama
Alabama is poised to use 100 percent federal funding to build an interstate that won’t alleviate any of the state’s largest traffic gridlocks and is promoted as an economic development plan rather than a transportation necessity.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 17th, 2024

31,000 Acres at the Front of a Movement
A massive land return to the Penobscot Indigenous tribe in Maine promises conservation gains without land-use restrictions.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

Best Vitamins and Supplements for Joint Health in 2024
To support your joint health as you age, talk to your doctor about these vitamins and supplements.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

Grassroots Hurricane Relief Efforts Fight Disinformation, Slow Bureaucracies and More Frequent Catastrophes
In the aftermath of Helene and Milton, mutual aid groups in the Southeast call for structural change in how the nation responds to disasters while looking ahead at the increasing pace of crises.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

My Qualms With COP29, And Also, COP in General
COP29 has been a multidimensional experience. I've had so many opportunities to grow and learn, for which I truly am grateful. However, after riding the high of the overwhelming buzz and excitement at the conference throughout the week, I've had some epiphanies I can't help but share.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

Pando, Earth's Largest Living Organism, Could be 80,000 Years Old
New research explores the genetic identity of the Pando aspen clone, one of the oldest studied organisms.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

Super Typhoon Man-yi batters Philippines' most populous island
Super Typhoon Man-yi slammed into the Philippines' most populous island on Sunday, with the national weather service warning of flooding, landslides and huge waves as the storm sweeps across the archipelago nation.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

The Different Paths to COP29
When boarding the last plane, almost everyone in the line held the same items. A backpack stuffed to the brim, a reusable water bottle, and some sort of camera. This was just one of the context clues, alongside environmental chatter, that made me realize the majority of the passengers were also on their way to COP29.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

What Is Photosynthesis?
All about the way plants turn sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

Worm species thought to have disappeared has been appearing in photos of pygmy seahorses all along
A small team of marine scientists from the University of the Ryukyus, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Kuroshio Biological Research Foundation, has found that a worm species thought to be missing since 1957 has been appearing in photographs taken by citizen scientists for several years.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 16th, 2024

Are Electric Vehicles Better or Worse for the Environment?
How each vehicle is manufactured, powered, and disposed of all come into play.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

Award-winning dataset aids in earthquake liquefaction research
No one knows exactly when or where an earthquake will strike. But computer simulations are helping scientists and engineers improve predictions for liquefaction—a sometimes deadly earthquake effect where the soil loses its stiffness, thus toppling buildings and more.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

Category 5 Super Typhoon Man-yi hits the Philippines
The island nation endures its fourth typhoon in less than two weeks, while Tropical Storm Sara rakes Honduras.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

Methylmercury: How microbes create the most toxic form of mercury
Mercury is extraordinarily toxic, but it becomes especially dangerous when transformed into methylmercury—a form so harmful that just a few billionths of a gram can cause severe and lasting neurological damage to a developing fetus.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

Pakistani province declares health emergency due to smog and locks down two cities
A Pakistani province declared a health emergency Friday due to smog and imposed a shutdown in two major cities.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

Philippines warns of 'potentially catastrophic' Super Typhoon Man-yi
A super typhoon sweeping towards the Philippines on Saturday was intensifying and could have a "potentially catastrophic" impact, the state weather forecaster warned, with millions of people at risk from storm surges.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

Scientists Discover What Makes the Corpse Flower Produce Its Rotting Flesh Stench
Researchers have revealed the genetic and chemical reasons behind the titan arum's unique warming mechanism and putrid scent.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

The Tug-of-War on This Climate Super Pollutant Has Big Implications for the Future
A U.N. summit calling for fast action on methane may be undermined by a second Trump administration as voluntary efforts fail to curb emissions globally.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

To Protect Vast Expanses of Ocean Beyond All National Boundaries, 60 Nations Must Ratify the Treaty of the High Seas
After the treaty was adopted last year by the United Nations, more than 100 countries have signified their intent to ratify it, but so far only 14 countries have. Only around 8 percent of the oceans are currently considered protected.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

What the Earth's Recent Heat Uptick Could Mean for the Climate Fight
And why one climate scientist still has reasons to hope.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 15th, 2024

A Paradigm Shift in Our Environmental Perspective
"It's so frustrating, I'm done," one of my closest friends told me, walking out of her classroom.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Air pollution linked to head and neck cancer risk
Study reveals PM2.5 exposure significantly raises head and neck cancer risk, with marginalized communities most affected, highlighting the need for targeted public health measuures.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Amazon, Microsoft, and Samsung Back a New Way to Gauge Devices' Environmental Impact
Amazon, Microsoft, Samsung, and Sky have partnered with consultancy firm The Carbon Trust to create a shared way of gauging the greenhouse gas emissions connected to using their devices.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Ancient climate study links past ocean acidification to current trends
A research team led by Prof. Li Mingsong at Peking University has provided new insights into the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and its effects on ocean chemistry.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

As climate warms, California wildfires are becoming more severe, killing more trees
Wildfires continue to damage California's forests as human-driven climate change amplifies their impacts. A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals that the severity of the state's wildfires has rapidly increased over the last several decades, contributing to greater forest loss than would have been expected from past increases in burned areas.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

As New York Congestion Pricing Turns a Corner, Experts Point to Lessons From London
New York City is reviving its plan to charge a fee for driving in congested areas. Experts say policymakers can learn from a similar program in London.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Florida
Let's talk about solar installation and incentives in the Sunshine State.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Maryland
State solar incentives -- including tax credits and exemptions -- make it easy to plan a cost-effective solar installation in Maryland. Here are the best companies for the job.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in New Jersey
Take advantage of the federal tax credit and strong local incentives to move forward with solar panel installation. Here's what we know about installation companies in New Jersey.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Pennsylvania
Solar panels can help you lower your energy costs and save a decent amount in the long run. Here are the best solar panel installation companies in Pennsylvania to consider.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Better education can mitigate post-harvest food losses, increase global food security
Better educating farmers and food processors about how to avoid post-harvest food losses—which amount to one-third of global food production, worth US$1 trillion annually—would reduce global food insecurity, according to researchers at McGill University.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Biodiversity in the city: Designing urban spaces for humans and animals
Animals and plants also live and thrive on public squares. This creates opportunities for greater biodiversity and well-being for the human population. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have studied at 103 locations in Munich how various factors affect flora and fauna.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Clean energy could create millions of tons of waste in India. Some are working to avoid that
On the edges of a dense forest in southern India, six women in a small garage are busy stitching cloth bags, pants, hospital gowns and office uniforms with automated sewing machines.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Environmental health professor explains wastewater woes
Few of us think about what happens to our waste after we flush the toilet, but to Jay Graham, its path is a critical part of improving human health.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Facing an Imminent Deadline, Nations Struggle to Agree on a Global Plastics Treaty
Delegates will meet soon in South Korea in their last scheduled gathering to get a grip on plastic pollution, with health and the environment on the line.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Here's how governments could fix their Paris climate commitment failures
There are no technological barriers to meeting the goals of the agreement. Governments simply aren't deploying the solutions fast enough, the United Nations reports.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Here's what psychiatrists plan to tell COP29 about how climate change is harming young people's mental health
As government representatives gather at the COP29 international climate summit in Azerbaijan, the impact of climate change on young people's mental health needs to be an urgent priority.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

"It's so frustrating, I'm done," one of my closest friends told me, walking out of her classroom.
I was raised by a mother who believes in and pursues Collective Liberation, and a grandma that learned what that means, bit by bit, from both of us. Collective Liberation to my mother, is every little thing that must change for everyone to get free. It involves naming and understanding what has happened and a dedication to shifting systems of harm and oppression, to reduce harm and renounce oppressive systems.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Microsoft bets a carbon removal bake-off will help offset its skyrocketing AI emissions
Microsoft is in a pickle: It has committed to being carbon negative by 2030, but its emissions have skyrocketed more than 40% since 2020, thanks in part to its booming AI business. The company has bought a bunch of renewable power, but some emissions, like air travel, have been impossible to eliminate. What's a Big Tech firm to do?
November 15th, 2024 — Source

NASA satellites reveal abrupt drop in global freshwater levels
An international team of scientists using observations from NASA-German satellites found evidence that Earth's total amount of freshwater dropped abruptly starting in May 2014 and has remained low ever since. Reporting in Surveys in Geophysics, the researchers suggested the shift could indicate Earth's continents have entered a persistently drier phase.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Nature pays price for war in Israel's north
Across northern Israel's lush, green nature reserves, the ecological toll of the war between Israel and Hezbollah militants is laid bare: wild boar hit by shrapnel, trees reduced to ashes and swathes of charred vegetation.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

New family of optimized magnetic fields could display enhanced fusion plasma confinement
Physicists have been trying to design fusion reactors, technologies that can generate energy via nuclear fusion processes, for decades. The successful realization of fusion reactors relies on the ability to effectively confine charged particles with magnetic fields, as this in turn enables the control of high-energy plasma.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Novel magnetic field integration enhances green hydrogen peroxide production
Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in improving the efficiency of an electrochemical reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide—a vital chemical for industrial applications including disinfection, bleaching, and treating sewage. This reaction, called the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), was improved by developing a new class of heterogeneous molecular catalysts with an integrated magnetic field.
November 15th, 2024 — Source or Source

Producing high-quality seeds of an heirloom cabbage in different crop management systems
A new study, conducted by the University of Florida, on heirloom cabbage production sheds light on how different crop management systems affect seed quality. The research highlights the potential for sustainable and resilient farming practices to enhance seed quality for this prized variety.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Razer Says Its New AI Tool Analyzes in Minutes How Products Impact the Planet
The tool, called Gaiadex, is also more accurate than traditional methods for predicting environmental impact, the company says.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Rainforest protection reduces the number of respiratory diseases, research suggests
Rainforest protection is not only good for biodiversity and the climate—it also noticeably improves the health of humans who live in the corresponding regions. This is the conclusion drawn by a current study by the University of Bonn and the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Recycling batteries with citric acid: Research introduces highly efficient process for NCM lithium-ion batteries
A simple, highly efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly process could provide a viable pathway for the sustainable recycling of depleted lithium-ion batteries (LIBs): No chemicals beyond citric acid need to be added to leach out and separate over 99% of the lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese metals contained in NCM batteries.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Researchers note unequal conditions for young people at UN climate summits
Today, young people from all over the world can participate in major UN climate conferences. But inequality and bureaucracy make this impossible for many. This is the conclusion of a study carried out at Linköping University, Sweden. According to one of the researchers behind the study, the UN therefore needs to invest more money in the participation of young people.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

River emits five times more methane after wastewater treatment plant, research finds
A stretch of river into which treated wastewater has been discharged emits five times more methane than a stretch of river without that wastewater. This is according to research by Ida Peterse and Lisanne Hendriks of Radboud University.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Study finds humidity diminishes daytime cooling gains in urban green spaces
Urban green spaces provide shade for city dwellers facing rising temperatures brought on by climate change, but how much relief from the heat island effect do they provide when humidity is factored in?
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Today's buildings hold the key to housing tomorrow's population, says professor
Curbing new-build construction, renovating existing buildings at pace and rethinking how we use them: according to Philippe Thalmann, an urban and environmental economics professor at EPFL, these are the steps we'll need to take to both meet climate targets and accommodate an ever-growing population.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Trade Unions Urge Southern New England States to Triple Their Offshore Wind Commitments
Advocates say buying significantly more offshore wind would help states boost economies, meet climate goals.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Volunteers unite to defend critical road in Hawaii from erosion
A native plant project aims to help protect Punalu'u beach and road from rising sea levels.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Ytterbium thin-disk lasers pave the way for sensitive detection of atmospheric pollutants
Alongside carbon dioxide, methane is a key driver of global warming. To detect and monitor the climate pollutants in the atmosphere precisely, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL) have developed an advanced laser technology.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

What island ecosystems can teach us about global health risks
Tasmania is emerging as a critical site for health research, with experts from the University of Tasmania exploring how the island's ecosystems can offer valuable insights into the connections between human, animal, and environmental health.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Why trust is a strong incentive for environmentally conscious businesses
As countries meet in an effort to propel action on climate change at COP29, a study has revealed that social trust plays a critical role in influencing corporate environmental behavior.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

With NJ's Tough New Environmental Justice Law in Place, Why Is Newark in Line for Another Power Plant?
Gov. Murphy says it's to protect the city from sewage in the event of a superstorm. But activists in Newark's Ironbound neighborhood say enough is enough.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 12th, 2024

Advocates Expect Maryland to Drive Climate Action When Trump Returns to Washington
In the wake of national Republican victories, the path to effective environmental action could run through Democrat-led state houses. Is Maryland up to the task?
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Ancestors’ Pride
I grew up on the south side of Minneapolis with the honor of having Ojibwe and Mexican ancestry. Going to the park and spending my free time within my community was a blessing. As time went on, I noticed the difference in the climate from the years before. I had to wear a jacket earlier in the year, and it started getting scorching hot out of nowhere.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Authoritarian fossil fuel states keep hosting climate conferences. How do they operate? What do they want?
For the third year in a row, the United Nations Climate Change Conference will be hosted by an authoritarian state that sells fossil fuels. This week the 29th "conference of the parties," COP29, is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan. It follows COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates last year and COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt the year before that.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Building a diverse wildland fire workforce to meet future challenges
Every year around this time, California's wildland firefighters hold their breath as hot, dry winds threaten to spread flames across the state. As such conflagrations grow in size and severity throughout the Western U.S., the strain on fire managers has intensified.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Cacti are surprisingly fragile, and five other intriguing facts about these spiky wonders
Few plant families are as iconic as the resilient, spiky cactus, thriving in the driest deserts and as well as decorating our offices and homes. Their success in both environments comes down to extreme adaptations for surviving with little water—whether braving the brutal sun or enduring weeks of neglect from busy "plant parents". But there's much more to the around 1,850 cacti species than their ruggedness. Here are six surprising facts about this succulent plant family that you may not know.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

COP29: Who pays for climate action in developing nations—and how much—becomes more urgent
This year's United Nations climate summit, the Conference of the Parties (COP29) which starts in Azerbaijan this week, has been dubbed the "finance COP."
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Countries spend huge sums on fossil fuel subsidies. Here's why they're so hard to eliminate
Fossil fuels are the leading driver of climate change, yet they are still heavily subsidized by governments around the world.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Current models may overestimate future impacts of climate change on Chesapeake Bay dead zones, study finds
A study led by scientists at William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS has demonstrated surprising variability in the results of different modeling methodologies for predicting future hypoxic, or low-oxygen, conditions known as dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay. The findings suggest that current approaches used to establish environmental goals may overestimate future hypoxia by not fully accounting for environmental variability caused by climate change.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

'Drowning' mangrove forests in Maldives signal global coastal threat, say researchers
Researchers have found evidence that mangrove forests—which protect tropical and subtropical coastlines—are drowning in the Maldives.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Ducks delay their migration as the climate warms
Some are migrating along the Atlantic flyway later in the fall – or even spending the winter farther north.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Facing the wind: How trees behave across various forest settings and weather events
Researchers in Japan and France identify two primary tree movement patterns that help them survive high winds and prevent damage
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Fewer wells leaking methane in North Sea than expected
Less than two percent of the abandoned wells in the Dutch part of the North Sea are leaking methane originating from shallow gas accumulations. That conclusion was reached by researchers from NIOZ and TNO, in collaboration with the Dutch State Supervision of Mines, SodM, published in Marine and Petroleum Geology.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

First amber find on the Antarctic continent
Southernmost discovery of amber allows new insights into Cretaceous forests near the South Pole
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Four out of five people in Africa use wood for cooking. A transition would cut emissions and save lives
Four in every five people in Africa cook using wood, charcoal and other polluting fuels in open fires or inefficient stoves. This releases harmful pollutants and leads to respiratory illnesses and heart disease, particularly among children.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Germany’s Klim raises $22M to take its regenerative farming platform international
Global food production generates at least a quarter of greenhouse gas emissionsa quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, more than 80% of which comes from agriculture. But addressing that impact is easier said than done since there are simply so many moving parts to address.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

How solar microgrids could power the future
They could strengthen the U.S. grid – and provide a lifeline to the 1 billion people around the world who still don’t have access to reliable electricity.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

In a Parched US, Human-Triggered Wildfires Are Poised to Thrive
Widespread drought in the U.S. sets up the ideal conditions for fire to spread—and humans are making it worse, experts say.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

In greening Arctic, caribou and muskoxen play key role: Study links grazing with plant phenology and abundance
The story of Arctic greening has overlooked some main characters. At center stage are climate change and warming temperatures. Meanwhile, large grazing wildlife, such as caribou and muskoxen, also play a key role in the timing and abundance of Arctic plants, according to a study from the University of California, Davis.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

In Vermont, where almost everyone has insurance, many can't find or afford care
On a warm autumn morning, Roger Brown walked through a grove of towering trees whose sap fuels his maple syrup business. He was checking for damage after recent flooding. But these days, his workers' health worries him more than his trees."
November 12th, 2024 — Source

International team launch second attempt to drill deep for Antarctic climate clues
Kiwi climate researchers are part of an ambitious mission to recover critical geological records to help forecast future sea-level rise. The first team members have embarked on a 1,128 km journey across the Ross Ice Shelf to set up camp on the edge of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Katharine Hayhoe’s Post-Election Advice: Fight Fear, Embrace Hope and Work Together
The Texas-based scientist warns people who care about climate change and the energy transition against despair—and looks to examples from the Bible.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Low-cost method removes micro- and nanoplastics from water
Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have developed a novel nanotechnology-based solution for the removal of micro- and nanoplastics from water. Their research is published in the journal Micron.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Missing link to Snowball Earth history emerges from some unusual rocks on Colorado's Pikes Peak
Around 700 million years ago, the Earth cooled so much that scientists believe massive ice sheets encased the entire planet like a giant snowball. This global deep freeze, known as Snowball Earth (PDF), endured for tens of millions of years.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Nations to submit boosted climate plans: what's at stake?
Nations have begun setting carbon-cutting targets for the decade ahead, and how ambitious these pledges are could make or break global efforts to avoid dangerous levels of climate change.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

New defense suite is designed to secure AI workloads
As organizations increasingly adopt AI capabilities, the most common and dangerous attacks often go undetected by static code scanning or traditional security methods.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

NitroVolt is helping farmers make their own fertilizer using renewable power
When Suzanne Zamany Andersen arranged her trip to greenhouse grower Koppert Cress in the Netherlands, she thought she would just be pitching her startup’s device, which turns electricity and air into ammonia, a widely used fertilizer.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Novel machine learning techniques can measure ocean's oxygen loss more accurately
Oxygen is essential for living organisms, particularly multicellular life, to metabolize organic matter and energize all life activities. About half of the oxygen we breathe comes from terrestrial plant life, such as forests and grasslands, while the other half is produced through photosynthesis by marine algae in the ocean's surface waters.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Emission and odor optimization in plastics and recyclates
The odor of recycled plastics is a major challenge for their recycling and requires customized solutions. Recyclates can have undesirable odors that come from various sources, such as microbiological degradation or residues of previous contents.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop novel framework leveraging multi-omics data to advance environmental precision health
Over the last 20 years, vast advancements in the field of biotechnology have led to the development of a research approach called multi-omics, which looks at multiple layers of biological information—like gene expression, proteins, and metabolites—all at once to get a complete picture of how the body functions.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Researchers identify two primary tree movement patterns that help them survive high winds and prevent damage
Destructive winds during storms and cyclones often cause tree failures, especially through uprooting and stem breakage. However, how trees respond to wind under various forest configurations and weather conditions remains unclear.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Shell wins appeal in Dutch court after three-year battle against green groups
The climate activists can go to the Supreme Court, but a final verdict may take years.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Solving the bottleneck of conifer propagation: A molecular approach
Conifers are foundational to ecosystems globally, providing critical environmental and economic value. Yet, their long life cycles slow traditional breeding methods, positioning somatic embryogenesis (SE) as a more effective option for rapid propagation and genetic research.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Study: It's still possible to limit climate change to 1.5°C if some countries go beyond their own targets
A new study in Nature Communications finds that limiting global warming to 1.5 °C is still possible, but some countries require support to meet their climate responsibilities. An "additional carbon accountability" indicator is introduced, revealing that the EU and 17 other countries must exceed their own current targets to achieve this global goal.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Sweet switch: Sorbitol's key role in apple plant growth strategy
Apple trees, like many perennial plants, endure a prolonged juvenile stage before reaching maturity, during which they experience complex developmental changes. These transitions impact photosynthetic traits, growth rates, and hormone balance. However, the mechanisms governing these processes are not well understood, complicating efforts to enhance fruit tree productivity.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Synthetic cells successfully emulate natural cellular communication
A research team from the University of Basel has succeeded in synthesizing simple, environmentally sensitive cells complete with artificial organelles. For the first time, the researchers have also been able to emulate natural cell-cell communication using these protocells—based on the model of photoreceptors in the eye. This opens up new possibilities for basic research and applications in medicine.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Team proposes new solar composition ratios that could reconcile longstanding questions
A Southwest Research Institute-led team combined compositional data of primitive bodies like Kuiper Belt objects, asteroids and comets with new solar data sets to develop a revised solar composition that potentially reconciles spectroscopy and helioseismology measurements for the first time.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

UN carbon market inches closer after COP29 agreement
The creation of a UN-backed global carbon market has taken a step closer to reality with governments approving new standards for the use of credits to meet climate targets.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

US finalizes waste methane fine on drillers, but future uncertain
US finalizes waste methane fine on drillers, but future uncertain
November 12th, 2024 — Source

VMware Workstation 17.6.1
Software for developers and system administrators for software development, testing and deployment.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

What can we expect at the COP29 Climate Conference?
With a climate-denialist re-elected as US president and another petrostate host (following Dubai in 2023)—hopes for ambitious outcomes at the 29th UN Climate Change "Conference of the Parties" (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan are not high.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Who Gets a Seat on the Struggle Bus?
It was 8am in Baku, Azerbaijan when I woke up for the first day of COP29 still feeling the 10 hour time difference of my homelands in my bones.
November 12th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Worldwide assessment shows climate change threatens rare temperate rainforests
Up to two thirds of the world's temperate rainforests could fall victim to climate change by the year 2100 according to a new study by researchers at the University of Leeds.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Yet another November hurricane threat is taking shape
A named storm will likely form in the Northwest Caribbean later this week, and it could strengthen and head toward Florida or Cuba next week.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 10th, 2024

A Pipeline Runs Through It
Past a prison and an elementary school, the T15 pipeline will traverse 45 miles of North Carolina countryside that Shelley Robbins wanted to see for herself. The T15 is planned as a critical connector in the state's climate-warming fossil fuel buildout.
November 10th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Ohio
If you're thinking of installing solar at your Ohio home but are unsure where to start, we've gathered all you need to know about the solar installers, cost and incentives.
November 10th, 2024 — Source

Climate Advocacy Groups Say They're Ready for Trump 2.0
Disheartened, worried, even scared, activists and strategists are nevertheless better prepared this time around and bracing for a long fight.
November 10th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 9th, 2024

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Pennsylvania
Solar panels can help you lower your energy costs and save a decent amount in the long run. Here are the best solar panel installation companies in Pennsylvania to consider.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

California air regulators to vote on contentious climate program to cut emissions
California air regulators will vote Friday on changes to a key climate program aimed at reducing planet-warming emissions from transportation fuels that has a wide swath of critics—from environmentalists to the oil industry.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

Despite Likely Setback for Climate Action With This Year's Election, New Climate Champions Set to Enter Congress
Across the country, voters elected new members to Congress who have promoted climate action at the state level and could prevent environmental laws from being weakened under Republican leadership.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

Heat hardiness: Scientists identify key phase for tomato heat tolerance
By studying tomato varieties that produce fruit in exceptionally hot growing seasons, biologists at Brown University identified the growth cycle phase when tomatoes are most vulnerable to extreme heat, as well as the molecular mechanisms that make the plants more heat tolerant.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

How to Think About Climate and Environmental Policies During a Second Trump Administration
What lies ahead for Project 2025, EVs, the EPA and more.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

Indonesia volcano catapults vast ash tower into sky
A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted again on Saturday, sending a giant ash tower nine kilometers (more than five miles) into the sky, days after it killed nine people and forced thousands of locals to evacuate.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

New tools give researchers hope for fungus-ravaged US bats
Standing at a woodland entrance to the world's longest cave system in Kentucky, a park ranger warns those about to enter of an extremely deadly fungus—not for humans, but for the bat populations it has devastated across North America.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

Making Australia's growing cities more sustainable
The way we organize our cities and regions creates problems everywhere. We're facing difficult and polluting drives to work, a lack of affordable housing, and urban designs that lead to car dependency and are bad for our health.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

New Federal Funds Aim to Cut Carbon Emissions and Air Pollution From US Ports
Four states in the Midwest will share more than $200 million in grants, which officials say will help improve air quality in communities long burdened by environmental harms.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

Reeking mud sparks health fears in Spain flood epicenter
The sea of mud and stagnant water submerging Spanish towns more than 10 days after the country's worst floods in decades has sparked a sickening stench and health fears.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

Over 130 homes lost in California wildfire as winds drop
Firefighters grappling with a blaze that has destroyed at least 130 homes in California said Friday they had made progress in their fight as a turn in the weather offered a break.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

What to expect from the UN climate conference dubbed the 'finance COP'
Nations will meet next week to hammer out agreements on climate action at the 29th UN climate change conference, COP 29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 8th, 2024

Biorefining process could make grass digestible for pigs, chickens, and fish
Currently, grass is mainly used directly as animal feed for cows and other ruminants. These animals have multi-compartmental stomachs that are specialized in breaking down plant fibers.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

Despite Climate Concerns, Young Voter Turnout Slumped and Its Support Split Between the Parties
The youth vote was not a monolith in Tuesday's election, despite its broad concern for the environment and disillusionment with politics and government.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

Federal Regulators Inspect a Mine and the Site of a Fatal Home Explosion Above It
Following an Inside Climate News investigation, inspectors from the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement inspected the Oak Grove Mine, the home explosion site and the house of a neighbor who fears for her family's safety.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

Improved water quality monitoring for waterways flowing into Great Barrier Reef
QUT data scientists, as part of an international study, have developed an enhanced statistical method to monitor the quality of water in streams and rivers flowing into the Great Barrier Reef.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

Nanoparticle bursts over the Amazon rainforest
Rainfall induces bursts of natural nanoparticles that can form clouds and further precipitation over the Amazon rainforest
November 8th, 2024 — Source or Source

Nova Scotia's wild blueberry fields face new pressures as the climate changes
The fruits have grown in the area for thousands of years.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

October turned up the U.S. burners -- and turned off the tap
New York and Philadelphia saw their driest month ever in official data, and autumn so far is the warmest in 48-state history.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

Report: Countries must dramatically increase climate adaptation efforts and bridge the finance gap
As climate impacts intensify and hit the world's most vulnerable hardest, the "Adaptation Gap Report 2024: Come hell and high water," from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), finds that nations must dramatically increase climate adaptation efforts, starting with a commitment to act on finance at COP29.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

Researchers drive solid-state innovation for renewable energy storage
Scientists are developing a formula for success -- by studying how a new type of battery fails. The team's goal is the design for long-term storage of wind and solar energy, which are produced intermittently, enabling their broader use as reliable energy sources for the electric grid.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

Researchers introduce new and improved, next-generation perovskite solar cell
A Korean research team has developed an innovative perovskite solar cell technology that addresses one of photovoltaics' fundamental challenges: conventional solar cells cannot utilize approximately 52% of total solar energy because they poorly capture near-infrared radiation.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 7th, 2024

3D printing method crafts stronger, more ductile alloy for extreme environments
A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong University, Tianmushan Laboratory, and the National University of Singapore has pioneered a new method for crafting an ultra-strong, ductile alloy using 3D printing technology.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

2024 'virtually certain' to be hottest year on record: EU monitor
This year is "virtually certain" to be the hottest in recorded history with warming above 1.5C, EU climate monitor Copernicus said Thursday, days before nations are due to gather for crunch UN climate talks.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Adorable Knitted Frog Bakes a Cake and Melts Our Hearts: 'This Makes Me So Happy'
Baked itself into our hearts.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

After Trump Win, World Says 'We've Been Here Before'
A Trump presidency can delay, but not stop, the global transition to renewable energy, but it may more effectively stymie progress than during his first term.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Airborne microplastics aid in cloud formation
It turns out microplastics have an effect on the weather and climate.
November 7th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Battery-powered sea glider could make coastal travel more climate-friendly
Vehicles like it could connect cities like New York and Boston.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Tucson
With all the sun you see in Tucson getting solar just makes sense. These are our suggestions for the best solar installation companies in the area.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Brazil's Amazon posts lowest deforestation in nine years: govt
The Brazilian Amazon experienced its smallest amount of yearly deforestation in nearly a decade, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government reported Wednesday, in line with its promise to combat forest loss.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Catalysts show potential for breaking down microplastics to create usable fuel
Microplastics, plastics smaller than 5 millimeters, are littered across the world, contributing to global warming, disrupting food chains, and harming ecosystems with toxic chemicals. This is why Dr. Manish Shetty is working to break down plastics before they can get into the environment.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Climate change reporting is not connecting with people and their real issues. What needs to be done about it?
The annual United Nations Conference of the Parties global climate change meetings play a pivotal role in elevating climate conversations. They're often accompanied by intense media coverage that raises awareness and engages the public. This visibility is crucial, as it brings discussions from distant, elite-driven events into local news.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Climate Initiatives Fare Well Across the Country Despite National Political Climate
From California to Louisiana, ballot measures on climate and the environment gained voters' approval. In state legislatures, results were mixed.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Defense or growth: Study finds trade-off in how plants allocate resources
The more a plant species invests in defense, the less potential it has for growth, according to a new study. Research made possible by open science provides new insights into plant adaptation and interspecies variation.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Glint Solar grabs $8M to help accelerate solar energy adoption across Europe
Solar energy is booming, which is good news for Glint Solar. The Norwegian software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup has built a platform that's helping energy giants and large solar developers such as E.ON, Recurrent Energy, and Statkraft cut the time it takes to plan and pre-design solar installations to accelerate the transition to renewables.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

How to Calculate When Your Solar Panels Will Start Saving You Money
Learn how to determine your solar payback period and find out when your investment will start saving you money.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

India's Hindus bathe in holy river defiled by pollution
Sweeping aside thick toxic scum, thousands of Hindu devotees ignored court warnings Thursday against bathing in the sacred but sewage-filled Yamuna river, a grim display of environmental degradation in India's capital.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Jeff Bezos says he's a climate guy — why is he kissing the ring?
Bezos seems to want to somehow be a climate hero and stay on Donald Trump's good side at the same time.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Microplastics impact cloud formation, likely affecting weather and climate
Scientists have spotted microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters, in some of the most pristine environments on Earth, from the depths of the Mariana Trench to the snow on Mt. Everest to the mountaintop clouds of China and Japan. Microplastics have been detected in human brains, the bellies of sea turtles and the roots of plants.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

More wet, less dry: How climate change will affect the avalanche situation in Switzerland by the end of the century
Less snow does not mean fewer avalanches. This is the result of a study published in Snow/Seasonal Snow by SLF researcher Stephanie Mayer.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

New report sets out a route to transform environmental consenting in UK offshore wind
A report published this week by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult lays out a new approach to environmental monitoring and consenting within the UK offshore wind sector.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Off-the-shelf thermoelectric generators can upgrade CO² into useful chemicals, which could aid Mars colonization
Readily available thermoelectric generators operating under modest temperature differences can power CO² conversion, according to a proof-of-concept study by chemists at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Oil is unlikely to be a good investment
Here's what you need to know.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Planting trees at high latitudes in the Arctic could accelerate rather than decelerate global warming, argue scientists
Tree planting has been widely touted as a cost-effective way of reducing global warming, due to trees' ability to store large quantities of carbon from the atmosphere. But, writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, an international group of scientists argue that tree planting at high latitudes will accelerate, rather than decelerate, global warming.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Private aviation emissions soar by 46% from 2019 to 2023
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from private aviation increased by 46% between 2019 and 2023, according to an analysis published in Communications Earth & Environment. The results also show that some individuals who regularly use private aviation may produce almost 500 times more CO2 in a year than the average individual, and that there were significant emissions peaks around certain international events, including COP 28 (2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference), and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Proba-3 will constantly measure Sun's energy output
Proba-3 is such an ambitious mission that it needs more than one single spacecraft to succeed. In order for Proba-3's Coronagraph spacecraft observe the sun's faint surrounding atmosphere, its disk-bearing Occulter spacecraft must block out the fiery solar disk. This means Proba-3's Occulter ends up facing the sun continuously, making it a valuable platform for science in its own right.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Looking at ancient Roman plagues through an environmental lens
A pit of human bones, potential evidence of a catastrophic epidemic that struck Constantinople in 541 A.D. Sulfur deposits trapped in polar ice, showing traces of a series of massive volcanic eruptions. For Brandon McDonald, these seemingly incongruous findings—one in Turkey, the other in Greenland—hold clues to a puzzle about the interplay of environment and disease.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Rafael one of just three Cat2+ November hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico
After blasting across western Cuba as a Cat 3, Rafael emerged into the Gulf of Mexico as a rare November Cat 2.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Samsung's AI Kitchen: 'Culinary Class Wars' Chef Lim Hee-won's Dream Culinary Experience
Chef Lim Hee-won recently appeared as "Celebrities' Chef" on the popular cooking competition TV show "Culinary Class Wars" — captivating audiences with his original creation, vegetarian sashimi. He runs BUTO, a restaurant in Seoul that reimagines traditional Korean cuisine with a modern twist. Chef Lim is also actively engaged in researching and exploring sustainable food culture.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Satellite-based evidence supports China's claim of increased forestation to sequester carbon
An international team of forest and resource management specialists, ecologists and conservationists has verified the claims of China's national greenhouse gas inventories regarding major forest biomass carbon gains.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Solar Energy World Review: The Best Warranty We've Seen
Solar Energy World's 15 years of experience and extended solar warranty make it a dependable choice, especially if you're on the East Coast.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Study suggests that space-for-time substitutions exaggerate habitat--bird ecological relationships
As bird populations dwindle across the globe, a new study from University of Vermont researchers suggests some species may be more flexible to habitat changes than previously understood, creating new opportunities for supporting populations through city planting efforts.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

The Goddamn Tragedy Is a Horror Western to Watch in 2025/span>
A dark story inspired by the infamous Donner Party expedition.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

The natural environment is declining—are companies doing their part to save it?
The natural environment across the globe is deteriorating, leading to crises like climate change, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity. Companies and industries play a major role in this decline, and they are expected to take responsibility for their environmental impact.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Ulysses is using robots to restore seagrass populations
Seagrass punches above its weight. The marine plant only occupies 0.1% of the ocean floor but can be credited with supporting marine ecosystems of plants and fish, filtering ocean water, and capturing quite a bit of carbon. Seagrass is also being destroyed, due to climate change and other factors, with meadows reducing 7% globally each year. Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering wants to restore it.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Waste heat from London sewers eyed to warm UK parliament
London landmarks including the UK parliament could be warmed by low-carbon heat powered by the River Thames, the London Underground train system and even the sewer network under new government plans.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 5th, 2024

African countries shouldn't have to borrow money to fix climate damage they never caused, says economist
As we approach the global annual climate change conference, COP29, the need for increased public finance from the global north to address climate adaptation in Africa has become more urgent than ever.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

After Disasters, Whites Gain Wealth, While People of Color Lose, Research Shows
The Biden administration has approved more than $2.3 billion for those affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Studies show the system for distributing the funds deepens historical divides.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

AI-powered system detects toxic gases with speed and precision
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science developed an AI-powered system that mimics the human sense of smell to detect and track toxic gases in real time. Using advanced artificial neural networks combined with a network of sensors, the system quickly identifies the source of harmful gases like nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) that poses severe respiratory health risks.
November 5th, 2024 — Source or Source

Bio-based fibers could pose greater threat to the environment than conventional plastics
New research has shown that bio-based fibers caused higher mortality, and reduced growth and reproductivity, among earthworms -- a species critical to the health of soils globally -- than conventional plastics. It has led scientists to suggest that materials being advocated as alternatives to plastic should be tested thoroughly before they are used extensively in a range of products.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Climate change made 2023 wildfire conditions in Canada three times as likely, study finds
It also upped the risk in Greece and the Amazon.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Enzyme engineering has the potential to drive more sustainable and efficient drug manufacturing
Researchers have found a new way to use biocatalysis to improve the production of critical raw materials required for essential drugs, making the process quicker, more efficient, and environmentally friendly. Biocatalysis is a process that uses enzymes as natural catalysts to carry out chemical reactions.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Handling the hype: Researcher seeks to improve science communication
Being a scientist has its challenges. Knowing how to communicate your scientific research in a socially responsible manner can be even more difficult. Thankfully, researchers have identified some of the trade-offs and communication strategies that environmental health scientists can use to communicate more effectively.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Hands-on modules enhance data science skills in environmental education
A series of hands-on teaching modules created and shared by Virginia Tech researchers has filled a gap in data science training opportunities for environmental science undergraduate students and instructors, reaching more than 35,000 students at more than 50 colleges and universities globally in the last seven years.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Microscopic analysis clarifies performance limitations in cost-effective materials for perovskite solar cells
materials used in perovskite solar cells, which are attracting attention for their high efficiency, using electron spin resonance (ESR) to analyze these materials at a microscopic level.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Rafael expected to affect the Cayman Islands and Cuba as a hurricane
Rafael is likely to get sheared apart once it gets into the central Gulf of Mexico.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop a new method for accurately detecting hydrogen with high sensitivity
Hydrogen gas is a promising energy source with several advantages—it is lightweight, storable, energy-dense, and environmentally friendly compared to fossil fuels, producing no pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions. As such, it has extensive applications across different fields, including transportation, architecture, power generation, and industries.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Social media and generative AI can have a large climate impact—here's how to reduce yours
On a train or bus, or just standing in a queue, the most common sight these days is the muted glow of a screen, and the flickering thumbs of people lost in the endless scroll on their smartphones.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Spraying rice with zinc oxide nanoparticles protects yields during heat waves, study finds
A small team of horticulturists in China and the U.S. has found that spraying rice plants with a zinc oxide nanoparticle solution helps them better handle the stress of a heat wave. In their study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group conducted experiments involving spraying rice plants in a heated greenhouse.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Study identifies promising materials for fusion reactors
Nuclear fusion could be an ideal solution to mankind's energy problem, guaranteeing a virtually limitless source of power without greenhouse gas emissions. But there are still huge technological challenges to overcome before getting there, and some of them have to do with materials.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Valencia floods: Warming climate is making once-rare weather more common and more destructive, says researcher
In the last few days, a seasonal weather system known in Spain as the "cold drop" or DANA (an acronym of "depresión aislada en niveles altos": isolated depression at high levels) has caused heavy rain and flooding across Spain's Mediterranean coast and in Andalusia, especially in the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha and the Balearic Islands.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Water overuse in Brazil's MATOPIBA region could mean failure to meet up to 40% of local demand for crop irrigation
Considered one of the fastest-growing agricultural frontiers in Brazil, and the area with the highest greenhouse gas emissions in the Cerrado, Brazil's savanna-type biome, the region known as MATOPIBA, risks facing water shortages in the years ahead. Water overuse may mean that between 30% and 40% of demand for crop irrigation cannot be met in the period 2025-40. MATOPIBA is a portmanteau of the names of four states—Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia (all but Tocantins are located in Brazil's Northeast region).
November 5th, 2024 — Source

Yes, burning gas is bad for the climate. But keeping it in Australia's energy mix is sensible
Both major parties in Australia see a significant role for gas as the world shifts to clean energy in a bid to avert dangerous climate change.
November 5th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 3rd, 2024

Ozone Layer Recovery on Track for Full Restoration in 40 Years
In a remarkable environmental success story, the ozone layer is healing and could fully recover within the next four decades, thanks to decades of global cooperation. Almost 99% of harmful substances that eroded this vital protective shield have been phased out, leading us toward complete ozone recovery.
November 3rd, 2024 — Source

Ancient mud reveals Australia's burning history over the past 130,000 years—and a way forward in current fire crisis
Increased land management by Aboriginal people in southeastern Australia around 6,000 years ago cut forest shrub cover in half, according to our new study published in Science of fossil pollen trapped in ancient mud.
November 3rd, 2024 — Source

As Ice Coverage of Lakes Decreases, Scientists Work to Understand What Happens Under Water in Winter
New research into under-ice conditions is challenging what limnologists thought they understood about lakes' winter behavior.
November 3rd, 2024 — Source

Changes May Ease Burdens of European Deforestation Regulation on Small Palm Farms, but Not the Confusion
The EU proposed delaying implementation of its new certification after palm-producing countries complained of too little time to prepare, but in Malaysia, farmers with small holdings still don't know what's coming.
November 3rd, 2024 — Source

'Doomsday' Antarctic glacier melting faster than expected, fueling calls for geoengineering
New studies about the Thwaites Glacier, also called the "Doomsday Glacier," have sparked a conversation about geoengineering as a climate change solution.
November 3rd, 2024 — Source

Getting Out the Native Vote Counters a Long History of Keeping Tribal Members from the Ballot Box
From serving stew to sending postcards, "having a community connection is always the basis of good turnout."
November 3rd, 2024 — Source

Record-Breaking Ocean Slaughter Sees Millions of Fish Killed in Hours
MIT researchers and others tracked a massive swarm of cod fish off the coast of Norway as they ate millions of migrating capelin fish.
November 3rd, 2024 — Source

US immigration policy has a huge blind spot: climate change
Joe Biden raised hopes that the US would finally plan for climate-displaced migrants. Today, it's still a glaring hole in climate and immigration policy.
November 3rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 2nd, 2024

9 Years After the Paris Agreement, the UN Confronts the World's Failure to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In one of three new reports on emissions, UN officials went as far as saying that the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius may be out of reach.
November 2nd, 2024 — Source

African Sahara 'greening' can alter Northern Hemisphere climate, modeling study finds
Africa's Sahara Desert may be considered a vast expanse of barren sand with limited vegetation, an extreme environment for plants and animals to thrive, but life always finds a way. Indeed, vegetation growth in the desert has waxed and waned over millennia, with periods of enhanced growth termed "greening."
November 2nd, 2024 — Source

As data center industry booms, an English village becomes a battleground
Originally built to store crops from peasant farmers, the Tithe Barn on the edge of the English village of Abbots Langley was converted into homes that preserve its centuries of history. Now, its residents are fighting to stop a development next door that represents the future.
November 2nd, 2024 — Source

Disadvantaged Communities Are Seeing a Boom in Clean Energy Manufacturing, but the Midwest Lags
Private funding to domestically produce electric vehicles and clean energy equipment is largely flowing to "disadvantaged" census tracts, a new analysis shows. The results vary widely by state.
November 2nd, 2024 — Source

How Do Solar Panels Work?
Find out how solar cells power a good portion of homes today—and how they might power almost everything in the future.
November 2nd, 2024 — Source

In Arizona's Senate Race, Both Candidates Have Plans to Address Drought. But Only One Acknowledges Climate Change's Role
Global warming is getting little attention in the race for Arizona's Senate seat between Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake. The candidates' strategies on how to address the state's water shortages vary dramatically.
November 2nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — November 1st, 2024

A November tropical storm in the Caribbean is now likely
With the formation of Patty in the remote North Atlantic over the weekend, the next name on the Atlantic list is Rafael.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Advocates, Lawmakers Hope 2025 Will Be the Year Maryland Stops Subsidizing Trash Incineration
Advocates are urging the Moore administration and elected officials to announce their early support for ending public dollars for waste-to-energy facilities ahead of the 2025 General Assembly session.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

‘Bad River,’ About a Tribe’s David vs. Goliath Pipeline Fight, Highlights the Power of Long-Term Thinking
In making a pipeline movie, film producer, writer and director Mary Mazzio was struck by the tribe’s “extraordinary spirit of generosity” to future people.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

California's Salton Sea receding at greater rate according to balloon mapping study
The Salton Sea, California's largest lake by surface area, is experiencing an increasing rate of shoreline retreat following a policy change that shifted more water from the Colorado River to San Diego, according to a newly published study. The resulting dried lakebed is creating more polluted dust from dried agricultural runoff that affects nearby communities, researchers said.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

EnergyPal Review: A Convenient Way to Go Solar
Operating across the US and Canada, EnergyPal is a marketplace and energy advisor that can help you with your solar installation.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Everything You Need to Know About Your Solar Panel System's Warranty
A good solar panel warranty can save you a lot of hassle when things go wrong. Here's what's covered under your solar panel's warranty and how you can protect your investment.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Five things individuals can do to combat the biodiversity crisis as the world talks about it at COP16
The world is charging towards tipping points for species extinctions, ecosystem collapse and loss of genetic diversity. Crossing these tipping points will be devastating for nature and human existence alike.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Government interventions can reduce deadly air pollution in South Asia, study finds
Air pollution, driven in large part by practices like crop burning, contributes to 2 million deaths a year in South Asia and persists as a public health emergency. But a new study co-led by Brown University researcher Gemma Dipoppa found that government incentives may be able to curb the illegal practice of crop burning, according to a study published in the journal Nature.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Heat contributed to 47,000 deaths in Europe during summer 2023, study finds
It was one of the hottest summers ever in Europe.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

How Can We Close Nature’s Funding Gap?
At a UN conference this week, world leaders struggled to agree on how to fund global biodiversity goals.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

How climate change impacts affect renewable energy
"The world's capacity to generate renewable electricity is expanding faster than at any time in the last three decades," the International Energy Agency said in a report published earlier this year. This sign of growth offers "a real chance of achieving the goal of tripling global capacity by 2030 that governments set at the COP28 climate change conference."
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Hurricanes: Unprecedented extremes or the new normal?
When Hurricane Helene struck the Southeast in late September, it quickly became one of the deadliest U.S. hurricanes of the last 50 years, second only to Hurricane Katrina. At least 228 people died as a result of the storm. Helene was also one of the largest storms in recent decades, similar in size to Katrina at 400 miles wide.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

International SWOT satellite spots planet-rumbling Greenland tsunami
The international Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission, a collaboration between NASA and France's CNES (Center National d'Études Spatiales), detected the unique contours of a tsunami that sloshed within the steep walls of a fjord in Greenland in September 2023.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Isotope study reveals medieval people prioritized cereal farming, used fertilization, and organized land efficiently
A study led by the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, has used stable isotope analysis to uncover medieval land-use practices beneath temperate forests in Europe.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Microsoft tries out wooden bit barns to cut construction emissions
The two hybrid datacenters promise 35% less embodied carbon than steel builds, 65% less than concrete
November 1st, 2024 — Source

'New' Carbon-Eating Cyanobacteria Could Help Sequester Ocean Carbon
This form of blue-green algae has evolved to survive coastal volcanic environments, where carbon dioxide is anything but scarce.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

New insights into mango evolution: Study reveals extensive hybridization within the Mangifera genus
A research team investigated whole chloroplast genomes and nuclear gene sequences from 14 species, uncovering new insights into the genetic diversity and hybrid origins of mango species. They used the evolutionary relationships within the Mangifera genus, revealing extensive cross-hybridization among species and offering implications for breeding and conservation efforts.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

New studies reveal two factors that mask economic inequality
The beliefs someone holds and the environment where they live and work shape how much economic inequality people report seeing, according to new research from the University at Buffalo School of Management.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

On Meeker Avenue in Brooklyn, How Environmental Activism Plays Out in the Neighborhood
Reporting on pollution takes a small-town journalist from Texas to New York City’s largest and most residential Superfund site.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Experts argue clean energy must secure a sustainable supply of nickel
As the world strives to cut back on carbon emissions, demand for minerals and metals needed for clean energy technologies is growing rapidly, sometimes straining existing supply chains and harming local environments.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Research team develops laser cutting technology for safer and more precise nuclear plant dismantlement
As the need for technologies to cut and dismantle reactors and internal structures increases due to the end of the operational lifespan of nuclear power plants, an innovative laser cutting technology for nuclear dismantlement has been developed.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop highly passivated TOPCon bottom cells for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells
Silicon solar cells enjoy promising prospects in the photovoltaic industry and have attracted considerable attention. In particular, silicon solar cells with tunnel oxide passivating contact (TOPCon) structures are rising as a competitive photovoltaic technology, due to their ultra-high power conversion efficiency (PCE), cost advantage, and mass production capability.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Researchers study effect of phosphorous and irradiance on the invasive plant Chromolaena odorata
Resource competition is an important factor affecting the invasion success of alien plants, and environmental factors influence the competition outcomes between invasive and native plants. Chromolaena odorata has been listed as one of the main invasive species in China and threatens biodiversity, agriculture and forestry of the country.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Revealing causal links in complex systems: New algorithm reveals hidden influences
Getting to the heart of causality is central to understanding the world around us. What causes one variable—be it a biological species, a voting region, a company stock, or a local climate—to shift from one state to another can inform how we might shape that variable in the future.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Rwandan scientists find trees with high power potential
Scientists at Rwanda Forestry Authority have identified two tree species with the potential to generate clean electricity, bringing power to remote communities.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Satellite imagery may help protect coastal forests from climate change
Sea-level rise caused by climate change poses a serious and often unpredictable threat to coastal forests, and new tools are needed to help mitigate damage and allocate conservation resources.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Satellite Reveals Epic Tsunami That Shook Earth for 9 Days Last Year
Data on a fjord in the country revealed extreme sloshing in the channel, caused by a rockslide felt around the world.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Scientists investigate contrail formation to reduce climate impact
From the development of new materials that make airplanes lighter to the exploration of alternative fuels, the aviation industry is making strides toward reducing its carbon footprint.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Solar milking tech boosts dairy farms in Malawi
When Robert Mbendera started out as a small-scale dairy farmer in rural Malawi 20 years ago, milking the one cow he owned was an arduous, time-consuming process.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Taiwan cleans up after Typhoon Kong-rey leaves two dead
Workers cleared fallen trees and shop owners swept up debris in Taiwan on Friday after one of the biggest typhoons to hit the island in decades claimed at least two lives.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

The world's largest wildlife crossing is finally standing: Here is what's coming next
It doesn't take a hawk eye to recognize that the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills is not your normal Caltrans project.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Trees found to cool better than reflective roofs in vulnerable Houston neighborhoods
As heat waves become more intense, cities are looking for strategies that can help keep neighborhoods cooler. A new tool developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has already helped identify potential solutions in Houston, a city where the impact of heat can vary significantly in different communities.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Urban legends or urban wildlife? Creepy creature sightings might just be thriving Chicago animals
Over the last decade, hundreds of reports have cropped up across the Chicago area of people's horrifying encounters with a large, winged creature with glowing red eyes. Last month, Park Ridge residents looked out their windows to the creepy sight of a hairless, dog-sized creature crawling around the suburb. Earlier in the summer, visitors flocked to Lincoln Park's North Pond trying to find a mysterious creature lurking under the water.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

'Waiting in vain': year on from pledge, world clings to fossil fuels
One year after world leaders issued the landmark call for a global move away from fossil fuels, nations are failing to turn that promise into action, say climate diplomats, campaigners and policy experts.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 30th, 2024

Are bioplastics really the wonder alternative to petro plastics?
Alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics are emerging, made from everything from banana leaves to tomato skins, especially for food packaging.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Orange County
Orange County has great peak sunlight hours and California has solid state incentives: There are very few states where it's better to switch to solar. Here's what you need to know.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Billionaires Are the One Case Where Personal Choices Can Affect Climate Change
A new study found that half of the world’s carbon emissions come from the richest 10% of people.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Boston Dynamics’ new video shows that its humanoid robot doesn’t need a human
The company wants everyone to know its new all-electric Atlas robot can function autonomously.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Changing climate could increase mobility of toxic metals in soils, experimental study shows
The changes scientists expect in the climate could cause toxic metals naturally occurring in soils to become more mobile, destabilize ecosystems and increasingly enter the human food chain via agriculture. Such scenarios are particularly likely to occur in slightly acidic soils, which make up around two thirds of all soils.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Cloud repatriation officially a trend... for specific workloads
It's not a mass exodus, say analysts, but biz bods are bringing things down to earth
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Competing Visions for U.S. Auto Industry Clash in Presidential Election, With the EV Future Pressing at the Border
As Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD puts down roots in Mexico, Harris pledges “the next generation of breakthroughs” will be built in the U.S. Trump promises gasoline vehicles “for a long, long time.”
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Death toll from disastrous floods in eastern Spain climbs above 90
The storms drew on unusually warm temperatures made more likely by climate change.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Gene for cold tolerance in rice offers new opportunities for breeding resilient varieties
A gene called COLD6 contributes to cold tolerance in rice, potentially offering a pathway to use molecular design to breed a rice variety with higher resistance to cold stress. This work appears October 30 in Molecular Cell.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

How harmful are microplastics to human health?
Microplastics have been found throughout the human body -- including inside lungs, blood and brains -- and while it is not yet clear how harmful they are to our health, some researchers are sounding the alarm.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Inside Climate News Recognized by the Society of Environmental Journalists for Five Projects
“Inside Climate News does a remarkable job of connecting the dots on the devastating effects of climate change,” judges wrote.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Large meltwater accumulation revealed inside Greenland Ice Sheet
A new study published in Nature unveils a surprising discovery: a substantial amount of meltwater is temporarily stored within the Greenland Ice Sheet during summer months. For the first time, an international group of researchers was able to quantify meltwater with positioning data. The finding challenges current models of how ice sheets contribute to global sea level rise.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Linking energy loss to interfaces in organic solar cells could make them much more efficient
(Nanowerk News) New research from North Carolina State University provides a deeper understanding of precisely what is happening in organic solar cells as light is converted into electricity. Researchers developed a new method which visualizes interfaces where the sunlight’s energy is converted to electrical charges and used the findings to develop a set of design rules that can improve the efficiency of organic solar cells.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Maryland researchers breed apples for a changing climate
Two new varieties can better tolerate hotter, wetter weather.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Microplastics increasing in freshwater, directly related to plastic production
Microplastics have been steadily increasing in freshwater environments for decades and are directly tied to rising global plastic production since the 1950s, according to a new study by an interdisciplinary team of Penn State researchers. The findings provide insight into how microplastics move and spread in freshwater environments, which could be important for creating long-term solutions to reduce pollution, the researchers said.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Musk, Bezos need just 90 minutes to match your lifetime carbon footprint, says Oxfam
Between jets, yachts and investments in destructive companies, billionaires are speed running the apocalypse.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Natural regrowth of tropical forests has immense potential to address environmental concerns, study finds
A study in Nature finds that up to 215 million hectares of land (an area larger than Mexico) in humid tropical regions around the world has the potential to naturally regrow.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

New insights from Shakespeare's England reveal striking parallels to contemporary climate change
Unprecedented storms and devastating drought. Flash floods and wildfires ignited by the air's dry heat. This is the experience for many in our modern world. But it was also the experience for those living amid England's Little Ice Age.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Plans to cool the Earth by blocking sunlight are gaining momentum, but critical voices risk being excluded
Solar geoengineering research is advancing fast, after a recent flurry of funding announcements. Yet these technologies are still speculative and have many critics, and we worry their concerns won't be heard. If geoengineering is essentially allowed to self-regulate, with no effective global governance, future research could easily take us down a dangerous path.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Some wildfire suppressants contain heavy metals and could contaminate the environment
In fire-prone areas, water isn't the only thing used to quell blazes. Wildland firefighters also apply chemical or synthetic suppressants. Researchers reporting in Environmental Science & Technology Letters explored whether these suppressants could be a source of elevated metal levels sometimes found in waterways after wildfires are extinguished.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Study analyzes how various African communities have attempted to reverse land degradation
In rural Africa, where livelihoods are often tied directly to the land, environmental degradation poses a critical threat to both ecosystems and people's well-being. New research reveals ways to tackle the dual challenges of land degradation and poverty.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

The end of lead pipes: An engineer's take on the historic national effort to eliminate them
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this month that it will require utilities to replace all lead drinking water pipes serving customers in the country within the next decade, marking the most aggressive regulation on lead in drinking water to date.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

The planet is ‘on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster,’ scientists warn
The 2024 ‘State of the climate’ report says climate scientists are more worried than ever and calls for ‘transformative science-based solutions across all aspects of society.’
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Three pathways to achieve global climate and sustainable development goals
Sustainable lifestyles, green-tech innovation, and government-led transformation each offer promising routes to make significant progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Understanding protein transport mechanisms could enhance crop yields
Botanists have come to understand the channels and transporters involved in the uptake and transport of nutrients, yet how are they positioned where they need to be?
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Volcanic 'cryptic carbon' emissions may be a hidden driver of Earth's past climate
An international team of geoscientists led by a volcanologist at Rutgers University-New Brunswick has discovered that, contrary to present scientific understanding, ancient volcanoes continued to spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from deep within the Earth long past their period of eruptions.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 28th, 2024

12 books to read about climate action ahead of the election

These books provide insights and analysis about climate politics and the policies that can lead to change.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Atmospheric chemistry: Researchers discover polarity competition mechanisms in thunderstorm cloud-top corona discharges

A team of researchers has made significant strides in understanding the mechanisms behind corona discharges at thunderstorm cloud tops, a phenomenon that plays a critical role in the Earth's atmospheric chemistry.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Autonomous tech is coming to farming. What will it mean for crops and workers who harvest them?

As a mist of rain sprinkled the fields around him in Homestead, Florida, Ford bemoaned how expensive it had been running a fossil fuel-powered irrigation system on his five-acre farm—and how bad it was for the planet.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in California

California has more rooftop solar panels than any other state. Here's what to know if you're planning to join in.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Carbon cuts 'miles short' of 2030 goal: UN

Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere reached new record highs in 2023, the UN warned on Monday, with countries falling "miles short" of what is needed to curb devastating global warming.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Climate change challenges European wine traditions

Climate change presents an unprecedented challenge for European vintners, particularly for the more than 1,000 protected designations of origin. In Italy, these include the production of DOC and DOCG wines, which account for 35% of the EU total, with France at 31%.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Crypto Trading Platforms Rush into Derivatives to Attract Cautious Investors

Crypto trading platforms are increasingly pivoting toward derivatives products in a bid to attract risk-aware investors through regulated environments and leveraged trading opportunities.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Establishing a routine process for evaluating extreme weather events

When extreme weather events occur, can we tell if they're directly attributable to climate change? A new study used the 2023 heat wave in Texas and Louisiana as a test case for establishing processes that tease out whether particular weather events are climate related.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Geochemical fingerprints trace ochre origins to world's oldest mine

University of Missouri scientist Brandi L. MacDonald is using modern technology only found at Mizzou to help researchers expand the collective understanding of how human thought and intellect has developed over time.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

How Johns Hopkins Scientists and Neighborhood Groups Model Climate Change in Baltimore

Two years into a five-year, $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, researchers aim to create one of the world's most climate resilient cities.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Is it true that trees pollute the air?

Methane is the most famous volatile organic compound (VOC) in our atmosphere. This week, our host George Zaidan follows up on a Reactions subscriber's question about the 600 teragrams of a less famous VOC released every year: isoprene.
October 28th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Nanoscale layer boosts signal strength in fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy

While we might picture a biologist as a researcher hunched over a light microscope, carefully scrutinizing a single bacterium, modern scientists have more powerful instruments at their disposal to investigate, at much smaller scales, the internal structures of living cells. Fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy have become indispensable tools for non-invasively monitoring biological processes.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Novel self-cleaning electrode developed for alkaline-earth metal peroxide synthesis

Metal peroxide is an alternative to hydrogen peroxide. It has excellent oxidative properties, superior chemical stability, high purity, and is easy to store and transport. It has been widely used in wastewater treatment and disinfection.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

One in three tree species at risk of extinction: report

More than one in three species of trees are at risk of extinction worldwide, threatening life as we know it on Earth, according to a report published Monday.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Polluters must pay: How COP29 can make this a reality

The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) takes place in Azerbaijan in November 2024. The annual climate change conference must focus on holding corporations and countries accountable for greenhouse gas emissions.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Public and community engagement key to enhancing urban living conditions, environmental decision making in China

Public and community engagement in decision making is key to enhancing urban living conditions and the environment in China, a new study says.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Research sheds light on whether cropland abandonment is meaningful for biodiversity conservation

The clearing of forests, grasslands, and other natural ecosystems to grow more crops is one of the most widespread threats to terrestrial biodiversity and continues to degrade ecosystems across the globe. However, changes in agricultural land use are not unidirectional: Substantial areas of cropland have also been abandoned in recent decades, especially as the agricultural labor supply continues to shrink from rural outmigration, urbanization, and geopolitical conflicts.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Securing Cell-Based Architecture in Modern Applications

Cell-based architecture is becoming increasingly popular in the fast-evolving world of software development. The concept is inspired by the design principles of a ship's bulkheads, where separate watertight compartments allow for isolated failures. By applying this concept to software, we create an architecture that divides applications into discrete, manageable components known as cells. Each cell operates independently, communicating with others through well-defined interfaces and protocols.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Sorghum grain--based scaffolds expand lab-grown pork options

Meat grown in a lab isn't science fiction anymore. Cultured meats have existed for over a decade, and as of 2023, you might even find lab-grown chicken in restaurants (in the U.S., at least). Now, with the literal support of plant-based scaffolds, "clean meat" options are expanding.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Spreading crushed rock over farmland can remove CO² from the atmosphere if we do it right

Carbon dioxide (CO²) is naturally removed from the air when it reacts with certain types of rock. We can accelerate this process by crushing suitable rocks and spreading them over agricultural fields. This simple method, known as "enhanced rock weathering," could vastly increase the rate of CO² removal from the atmosphere.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals Cat Ba langurs' unique ability to drink salt water

A study by the German Primate Center—Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen and Leipzig Zoo shows the remarkable adaptability of the critically endangered Cat Ba langurs. Despite low genetic diversity, the langurs have retained key genetic traits that help them survive in their isolated environment on Cat Ba Island in Vietnam. One of these remarkable adaptations is the ability to drink salt water.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Sustainable system uses photosynthetic microorganisms for eco-friendly cultured meat production

There is a pressing need for environmentally friendly meat production technologies to tackle the increasing global food demand. Cultured meat production is one such technology that is attracting a lot of attention as an alternative to conventional meat production. First developed in 2012, cultured meat is simply meat that is produced by growing or culturing muscle cells from animals in a laboratory.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

The Billionaire Plot to Block Out the Sun

Can thousands of pounds of sulfur dioxide pumped into the stratosphere reverse global warming? We may soon find out.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

The chemicals in air conditioning units can contribute to global warming

So it's important to dispose of AC units properly when they die.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Thermal imaging may help fruits, veggies stay fresher longer
Technology helps monitor temperature fluctuations, could help reduce food waste, improve quality
October 28th, 2024 — Source or Source

Watching Over a Fragile Desert From the Skies

A group of scientists looking for new ways to conduct studies that don't harm the deserts of South America turned to motorized paragliding.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 25th, 2024

3D smart energy device integrates radiative cooling and solar absorption

A research team led by Professor Bonghoon Kim from DGIST's Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering has developed a "3D smart energy device" that features both reversible heating and cooling capabilities. Their device was recognized for its excellence and practicality through its selection as the cover article of the international journal Advanced Materials.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

120 Astronomers Urge FCC to Look at Effects of Satellite Constellations on Space, Environment

'We should look before we leap.'
October 25th, 2024 — Source

A natural climate change laboratory in Japan reveals the adaptation dynamics of fishers

A new study published in the journal People and Nature reveals the complex relationship between the impacts of climate change and the adaptive responses of coastal fishers in one of the areas most affected by these environmental changes: the southern coasts of Japan.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Achieving 'nature positive' requires net gain legislation, say researchers

A team of Australian researchers is calling for urgent reforms to the nation's environmental laws to meet its ambitious nature-positive commitments.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

AI model predicts diarrheal disease outbreaks related to climate change

Climate change-related extreme weather, such as massive flooding and prolonged drought, often results in dangerous outbreaks of diarrheal diseases particularly in less developed countries, where diarrheal disease is the third leading cause of death among young children.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Climate change is a growing threat to UK farming

Farmers are grappling with intense weather extremes and shifting seasons, and the nation faces escalating threats to food security.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Climate change threatens bridges and roads: Research provides tools to help engineers adapt infrastructure

Across America, infrastructure built to handle peak stormwater flows from streams and rivers have been engineered under the assumption that rainfall averages stay constant over time. As extreme weather events become more frequent, these systems could be in trouble.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Climate scientists identify water requirements for climate mitigation through ecosystem restoration

Worldwide, deforestation and farming practices are responsible for the degradation of vital ecosystems. While there is a significant amount of interest in climate mitigation by restoring those degraded lands with forests and other ecosystems, it is unclear how feasible that would be and the resulting benefits.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Developing new high-performance and recyclable materials

Solving the e-waste problem and innovating next-generation sensor technology
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Engineers invent high-yield atmospheric water capture device for arid regions

The idea of turning the air around us into drinking water is a marvel on its own. And grabbing a sustainable amount of it from low-humidity environments has long been closer to science fiction than reality.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Environmentalists sue New York, New Jersey and Delaware over endangered sturgeon

New York, New Jersey and Delaware were accused in federal lawsuits Thursday of improperly allowing Atlantic sturgeon to be killed by commercial fishing operations even as the prehistoric fish is on the brink of disappearing.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Federal Court Ruling on a Reservoir Expansion Could Have Big Implications for the Colorado River

Some upstream users are racing to divert more water from the declining river, a choice that a judge wrote in a recent court ruling is “perplexing” and risks forcing cutbacks for users in the future.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Fusion energy could play a major role in the global response to climate change

For many decades, fusion has been touted as the ultimate source of abundant, clean electricity. Now, as the world faces the need to reduce carbon emissions to prevent catastrophic climate change, making commercial fusion power a reality takes on new importance.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Google urged to step up efforts to demonetize climate falsehoods

Civil society groups implored Google on Thursday to rigorously enforce its policy to demonetize environmental disinformation, saying ads placed alongside climate denial content persistently popped up despite the tech titan's pledge to crack down.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Meta Optimizes Data Center Sustainability with Reinforcement Learning

In a recent blog post, Meta describes how its engineers use reinforcement learning (RL) to optimize environmental controls in Meta’s data centers, reducing energy consumption and water usage while addressing broader challenges such as climate change. Reinforcement learning is a branch of machine learning and optimal control that focuses on how an intelligent agent can make decisions in a changing environment to maximize a reward signal.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Minnesota man brings solar power and job training to North Minneapolis

Jamez Staples says the energy transition can help lift up his whole community.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Nations must close huge emissions gap in new climate pledges and deliver immediate action, or 1.5°C is lost

Nations must collectively commit to cutting 42% off annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 57% by 2035 in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—and back this up with rapid action—or the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal will be gone within a few years, according to a new UN Environment Program (UNEP) report.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

New AI model could make power grids more reliable amid rising renewable energy use

As renewable energy sources such as wind and solar become more widespread, managing the power grid has become increasingly complex. Researchers at the University of Virginia have developed an innovative solution: an artificial intelligence model that can address the uncertainties of renewable energy generation and electric vehicle demand, making power grids more reliable and efficient.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

New Technique Boosts Efficiency of Eco-Friendly Solar Cells

Researchers at ICFO have introduced a post-deposition in situ passivation technique designed to minimize surface defects in eco-friendly, solution-processed nanocrystal ultrathin solar cells. This innovative approach has achieved the highest recorded power conversion efficiency for this type of solar cell to date.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Next-generation solar cells become more powerful with silver (Ag) doping technology

Researchers have significantly improved the performance of kesterite (CZTSSe) thin-film solar cells. They developed a new method for doping silver (Ag) in solar cells to suppress defects that hinder cell performance and promote crystal growth, thereby dramatically increasing efficiency and paving the way for commercialization.
October 25th, 2024 — Source or Source

Outrageous $200 trillion climate hack proposes blasting diamonds into the atmosphere

Sprinkling diamond dust to reflect sunlight off the planet
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Researcher trains AI to predict diarrheal outbreaks related to climate change

New study uses AI models to create early warning system for disease outbreaks resulting from climate change-related extreme weather
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Researchers warn against weakening Clean Air Act regulations

A new commentary published in the American Journal of Public Health has found that power plants' use of air pollution control devices saved up to 9,100 lives and up to $100 billion in health costs in 2023. These estimates reveal the substantial health benefits that could be at stake if the next presidential administration implements policies that aim to weaken the Clean Air Act and limit the regulatory authority of the EPA.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Sliver of cool surface water helps the ocean absorb more carbon, study shows

Subtle temperature differences at the ocean surface allow more carbon dioxide (CO2) to be absorbed, new research shows.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Study shows weak external electric fields may protect crops from infection

Research from Dr. Giovanni Sena's group in the Department of Life Sciences highlights an intriguing method to help protect plants from pathogen attacks using weak electric fields.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

The evolution of green energy technology: Developing three-dimensional smart energy devices with radiant cooling and solar absorption

DGIST, KAIST, and Korea University collaborated to develop a three-dimensional device with reversible heating/cooling based on the thermal radiation phenomenon -- Research published as a cover article in Advanced Materials
October 25th, 2024 — Source

The preparation makes the poison: How muscarine in mushrooms becomes toxic

Mushrooms exist in a breathtaking variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Especially in autumn, mushroom hunters go into the forests to find the tastiest of them, prepare them in multiple ways and eat them with relish. However, it is well known that there are also poisonous mushrooms among them and it is life-saving to distinguish between them.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

UK climate strategy ruled lawful in landmark court case

A man whose home had to be demolished because of coastal erosion lost a landmark legal claim on Friday against the UK government that accused it of failing to meet obligations to protect citizens from the effects of climate change.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

VAMMIT trials: Tackling methane emissions in mining

New CSIRO technology that destroys methane at mine sites is showing great promise—and attracting great interest from industry and governments worldwide.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 22nd, 2024

4,300 tons of space junk and rising: Another satellite breakup adds to orbital debris woes

A large communications satellite has broken up in orbit, affecting users in Europe, Central Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, and adding to the growing swarm of space junk clouding our planet's neighborhood.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

A blueprint for mapping melting ice sheets: Open-source tool can help make radar systems at a fraction of the cost

Researchers in the Stanford Radio Glaciology lab use radio waves to understand rapidly changing ice sheets and their contributions to global sea-level rise. This technique has revealed groundwater beneath Greenland, the long-term impacts of extreme melt, a process that could accelerate ice sheet mass loss in Antarctica, the potential instability of an ice sheet that could raise sea levels by 10 feet, and more.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

A national indicator for a just energy transition: Researchers create method to quantify vulnerability

The Energy Transition Vulnerability Index (ETVI) quantifies the vulnerability of nations to adverse impacts of transitioning away from fossil fuels. The COP28 agreement has called for all countries to wind down the use of fossil fuels to combat climate change—but the agreement stipulates that these transitions should not disproportionately harm historically marginalized and vulnerable stakeholders.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

AI's energy appetite has Taiwan reconsidering the nuclear option

Premier indicates possible shift in post-Fukushima policy
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Arkansas might be home to around 19 million tons of lithium — researchers use machine learning to quantify lithium abundance in the Smackover Formation

The lower-bound of 5 million tons is 9x more than the currently projected lithium demand for car batteries by 2030.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source or Source

Enhancing recombinant protein expression in lettuce

Recombinant proteins are crucial in pharmaceutical and other industries. A production method uses plants as hosts in transient protein expression systems. Researchers at the University of Tsukuba developed a technique to increase recombinant protein expression in lettuce by inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Farms study shows plastic mulch is contaminating agricultural fields

Using plastic sheets for weed control, even under current best management practices, pollutes soil with macro- and micro-plastics and negatively affects critical soil functions, according to a study. The United Nations considers soil plastic contamination an environmental health and food security threat.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Breathe

Earlier this year, I took my first voice lesson. The first thing I was taught was how to breathe, and it turns out I have been breathing incorrectly my whole life.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Harnessing science to tackle global crises: Scientists say its true potential remains untapped

In a paper published in PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, an international team of researchers looked at how science could play a more active role in managing crises. The paper builds on the outcomes of the international conference "What Role for Science in Crisis Times? Outlook in the Health, Environment, and Agriculture Interconnected Areas," held in Montpellier in 2022.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

How a solar development turned from threat to opportunity for an Illinois farmer

Trent Gerlach had misgivings about solar being placed on cropland that he leased, but pairing the solar panels with grazing sheep has helped change his mind on clean energy's compatibility with farming.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Increasing the efficiency of hydropower plants with utility-scale batteries

Utility-scale batteries can revolutionize how we harness renewable power. Coupled with wind and solar, these batteries could increase the reliability of green energy by storing excess energy during times of high generation and low demand. Then, utilities can tap the stored energy when demand increases.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Internet fiber optic cables successfully detect shock waves from a rockslide

On the night of 16 June 2023, about 1.2 million cubic meters of rock rumbled down into the valley near Brienz (GR). A team from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and ETH Zurich tracked the event using an unusual method: they detected the shock waves on underground internet fiber optic cables.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Lifting the Veil on Tens of Billions in Oil Company Payments to Governments

New reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission reveal payments around the globe. One takeaway? The U.S. government might be getting a bad deal.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

May 2024 super geomagnetic storm challenges current space weather prediction models

During May 2024, a series of eruption events on the sun saw the largest geomagnetic storm hit Earth in two decades. The largest since the solar storms of Halloween 2003, it occurred from May 10 to May 13, producing aurorae as far south as the Canary Islands off Africa, the Florida Keys in the United States, and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. On the other side of the world, the Aurora australis was seen in Queensland, Australia, Namibia and southern Brazil, among many other places.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Mercedes' New Battery Plant Can Recycle 96% Of Raw Materials

The plant can recycle enough material to produce more than 50,000 new battery modules each year
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Millions Pour in to Reelect Texas Oil and Gas Regulator

Republican incumbent Christi Craddick has raised upwards of $10 million in her campaign for a third term on the Railroad Commission of Texas. Her campaign focuses on fighting federal regulations and what she calls "radical anti-oil protesters."
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

MIT engineers create solar-powered desalination system producing 5,000 liters of water daily

This could be a game-changer for inland communities where resources are scarce
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

New ice core data provide insight into climate 'tipping points' during the last Ice Age

A changing climate triggers a sudden shift in ocean circulation, creating weather havoc and plunging Earth into an abrupt new Ice Age.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

New Mexico program pays workers to train for clean energy jobs

Many oil and gas workers are eager to transition to new jobs, says the leader of a workers' rights organization.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Scientists discover how rice blast fungi interact with soil microbes

In the world of agriculture, rice is a staple food for more than half of the global population, making its cultivation crucial for food security. However, the rice blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae (syn. Magnaporthe oryzae) poses a significant threat to rice crops, causing extensive damage and leading to substantial yield losses.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

SEC charges tech companies for downplaying SolarWinds breaches

The SEC has charged four companies—Unisys Corp, Avaya Holdings, Check Point Software, and Mimecast—for allegedly misleading investors about the impact of their breaches during the massive 2020 SolarWinds Orion hack.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

SEC fines four companies $7M for 'misleading cyber disclosures' regarding SolarWinds hack

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on Tuesday that it charged and imposed penalties on four companies for making misleading disclosures linked to the 2019 SolarWinds data breach.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Solar power from satellites poised to become reality within a year

It will be a proof of concept initially, but the potential is tantalizing
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study offers insights into how to mitigate carbon build-up on catalysts to improve greenhouse gas to energy conversion

Against the backdrop of the energy transition and the fight against climate change, a study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition offers a key to understanding how to improve the efficiency of processes that convert greenhouse gases into energy resources while reducing the impact of methane and CO2, two greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study suggests frogs and toads will face new risks as water habitats dry up due to global warming

A small international team has found that anurans such as frogs and toads will be facing increased risks to their survival in the coming years due to water habitats drying up as a result of global warming.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Tech firms to pay millions in SEC penalties for misleading SolarWinds disclosures

Unisys, Avaya, Check Point, and Mimecast settled with the agency without admitting or denying wrongdoing
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

This Terrifying Sound Of Earth's Magnetic Field Flipping Will Give You Nightmares

About 41,000 years ago, Earth's magnetic field briefly flipped in what is known as the Laschamp event. Now, a group of scientists using data from the European Space Agency's (ESA) Swarm mission have recreated the sound the event made, and it is sounds like something straight out of a Hollywood horror film.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Towards better solar cells: Exploring an anomalous phenomenon of electricity generation

The bulk photovoltaic (BPV) effect is an uncommon phenomenon that may enable certain materials to outperform the conventional p--n junctions used in solar cells.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Turnover Labs is helping chemical plants to reuse their waste CO²

As petrochemical plants and other emitters look to reduce emissions, they're finding that sopping up and storing all the carbon dioxide they produce doesn't come cheap. First they have to capture it, an energy-intensive process that requires specialized equipment. Then they have to transport it and stash it away, which can be tricky depending on where the plant is located.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Where there's smoke: The rising death toll from climate-charged fire in the landscape

Inhaling smoke is bad for you. Smoke from any kind of fire, from bonfire to burn-off to uncontrolled wildfire, can have serious consequences.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Will tropical bird biodiversity run dry under climate change? Two visions for the future

Changing precipitation patterns in the Neotropics, one of Earth's most biodiverse regions, could threaten two-thirds of the area's bird species by the year 2100 if climate change goes unchecked, according to new research led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and George Mason University. This would represent a dramatic loss, as the region is home to 30% of all bird species globally.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

X-ray spectroscopy study maps ultrafast charge delocalization in aqueous environments

The movement of electron density is a subject of interest for chemists worldwide, as substances interact through electrons. These processes are ultrafast and traditionally require time-resolved experiments at the attosecond level to study and describe. However, there are alternative methods.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 20th, 2024

Chronic Health Problems Amplify Heat Risk in the Rio Grande Valley
The deaths of two elderly siblings and their 60-year-old caretaker at first mystified Brownsville. Extreme heat is a quiet but growing threat for Rio Grande Valley residents with chronic health conditions.
October 20th, 2024 — Source

The Futures of Right Whales and Lobstermen Are Entangled. Could High-Tech Gear Help Save Them Both?
Entanglements are a leading cause of death for endangered North Atlantic right whales. Removing fishing lines from the ocean could help minimize this risk—but only if lobstermen get on board, experts say.
October 20th, 2024 — Source

To the astonishment of forecasters, a tiny hurricane just sprang up near Cuba
As of Saturday evening, hurricane-force winds extended just 5 miles from the center.
October 20th, 2024 — Source

UN biodiversity conference: what's at stake?
The world's pledges to halt humankind's destruction of nature will be put to the test when the 16th UN conference on biodiversity opens Monday in Colombia.
October 20th, 2024 — Source

Your Old Mattress Doesn't Need to End Up in the Dump. Here's How How I Donated My Gently Used Bed
Getting rid of your old mattress can be a hassle. However, some organizations make it easy. Here's how I donated older bed to a local non-profit and how you can, too.
October 20th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 18th, 2024

After Hurricane Helene, Therapists Dispense ‘Psychological First Aid’

By helping storm victims process their trauma early, psychologists hope those harmed can move through this disaster without developing post-traumatic stress disorder in the months and years ahead.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Appalachian Hydrogen Hub Plan Struggles Amid Economic Worries, Study Says

After a third of projects are scrapped, ARCH2 seeks new developers.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Can NZ's supply chain build enough resilience and sustainability to survive the next global crisis?

New Zealand is highly reliant on trade—particularly on maritime routes, which are lifelines for exports and imports. Key sectors such as agriculture, construction, and wholesale and retail trade depend heavily on this global network.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Drones prove effective way to monitor maize re-growth, researchers report

Maize, or corn, grows tall, with thin stalks that boast ears of the cereal grain used in food production, trade and security globally. However, due to rain, wind and other increasingly extreme weather events, the maize falls down, risking the entire crop. Called lodging, the physical fall results in shorter plants and overlapping leaves—both of which negatively impact the plant's ability to grow.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Forest fires are shifting north and intensifying—here's what that means for the planet

Fires have long been a natural part of forest ecosystems, but something is changing. Our new study shows that forest fires have become more widespread and severe amid global heating, particularly in the high northern latitudes such as Canada and Siberia, where fires are most sensitive to hotter, drier conditions.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Global coral bleaching event biggest on record: US agency

A global episode of heat-related coral bleaching has grown to the largest on record, US authorities said Friday, sparking worry for the health of key marine ecosystems.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

How extreme weather and costs of housing and insurance trap some households in a vicious cycle

Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events for Australian households. Floods and bushfires are becoming more likely and severe. As a result, household insurance costs are soaring—tripling in some cases. High-risk areas might even become uninsurable.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

How farmers can use solar power without damaging the rest of their operation

As the world races to meet net-zero targets, emissions from all industrial sectors must be reduced more urgently than ever. Agriculture is an important area of focus as it contributes up to 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions—almost as much as the energy sector.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Lignin molecular property discovery could help turn trees into affordable, greener industrial chemicals

Trees are the most abundant natural resource living on Earth's land masses, and North Carolina State University scientists and engineers are making headway in finding ways to use them as sustainable, environmentally benign alternatives to producing industrial chemicals from petroleum.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: A faster way to identify drought-resistant plants for crop breeding research

Climate change is making droughts more common and more severe—which makes research into developing drought-resistant crops more important than ever. Now researchers have developed a new framework that should expedite this important research.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Tech giants set to pay through the nose for nuclear power that's still years away

Google, Amazon, Microsoft dive into costly deals that aren't generating anything yet
October 18th, 2024 — Source

The Earth’s Colors Are Changing—and Climate Change Could Be Partially to Blame

Rising temperatures may be altering nature’s hues, from fall leaves to ocean blues.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

The FTC is trying to find out if John Deere’s repair policies broke the law

The agency is trying to figure out if John Deere’s practices violate the law.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

What is net metering?

The system allows solar-powered homes to receive credit when energy is sent to the grid.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

Why widening highways doesn’t reduce traffic congestion

It has to do with a phenomenon called induced demand.
October 18th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 16th, 2024

'Age of Electricity' coming as fossil fuels set to peak: IEA
More than half of the world's electricity will be generated by low-emission sources before 2030 but the deployment of clean energy is "far from uniform" across the globe, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Alabama Coal Plant Tops US Greenhouse Gas Polluter List for 9th Straight Year
Plant Miller outside Birmingham is again No. 1 on the EPA’s list of top greenhouse gas producers, and no retirement plans have been announced for the facility.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Amazon plans to build small, modular nuclear reactors
The company has reached agreements in Washington and Virginia.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

As Solar Booms in the California Desert, Locals Feel ‘Overburdened’
The country’s largest area designated for solar energy, Desert Center shows how sprawls of PV panels impact communities. Even supporters of the energy transition can find dealing with the developments challenging.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Brazilian researchers work to transform agave into the 'sugarcane of the sertão'
Climate change has caused an increase in the semi-arid climate region in Brazil. Data from the National Center for Monitoring and Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN) and the National Institute of Space Research (INPE) in the South American country indicate an expansion of 7,500 square kilometers per year since 1990, which is equivalent to five times the area of the city of São Paulo. A similar phenomenon has been observed in some regions of Europe and North Africa.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Buying time: Can science save the Great Barrier Reef?
The Great Barrier Reef is an Australian—and global—icon. The world's largest coral reef system is filled with an abundance of marine life and is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Climate change solutions not always good for biodiversity
Some approaches to tackling global warming can have unintended knock-on consequences for nature and the protection of biodiversity, say scientists urging a more coordinated effort on these challenges.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Coastal cities have a hidden vulnerability to storm-surge and tidal flooding that's entirely caused by humans
Centuries ago, estuaries around the world were teeming with birds and turbulent with schools of fish, their marshlands and endless tracts of channels melting into the gray-blue horizon.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Dangerous, unregulated cobalt mines boom as the need for batteries grows
Mine workers need more protections, says a University of Houston researcher.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

DOE announces $900M for next-gen reactors as Amazon launches nuclear power pursuit
Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, joined government officials and energy-sector leaders today in Virginia to announce multiple agreements to promote the expansion of next-generation nuclear power.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Fall is the most overrated season
As a chill begins to take hold in the air — well, kind of — folks are eagerly thumbing through their sweater collections, stirring soups, and lining up for their pumpkin spice lattes. The Fall Industrial Complex tells us it's a beautiful, cozy yet temperate time of the year. But I'm here to say fall is completely overrated.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Grassland study shows that elevated levels of CO² nearly tripled species losses attributed to nitrogen pollution
Dozens of studies have demonstrated that nitrogen pollution, due mainly to the burning of fossil fuels and agricultural practices, is causing plant biodiversity losses worldwide.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Lab-grown frogs: a Colombian's response to wildlife trafficking
Down a dirt track in Colombia, deep in a forest, conservationists are breeding prized exotic frogs to try to undercut traffickers who are plundering the country's jungles of its amphibians.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

New Report Condemns Increasing Violence and Legal Retaliation Against Environmental Activists
Global Climate Legal Defense launched the report and a photo exhibit of environmentalists persecuted by governments and the fossil fuel industry at the close of last month’s Climate Week NYC.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Plate tectonics drive compositional evolution of the upper mantle, study finds
On present-day Earth, plate subduction continuously modifies the chemical composition of the convecting mantle, and various mantle sources linked to these processes have been widely studied. However, when did global chemical heterogeneity of the convecting mantle first emerge in Earth's geological history? How might Earth's geodynamic evolution have influenced the chemical composition of the convecting mantle over time?
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Protein shell discovery reveals how diatoms capture CO² so effectively
Tiny diatoms in the ocean are masters at capturing carbon dioxide (CO²) from the environment. They fix up to 20% of the Earth's CO². A research team at the University of Basel, Switzerland, has now discovered a protein shell in these algae that is necessary for efficient CO² fixation. This groundbreaking discovery can provide ideas for bioengineering approaches to reduce CO² in the atmosphere.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

ReBuild NC Has a Deficit of Over $150 Million With 1,600 People Still Displaced by Hurricanes Matthew and Florence
Beset by mismanagement, North Carolina’s hurricane recovery agency has been slow to rebuild homes and has run up sizable bills for hotel stays and other temporary housing. But one thing it’s mastered: concealing its financial woes.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Researchers call for PFAS ban after alarming findings in marine environments
Washing your pots and pans—among many other day-to-day activities—could have a significant impact on marine environments for hundreds of years, according to a new study.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Study finds PFAS in fish far from contamination sources
Fish can accumulate high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), even far from sources of contamination, according to a new study by researchers at The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). The research highlights the need for expanded monitoring in watersheds affected by large PFAS sources like military bases across the country that have been contaminated by use of PFAS containing foams for fire-training and fire-fighting activities.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Trace gas measurements could advance carbon cycle predictions
A novel method for estimating the rate of photosynthesis from land plants reveals that satellite observations—the current gold standard for quantifying terrestrial carbon uptake—underestimate this important metric, a result that could inform and improve the accuracy of model predictions of future climate change.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 13th, 2024

Bolivia Has National Rights of Nature Laws. Why Haven't They Been Enforced?
This is the worst year on record for Amazon forest loss in the country, fueled by slash-and-burn agriculture and climate change. It's putting Indigenous peoples' lives and culture at risk.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

Can walls of oysters protect shores against hurricanes? Darpa wants to know.
Colonized artificial reef structures could absorb the power of storms.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

Climate change is also a health emergency, warn experts
International experts in emergency medicine have warned that climate change is likely to have a severe impact on emergency services around the world. Despite this, few countries have assessed the scale of the impact or have a plan to deal with it.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

Climate Disasters Only Slightly Shift the Political Needle
Researchers tracking the social and political impacts of storms, floods and heat waves say their effects are often transient and short-lived.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

New Guidelines Center the Needs of People With Disabilities During Petrochemical Disasters
"It's not just the initial need to make sure we have a wheelchair-accessible van," says one of the co-authors.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

New OpenAI Swarm Framework Designed to Simplify Multi-Agent AI Workflows
This weekend Open AI has introduced Swarm a "educational framework exploring ergonomic, lightweight multi-agent orchestration". Evening developers to use the experimental sample framework to build multi agent systems. The OpenAI Swarm framework is a non-production experiment and OpenAI is not providing any official support other than what is available on its GitHub repository.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

New survey reveals doubt, and hope, that world will achieve climate targets
How hot is it going to get? This is one of the most important and difficult remaining questions about our changing climate. The answer depends not only on how sensitive our climate is to greenhouse gases, but also on how much carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases we as a civilization choose to emit over coming decades.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

Schools bombarded by nation-state attacks, ransomware gangs, and everyone in between
Reading, writing, and cyber mayhem, amirite?
October 13th, 2024 — Source

Volunteers bring solar power to Hurricane Helene's disaster zone
Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Helene downed power lines and washed out roads all over North Carolina's mountains, the constant din of a gas-powered generator is getting to be too much for Bobby Renfro.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 12th, 2024

A Year After Historic Civil Rights Settlement, Alabama Slowly Bringing Sanitation Equity to Rural Black Communities
In 2023, Alabama settled a civil rights complaint alleging that the state was discriminating against Black residents by not providing adequate sewage treatment in a poor, rural county. A year later, slow progress is being made to close the gap.
October 12th, 2024 — Source

Ancient climate analysis reveals unknown global processes
According to highly cited conventional models, cooling and a major drop in sea levels about 34 million years ago should have led to widespread continental erosion and deposited gargantuan amounts of sandy material onto the ocean floor. This was, after all, one of the most drastic climate transitions on Earth since the demise of the dinosaurs.
October 12th, 2024 — Source

Climate Change Made Hurricane Milton Stronger, With Heavier Rain, Scientists Conclude
A rapid analysis of rainfall trends and Gulf of Mexico temperatures shows many similarities to Hurricane Helene less than two weeks earlier.
October 12th, 2024 — Source

Fossil Fuel Interests Are Working To Kill Solar in One Ohio County. The Hometown Newspaper Is Helping
A retired gas industry executive, a shadowy "grassroots" group and a controversial media company are spreading misinformation while turning residents against a proposed solar farm—and each other.
October 12th, 2024 — Source

How mainstream climate science endorsed the fantasy of a global warming time machine
When the Paris agreement on climate change was gaveled into being in December 2015, it briefly looked like that rarest of things: a political victory for climate activists and delegates from the poorest regions of the world that, due to colonization by today's wealthy nations, have contributed little to the climate crisis—but stand to suffer its worst ravages.
October 12th, 2024 — Source

Sale ends tonight! Jackery's updated solar generator boasts better battery and massive price cut
Right now, you can save up to $900 on the Explorer 2000 v2. Jackery's compact LiFePO4-powered backup power unit is perfect for in-home use, camping, and outdoor work tasks.
October 12th, 2024 — Source

The Future of Earth Hinges on Sea Snot
Plus, time-traveling finches, a breakdancer booboo, man-eating lions, and comb jelly fusion.
October 12th, 2024 — Source

Why Hurricanes Are Much—Much—Deadlier Than Official Death Counts Suggest
Excess deaths following hurricanes are far higher than direct death counts, and the aftereffects play out for years. An environmental economist explains why.
October 12th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 11th, 2024

A geomagnetic storm is hitting the northern part of the US. Here's how the solar event may impact you
Warnings about Hurricane Milton hitting Florida have dominated news reports this week. But there have been warnings from forecasters with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center about another storm brewing: a severe geomagnetic storm.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Aurora Viewers Share Stunning Photos of the Northern Lights
Bask in the glow of glimmering aurora views from locations across the country, including from CNET staffers -- and even photos from the International Space Station.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Eastern Pacific study highlights severe cold-water bleaching as an additional threat to deep reef ecosystems
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (MPIC) recently published a paper detailing their observations of a major coral bleaching and mortality event that occurred on the deep reefs of the Clipperton Atoll, a remote coral island in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. This bleaching, which was highly unexpected, is driven by the upwards displacement of cold water to shallower depths than normal.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

EPA Settles Some Alabama Coal Ash Violations, but Larger Questions Linger
Alabama Power Company agreed to pay $278,000 to resolve two of three alleged coal ash violations, but the biggest unknown about the utility’s 76.7 million cubic yards of coal ash stored in unlined pits across the state remains unresolved.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Exoplanet discovered in a binary system could explain why red dwarfs form massive planets
In recent years, the number of known extrasolar planets (aka. exoplanets) has grown exponentially. To date, 5,799 exoplanets have been confirmed in 4,310 star systems, with thousands more candidates awaiting confirmation. What has been particularly interesting to astronomers is how M-type (red dwarf) stars appear to be very good at forming rocky planets.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Florida Avoided the Worst of Milton’s Wrath, But Millions Are Suffering After the Second Hurricane in Two Weeks
President Biden urged Congress to come back to Washington to pass an emergency spending bill, citing the “billions” needed to ease the suffering of storm-lashed Americans.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Hurricane Threat Poised to Keep Rising, Experts Warn
Many coastal cities are still unprepared for the extremes ahead because they are designed for a climate that no longer exists.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Polling Shows Pennsylvania Voters Are Divided on Fracking
Though voters are split along party lines, there is strong bipartisan support for more regulations on the industry.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Former Disco Elysium devs are making the game's spiritual successor at a new studio
The 12-strong developer Longdue is working on 'a psychogeographic RPG.'
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Life in the Appalachians once felt ‘untouchable.’ Then Helene struck.
Devastation in western North Carolina shows there are no safe havens from climate change.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Machine learning could improve extreme weather warnings
Because small changes in atmospheric and surface conditions can have large, difficult-to-predict effects on future weather, traditional weather forecasts are released only about 10 days in advance. A longer lead time could help communities better prepare for what's to come, especially extreme events such as the record-breaking June 2021 U.S. Pacific Northwest heat wave, which melted train power lines, destroyed crops, and caused hundreds of deaths.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Most Efficient Solar Panels for 2024: US Customers Still Waiting on Record-Setting Panel
The latest in rooftop solar panel technology is nearly 25% efficient. But does having the most efficient panel really make a difference?
October 11th, 2024 — Source

New study reveals key players in global transshipment, boosting seafood transparency
Fish taxies—refrigerated cargo vessels or reefers that function as mobile ports for fishing boats—are frequently described as weak links in the traceability of the seafood value chain. For the first time, research has identified the owners of all globally used reefers, the flags they use, and the fishing vessels they meet.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Novel algorithms detect precursory scale increase to help forecast big quakes
Many people are aware that large earthquakes are often followed by a sequence of aftershocks as stresses are redistributed in the surrounding area. Many may not be aware that there are also sequences of earthquakes that occur before most large earthquakes./span>
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Plant stem cells: Understanding the biological mechanism of growth control
Researchers from the University of Freiburg have identified the HAN molecule as an important regulator that controls plant growth in conjunction with WOX5. Understanding this mechanism is relevant for breeding more resilient or higher-yielding crops.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Puerto Rican lawyer offers free legal assistance to disaster survivors
Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz lived through Hurricane Maria. She’s now the vice director of the American Bar Association’s Disaster Legal Services program.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Reconfigurable manipulator robot designed to inspect pipes in challenging environments
The Interactive and Robotic Systems Lab (IRS) group at the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló has developed a mobile, lightweight, modular and reconfigurable manipulator robot, which includes a remote control station with 3D perception, modular and multi-device 3D simulation software that implements a digital twin for operator training, with the aim of operating in hazardous scenarios for human health, initially in the inspection of plastic pipes by probing and artificial vision.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Research vessel provides comprehensive assessment of the changing Central Arctic Ocean
Sparse sea ice, thousands of data points and samples, a surprising number of animals and hydrothermal vents—those are the impressions and outcomes that an international research team is now bringing back from a Polarstern expedition to the Central Arctic. After a four-month-long Arctic season, the Alfred Wegener Institute's research icebreaker is expected to arrive back in Bremerhaven with the morning high tide on Sunday.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Researchers uncover role of plasma waves in mysterious heating of sun's corona
There is a profound mystery in our sun. While the sun's surface temperature measures around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, its outer atmosphere, known as the solar corona, measures more like 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, about 200 times hotter.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Rooftop solar panels impact temperatures during the day and night in cities, simulation study shows
Widespread coverage of building rooftops with conventional photovoltaic solar panels may increase temperatures on hot days and lower them at night, says new modeling.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Scientists challenge 'misleading' Dublin declaration defending meat consumption
A declaration with 1,000 signatories supporting meat consumption and industrial agricultural production has been challenged by a group of scientists, led by Dr. Chris Bryant from the University of Bath.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Univ. of Washington unveils plans for lab space dedicated to battery innovation
Entrepreneurs and academics worldwide are trying to figure out how far innovation can stretch the power and performance of batteries.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Up in smoke: DIY tech to combat wildfires
As wildfires become a more frequent and dangerous part of life, especially in the Pacific Northwest, finding solutions that everyone can use is more important than ever. By June 2024, the Pacific Northwest had already seen more trees burn than in all of 2023.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

What Are Rare Earth Metals?
Sadly, room-temperature superconductors still aren't a thing. But one rare-earth mineral gets close. Sort of.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

What's behind the northern lights that dazzled the sky farther south than normal
Another in a series of unusually strong solar storms hitting Earth produced stunning skies full of pinks, purples, greens and blues farther south than normal, including into parts of Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

'Widespread noncompliance and poor performance' in world's largest nature-based carbon removal projects
One of the largest types of carbon offset projects the Australian government is using to meet climate change targets and reduce carbon in the atmosphere is failing to do so, new research has shown.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 8th, 2024

A geomagnetic storm has hit Earth—a space scientist explains what causes them
A geomagnetic storm lit up the night sky in parts of the U.S. during the first weekend in October. South Africa's National Space Agency (Sansa) told reporters that the storm had originated from a solar flare "that erupted from sunspot 3842 on October 3." It said this was the strongest Earth-facing solar flare recorded by Sansa in the past seven years and that the eruption briefly affected high-frequency radio communications, "resulting in a total radio blackout over the African region which lasted for up to 20 minutes."
October 8th, 2024 — Source

A new toolbox to predict global change impact on wildlife
A new climate change prediction tool provides insight into population-level vulnerability to global change through combining genomic, geographic and environmental data. The toolbox, published in the journal in Methods in Ecology and Evolution, will enable researchers and conservation practitioners to understand and predict how global environmental change may impact wildlife populations by integrating genomic, geographic and environmental data.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Comprehensive efforts needed to develop health-promoting learning environments, review finds
Mental ill-health among students in higher education is a growing problem globally. Most efforts implemented to address ill-health involve individual treatment and adjustments to pedagogy. But more can and needs to be done at a structural or environmental level for higher education institutions to ensure learning and well-being among all students. This is shown by a literature review conducted at the University of Gothenburg.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Eric Schmidt: Build more AI datacenters, we aren't going to 'hit climate goals anyway'
Perhaps the power-draining tech is the solution after all, posits former Google CEO
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Everything you need to know about wildfire smoke
Climate change is exposing more people to smoke, and it has dangerous effects on human health.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

From waste to watts: How closed landfills can become solar powerhouses
The wide-open spaces can be ideal sites for solar panels.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Hurricane and storm surge warnings for much of Florida for extremely dangerous Hurricane Milton
If you receive evacuation orders from local authorities, follow them.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Hurricane Milton is almost here. Here's how to get help evacuating.
Free shuttle buses and Uber rides are available to get you to safety.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Hurricane Milton live cams: See Tampa Bay webcams as landfall nears
Rapid Intensification, again.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Hydro-hazard research needs more investment in low-income countries, says studyResearch efforts on floods, droughts and landslides are not fairly distributed globally. Although research is increasing in areas affected by these natural hazards, the number of people affected by hydro-hazards in the least developed countries needs to be around 100 times higher than in developed countries to generate comparable research interest.

October 8th, 2024 — Source

Increase access to nature in all daily environments and in education
Although access to nature is a basic human right, people's actual use of green spaces is subject to inequalities. A research team analyzed what conditions make it more likely that people are exposed to nature across generations: the availability of green spaces around where they live, work and shop, as well as nature relatedness and past natural experiences.
October 8th, 2024 — Source or Source

It was my godmother and Winter that taught me
Snot ran down my nose, and my ears burned -- exhaling a wisp of steam into gray, still air. As I whipped through the wind, floating above the black-slick road I noticed the light, dim and translucent. I knew the afternoon would be pastel-tinted sunsets and frostbit toes. I peddled harder, seeing the absence of white all around me.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

New alloys aim to boost hydrogen turbine efficiency
In 1884, marine engineer Charles Parson used coal to power his groundbreaking invention, the multi-stage steam turbine, to produce electricity. This technological revolution marked a new dawn of power generation and consumption around the world. Today, humanity's increasing electricity and power needs require more efficient turbines and environmentally friendly fuels.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

New research shows legal challenges to climate action on the rise
As the global push towards low-carbon societies accelerates, a new study reveals that justice concerns are increasingly surfacing in legal disputes over climate policies and projects. This phenomenon, described as "just transition litigation," emphasizes the need to balance climate action with social justice considerations, ensuring that vulnerable communities are not disproportionately impacted.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Research highlights China's coal transition complexities
A new paper from the University of California San Diego details how China faces numerous political, economic and technological obstacles as it tries to transition away from coal—the country's primary energy source—while balancing the need to combat climate change with the need for energy security.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Researchers reveal the dynamic processes that sculpt the Arctic seafloor
MBARI researchers, working alongside a team of international collaborators, have discovered large underwater ice formations at the edge of the Canadian Beaufort Sea, located in a remote region of the Arctic. This discovery reveals an unanticipated mechanism for the ongoing formation of submarine permafrost ice.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Satellites Are Changing How We Study Climate Change
Satellites devoted to both Earth science and space exploration are offering an unprecedented look at the changing planet—and that data could change our response.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Software pinpoints way to generate maximum electricity from waves, tides, and currents
Marine energy devices have the potential to deliver gigantic amounts of power―if they can survive the ocean's punishing conditions. Innovative system designs are needed to convert wave movements into electricity, but the sea is vast and complex, and deployment in these remote locations is expensive.
October 8th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Solar-powered desalination system requires no extra batteries
Because it doesn't need expensive energy storage for times without sunshine, the technology could provide communities with drinking water at low costs
October 8th, 2024 — Source

or Source

Study reveals how parasites thrive by balancing specialization with exploiting diverse species communities
A single shift of a parasite from one host species to another can trigger catastrophic infectious disease outbreaks. Despite this, scientists continue to debate the role of species diversity in natural environments on the spread of these parasites.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals relationship between nitrogen-cycling microbial communities and nitrogen removal
Excess nitrogen (N) input to the inland water bodies and marine ecosystem has contributed to a cascade of environmental issues, so N removal pathways are critical in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems for maintaining homeostasis. Associated functional microbes are of great importance for developing N management to protect downstream water bodies.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

The US could finally ditch lead pipes under new EPA decision
Lead pipes are still a big problem for drinking water in the US, especially when it comes to risks posed to children.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Transition to low-carbon futures: New research uncovers rise in legal challenges to climate action
As the global push towards low-carbon societies accelerates, a new study reveals that justice concerns are increasingly surfacing in legal disputes over climate policies and projects. This phenomenon, described as 'just transition litigation', emphasizes the need to balance climate action with social justice considerations, ensuring that vulnerable communities are not disproportionately impacted.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 7th, 2024

A compost in the sea that produces oxygen
A study conducted in the Mediterranean Sea on Posidonia seagrass meadows revealed surprising results.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

A flow cytometry guide for accurate estimation of plant genome size
A recent study released by researchers at North Carolina State University offers new insights and guidelines for the accurate estimation of plant genome size using flow cytometry.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Air pollution inside Philadelphia's subway is much worse than on the streets, study finds
The air quality in the City Hall subway station in downtown Philadelphia is much worse than on the sidewalks directly above the station. That is a key finding of our new study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Antarctic 'greening' at dramatic rate
Vegetation cover across the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold over the last four decades, new research shows.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Arctic ozone reaches record high in positive step for climate
Earth's ozone layer holes over polar regions, where the stratospheric ozone level is significantly depleted, have been a prevalent feature of climate change news in recent decades. Anthropogenic-sourced chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are the primary cause, released from household items such as coolants in fridges, air conditioners and spray cans. Restricting their use has been and remains paramount to ozone hole recovery as they have multi-decadal lifetimes in the atmosphere.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Awaiting Promised Support From the West, Indonesia Proceeds With Its Ambitious Energy Transition
The U.S., other developed nations and private banks pledged $21.6 billion to the Just Energy Transition Partnership, generating cautious optimism. But financing has been slow, prompting concerns in Jakarta.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Bioengineered microorganisms offer new tool for plastic waste breakdown
Rice University scientists have tapped into nature's adhesive genius—the sticky power of mussels—to create bioengineered microorganisms with powerful cling that could help transform environmental cleanup. By combining this amplified sticking force with an enzyme that breaks down harmful plastics, their discovery offers a potential new tool for tackling plastic pollution.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Biomass-derived single-atom catalysts show promise for sustainable chemical production
The quest for sustainable chemical production has taken a significant leap forward with the introduction of biomass-derived single-atom catalysts (SACs) by a team of researchers at Monash University. Led by Adrian Chun Minh Loy and Sankar Bhattacharya, the study, published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, presents a detailed analysis of SACs and their potential to revolutionize the chemical industry.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Category 5 Milton poses an exceptionally serious threat to Florida's west coast
One of the fastest-intensifying Atlantic hurricanes on record, Milton is on track to slam into Florida's west coast with potentially catastrophic storm surge.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Common consumer product chemicals now tied to cardiac electrical changes
Analysis of Fernald data shows environmental phenols associated with heart toxicities
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Could Naturally Occurring Hydrogen Underground Be a Gusher of Clean Energy in Alaska?
After working in the state's oil industry and government agencies overseeing fossil fuels, this dreamer is searching for deposits of the clean-burning gas that don't need to be created from natural gas or water.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Data analysis navigates lookalikes to try to pin down the true number of mouse lemur species
In some parts of the world, animals are going extinct before scientists can even name them. Such may be the case for mouse lemurs, the saucer-eyed, teacup-sized primates native to the African island of Madagascar. There, deforestation has prompted the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to classify some of these tree-dwelling cousins as "endangered" even before they are formally described.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Dead leaves in sea break down into a compost that produces oxygen
Researchers from the University of Liège (BE) studied the fate of the material produced by Posidonia seagrass meadows. This study, carried out in the Mediterranean Sea at STARESO, shows that the dead leaves of what is commonly known as Neptune grass accumulate in shallow areas, where they break down like a compost, remineralizing the organic matter. This has a previously underestimated effect on carbon fluxes in the Mediterranean coastal environments.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

During visit to South LA, EPA head vows to address environmental injustices in Watts
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has pledged to work alongside Watts residents to address a host of environmental issues in the South Los Angeles community.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Energy efficiency job training provides incarcerated people with new career opportunities
About 25 participants in an Illinois program have been hired in energy efficiency jobs upon their release.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Environmental protections account for around 10% of fish stocks on coral reefs, global study finds
New research from the University of Sydney shows that international conservation efforts account for approximately 10% of fish stocks on coral reefs.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Experts review the rise of cellulose in water remediation
In a world grappling with environmental challenges, the search for sustainable solutions has never been more critical. One such solution lies in the realm of bio-renewable materials, as highlighted in a recent review article published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Field study finds using biodiversity instead of pesticides can reduce crop damage from herbivores
Pesticides aren't always necessary. Researchers at the University of Zurich have conducted a comprehensive field study showing that damage from herbivores can be reduced by using biodiversity within a plant species. Different plant genotypes can cooperate to help fend off herbivorous insects. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Gas isn't a good alternative to coal. South Africa should focus on solar, wind and green hydrogen
South Africa is immersed in a "just energy transition" from a fossil fuel-based energy system to a cleaner, low-carbon energy system. This new system will be based primarily on renewable energy, such as solar, wind and green hydrogen.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Genomic study reveals fungal domestication by leafcutter ants
While our human ancestors began domesticating food crops around 10,000 years ago, a lineage of ants called the "attines" became fungus farmers 60 million years earlier. The attine ants and their fungal crop mutually depend on each other for survival.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

How to Prepare for a Weather Emergency
Consumer Reports offers tips on choosing the best generator, protecting your family and pets, and more
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Hurricane Milton: Debunking online conspiracy theories as the storm looms
Beware "weather weapon" and FEMA fake news.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Hurricane Milton live cams: See Tampa Bay webcams as landfall nears
Rapid Intensification, again.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

IAEA team samples seawater near Fukushima plant to ensure safe release of wastewater
A team of scientists from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in Fukushima on Monday as part of an annual monitoring and sampling mission to ensure safety of the discharge of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, officials said.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

New polymer technology targets engineering failure to enhance sustainability
Sustainability is a complex problem with many different players and influenced by policies, society, and technical perspectives. Scientists within ASU's School of Molecular Sciences (SMS) and the Biodesign Institute's Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing (SM3) are pursuing a multi-pronged approach towards a more circular economy, with projects focused on biosourcing, recycling, water purification, or carbon capture to name a few.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Novel cocatalyst method enhances water splitting efficiency
Scientists are urgently searching for clean fuel sources—such as hydrogen—to aid in the move toward carbon neutrality. A breakthrough for improving the efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction that splits water into hydrogen has been made by a team of researchers from Tohoku University, Tokyo University of Science and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Outdoor businesses and venues could benefit from boosting biodiversity
Visitors to vineyards enjoyed their tours more when they heard enhanced sounds of diverse birdsong, new research has found.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Repurposing oil and gas infrastructure: A geothermal revolution in the North Sea?
As we navigate the complex landscape of energy transition, a promising solution is emerging from an often overlooked source: our existing oil and gas infrastructure. While the need to move away from fossil fuels is clear, the path forward must be both workable and sustainable—technically, economically, and environmentally.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Researchers restore the performance of quantum dot solar cells as if 'flattening crumpled paper'
Researchers adopt a new ligand to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite quantum dot solar cells. Solar cell efficiency increases to 15.3% by correcting distortions on the surface of quantum dots.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Researchers uncover new plant perception mechanism for light and heat
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf have described a previously unknown mechanism in the perception of light and heat in plants. The results contribute to a better understanding of plant physiological processes.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Review discusses performance of bio-based foams
As the world grapples with the environmental consequences of plastic waste, researchers from China and Canada have shed light on the burgeoning field of bio-based foams. In a recent review article published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, Xiaohan Wang, Jinwon Jang, and their colleagues have provided an in-depth analysis of bio-based foams, which are emerging as a beacon of hope for sustainable packaging solutions.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Review explores chestnut tannin's role in bioeconomy
The bioeconomy is witnessing a revival of interest in chestnut tannin, a compound extracted from chestnut tree bark or wood, thanks to its versatile applications and environmentally friendly nature. A recent review article led by Rosaria Ciriminna and colleagues delves into the detailed analysis of chestnut tannin's production, chemistry, and its emerging roles in different sectors.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Sardinia's sheep farmers battle bluetongue as climate warms
The sheep huddle together, bleeding from the nose, aborting lambs or suffocating on saliva as they succumb to bluetongue, a virus sweeping through flocks on the Italian island of Sardinia.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Seawater as a retting agent: A sustainable method for extracting banana fibers
In a recent study, researchers explored the use of seawater as a retting agent for banana pseudo-stems, achieving an efficient extraction of natural fibers while conserving freshwater resources. The paper is published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

UN warns world's water cycle becoming ever more erratic
Increasingly intense floods and droughts are a "distress signal" of what is to come as climate change makes the planet's water cycle ever more unpredictable, the United Nations warned Monday.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Veterans of Alaska's Oil Industry Look to Blaze a Renewable Energy Pathway in the State
Cook Inlet is a hotbed of green energy ambitions, with proposals for wind, geothermal, tidal and hydrogen production, but their success could be stymied by the fossil fuel foundation of the state's economy and politics.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Warming world, deadly problem: Heat-related deaths are surging
The rate of heat-related deaths in the U.S. rose 117% in the last seven years, research finds.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 6th, 2024

Dubai Airports unveils plan to install largest airport solar roof with 62,904 panels
Another initiative by Emirates airline will install 39,960 solar panels
October 6th, 2024 — Source

Greening of Antarctica shows how climate change affects the frozen continent
Plant growth is accelerating on the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands.
October 6th, 2024 — Source

How Texas Diminished a Once-Rigorous Air Pollution Monitoring Team
Former employees say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality weakened the unit in the years following the onset of the fracking boom. The operation never returned to what it was before.
October 6th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — October 5th, 2024

Biden signs bill allowing some US chipmakers to bypass environmental reviews
Controversial move ruffles feathers of environmental groups
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Big Tech has cozied up to nuclear energy
Major tech firms, in search of carbon pollution-free electricity for data centers, are helping to revive nuclear energy in the US.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Curbside 'Composting' Is Finally Citywide in New York. Or Is It?
Much of the food scraps and other organic waste that's collected will go not to compost piles but to producing "bio-gas" energy for the electric grid, which presents a host of environmental issues. Can the new program turn into a real composting effort?
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Field notes: Life in the Eldorado National Forest after wildfire strikes
Charred trees punctuated the Eldorado National Forest like blackened skeletons of their former selves, victims of the Mosquito Fire. Two years earlier, in 2022, the Mosquito Fire started in Tahoe National Forest, moved north to the Eldorado and torched a total of 76,788 acres, making it California's largest wildfire in 2022.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

In Competitive Purple Districts, GOP House Members Paint Themselves Green
Climate activists are calling out incumbents' poor environmental records in a coordinated drive to flip the House to Democratic control.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Limestone and iron reveal puzzling extreme rain in Western Australia 100,000 years ago
Almost one-sixth of Earth's land surface is covered in otherworldly landscapes with a name that may also be unfamiliar: karst. These landscapes are like natural sculpture parks, with dramatic terrain dotted with caves and towers of bedrock slowly sculpted by water over thousands of years.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Nepalis fear more floods as climate change melts glaciers
Mingma Rita Sherpa was not home when the muddy torrent roared into his village in Nepal without warning, but when he returned, he did not recognize his once beautiful settlement.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

North Carolina is distributing Benadryl and EpiPens as yellow jackets swarm from Helene flooding
Deadly flooding from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina has also disrupted the underground nests of yellow jackets, bees and other insects, causing them to swarm and sting people struggling to recover from the storm.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Researchers propose hydrogen storage using existing infrastructure in lakes and reservoirs
In a new Nature Communications study, researchers propose a new method for hydrogen storage using existing pipes located at the bottom of lakes and reservoirs.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Study of global primate populations reveals predictors of extinction risk
An international team of biologists, planetary scientists and conservationists has conducted a large-scale study of non-human primate populations around the world to gauge their risk of extinction due to climate change.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Supreme Court lets stand rules to curb mercury, methane emissions
The US Supreme Court declined on Friday to block environmental regulations aimed at reducing harmful emissions of mercury from power plants and methane from oil and gas facilities.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Trees' own beneficial microbiome could lead to discovery of new treatments to fight citrus greening disease
Citrus trees showing natural tolerance to citrus greening disease host bacteria that produce novel antimicrobials that can be used to fight off the disease, our recent study shows. We found the trees at an organic farm in Clermont, Florida.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

Why Hurricane Helene Could Finally Change the Conversation Around Climate Change
The massive personal and economic toll of unexpected inland flooding may represent a turning point.
October 5th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 29th, 2024

At Climate Week NYC, Advocates for Plant-Based Diets Make Their Case for the Climate
Reports say investing in plant-centric diets pays huge dividends for slowing climate change, but the livestock industry tells another story.
September 29th, 2024 — Source

Climate Impacts Put Insurance Commissioner Races in the Spotlight
As premiums skyrocket, voters are starting to pay attention to one of the most obscure positions on the ballot.
September 29th, 2024 — Source

In the Fight to Decide the Fate of US Steel, Climate and Public Health Take a Backseat to Politics
The potential sale to Nippon Steel has become a political football. But no one is listening to long-term concerns about pollution, health and global warming.
September 29th, 2024 — Source

Ohio Senate Candidates Downplay Climate Action in Closely Contested Race
Business owner Bernie Moreno, a Republican, has said America needs more fossil fuels. Democrat Sherrod Brown, the incumbent, is emphasizing manufacturing.
September 29th, 2024 — Source

Oil pollution in North Sea is 'grossly underestimated,' suggests new report
Growing up in Aberdeen, Scotland, the shadow of the Piper Alpha disaster loomed large over our community. The tragic explosion of the oil rig platform in 1988 claimed the lives of 167 people.
September 29th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 28th, 2024

Geologists discover mysterious subduction zone beneath Pacific, reshaping understanding of Earth's interior
University of Maryland scientists uncovered evidence of an ancient seafloor that sank deep into Earth during the age of dinosaurs, challenging existing theories about Earth's interior structure. Located in the East Pacific Rise (a tectonic plate boundary on the floor of the southeastern Pacific Ocean), this previously unstudied patch of seafloor sheds new light on the inner workings of our planet and how its surface has changed over millions of years.
September 28th, 2024 — Source

In the Heart of Wall Street, Rights of Nature Activists Put the Fossil Fuel Era on Trial
What would the world look like if legal systems rendered decisions based on what was best for the integrity of ecosystems? A people's tribunal on the "rights of nature" is providing a model.
September 28th, 2024 — Source

Joliet, Illinois, Plans to Source Its Future Drinking Water From Lake Michigan. Will Other Cities Follow?
As aquifers dry up, some Midwest communities are looking to the region's greatest natural resources for a solution. A 2008 law governs access to it—with an exemption for Illinois.
September 28th, 2024 — Source

The Fate of Thousands of US Dams Hangs in the Balance, Leaving Rural Communities With Hard Choices
Dams across the country are aging, and also facing pressures from urban sprawl and intensifying floods wrought by climate change.
September 28th, 2024 — Source

Why South America is burning
A record wave of wildfires, fueled by severe drought linked to climate change and deforestation, is causing havoc across South America.
September 28th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 25th, 2024

A new financing model could speed up forest thinning projects
The projects can help reduce the risk of intense wildfires.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Afar mantle plume study offers new insight into deep Earth processes
Sophisticated analysis of tiny bubbles of ancient gas trapped in volcanic rocks, combined with new geophysical modeling, has cast new light on long-held assumptions about the deep Earth.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Amazon's next entry-level Kindle with a brighter screen leaks
he new 12th-gen Kindle will have a six-inch, 300ppi screen that's now 25 percent brighter.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Anthropogenic factors in soil ecosystems have greater impact the more dissimilar and numerous they are, study finds
A research team from Freie Universität Berlin has discovered that soil properties are severely impacted when subjected to a large number of different environmental stressors. The study is published in Nature Communications.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Baltimore Is Investing in Wetlands Restoration, a Climate Line of Defense
Wetlands restoration and shoreline rehabilitation efforts in South Baltimore promise to make communities resilient against climate change and severe weather while spawning new green spaces. Scientists say it's a new science that needs careful and closer scrutiny.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Bronze age Lactobacillus genomes reveal origins of kefir cheese
For the first time, scientists successfully extracted and analyzed DNA from ancient cheese samples found alongside the Tarim Basin mummies in China, dating back approximately 3,600 years. The research, published September 25 in the journal Cell, suggests a new origin for kefir cheese and sheds light on the evolution of probiotic bacteria.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Chicago's Latino Neighborhoods Have Less Access to Parks, But Residents Are Working to Change That
In majority Latino neighborhoods like Brighton Park on the southwest side, residents have come together to push the city to invest more in parks and neighborhood green spaces in the face of climate change.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Cloud cover and urban structures drastically reduce sunlight in cities
Sunlight plays a crucial role in public health, affecting vitamin D synthesis and psychological well-being. Inadequate exposure to sunlight is associated with various adverse health outcomes, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, depression and mental disorders.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Concern grows as bird flu outbreaks continue to rise among California dairy herds
Reports of H5N1 bird flu outbreaks at California dairy herds are continuing to rise as the nation's largest milk producer scrambles to contain the spread.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Deep-Sea discovery: Inorganic nanostructures could revolutionize blue energy harvesting
Researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan and The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) of Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered inorganic nanostructures surrounding deep-ocean hydrothermal vents that are strikingly similar to molecules that make life as we know it possible.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Fossils from the Adriatic Sea show a recent and worrying reversal of fortunes
If you'd stopped monitoring the Adriatic Sea's marine life in the mid-20th century, the outlook would have been promising. Snails and the clams they hunt for food increased in abundance for several decades during the late 1800s and early 1900s, evidence of a vibrant and healthy ecosystem.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Ghost of Tsushima gets long awaited sequel -- Ghost of Yotei
Last night during Sony's latest State of Play showcase, we finally got our first look at what Sucker Punch has been working on since the launch of its open-world hit, Ghost of Tsushima. We are finally getting a sequel, titled 'Ghost of Yotei' and better yet, it will be out next year.
September 25th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Humbug damselfish use 'motion dazzle' to evade predators
When thinking of animal camouflage, we typically imagine creatures remaining still, blending seamlessly into their surroundings. But remaining motionless isn't always practical, and many animals are highly mobile, constantly moving through their environment to graze their food.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Ice age clues and advanced climate modeling shed light on how El Nino weather patterns might change
The last ice age peaked around 20,000 years ago and was marked by extensive glaciation and dramatic climate shifts that reshaped Earth's oceans, landscapes and ecosystems. A study led by the University of Arizona suggests that Earth's last ice age may provide crucial insights into future El Niño weather events. El Niño is one of the most influential climate patterns affecting global weather.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Kandji unveils Kai: an AI-powered device management assistant for Apple fleets
Kandji, a popular Apple device management vendor, has introduced Kai, an AI-powered device management assistant designed to streamline the management of Apple devices within corporate environments.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Major boost in carbon capture and storage essential to reach 2°C climate target, study suggests
Large expansion of carbon capture and storage is necessary to fulfill the Paris Climate Agreement. Yet a new study led by Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden and University of Bergen, in Norway, shows that without major efforts, the technology will not expand fast enough to meet the 2°C target and even with major efforts, it is unlikely to expand fast enough for the 1.5°C target.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Medicinal tree successfully grown from 1,000-year-old seed found in cave
An international team of botanists, agriculturists and historians has successfully grown a mature tree from an ancient seed found in a cave in Israel. In their paper, published in the journal Communications Biology, the group describes where the seed was found, the work that was done to discover its origins and what they have learned about its history as it has sprouted and grown into a mature tree
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Morphology study paves the way for spider fang-inspired cutting tools
When we think of spiders, the first thing that comes to mind is their ability to weave intricate and robust webs. But their ability to cut their own silk—the toughest natural material—and strong or tough synthetic fibers such as carbon or Kevlar, is much less known.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Mutations that affect protein stability follow simple math rules, study shows
In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute have discovered that mutations affect protein stability following remarkably simple rules. The discovery has profound implications for accelerating the development of new treatments for diseases or the design of new proteins with industrial applications.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Nanostructures in the deep ocean floor hint at life's origin
Researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan and The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) of Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered inorganic nanostructures surrounding deep-ocean hydrothermal vents that are strikingly similar to molecules that make life as we know it possible. These nanostructures are self-organized and act as selective ion channels, which create energy that can be harnessed in the form of electricity.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

New evolutionary model revises the origins of biodiversity
An international team of scientists has made a discovery that could reshape our understanding of how global biodiversity evolved. By reconstructing the evolution of species over the past 45 million years, researchers found that the geographic origins of many plants, insects and mammals are more closely linked than previously thought.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

New Study Finds Lakes in Minority Communities Across the US Are Less Likely to be Monitored
Researchers originally planned to compare water quality in white and minority communities, but found that the relevant data was less likely to be collected in communities of color.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop carbon dots-driven green radiative cooling coating for energy saving in buildings
Buildings account for about 90% of Hong Kong's electricity consumption and over 60% of carbon emissions. Energy conservation in buildings is crucial for achieving climate mitigation goals. Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) researchers have developed an environmentally friendly solar-driven adaptive radiative cooling (SARC) coating for building roofs and walls.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Scientists discover electrolyte composition-dependent CO² reduction selectivity with an MOF catalyst
Electrochemical reduction of CO² has long been viewed as a promising approach to utilize CO². Selective generation is an important topic, but most efforts on controlling product selectivity have been devoted to catalyst design and modification. The impact of electrolyte composition is less studied.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Soil and water pollution: An invisible threat to cardiovascular health
Pesticides, heavy metals, micro- and nanoplastics in the soil, and environmentally harmful chemicals can have a detrimental effect on the cardiovascular system, according to a review paper.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Sustainable catalysts efficiently break down pharmaceuticals in polluted waters
Carnegie Mellon University scientists have found that an environmentally friendly process involving a TAML catalyst and hydrogen peroxide effectively degrades several antibiotics and other drugs found in municipal secondary wastewater and contaminated river and lake water.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

The connection between green energy and high power bills
For years, Nevada has put affordable energy on the back burner. Now, ratepayers are getting burned.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid: Scientists Now Believe They Know Its Origin Story
The cataclysmic asteroid left deposits similar to those made by other asteroids from the outer solar system.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

The unsung heroes of India's extreme weather disasters
How community health workers are changing lives under dangerous conditions.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado are leaking toxic water, but Congress finally has a solution in sight
Polluted water leaking from thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado's mountains is turning wetlands orange and dumping toxic dissolved metals in the headwaters of many of the state's rivers.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Tree-ring data reveal how the jet stream has shaped extreme weather in Europe for centuries
During her summer travels to her native Belgium, University of Arizona professor Valerie Trouet noticed something that turned casual curiosity into a major scientific discovery: when the sun hid behind an overcast sky and people around her put on sweaters instead of summer clothes, the weather tended to be warm and dry in Italy, Greece and the Balkans, popular summer escapes for tourists from the cooler climates of central and northern Europe.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

UN chief warns of 'rising tide of misery' from swelling seas
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that surging sea levels are creating "a rising tide of misery," as a coalition of small island nations declared that their sovereignty must be respected even if their lands are subsumed.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Unexpected deep-sea discovery shines light on life in the twilight zone
The ocean's twilight zone is deep, dark, and—according to new research—iron deficient. No sunlight reaches this region 200 to 1,000 meters below the sea surface, where levels of iron, a key micronutrient, are so low that the growth of bacteria is restricted. To compensate, these bacteria produce molecules called siderophores, which help the bacteria scavenge trace amounts of iron from the surrounding seawater.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

US may exempt latest chip fabs from eco red-tape, but power is still a trip
AC/DC: America's grid might need to brace itself
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Will Young Voters' Initial Excitement for Harris Build Enough Momentum to Get Them to the Polls?
While many young climate voters are rallying around Harris, her backpedaling on a fracking ban and support of President Biden's oil and gas policies leave some disenchanted.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

With curtailed carbon emissions, corals can survive climate change, say researchers
In a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers at the UH Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) Toonen- Bowen "ToBo" Lab have identified scenarios under which eight of the most common species of coral found in Hawaiʻi can adapt to and survive ocean warming and acidification.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 23rd, 2024

A Thousand Lives Lost, and Millions Disrupted, by Flooding in Western Africa
The city of Maiduguri, in Nigeria, had been drought-stricken. Then the rains, amplified by climate change, began and wouldn't stop, inundating homes and overwhelming a dam.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Alleging Decades of Lies, California Sues ExxonMobil Over Plastic Pollution Crisis
The Texas-based oil and gas giant says California is to blame for plastic recycling failures. Four environmental groups filed their own lawsuit against Exxon on the same day as the state's action.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Ancient Earth Had a Widely Fluctuating Surface Temperature
This doesn't mean Earth's current warming trend is any less concerning, scientists warn.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

At COP16, Colombia seeks to lead by example on biodiversity
As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, Colombia is determined to lead by example when it hosts an upcoming UN summit to save nature, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad told AFP on Monday.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

California carbon emissions lag behind 2030 climate targets, data show
California carbon emissions are falling, but not fast enough to reach the state's 2030 climate targets, according to data released Friday by the Air Resources Board. Leaders predicted that new and existing industry regulations would put the state on track.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

California cracks down on another Central Valley farm area for groundwater depletion
California water regulators are cracking down on a second farming area in the San Joaquin Valley for failing to take adequate steps to curb overpumping that is depleting groundwater, causing the land to sink and damaging a canal that transports water for 1 million acres of farmland and more than 250,000 people.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Carbon nanotubes from captured CO² strengthen plastics and cut environmental impact
Plastics permeate every facet of modern life, from the packaging that protects our food to the components in our smartphones. This ubiquity, however, comes at a steep environmental cost. The production of plastics contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, while plastic waste chokes our oceans and landscapes. As global plastic consumption continues to rise, projected to double by 2040, the urgency to address these environmental challenges has never been greater.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Clean technology mandates can slash prices and carbon emissions to spark cascade of positive tipping points
Governments can start a global cascade of "positive tipping points" to cut prices and carbon emissions by using mandates to switch investment from polluting fossil fuels to clean technologies, according to a new report (PDF) launched today at Climate Week NYC.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Climate change could triple U.S. heat deaths by mid-century, experts warn
If global warming is left largely unchecked, the number of Americans who succumb to extreme heat will triple by mid-century, new projections estimate.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Climate change is a pollution problem, and countries have stopped similar threats before—think DDT and acid rain
Climate change can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, if you look closely at its causes, you'll realize that history is filled with similar health and environmental threats that humanity has overcome.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Colombia battles fires as drought fuels Latin American flames
Colombian authorities said Sunday they were fighting forest fires across seven departments, as a scorching drought fanned blazes across Latin America.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

'Convergence' growing on global plastics treaty: UN environment chief
The UN environment chief said Sunday she was beginning to see convergence on the world's first binding treaty on plastic pollution despite differences on production caps and a tax-like plastic fee.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Data from robots show steady increase in deep-ocean warming
New research published Sept. 19 in Geophysical Research Letters shows that using data collected by deep ocean robots, called Deep Argo floats, combined with historical data from research vessels has increased confidence that parts of the global deep ocean are warming at a rate of .0036 to .0072°F (.002 to .004°C) each year.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Deeper corals may help shallow reefs recover in the Florida keys
Since the 1970s, coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) have experienced catastrophic declines in coral cover, with as much as a 50% reduction between 1998 and 2011 alone. Although coral reefs within the FKNMS have been heavily studied, research in the mesophotic zone, which extends from about 100 to 500 feet deep, has historically been more limited in this region.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Don't Be Fooled: 7 Solar Panel Scams to Know and Avoid
Not every solar company is trustworthy, and getting stuck in a bad deal could cost you. Here's how you can avoid solar panel scams.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Elucidating the process of smart livestock technology adoption by farmers in Japan
The growth in population, rise in income, and changes in dietary preferences, have led to an increase in the demand for livestock products globally, highlighting the need for smart livestock technologies.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Expanding Earth science education beyond traditional field trips
Field trips are a vital component of experiential learning in the earth science community, offering hands-on opportunities for students, professionals, and community members to engage with key scientific concepts. These trips can foster a deeper understanding of complex ideas, cater to various learning styles, and promote a sense of community.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Exploring the intersection of mosquito-borne disease and climate change
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne disease that can induce severe fever, seizures, gastrointestinal issues and changes in behavior. About a third of EEE cases are lethal, and those who recover commonly experience lingering neurological problems.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Extreme polar light environment of the North and South Poles sustains biodiversity
Researchers working in Finland propose that the unique light environment of the Earth's Polar regions creates conditions that result in circumpolar hybrid zones around the North and the South Poles. These extreme conditions increase the synchrony of reproductive phenology among species, i.e., force all species into a smaller window for reproduction.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Fast-emerging system likely to slam Florida Gulf Coast as a dangerous Hurricane Helene on Thursday
Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 could become a landfalling major hurricane for the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

From pollution to power: Merging wastewater treatment and energy generation with capacitive MFC innovations
Imagine standing on the edge of a new frontier, where waste—something we often view as a problem—becomes the solution. We live in a world that needs innovation, where environmental challenges demand a sustainable approach, and where we need technologies that not only clean but also power our future.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

High-resolution images of the sun show how flares impact the solar atmosphere
Solar flares are a fascinating thing and have a profound effect on what astronomers refer to as "space weather." These events vary with the sun's 11-year solar cycle, releasing immense amounts of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum (from extreme ultraviolet to X-rays) into space.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

How cities run dry
Rivers, lakes, and reservoirs long strained by overuse now face climate change. Some cities are turning to water restrictions to get back on track.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

How diversity in heat tolerance can help protect coral reefs
New research out of Southern Cross University has found previously undocumented variation in coral heat tolerance on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, giving hope that corals' own genetic resources may hold the key for us to help in its recovery and adaptation.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

How to manage shadow IT and reduce your attack surface
In today's fast-paced business environment, employees increasingly turn to unauthorized IT solutions to streamline their work and boost productivity. Known as "shadow IT," these systems, devices, software, and services operate outside the purview of your organization's IT department.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Human urine could be used as eco-friendly crop fertilizer: Study
Bacterial communities in soil are as resilient to human urine as synthetic fertilizers—making recycling the bodily fluid as a fertilizer for agricultural crops a viable proposition, according to a new study.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Is climate change infiltrating your backyard? The impacts of river discharge
Rivers are important indicators of ecosystem health and the long-term effects of climate change. To better understand how climate change is affecting Ohio's rivers, Ohio State University undergraduate Melody Green, along with Drs. Devin Smith and Berry Lyons, have been studying the Grand River and Big Darby Creek.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Leading scientists redefine 'sustainability' to save the ocean and feed a hungry and warming planet
Top ocean experts have published a report that redefines the concept of 'sustainable fishing' and proposes 11 'golden rules' that radically challenge the flawed approach that currently prevails in fisheries management.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Meet Scott Sklar, a renewable energy enthusiast in Arlington, Virginia
When there's a power outage, people gather at Sklar's place. During good weather, they take tours and check out what kids call his 'Back to the Future' van.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

My summer at GeekWire: Insights from an internship on the climate tech beat
I arrived at GeekWire's Seattle offices on a sunny afternoon in June to find a party in full swing on the deck. I'd just driven up from Florence, Ore., my last stop on a road trip from Santa Cruz where I'd spent the year completing a master's degree in science communication.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Navigating complex systems to preserve prairie wetlands
From grasslands to boreal forests, Saskatchewan has some of the most dynamic ecosystems in the country and is home to equally complex water systems. Researchers like Dr. Colin Whitfield (Ph.D.), associate professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability and member of the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), are keeping a close eye on Saskatchewan's water landscape.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

New Federal Housing Grants Are a Win for Climate Change and Environmental Justice
More than $69 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used to improve energy efficiency and install solar power and heat pumps in affordable housing units.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Orlando's energy future: Millions of solar panels, 75-ton batteries—and anxious residents
The electricity provider for Orlando, Florida, and its customers could use relationship therapy as they venture together into an era of sunshine powering homes, cars and most everything else.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Potential indicators of life on other planets can be created in a lab
One way to understand the potential for life on far-off planets—those in other solar systems that orbit different stars—is to study a planet's atmosphere. Telescopic images often capture traces of gases that may indicate life and habitable planets. But findings from a new study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder challenge this idea: Scientists have created one type of gas often seen as an indicator of life in a chemistry lab with no organisms present.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Powering Africa: New model compares options for off-grid solar in 43 countries
Sub-Saharan Africa, home to 80% of the global population without electricity access, is unlikely to reach the United Nations' goal of access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Report: Cutting methane emissions key to fighting climate change and harmful ozone
Many human activities lead to methane being released into the atmosphere. Agriculture, landfills, wastewater, and fossil fuel production and distribution are the biggest contributors. These make up roughly 60% of global methane emissions, and natural sources account for the remaining 40% of emissions.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Shoreline access, lack of parking found to be obstacles to shared usage of coastal resources in Rhode Island
There are obstacles when it comes to sharing marine space, infrastructure, and resources in Rhode Island, a recent study found. With the usage of the state's coastal and offshore waters increasing, University of Rhode Island professor of marine affairs David Bidwell wanted to understand what current and potential marine multi-use opportunities might exist.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study raises questions about validity of standard model of solar flares
Solar flares are extremely intense events that occur in the sun's atmosphere, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. According to the standard flare model, the energy that triggers these explosions is transported by accelerated electrons that hurtle from the magnetic reconnection region in the corona to the chromosphere.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study reveals high rates of seafood mislabeling and ambiguous market names in Calgary, Alberta
A study published in PeerJ Life and Environment has uncovered alarming levels of seafood mislabeling and the use of ambiguous market names in Calgary's seafood market, often concealing species of conservation concern. This research marks the first Canadian study to investigate both invertebrate and finfish mislabeling and the implications of unclear market names.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

The Biden administration is fighting smugglers of a potent greenhouse gas
The Biden administration has launched a new initiative to crack down on smugglers at U.S. borders and ports. The concern isn't drugs or counterfeit goods, though; it's a refrigerant that's also a dangerous greenhouse gas.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

'They are blanketing everything': Solar plan a threat to Nevada, officials say
As the country ramps up its stock of solar farms in the West, rural Nevada is bracing for impact. Especially so in one of the state's most-strained water basins outside of Las Vegas.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Transforming agriculture from carbon source to sink
The food system is one of the most significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet, making the reduction of emissions in this sector a priority for policymakers around the world. Researchers explored the potential of carbon sequestration on farmland to combat climate change, offering insights into economic effects as well as its climate change mitigation potential.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source or Source

Tugboat powered by ammonia sails for the first time, showing how to cut emissions from shipping
On a tributary of the Hudson River, a tugboat powered by ammonia eased away from the shipyard dock and sailed for the first time to show how the maritime industry can slash planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

World's oceans near critical acidification level: Report
The world's oceans are close to becoming too acidic to properly sustain marine life or help stabilize the climate, a new report said on Monday.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 22nd, 2024

Can Mississippi Advocates Use a Turtle To Fight a Huge Pearl River Engineering Project?
Armed with new protections, the Pearl River map turtle could be the catalyst for halting a controversial U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project in Jackson, Mississippi.
September 22nd, 2024 — Source

Floods, landslides hit central Japan months after major quake
Floods and landslides killed one person and left at least 11 missing in central Japan, with recovery teams at work on Sunday in a remote peninsula already devastated by a major earthquake this year.
September 22nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 21st, 2024

Three Mile Island Nuclear Site To Reopen in Exclusive Microsoft Agreement
Three Mile Island, the location of the worst-ever nuclear incident in the United States, is set to be galvanized after its owners struck a deal with Microsoft to sell power to the multinational tech giant exclusively.
September 21st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 19th, 2024

A Company's Struggles Raise Questions About the Future of Lithium Extraction in Pennsylvania
Amid public scrutiny over worker safety, Eureka Resources, a fracking wastewater treatment company, idled a facility, canceled plans to build another and intends to sell or close two more.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

African food future looks bright with blueprint for food security
Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa can secure future food supplies by unlocking the potential of their people and farming systems, a new study reveals.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Arctic warming is driving Siberian wildfires
Wildfire activity in central Siberia, Russia, has doubled in the past 2 decades, scorching vast areas of forest and releasing carbon stored in the rich soils and permafrost underneath. The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world, and scientists already know that the effects of climate change can exacerbate wildfires.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Arctic warming may fuel ice formation in clouds, observations suggest
The Arctic frequently experiences temperatures that support the formation of mixed-phase clouds that contain supercooled liquid droplets and ice crystals. The composition of such clouds plays a crucial role in the region's energy balance and climate system. Clouds with more liquid last longer and reflect more sunlight than those with more ice crystals.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Assessing the environmental impacts of Brazil's biofuel sector
Mathematical analysis reveals that within Brazil's agriculture and livestock industry, the biofuels sector is most heavily reliant on other sectors with high greenhouse gas emissions.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Tucson
Tucson sees plenty of sunshine and has a wide variety of solar companies. Here's what you need to know about getting a solar energy system in the city.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Climate change means we may have to learn to live with invasive species
Invasive species are often looked upon with suspicion.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Conflict, climate threaten fight against diseases: Fund
Climate change and conflicts are threatening progress in the fight against infectious diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, a group dedicating to eradicating the illnesses warned on Thursday.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Decoding 'Chachi' citrus: Unveiling the secrets of flavorful phytonutrients
Citrus reticulata "Chachi" (CRC), a staple in traditional medicine and modern pharmacology, is renowned for its rich flavonoid content, which underpins its health-promoting properties. Despite its widespread use, the biosynthetic pathways and genetic controls of these beneficial compounds have remained largely uncharted.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Droughts likely to be even longer in the future due to climate change
Major climate reports may be underselling the risks of rising emissions.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Global assessment: How to make climate adaptation a success
Climate change is forcing people to adapt to changing environmental conditions. But what really makes the difference is how they do it. The recently published "Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2024" by 73 authors shows that, in the long run, only sustainable adaptation can succeed. This global assessment by University of Hamburg's Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS) also provides practical recommendations.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Hospitals commit to cutting climate pollution from their food supply chain
Over 100 hospitals and medical centers have signed up.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

How do coexisting animals find enough to eat? Biologists unlock insights into foraging habits in Yellowstone
Ecologists have long sought clarity on the dietary habits of different animal species. For scientists at Brown University and the National Park Service, it wasn't obvious how herbivores in Yellowstone National Park, who subsist on grasses, wildflowers and trees, could compete for enough of those foods to survive the winter.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

How the Tibetan Plateau is helping us to understand the current and future climate
Imagine the conductor of a vast orchestra stood not at the front, but in the middle of all the musicians, dictating how they work together and the music they produce. The musicians are not stationary; they move past each other and interact, but all the while still controlled by the unmoving conductor.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Innovating alloy production: A single step from ores to sustainable metals
Metal production is responsible for 10% of global CO² emissions, with iron production emitting two tons of CO² for every ton of metal produced, and nickel production emitting 14 tons of CO² per ton and even more, depending on the ore used.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Karman Industries hopes its SpaceX-inspired heat pumps will replace industrial boilers
Industrial heat, which is used by companies as diverse as breweries and food processors to chemical manufacturers and paper mills, is one of the last bastions of fossil fuels. After all, it's pretty hard to beat a flame when you need to heat something up.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Lake ice quality degrading as planet warms—skaters, hockey players, ice truckers on thin ice
Ice may look safe for a game of pick-up hockey on the lake, but as a new study out of York University found, looks can be deceiving. Warming winters are not only affecting ice thickness and timing—when a lake freezes and thaws—but also quality, making it potentially unstable and unsafe.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Low-carbon ammonia offers green alternative for agriculture and hydrogen transport
A new way of making ammonia, by harnessing the unique power of liquid metal, could lead to significant cuts in carbon emissions caused by production of the widely-used chemical.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Microplastics: Meant to last, just not forever and not in our bodies
Megan Hill is an assistant professor of chemistry and leader of the Hill Lab in Colorado State University's College of Natural Sciences. Her research leverages organic chemistry to design advanced polymeric materials for applications in sustainability, catalysis and soft materials. She recently sat down with SOURCE to answer some common questions.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Photoacoustic sensor achieves high-sensitivity detection of multiple greenhouse gases
Photoacoustic sensor achieves high-sensitivity detection of multiple greenhouse gases
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Portugal tackles last of deadly northern forest fires
Portugal's firefighters have mastered most of the deadly forest fires in the north of the country, according to official data Thursday.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Organic thermoelectric device can harvest energy at room temperature without a temperature gradient
Researchers have developed a new organic thermoelectric device that can harvest energy from ambient temperature. While thermoelectric devices have several uses today, hurdles still exist to their full utilization. By combining the unique abilities of organic materials, the team succeeded in developing a framework for thermoelectric power generation at room temperature without any temperature gradient.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Researchers explore physiological and molecular processes underlying graft healing
Grafting has long been a cornerstone in agriculture and forestry, allowing for the propagation of desirable plant traits and improved resistance to environmental challenges. Despite its widespread application, grafting still encounters obstacles, including compatibility issues and difficulties in vascular reconnection between scion and rootstock.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Rooftop Solar Companies Keep Going Bankrupt. Lower Interest Rates Could Help
It might take more than just "better" economic conditions to calm down the instability in the national solar installer market.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Safe-Hub: A new single nexus point for data, information and toolkits on pollinator conservation
In an effort to increase awareness and knowledge of wild pollinators and their societal values, the Safeguard project has launched the open-source platform Safeguard Knowledge Exchange Hub: Safe-Hub. The hub aims to facilitate pollinator data and knowledge sharing, support recommendations, and co-design solutions for wild pollinator decline.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Scientists can now predict catastrophic river shifts that threaten millions worldwide
Indiana University researchers have uncovered key insights into the dangerous phenomenon of "river avulsion," offering a way to predict when and where rivers may suddenly and dramatically change course.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Scientists seek a balance between crop production and protecting the environment
Scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory (NPARL), in Sidney, Montana, completed a study that shows the use of continuous cropping systems can better sustain crop yields while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in semi-arid regions.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Shein is officially the biggest polluter in fast fashion
The company nearly doubled its emissions in 2023, making it the biggest polluter in the industry.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals that future climate change may reduce the Amazon rainforest's ability to act as a carbon sink
The Amazon, often called the "lungs of the planet," is the world's largest tropical forest, playing a crucial role in the global climate system due to its vast carbon storage. While it is typically warm and humid all year round, continued climate change poses the threat of more frequent and severe droughts and heat extremes.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Tropical cyclone intensity exacerbated by increasing depth of ocean mixed layer, finds study
Tropical cyclones can have severe consequences for both the marine and terrestrial environments, as well as the organisms and communities who inhabit them. In the oceans, there can be alterations in sea surface temperature that disrupt biological processes and hospitable conditions for life, the devastation of surface algae and other primary producers, which impacts complex marine food chains, as well as damaging coral reefs.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

The memory in seeds: How plants carry environmental clues across generations
Phenotypic plasticity enables plants to adjust their physical traits in response to environmental variations, playing a vital role in their survival and adaptability. While past research has primarily focused on how these traits manifest within a single generation, the genetic basis of transgenerational inheritance remains largely unexplored.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Tidal Metals sees seawater as the solution to a critical mineral shortage
Last year, the U.S. designated magnesium as a critical mineral, one of the "electric 18"e; that are critical for the energy transition. The metal is used in a range of electronics, and it weighs less than aluminum, making it an attractive alternative for automakers.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Tyson Foods Sued Over Emissions Reduction Promises
The Environmental Working Group alleges that the world's second-largest meat producer is misleading consumers by labeling a line of its beef "climate smart."e;
September 19th, 2024 — Source

You Can Recycle Your Old Computers and Printers for Free. Here's How and Where
If you've got an old printer or two that you want to recycle, check out retailers like Best Buy, OfficeMax and Staples.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Zeno emerges from stealth to crib Tesla's master plan for Africa and beyond
When Elon Musk published Tesla's first "master plan"e; in 2006, it seemed a bit far-fetched that batteries would end up changing the automotive industry, much less global power production and consumption. Today, as electric vehicles continue to gain market share and massive batteries displace smoke-spewing power plants from the electrical grid, that notion seems less improbable.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 16th, 2024

Can satellites spot wildfires before they grow out of control?
A constellation of new satellites could help firefighters spot small blazes.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Can we engineer our way out of the climate crisis? Scientists hope to find out
After decades of trying to stop Earth from heating up, scientists are exploring how to reverse climate change and maybe even cool the planet back down.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Contrail avoidance is less likely to damage climate by mistake than previously thought, researchers find
A new study allays fears that rerouting flights to avoid forming climate-warming contrails could result in inadvertently making climate warming worse.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Environment takes center stage as global summits loom

September 16th, 2024 — Source

For some California kids, the fight against climate change is personal
Madigan Traversi's world changed in the fall of 2017, but the forces responsible for her transformation had been brewing for a long time.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Low Boom, High Pollution? NASA Readies for Supersonic Test Flight
Critics say the U.S. space agency is helping to revive an extravagant, fuel-guzzling mode of travel that will worsen the climate crisis.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Lower shipping emissions may lead to higher global temperatures
Products that we depend on and use every day arrive by way of massive container ships to ports around the world. But the maritime shipping industry is also responsible for polluting the air and oceans with sulfur dioxide, which can negatively affect human health, cause ocean acidification, and oxidize to form sulfate aerosols.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Old apartment building in Santa Monica transformed into all-electric affordable housing
Rooftop solar plus other upgrades add up to lower bills for residents.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Paying attention to errors can improve fused remote monitoring of lakes, researchers say
Lakes can tip the scales from healthy to potential environmental hazard quickly when they become eutrophic. In this state, an abundance of nutrients accelerates algae growth, which then crowd the water's surface and block light from reaching organisms below.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Research highlights how global action can deliver transformative change for the planet
Dr. Souran Chatterjee, from the University of Plymouth, has made a major contribution to a second United Nations report exploring the best ways of harnessing climate change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) synergies.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Researchers use training model to map planted and natural forests via satellite image
While planting trees may seem like an easy win to combat climate change, planted forests often encroach on natural forests, wetlands, and grasslands. This can reduce biodiversity, disturb the natural environment, and disrupt carbon and water cycling.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Scientists reveal new electrochemical cell design for turning carbon dioxide into a green fuel
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have made strides forward in realizing industrial conversion of bicarbonate solution made from captured carbon to a formate solution, a green fuel.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

The air quality in Big Bear suddenly reached hazardous levels this week: What happened?
Plumes of smoke from Southern California's fires blew across Big Bear on Sept. 11, causing local air quality meters to return off-the-chart readings for particulate pollution.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

The Climate Has a Posse -- And So Does Political Satire
Greenwashing is a well-worn strategy to try to convince the public that environmentally damaging activities aren't so damaging after all. It can be very successful precisely because most of us don't realize it's happening.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

The Key to Fix California's Inadequate Water Storage? Put Water Underground, Scientists Say
A new study finds that the state should replenish groundwater aquifers to sustain agriculture.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

These are not your parents' wildfires
From blazing boreal forests to fires so large they make their own weather, what we know about wildfires — and fighting them — has changed.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Unveiling soil moisture patterns with advanced navigation tech
A pioneering method for soil moisture retrieval using satellite navigation systems has been introduced, significantly boosting the accuracy and efficiency of global data collection.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Using sunlight to turn greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals
McGill University researchers have harnessed the power of sunlight to transform two of the most harmful greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals. The discovery could help combat climate change and provide a more sustainable way to produce certain industrial products.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

What killed fish for miles in the South River? Atlanta officials are investigating
Officials are investigating a pollution incident that occurred earlier this month a few miles south of downtown Atlanta, which local water advocates say sent toxins into a tributary of the South River and killed fish for miles downstream.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 15th, 2024

'Ecocide' on Easter Island never took place, studies suggest
Two recent studies have cast doubt on a popular theory that the ancient residents of Easter Island suffered a societal collapse because they overexploited their natural resources, an event often labeled one of history's first "ecocides".
September 15th, 2024 — Source

Get set for more extreme weather across Australia this spring and summer, say meteorologists
Australia is no stranger to extreme weather. From heat waves and droughts to flooding rains, hailstorms or fire weather, our continent experiences it all.
September 15th, 2024 — Source

How to Talk to Anxious Children About Climate Change
For years, educators and parents often avoided the subject. But that is starting to change, as therapists urge parents to listen to their kids and help them understand that their fears are normal.
September 15th, 2024 — Source

In Honduras, Libertarians and Legal Claims Threaten to Bankrupt a Nation
One of Latin America’s poorest countries faces a wave of claims from foreign investors seeking billions of dollars. Chief among them is an American company looking to build a semi-autonomous “startup city.”
September 15th, 2024 — Source

New plan shows Australia's hydrogen dream is still alive
Producing hydrogen remains vital to Australia's prosperity through the net-zero transition, according to a major strategy that lays a national pathway to becoming a global leader in low-emissions technology.
September 15th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 14th, 2024

Bizarre, nine-day seismic signal caused by epic landslide in Greenland
Unidentified seismic object resulted in skyscraper-high tsunami.
September 14th, 2024 — Source

First flexible perovskite solar cells on polycarbonate films
Perovskite photovoltaic devices have garnered much attention from both the academic and industrial R&D world because they combine high power conversion efficiencies and low-cost manufacturing processes since they can be deposited in ink form or through simple evaporation.
September 14th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 13th, 2024

Another Midwest Drought Is Causing Transportation Headaches on the Mississippi River
Abnormally dry conditions have caused low water levels that disrupt barge transports carrying fuel and grain. Climatologists say it could be part of a larger trend.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Climate change is accelerating extreme melting in Greenland with global impacts, says study
Climate change is accelerating the melting of ice in Greenland at an alarming rate, with serious implications not only for the Arctic, but also for the global climate, including Europe. According to a study led by researchers at the University of Barcelona, extreme melting episodes—periods when large areas of snow and ice melt rapidly—have been about twice as frequent during summers in recent decades compared to the period 1950--1990.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Earth to have new mini-moon for two months
A pair of asteroid dynamics researchers from Universidad Complutense de Madrid Ciudad Universitaria have found that a small asteroid will make one orbit around the Earth starting this month before departing back into other parts of the solar system.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Germany joins pushback to EU anti-deforestation law
Pressure mounted on the European Union on Friday to delay a ban on imports of products driving deforestation, after Germany became the latest country to request the rules be postponed.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Global warming's economic blow: Risks rise more rapidly for the rich, study finds
In a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), researchers analyzed how erratic weather events, increasingly intensified by global warming, affect global production and consumption across different income groups.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Lake Powell Plumbing Will Be Repaired, but Some Say Glen Canyon Dam Needs a Long-Term Fix
The river outlet pipes inside Glen Canyon Dam are getting a $9 million repair job, but conservation groups want to see more permanent changes at Lake Powell.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

New Solar-Powered Device Transforms Seawater Into Fresh Drinking Water
Researchers from the University of Waterloo have developed an innovative, energy-efficient device that uses solar power to convert seawater into freshwater. Inspired by nature, the new technology could be a game-changer for coastal and island communities facing water shortages.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Rare Photos Depict the Eye of a Tropical Cyclone Illuminated By Lightning
The International Space Station offers a unique opportunity to see dual weather phenomena from a bird's-eye perspective.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Rocket Report: China leaps into rocket reuse; 19 people are currently in orbit
Launch startups in China and Europe are borrowing ideas and rhetoric from SpaceX.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Study shows plant-derived secondary organic aerosols can act as mediators of plant-plant interactions
A study published in Science reveals that plant-derived secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) can act as mediators of plant-plant interactions. This research was conducted through the cooperation of chemical ecologists, plant ecophysiologists and atmospheric physicists at the University of Eastern Finland.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

UK blocks approval of first coal mine in 30 years
Environmental campaigners on Friday claimed a "huge victory" after a court ruling overturned a decision to allow planning permission for the UK's first deep coal mine in 30 years.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Wanted: Better housing to help people stay cool on a hotter planet
Heat has gotten so extreme in some places that turning on the AC doesn't adequately cool poorly designed buildings. The world needs effective solutions, fast.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Wetland project to help protect Palo Alto from flooding
It's also designed to improve water quality in San Francisco Bay.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 10th, 2024

A Combination of Heat and Drought Walloped Virginia Vegetable Farmers
Forgoing tillage helped some vegetable crops, but not as much as steady rain would have. Beyond the drought and the heat, farmers said, climate change brings instability.
September 10th, 2024 — Source

Heavy rains trigger flooding in Myanmar border town
Days of rain have lashed the Myanmar town of Tachileik and triggered flooding that has knocked out power and telephone lines, a resident and local media said on Tuesday, with more rain forecast.
September 10th, 2024 — Source

Molecular level changes translate to big efficiency gains for organic solar cells
Organic solar cells (OSCs) -- promising alternatives to traditional inorganic solar cells -- have many features that make them key players in a greener future. One of these features is tunable chemistry, which allows scientists to precisely adjust or modify the properties of chemical systems to achieve desired outcomes. Now, researchers from Japan have tuned them to increase power conversion efficiency.
September 10th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 9th, 2024

Extreme weather to strengthen rapidly over next two decades, research suggests
Nearly three quarters of the global population can expect strong and rapid changes in extreme temperatures and rainfall in the next 20 years unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut dramatically, according to a new study.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

California to get first new national marine sanctuary in 32 years, banning offshore oil drilling along miles of coast
A long-running effort by native tribes and environmentalists to establish the first new national marine sanctuary along California's coastline in 32 years—the aquatic version of a new national park—where offshore oil drilling would be prohibited forever, reached a key milestone on September 6.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

How Front Range cow waste and car exhaust are hurting Rocky Mountain National Park's ecosystem
For decades, gases from car exhaust and cow waste have drifted from Colorado's Front Range to harm plants, fish and wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park, and while a decades-long effort to slow the damage is working, it's not moving as quickly as environmentalists hoped.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

How well are NZ companies reporting their climate impacts? A new tracker shows very mixed results
Interpreting corporate reports on carbon emissions can be challenging. The current, adhoc approach to how businesses share this information makes it difficult to see whether they have set the right targets, have realistic plans to meet them or are being transparent about their progress.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

Neutral news sources could exploit today's polarized mediascape to boost revenue—why they may choose not to
Even news outlets perceived as politically neutral can benefit from today's polarized media environment.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

Opinion: Planning smart and sustainable cities should not result in exclusive garden utopias for the rich
One of the big ideas of the 21st century, "smart cities" promised a new world of connected, data-driven and sustainable urbanism. Pervasive digital infrastructures would monitor flows from sewage to traffic to criminal activities, providing information in real time and anticipating and preventing risks.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

Researchers: Nigerian households use a range of energy, from wood to solar—green energy planning must account for this
Low and middle-income countries generally lack access to renewable energy and rely excessively on traditional fuels like firewood and charcoal. In these countries, 2.6 billion people depend mainly on polluting fossil fuels (for electricity) and traditional biomass fuels (such as wood or charcoal for cooking) to meet their daily energy needs. In sub-Saharan Africa, about 67% of households depend primarily on traditional biomass fuels.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

Silver State may become solar state under new federal plan
The U.S. is preparing for a gargantuan spike in the amount of energy it harnesses from the sun, and vastly changing the desert landscape of the Silver State's public lands is a major component of that vision.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

This year's $890,000 Balzan Prizes awarded for research on aging, restorative justice, climate crisis
An Australian criminologist specializing in restorative justice and a U.S. scientist whose work helps address the climate crisis are among the winners of this year's Balzan Prize announced Monday.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

Viewpoint: The hobbling of the B.C. forestry policing service sets a troubling precedent
The British Columbia forestry policing services (officially known as the Compliance and Enforcement Branch (CEB) is the province's primary environmental policing service. Like other Canadian provinces' environmental policing services, the officers in B.C. are tasked with investigating wildfire causes, forestry offenses and other violations of laws designed to protect water and heritage sites.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

Volunteers track Parisian pollution with the help of tree bark
Along the streets of Paris, more than 40,000 tall, leafy plane trees provide picturesque backdrops, offer shade to city dwellers, and improve air quality, among numerous other benefits. Since 2016, some of these trees have also served as low-cost, passive biological sensors for Ecorc'Air, a crowdsourced science initiative that monitors levels of fine-particle pollutants associated with road traffic.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 7th, 2024

Americans misunderstand their contribution to deteriorating environment
A global survey suggests 88 percent of people are worried about the state of nature.
September 7th, 2024 — Source

As Climate Threats to Agriculture Mount, Could the Mississippi River Delta Be the Next California?
The World Wildlife Fund is exploring what it would take for farms in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas to become a new mecca for commercial-scale American produce.
September 7th, 2024 — Source

Customers Sue an Arizona Water District Amid Drought and Surging Demand.
In Strawberry, Arizona, a lack of community outreach and confusion over how drought was impacting the water district sparked a messy battle over drilling a new deep well.
September 7th, 2024 — Source

Deadly Super Typhoon Yagi hits Vietnam
Super Typhoon Yagi uprooted thousands of trees and swept ships and boats out to sea, killing one person, as it made landfall in northern Vietnam Saturday, after blowing past southern China where it left two dead.
September 7th, 2024 — Source

June-August 2024 were hottest ever recorded: EU monitor
The 2024 northern summer saw the highest global temperatures on record, beating 2023's high and making this year likely Earth's hottest ever recorded, the EU's climate monitor said Friday.
September 7th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 6th, 2024

A chemical cocktail of micropollutants amplified effect of algal toxins in 2022 mass fish mortality event: Study
Tons of dead fish, mussels and snails were seen floating on the Oder River (Germany) in early August 2022. It soon became clear what was causing the environmental disaster in the German-Polish border river: a mixture of excessive salinity, high water temperatures, low water levels and excessive inputs of nutrients and wastewater triggered a bloom of the brackish water algae Prymnesium parvum, whose algal toxin prymnesin has a lethal effect on organisms.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

A new era in hurricane tracking begins
Inside the dangerous mission that could revolutionize how we hunt nature's most terrifying storms.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

As Record Heat Sweeps the US, Some People Must Choose Between Food and Energy Bills
During the heat dome that blanketed much of the Southeast in June, Stacey Freeman used window units to cool her poorly insulated mobile home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Over the winter, the 44-year-old mom relied on space heaters.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Datacenters to emit 3x more carbon dioxide because of generative AI
Carbon capture outfits could be making up to $45B, say analysts
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Did lawmakers know role of fossil fuels in climate change during Clean Air Act era?
How much was known at the mid-20th century about the dangers of human-caused climate change? A lot more than most Americans think.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Discovery of a new convective instability in complex fluids, 140 years after Lord Rayleigh
An altogether new convective instability has been predicted and experimentally discovered, 140 years after Lord Rayleigh. Convective instabilities are of fundamental importance for both our everyday life as well as for ecology and climate in atmospheric and oceanic science.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Europe's biggest floating solar farm could power a large town
The project just secured fresh funding as it looks to power up next year
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Group Therapy Sessions Proliferate for People Afflicted With 'Eco-Distress'
The Good Grief Network grew out of research at the University of Utah and now provides group climate therapy across the United States and around the world.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Hit or miss: Collisions affect raptors on a global scale
What do windows, vehicles, power lines, fences, communication towers, wind turbines, and airfields all have in common? They block the flight path of raptors—sometimes with fatal consequences.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Hottest summer on record could lead to the warmest year ever measured
Summer 2024 sweltered to Earth's hottest on record, making it even more likely that this year will end up as the warmest humanity has measured, European climate service Copernicus reported Friday.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Meteorologist turns frightening flight into research project
Josh Wadler developed a new way to measure turbulence.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Mushrooms foraged in Sweden could help research Chernobyl fallout
Sweden's strong foraging culture could help determine how much radioactive fallout remains in the Scandinavian country 38 years after the Chernobyl nuclear explosion.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

New book takes philosophical approach to deep time
Contemporary life is rife with talk of impending apocalypse, from the plots of countless books and movies to the increasingly grim predictions associated with climate change.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

New research shines a light on how solar power and farming can coexist
Scientists from Swansea University have developed a new tool to help identify optimal photovoltaic (PV) materials capable of maximizing crop growth while generating solar power.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Plant thermogenesis has played key role in attracting pollinating insects for at least 200 million years, study suggests
Thermogenesis is a process by which organisms generate internal heat. Although it is usually associated with animals, some plants have also developed this ability. This metabolic process allows certain parts of the plant, such as flowers and inflorescences, to raise their temperature above that of the surrounding environment.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Research vessel Resilience charts course to the future of marine research
Officials gathered at the Sequim campus of the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to dedicate DOE's first hybrid-electric research vessel, RV Resilience.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop new material for more efficient carbon capture
In a significant advance for climate change mitigation efforts, we have developed a new material that could revolutionize carbon dioxide capture. Our study, published in Advanced Materials, introduces porous polymeric electrodes (PPEs) that dramatically enhance the efficiency of removing CO2 from low-concentration sources.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Self-sensing cantilever design enhances microelectromechanical system performance in challenging environments
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are tiny devices that integrate various components, such as miniature sensors, electronics and actuators, onto a single chip. These small devices have proved highly promising for precisely detecting biological signals, acceleration, force and other measurements.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Summer 2024 is already the hottest on record
Heat has been record-breaking this summer, and it's not over yet.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Super Typhoon Yagi slams into southern China, moves towards Vietnam
Super Typhoon Yagi slammed into southern China's Hainan island on Friday, bringing windspeeds of over 230 kilometers (143 miles) an hour in what is set to be the strongest storm to hit the region in more than a decade.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

The quest for climate-resilient cows
Researchers are working to breed varieties that can thrive in temperature extremes.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 3rd, 2024

2024 Experience Energy Case Study: Cori Carter
Over about a month and a half from the end of December through the first week of February, I taught a unit on energy using the Experience Energy curriculum. We worked through lessons one and two. We started the unit by exploring a game from lesson one as part of our nature time. This was a low-stakes way to discuss an upcoming topic for science and engage students in play using our outdoor learning space. We then engaged in the pre-unit value activity.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

2024 Experience Energy Case Study: Lisa Handlon
I taught the Climate Generation lessons to my Encore class because I was given a lot more freedom in this class than in the more structured science classes where I had to follow the district curriculum map. Encore classes are supposed to be less structured and more fun. Since I have a passion for environmental issues, I was drawn to the lessons in this curriculum.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

2024 Experience Energy Case Study: Magdalena Sind
The district I teach in currently has a science curriculum, so when I took on this Experience Energy curriculum, I knew that I would have to sprinkle it throughout my existing curriculum plan. I used all of these activities in our 4th quarter unit which is "Using Our Resources Wisely." The Experience Energy curriculum was full of great resources that complemented and supplemented my existing curriculum.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Bold climate action benefits more than just the environment—it's also great for business
As the world grapples with the intensifying challenges of climate change, businesses are under increasing pressure to take action.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Breaking boundaries: PAM-less genome editing in soybean
CRISPR-Cas9 has transformed crop genetic improvement, yet its reliance on specific protospacer adjacent motif (PAM), sequences limits editing scope and efficiency. In soybean, a critical source of protein and oil, these limitations hinder the development of high-quality, high-yield varieties.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Canada's Wildfires Emitted More Carbon Than Some of the World's Busiest Countries in 2023
The fires released more than 711 megatons of carbon last year, trumping major sources like Russia or Japan.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Catalyst design boosts performance of anion-exchange-membrane fuel cells
Fuel cells are energy-conversion solutions that generate electricity via electrochemical reactions without combustion, thus not contributing to the pollution of air on Earth. These cells could power various technologies, ranging from electric vehicles to portable chargers and industrial machines.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Dangerous airborne fungus boosted by California droughts
Valley fever is an emerging fungal disease in the western United States that most often causes flu-like symptoms, but can also cause dangerous or even deadly complications. By analyzing data on reported cases of Valley fever in California, which have increased dramatically over the last two decades, researchers from University of California San Diego and University of California, Berkeley, have identified seasonal patterns that could help individuals and public health officials better prepare for future surges in Valley fever cases.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Don't Just Toss Your Old Mattress. These Are the Best Eco-Friendly Alternatives
If you got a new bed, you might not want to just dump the old one in the landfill. Read on to learn about eco-friendly options available to you.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Expanding click chemistry: An eco-friendly conversion process for the synthesis of sulfonyl fluorides
For the first time, thiols and disulfides have been converted into sulfonyl fluorides using SHC5 and KF, expanding click chemistry with high efficiency and low environmental impact.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Genomic study illuminates mango's heritage and future
Mango, a tropical fruit with a long cultivation history, faces significant challenges such as low genetic diversity and limited breeding improvements due to complex domestication and self-pollination. These issues hinder genetic advancements in traits like yield, size, and quality.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

How much is AI hurting the planet? Big tech won't tell us.
Big tech won't tell you, but let us paint you a picture.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in New Jersey?
Solar prices in New Jersey track with the national average, but there are lots of financial incentives to lower the cost.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

How wildfire smoke, retardant slurry impact human health, environment
While flames may be the most visual wildfire danger, experts say smoke and fire retardant slurry can have long-lasting effects on human health and the environment.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Reef tourism encourages climate action, finds study
University of Queensland research has revealed that informing tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef about climate impact doesn't negatively affect their experience and can help encourage climate action. The research was published in People and Nature.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Research uncovers new strategy for salt-resistant poplar
Salt stress disrupts plant growth by impairing ion balance and reducing water uptake, posing a significant challenge to agriculture and forestry. Maintaining sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) balance is particularly vital in woody plants like poplar, which exhibit unique secondary growth. However, the pathways enabling salt tolerance in trees are not well understood, especially compared to herbaceous plants.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Researchers: An overhaul of sex education is needed to combat sexual and gender-based violence in schools across England
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in schools across England is not merely a series of isolated incidents but a deeply rooted systemic issue. This growing problem within school and online environments demands immediate and transformative solutions, according to researchers from the University of Surrey, UCL and Bedfordshire.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop new TRV vector-based method for peach gene analysis
Scientists develop new TRV vector-based method for peach gene analysis
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Seeing is believing: Your neighbor's choice to go solar might have influenced you more than you think
What made you decide to go solar? Was it a sober assessment of the return on investment? Did you want to cut your power bills? Did you want to do your bit on climate change?
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

South Carolina Is Considered a Model for 'Managed Retreat' From Coastal Areas Threatened by Climate Change
The state has identified hundreds of thousands of homes that will need to be abandoned. But at one flagship buyout, only one in 10 eligible homeowners signed up.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Sulfurous acid detected in gas phase under atmospheric conditions for first time
Once again, the atmosphere amazes us with its diverse chemical processes. For the first time, researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research in Leipzig have demonstrated the existence of sulfurous acid under atmospheric conditions in the gas phase. The results were published in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Texas resident used Apple AirTags to track her recycling. It ended up in the middle of nowhere.
Throw your AirTags in the trash? It might help the planet.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Tropical plants discovered in Tasmania's ancient Polar Forest
New remains of a 53-million-year-old polar forest have been unearthed near Macquarie Harbor in western Tasmania, unveiling previously unknown ancestral origins of rainforest plants in the southern polar region.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Unraveling grid defection: The game theory behind our shifting energy landscape
Grid defection occurs when it's cheaper for consumers to produce their own power than to buy it from the grid. For example, if a consumer faces high monthly utility fees regardless of their actual usage and can generate power using affordable local generators, they might choose to disconnect from the grid. On a large scale, this trend could lead to significant changes in how electric grids function, which needs to be better understood and managed.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Voters love this climate policy they've never heard of
The Inflation Reduction Act funds popular measures such as tax credits for home electrification and electric vehicles, plus investments in clean energy technology and infrastructure.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

What to Know Before Teaching Experience Energy: Educators Tell their Stories
Energy permeates all areas of life. Our energy choices are tied to political and social systems that impact school equity issues such as health and academic performance; our values, beliefs, and identity groups affect how we approach energy's connection to the climate crisis; how we communicate about energy influences our perspectives on the history of energy use and where we want to go in the future.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Whole genome duplications linked to higher oil yields in key crops
Oil crops are pivotal for human nutrition and industry due to their ability to produce and store large amounts of oil in seeds. With the global demand for vegetable oils steadily rising, there is an urgent need to discover new high-yielding oil plants and improve the oil production of existing crops.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 2nd, 2024

Amazon rainforest fires produce secondary ultrafine particles that may affect weather and climate
Particles in wildfire smoke can lower air quality and harm human health. Smoke aerosols can also influence weather and climate by modifying cloud formation and changing how much of the sun's energy is reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere. Compared to larger particles directly emitted from fires, the formation and presence of ultrafine particles (UFPs) have previously been overlooked, as it was thought that they were quickly "scavenged" by the larger particles.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

As wolves swoop, Austrians grab guns for contested cull
After wolves swooped from the forest and savaged her lambs, Austrian sheep farmer Renate Pilz feels like giving up. Others, to the anger of conservationists, are reaching for their rifles.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Calling for further study, California lawmakers table ban on toxic herbicide paraquat
California lawmakers have approved a bill that could help strengthen regulations around the use of paraquat, a powerful weedkiller associated with Parkinson's disease and other serious health issues.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Climate change threatens outdoor workers in tropical regions, study finds
Nearly one-third of all hours could become unsafe for heavy outdoor work.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Curbing toxic metals in spinach and rice crops grown for baby food
Rice and spinach are staples for babies' and young children's diets, but toxic metals and metalloids found in those foods can cause severe health impacts.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Electricity generated by earthquakes might be the secret behind giant gold nuggets
Scientists have long been fascinated by the formation of gold nuggets, often found nestled within quartz veins. New research led by Monash University geologists suggests that the process might be even more electrifying than we previously thought—literally.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Engineering approach can improve stability of perovskite solar cells under reverse bias conditions
Solar cells based on perovskites, a versatile class of materials with promising optoelectronic properties, are gradually making their way toward commercialization. While these solar cells can have notable advantages over existing solar cell designs, including higher power conversion efficiencies and lower fabrication costs, their performance has been found to be significantly impaired in reverse bias conditions.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Famed Dragon's Dogma and Devil May Cry Director Hideaki Itsuno Leaves Capcom After 30 Years
Starting a new project elsewhere.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Geoinformatics: Using AI to take better aim against mosquitoes
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is responsible worldwide for the spread of infectious diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. To combat the widely transmitted diseases affecting millions, detailed mosquito distribution maps with data on the spatial and temporal spread of populations are of major importance.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Global South cities lack cooling green spaces
Cities in the Global South are more exposed to extreme heat because they lack cooling green spaces, new research shows. The study found that Global South cities have just 70% of the "cooling capacity" provided by urban greenery in the Global North. The paper, published in the journal Nature Communications, is titled "Green infrastructure provides substantial but unequal urban cooling globally."
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Hillside erosion worsening in California due to wildfires and intense rain
Over the last three decades, California has seen increasing erosion after major wildfires—a phenomenon that not only endangers water resources and ecosystems, but is also likely to worsen with climate change, according to researchers.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

New Nanocatalyst Shows Promising Results in Reducing Organic Pollutants
In a recent article published in the journal Materials, researchers presented a novel approach to environmental remediation through the development of a TiO2/Carbon/Ag nanocomposite synthesized using laser ablation techniques.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Predicting avalanches: Fracture characteristics of anticracks in highly porous materials
Even a single person in the snow can exert enough pressure on it to cause a buried weak layer of snow to collapse and the snow cover to slide away. In this case, experts speak of anticracks. The fundamental fracture properties that can lead to powerful slab avalanches are still largely unknown, but crucial in order to accurately predict when avalanches will occur.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers create all-perovskite tandem solar cell with record efficiency
A team of engineers at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China has designed, built and independently tested an all-perovskite tandem solar cell with record efficiency. Their paper is published in the journal Nature Communications.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Swaths of China, Japan log record summer temperatures
Swaths of China logged the hottest August on record last month, the weather service said, as Japanese authorities announced that this summer had been the joint warmest since records began.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

The risk of global water scarcity is greater when accounting for the origin of rain, study shows
Securing the world's water supply is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Research at Stockholm University is now presenting an alternative method for quantifying the global risk of water scarcity. Results indicate higher risks to water supply than previously expected if accounting for the environmental conditions and governability where rain is produced.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Tropical storm triggers landslides in Philippines, 11 dead
Floods and landslides killed 11 people after a fierce tropical storm dumped heavy rain on the Philippines for a second day, officials said Monday.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Two solar probes are helping researchers understand what phenomenon powers the solar wind
Our sun drives a constant outward flow of plasma, or ionized gas, called the solar wind, which envelops our solar system. Outside of Earth's protective magnetosphere, the fastest solar wind rushes by at speeds of over 310 miles (500 kilometers) per second. But researchers haven't been able to figure out how the wind gets enough energy to achieve that speed—until now.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Yosemite National Park: Crews restore damaged landscape back to conditions not seen in 150 years
Yosemite National Park is famous for towering waterfalls, giant sequoia trees and massive granite cliffs. But at an out-of-the-way spot near the park's western boundary few visitors ever see, a landmark of a different type is taking shape.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — September 1st, 2024

Ancient viral genomes preserved in glaciers reveal climate history—and how viruses adapt to climate change
As humans alter the planet's climate and ecosystems, scientists are looking to Earth's history to help predict what may unfold from climate change.
September 1st, 2024 — Source

Companies are crafting new ways to grow cocoa, and chocolate alternatives, to keep up with demand
Climate change is stressing rainforests where the highly sensitive cocoa bean grows, but chocolate lovers need not despair, say companies that are researching other ways to grow cocoa or develop cocoa substitutes.
September 1st, 2024 — Source

In the Park Fire, an Indigenous Cultural Fire Practitioner Sees Beyond Destruction
California's latest historic wildfire serves as a stark reminder of the regenerative promise of Indigenous cultural burning, practitioners say.
September 1st, 2024 — Source

The Mediterranean dried out 5.5 million years ago, offering sobering lessons for humanity today
What would happen if humans dried out the Mediterranean sea, turning it into a giant salt lake? Would its wildlife survive, and if so, how long would it take to recover?
September 1st, 2024 — Source

The Rural Americans Too Poor for Federal Flood Protections
A data-driven disaster tool shows "bias" against rural communities.
September 1st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 31st, 2024

New Grant Will Further Research to Identify and Generate Biomass in California's North San Joaquin Valley
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's BioCircular Valley project will help the region rely less on open agricultural waste-burning practices.
August 31st, 2024 — Source

NYC Environmental Justice Activists Feel Ignored by the City and the Army Corps on Climate Projects
The activists want input on climate resilience plans and say the Army Corps typically focuses on protecting communities from storm surge without regard to increased rainfall, flooding and stormwater pollution.
August 31st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 27th, 2024

A whopping 80% of new US electricity capacity this year came from solar and battery storage
The number is set to rise to 96% by the end of the year
August 27th, 2024 — Source

AI-driven approaches for predicting heat waves in South Korea using snowfall data from Mongolia and China
As record-breaking heat waves become increasingly frequent in South Korea, the development of AI-driven prediction technologies is emerging as a vital tool in responding to these extreme weather events and other climate changes.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

'Alarming' rise in deadly lightning strikes in India: scientists
Climate change is fueling an alarming increase in deadly lightning strikes in India, killing nearly 1,900 people a year in the world's most populous country, scientists warn.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Antidepressant pollution is rewiring fish behavior and reproduction, biologists reveal
An international study led by biologists from Monash University and the University of Tuscia has revealed how long-term exposure to pharmaceutical pollutants is dramatically altering fish behavior, life history, and reproductive traits.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Coastal cities must adapt faster to climate change
A new study investigating the status of climate change adaptation in coastal cities worldwide discovers progress and shortcomings
August 27th, 2024 — Source or Source

EPA Thought Industry-Funded Scientists Could Support Its Conclusion that a Long-Regulated Pesticide Is Not a Cancer Risk
The consultants, who worked for Dow, the pesticide's manufacturer, help corporate interests defend their products against environmental and health regulations.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Environmentally friendly method uses selective synthesized sponges to purify rare-earth elements
Rare-earth elements are everywhere in modern life, found in everything from the smart device you're reading this on to the LED lightbulbs overhead and neodymium magnets in electric vehicles and wind turbines.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Global population growth is now slowing rapidly: Will a falling population be better for the environment?
Right now, human population growth is doing something long thought impossible—it's wavering. It's now possible global population could peak much earlier than expected, topping 10 billion in the 2060s. Then, it would begin to fall.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Home repair program helps keep longtime Jacksonville, Florida, residents in place
The program has put more than a million dollars toward major home repairs and energy-efficient retrofits.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

How a Technology Similar to Fracking Can Store Renewable Energy Underground Without Lithium Batteries
Three Houston startups are using fracking-like techniques to create underground storage caverns for pressurized water, which when released drives a turbine to send power to the grid.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Ice caps on Mars offer clues to ancient climates
As a first-year master's student in the Department of Earth Sciences, Katherine Lutz became fascinated by satellite images of Mars that showed spiraling shapes swirling across the planet's polar ice caps.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Puerto Rican farmers will replant despite Ernesto's impacts
Farmers face a long and hard road ahead, but there is help.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Researchers Are Attempting to Produce Methane-Free Cows
Altering the cows' stomach microbiomes could drastically reduce their impact on the environment.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Researchers test stability of 3D-printed super alloy under extremes
What makes structures and materials designed for extreme environments reliable? Research led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and published in Scientific Reports details developments in the understanding of additively manufactured materials under high pressures through the use of high-resolution imaging and computer simulations.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Revising the cost of climate change: Study yields projections 'six times larger than previous estimates'
Climate scientists have warned of calamitous consequences if global temperatures continue their rise. But macroeconomists have largely told a less alarming story, predicting modest reductions in productivity and spending as the world warms.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Study sheds light on what enables herpes simplex virus to become impervious to drugs
All organisms—from fungi to mammals—have the capacity to evolve and adapt to their environments. But viruses are master shapeshifters with an ability to mutate greater than any other organism. As a result, they can evade treatments or acquire resistance to once-effective antiviral medications.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Surface energy budget analysis reveals causes of Greenland's abnormal warming
Global warming, driven by human activities, has led to rising average temperatures worldwide. However, Greenland has been warming at an even faster rate than the rest of the world, leading to accelerated ice sheet melting.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Women in global fisheries industry are falling through the safety net, study finds
Millions of women who work in the fisheries industry are being left behind as technologies develop to counter the effects of climate change and economic pressures.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

Women play a crucial role in agriculture—so why are they often locked out of owning land?
When we think of a farmer, we still often imagine a man. But in reality, women contribute 49% to real farm income.
August 27th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 26th, 2024

40°C in August? A climate expert explains why Australia is ridiculously hot right now
It's winter in Australia, but as you've probably noticed, the weather is unusually warm. The top temperatures over large parts of the country this weekend were well above average for this time of year.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

After wildfires, mudslides come: Fighting the impact of climate change on rural communities
It took more than 25 years for Rhonda MacDonald and her family to transform their 41-hectare property on the Shackan Indian Band Lands, south of Merritt, BC, into a vibrant business and homestead—but a massive 2022 debris flow changed everything in just 25 minutes.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

As Global Hunger Levels Remain Stubbornly High, Advocates Call for More Money to Change the Way the World Produces Food
High-level policy discussions have built momentum for "food system transformation" that would help farmers address the climate crisis.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Baobabs: Africa's unique trees defy climate challenges, continue to flourish
Baobabs reach extraordinarily old ages. Some have been found to be thousands of years old. During these life spans, elder baobabs have survived erratic climate conditions.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Texas
Texas is a great location for solar panel installations. We've found the best installation companies, and guidance on how to make the most of your solar panels.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Big polluters urged to pay as key Pacific summit opens in Tonga
Emissions-belching nations were challenged to stump up for climate-related damage as a key Pacific islands summit opened on Monday, with low-lying Tuvalu declaring: "If you pollute, you should pay."
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Calculating Your Solar Payback Period: When Will You Break Even?
Solar panels may save you money in the long term, but the system isn't cheap to buy and install. Find out how long it'll take to start saving.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Climate justice is a critical issue for the tourism industry, say researchers
Each year, temperature records are broken and extreme weather events strike. July 22, 2024 now marks the hottest day on record, surpassing the previous heat records set in 2023.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Colorful fruit-like fungi and forests 'haunted by species loss': How a 30-year evolutionary mystery was resolved
Most fungi need only wind or water to disperse their spores. But some, including truffles, need a little help from animals.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Communicating consensus strengthens beliefs about climate change, finds 27-country study
Climate scientists have long agreed that humans are largely responsible for climate change. However, people often do not realize how many scientists share this view.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Critical mineral power: Australia's silicon future
With the global push towards renewable energy, the role of critical minerals has never been more heightened.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Digital twins and nanotechnology can transform agriculture
Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed an approach to increase crop yield and efficiency by making plants more resilient against disease and harmful environmental factors.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

How engineered walnuts combat drought through grafting
Drought is a major threat to walnut production globally, often resulting in lower yields and weaker trees. While grafting has traditionally been used to improve the resilience of fruit and nut trees, the exact mechanisms of signal transfer between rootstocks and scions have remained elusive.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

India's green energy wind drive hits desert herders hard
Whirring wind turbines in India's Thar desert supply critical green energy for the world's most populous nation, but those living in their shadows say it comes at their expense.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Indirect emissions the key to agricultural emissions reduction, research suggests
Focusing on the direct emissions from the Australian agricultural sector is not the most effective way in dealing with the industry's greenhouse gas emissions, research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Loch Ness life seen through holographic lens
Holographic images of microbial life in Loch Ness have been captured for the first time using the University of Aberdeen's state-of-the-art digital holographic camera.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Locked in a glacier: Virus adaptations to extreme weather provide climate change insights
Ancient viruses preserved in glacial ice hold valuable information about changes in Earth's climate, a new study suggests.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

New Lake Okeechobee Plan Aims for More Water for the Everglades, Less Toxic Algae
Instead of prioritizing flood control above all else, the strategy is designed to balance all the needs of the watershed. "This plan marks a cultural shift on the part of the Army Corps of Engineers."
August 26th, 2024 — Source

New study shows Alaskan snow crab population collapse in Bering Sea due to climate change
A team of marine biologists from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found that climate change is the reason for the population collapse of Alaskan snow crabs in the Bering Sea.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Reflect Orbital sells sunlight at night, but don't trust that fancy video
It's... intriguing.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Researchers analyze 1,500 climate policies to find what works—these are the lessons for Australia
Almost 35 years have passed since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its first assessment report. It found human activities were substantially increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere, which was warming the global climate.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Researchers dig into food waste in Canada using data-driven model
Skyrocketing food costs are uniting Canadians, as families scrutinize their budgets and try to keep grocery bills in check. A new report from the Ivey Centre for Building Sustainable Value and Western's Human Environments Analysis Laboratory (HEAL) reveals an alarming reality: Canadians are wasting a staggering amount of food.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Satellites reveal ecosystems most vulnerable to drought
More severe droughts that will also last longer: this will primarily be a problem for irrigated croplands, as discovered by environmental scientist Qi Chen. Mixed forests with a variety of plant species will be the least vulnerable. Chen compared the effects of drought on different ecosystems across Europe. She made use of a special tool to do so.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Sustaining oyster farming with sturdier rafts
Amid the rising human population and pressure on food supplies, the world can't be everyone's oyster. But perhaps there might be more oysters to eat if an Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team's findings mean sturdy plastic rafts will be used in their farming.
August 26th, 2024 — Source or Source

This wall-mounted smart heater keeps you warm without taking up space
Looking to add warmth to a room, basement, or garage next winter? This Dreo space heater works like a champ and has all the features you need.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Tree-planting project aims to identify climate-resilient trees
Volunteers in St. Paul, Minnesota, are helping scientists study which trees will thrive as the climate warms.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

'Twisters': Hollywood's weird spin on tornadoes and climate change
By ignoring a major issue of our time, the film sends a misleading message.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Typhoon Shanshan strengthens en route to Japan
The Cat 2 storm is expected to top out as a Cat 3 Tuesday, then weaken to a Cat 1 before making landfall on Japan's Kyushu Island on Thursday.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking crop yield potential: New modeling approach for sustainable agriculture
Predicting crop yields is a significant challenge in modern agriculture, especially under fluctuating environmental conditions. With the escalating demand for sustainable food production, understanding the complex interplay between environmental factors and crop growth has become increasingly crucial.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

Water Issues Confronting Hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail Trickle Down Into the Rest of California
From the sky-scraping snow drifts that can close the trail to the desert tracks without a drop for miles, water challenges high country hikers face in California reflect the bigger hydrology issues the state is dealing with.
August 26th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 25th, 2024

‘It’s Just No Place for an Oil Pipeline’: A Wisconsin Tribe Continues Its Fight to Remove a 71-Year-Old Line From a Pristine Place
A proposed reroute of a pipeline would still jeopardize the “Everglades of the North,” the EPA warns, including wild rice beds that the Bad River tribe depends on.
August 25th, 2024 — Source

Kamala Harris’ Favorability Is Sky High Among Young Voters in Battleground States
New polling by the Environmental Voter Project also shows that there are 245,000 so-called low propensity environment voters in Pennsylvania who could decide the election in the crucial swing state if they turn out.
August 25th, 2024 — Source

US District Court Throws Out Federal Agency’s Assessment Allowing More Drilling for Fossil Fuels in the Gulf of Mexico
The lawsuit before the court showed the staggering scale of ecological damage a bad federal assessment can cause to endangered and federally protected sea creatures.
August 25th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 24th, 2024

Houston's Plastic Waste, Waiting More Than a Year for 'Advanced' Recycling, Piles up at a Business Failed Three Times by Fire Marshal
Houston seeks to be a national model for plastic recycling. But a program that started in 2022 hasn't yet found its footing.
August 24th, 2024 — Source

Turning bacteria into bioplastic factories
In a world overrun by petroleum-based plastics, scientists are searching for alternatives that are more sustainable, more biodegradable and far less toxic to the environment.
August 24th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 22nd, 2024

Apache Group is Carrying a Petition to the Supreme Court to Stop a Mine on Land Sacred to the Tribe
The prayer journey will pass through other tribal communities threatened by resource extraction while trying to stop a mine that claims it could satisfy a quarter of the U.S. demand for copper.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Best Houseplants for Air Purification and Low Light Environments
Some plants can thrive without tons of sunlight while others excel at purifying your home's air.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Inverters of 2024
Solar inverters are the unspoken heroes that make your solar panels function, turning sunlight into electricity that your home appliances can use. Here are some of the best.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Cache Energy’s mysterious white pellets could help kill coal and natural gas
Wind and solar power have become so cheap to install, and at times so abundant, that utilities don’t know what to do with it all. Sometimes they’ll even pay the owners of other power plants not to generate electricity.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Changes in land use significantly affect larger bees, study shows
A new collaborative study has found that bees are increasingly under threat due to environmental degradation caused by changes in land use.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Climate change a mixed blessing for sun-starved Irish vintners
At a tiny outpost in the wine world, Ireland's handful of winemakers are cautiously eyeing long-term growth potential as climate change warms up its cool climate.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Climate change impacts on phytoplankton productivity linked to ocean's twilight zone
How will global warming impact marine ecosystems? This is a critical question when addressing future climate change. Sustained climate change may have a particularly large negative effect on one of the smallest lifeforms in the ocean: phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is essential for maintaining balance in the marine food chain, so population shifts can result in substantial effects throughout the food chain.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Climate model simulates unusually high heat over the Southern Ocean
Researchers around the world are advancing and refining climate models to predict the effects of climate change. These models use information about our planet's chemical, physical, and biological processes to create simulations of potential climate pathways.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Delay California's oil drilling protections until 2031? No way
Communities across California, from Los Angeles to the San Joaquin Valley, have fought for more than a decade to stop oil companies from drilling in their neighborhoods and spewing health-damaging pollution into the air.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Evaluation of climate policy measures over two decades finds many have failed to achieve necessary emissions reductions
An international research team has unveiled the first comprehensive global evaluation of 1,500 climate policy measures from 41 countries across six continents.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Fantasy role-playing games help young people engage with climate change
The games can enable them to imagine how they can be part of the solution.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Flexible nanogenerator with enhanced power density could one day rival the power of solar panels
Your early morning run could soon help harvest enough electricity to power your wearable devices, thanks to a new nanotechnology developed at the University of Surrey.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

From clouds to fjords, the Arctic bears witness to climate change
Climate change is particularly intense in the Arctic. To assess its consequences and determine what role this region plays in global warming, two teams of scientists from EPFL have visited the area.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

From coal plant to data center: Old power stations are being repurposed
Industrial sites have the large tracts of land and resources needed.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Hydrogels can play Pong by 'remembering' previous patterns of electrical simulation
Non-living hydrogels can play the video game Pong and improve their gameplay with more experience, researchers report. The researchers hooked hydrogels up to a virtual game environment and then applied a feedback loop between the hydrogel's paddle -- encoded by the distribution of charged particles within the hydrogel -- and the ball's position -- encoded by electrical stimulation.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Living plastics: A new solution for plastic degradation through synthetic biology
A study published in Nature Chemical Biology leverages the natural resilience of spores, which can endure extreme environmental conditions, by programming them to secrete plastic-degrading enzymes under specific circumstances. These spores are embedded into plastic matrices through standard plastic processing methods, such as high temperature, high pressure, or the use of organic solvents.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Meteor showers shed light on where comets formed in the early solar system
Researchers studying meteor showers have found that not all comets crumble the same way when they approach the Sun. In a new study, they ascribe the differences to the conditions in the protoplanetary disk where comets formed 4.5 billion years ago.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

New Federal Report Details More of 2023’s Extreme Climate Conditions
Some indicators, including “super-marine heatwaves,” may suggest a major shift in the global climate system.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

New Jersey Solar Panel Incentives: Net Metering, Tax Breaks and More
State solar incentives make the decision to install solar panels a lot easier. Here’s how you can save (and even earn) money with solar panels in New Jersey.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

'Often forgotten': How US hurricane relief and health care policies leave Puerto Rico behind
In the span of a few short years, the residents of Puerto Rico endured a series of devastating storms—including Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Fiona—and were faced with hundreds of earthquakes. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, stressing the island's health care infrastructure when it was already compromised.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Polymeric nanocarriers improve crop engineering by delivering proteins across cell walls
(Nanowerk Spotlight) Advances in plant biotechnology have long been frustrated by a stubborn obstacle: the impermeable cell walls that shield plant cells from foreign molecules. Delivering functional proteins into these cells has remained a formidable challenge, stalling progress in areas like crop improvement and stress monitoring. Traditional methods, such as viral vectors and gene guns, often fall short due to their limitations in host range and potential to damage plant tissues.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Portugal seeks EU help as wildfire threatens UNESCO-listed forest
Portugal on Wednesday appealed to EU partners for assistance in fighting a wildfire on the Atlantic island of Madeira that has raged for a week and threatened a UNESCO-listed forest.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Report highlights advancements in wind technology and supply chains
Though 2023 was a relatively slow year for new wind power deployment in the United States, the industry continues to see growth, solid performance, expanding supply chains, and attractive prices, according to a report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Shift in Antarctic decision-making concerns researchers
New research reveals a concerning shift in Antarctic Treaty decision-making in the face of rising environmental and governance issues in the region.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

SolarWinds fixes hardcoded credentials flaw in Web Help Desk
SolarWinds has released a hotfix for a critical Web Help Desk vulnerability that allows attackers to log into unpatched systems using hardcoded credentials.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Techland returns to its roots with Dying Light: The Beast
After several leaks, Techland officially announced Dying Light: The Beast at Gamescom. This is a new standalone game in the series, replacing the planned second expansion for Dying Light 2.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

The future of robotics: Brain-inspired navigation technologies paving the way
In the ever-evolving field of robotics, a groundbreaking approach has emerged, revolutionizing how robots perceive, navigate, and interact with their environments. This new frontier, known as brain-inspired navigation technology, integrates insights from neuroscience into robotics, offering enhanced capabilities and efficiency.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

US water reservoirs are shrinking and becoming less reliable, new study finds
Major water reservoirs across the continental United States are experiencing longer, more severe, and more variable periods of low storage than several decades ago, a new study reports. The problems are most severe in the western and central United States, but reservoirs in the eastern and southeastern United States are not immune, the study finds.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Want an EV With 600 Miles of Range? It’s Coming
The push for solid-state batteries could lead to extra-long battery ranges as soon as 2027.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

We discovered a new way mountains are formed—from 'mantle waves' inside the Earth
In 2005, I was navigating winding roads through the Drakensberg Mountains, in Lesotho, Southern Africa. Towering cliff-like features known as escarpments interrupt the landscape, rising up by a kilometer or more. Taken aback by the dramatic scenery, I was struck by a question: how on Earth did it form?
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

What does high-quality research say about the environmental effects from radio waves
Australian government research scientists and Swinburne University have published a paper that finds good quality studies show no effect from radio waves on plants and animals, while poor-quality studies show an effect.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Will tornadoes and waterspouts thrive as Earth heats up?
Unusually warm waters off the coast of Sicily helped spawn a "waterspout" that sank a superyacht earlier this week, leaving several people dead or missing.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 21st, 2024

Achieving effective removal of caffeine and painkillers, scientists turn food waste into water cleaners
Researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague have achieved a significant breakthrough in water purification by developing low-cost activated carbons derived from biomass waste, specifically artichoke leaves and pomegranate peels. This innovative method effectively removes common pharmaceutical contaminants, caffeine (CFN) and acetaminophen (ACT), from water sources.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Australia greenlights world's 'largest' solar hub
Australia approved on Wednesday plans for a massive solar and battery farm that would export energy to Singapore, a project billed as the "largest solar precinct in the world".
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Bacteria make thermally stable plastics similar to polystyrene and PET for the first time
Bioengineers around the world have been working to create plastic-producing microbes that could replace the petroleum-based plastics industry. Now, researchers from Korea have overcome a major hurdle: getting bacteria to produce polymers that contain ring-like structures, which make the plastics more rigid and thermally stable.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Better arrangements of molecules in organic solar cells can improve light absorption
In a paper published in Nature Chemistry, researchers from the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and Queen Mary University of London have shown for the first time how different arrangements of molecules in organic solar cells can improve light absorption, leading the way to better and cheaper solar panels.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Brazilians 'struggling to breathe' as Amazon burns
Residents of Porto Velho in the Brazilian Amazon have barely seen sunlight in days as a thick cloud of smoke from forest fires envelops their city.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Engineers develop eco-friendly cooling device with record-breaking efficiency
Researchers at the School of Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed an eco-friendly refrigeration device with record-breaking cooling performance, setting the stage for transforming industries reliant on cooling and reducing global energy use.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Free online tool kit can help small businesses prepare for climate change
Corner stores, day cares, auto mechanics ... small businesses provide vital services to communities.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

From embers to crisis: The expanding threat of wildfires under global warming
Globally, wildfires are on the rise, driven by climate change, which exacerbates droughts and high temperatures. These fires contribute significantly to carbon emissions and particulate matter (PM2.5), with severe consequences for both climate stability and public health.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Human manure or 'nightsoil' makes great crop fertilizer—but attitudes to poo-grown produce differ drastically
Would you eat potatoes grown in human poo? And how would you feel if the marigolds in your local park sprouted from human manure? In the midst of climate crisis, human manure offers significant environmental benefits. But can we overcome the "yuck factor" to embrace this sustainable solution?
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Hydropower generation projected to rise, but climate change brings uncertain future
In a new study assessing how climate change might alter hydropower generation across the continental United States, researchers show that except for some parts of the Southwest, hydropower generation is expected to rise in the future.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Let it shine: top solar projects worldwide
Australia on Wednesday approved plans for a massive solar hub intended to power millions of homes domestically and supply electricity to Singapore.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

New theory could improve the design and operation of wind farms
The blades of propellers and wind turbines are designed based on aerodynamics principles that were first described mathematically more than a century ago. But engineers have long realized that these formulas don't work in every situation. To compensate, they have added ad hoc "correction factors" based on empirical observations.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Opinion: NZ's electricity market is a mess—rolling out rooftop solar would change the game
Wholesale prices in the New Zealand electricity market have soared over recent weeks, climbing as high as NZ$1,000 per megawatt hour. North Island pulp and paper plants have temporarily closed down because of the spike in costs.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Pilot study uses recycled glass to grow plants for salsa ingredients
Tortilla chips and fresh salsa are tasty in themselves, but they could be even more appealing if you grow the ingredients in a sustainable way. Researchers report that cilantro, bell pepper and jalapeño can be cultivated in recycled glass from discarded, pulverized bottles like those from beer or soda.
August 21st, 2024 — Source or Source

Q&A: Sierra Leone's women farmers use a custom called bora to access land—but it's making them more vulnerable
Bora—a type of thank you gift—is a Sierra Leonean custom of respect that is often used in relation to land. For instance, informal farmers pay bora to landowners to be able to farm on their land.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Saving the vanishing forests of Iraq's Kurdistan
In a plant nursery in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, hundreds of pine, eucalyptus, olive and pomegranate saplings grow under awnings protecting them from the fierce summer sun.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Some Chesapeake Bay goals won't be reached by 2025, EPA evaluation finds
The EPA has released its latest evaluation of the Chesapeake Bay, and Virginia is only hitting some of its goals to meet by 2025.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Some of Arizona's Most Valuable Water Could Soon Hit the Market
A small tribal community along the Colorado River could become a major player in the state's water supply.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Students' toxin research shows public health benefits of citizen science
Long-term exposure to arsenic, a hidden danger in many New England drinking water supplies, poses serious health risks, including cancer and cognitive challenges. A citizen science initiative called "All About Arsenic" has emerged in response, empowering students and communities to tackle such health threats head-on.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Study shows effective regulation and monitoring is key to tackling emissions of a super-greenhouse gas
New research has revealed factories globally are not properly destroying one of the most potent greenhouse gases emitted from the production of fluoropolymers like Teflon, and refrigerants.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

The bold plan to save coral reefs
Conservationists are racing to prevent the extinction of the ocean's most vital ecosystems. Will it be enough?
August 21st, 2024 — Source

This Country Voted to Keep Oil in the Ground. Will It Happen?
More than 10 million Ecuadorians voted last year to ban oil operations in part of the Amazon rainforest. But heavy crude has continued to flow from the region, which is home to uncontacted Indigenous families.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

What the unique shape of the human heart tells us about our evolution
Mammals, from the mighty blue whale to the tiny shrew, inhabit nearly every corner of our planet. Their remarkable adaptability to different environments has long fascinated scientists, with each species developing unique traits to survive and thrive.
August 21st, 2024 — Source or Source

General — Environment — August 16th, 2024

Carbon Removals Aren't Just About Getting the Science Right
Carbon removal technologies are essential to meet Paris Agreement targets, but they're facing serious challenges beyond engineering and chemistry.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Computer simulations suggest more than half of people on Earth have limited access to safe drinking water
A multi-institutional team of environmental scientists has built a computer simulation showing that more than half of all people globally have limited access to safe drinking water.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Crashes, blackouts and climate tipping points: How can we tell when a system is close to the edge?
According to the infamous myth, groups of lemmings sometimes run off cliffs to their collective doom. Imagine you are one of these rodents: On a sunny day you join your companions in a joyous climb up a mountain beneath clear skies, traipsing across grass and dirt and rock, glad to be among friends, until suddenly you plunge through the brisk air and all goes black.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Ernesto heads toward a Saturday encounter with Bermuda
Wind shear is denting the strength of this sprawling hurricane, despite near-record warm waters.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Fijian coral reveals new 627-year record of Pacific Ocean climate
An international team of climate scientists have used a 627-year coral record from Fiji to reveal unprecedented insights into ocean temperatures and climate variability across the Pacific Ocean since 1370.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Green warriors: Plants on the frontline against microplastics
With escalating concerns about the enduring impact of plastic waste, phytoremediation emerges as a promising solution. This method utilizes plants to capture and degrade pollutants, providing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional techniques.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Hailstone library to improve extreme weather forecasting
A University of Queensland library—full of hailstones instead of books—is helping researchers to better understand and predict damaging storms.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Inflation Reduction Act, 2 Years In: How It Can Save You Money on Energy
The biggest US investment in fighting climate change has been around for two years. Here's what's in it.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Key biofuel-producing microalga believed to be a single species is actually three
When a global pandemic forced previous graduate student Devon Boland, Ph.D., out of the lab and onto the computer, he found a world of difference hidden in the long-studied species of Botryoccocus braunii—and discovered that it isn't one species at all, but three.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Large parts of Canada are ideal for future hydrogen production, global analysis suggests
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have analyzed which regions of the world could produce hydrogen most cost-effectively in order to build an economy based on this alternative energy carrier rather than fossil-fuel based alternatives.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

New analytical tools identify distinct components of dissolved organic matter within the ocean water column
Large quantities of carbon are stored across the environment as naturally-occurring dissolved organic matter. In the ocean, this organic carbon has an average age of thousands of years, but seasonal fluctuations in dissolved organic matter concentrations in the surface ocean imply that some dissolved organic matter is produced and degraded far more rapidly.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

New research shows agricultural impacts on soil microbiome and fungal communities
New research from Smithsonian's Bird Friendly Coffee program highlights a type of biodiversity that often gets overlooked: soil bacteria and fungal communities. For over twenty years, Smithsonian research has shown that coffee farms with shade trees protect more biodiversity than intensified, monoculture coffee farms.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Quantifying potential impact of feral hog predation on coastal American alligator nests
Researchers with the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management are keeping a watchful eye on American alligator nests to shed light on the potential impacts of feral hog predation and to understand how these reptiles use habitat across an ever-changing Texas landscape.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Rural migration tied to land use and climate change need more attention, scientists say
Climate and other environmental changes sometimes drive people to migrate, especially if the land no longer supports a population's way of life. In turn, mobile populations alter the environment in which they settle.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Sea level rise, explained
It's already straining coastal communities. And it's set to get worse.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Study finds impacts of 4.2 ka climate event no big deal, actually

August 16th, 2024 — Source

The banana apocalypse is near, but biologists might have found a key to their survival
Discovery of molecular mechanisms used by the banana-destroying microbe brings hope to the breakfast table
August 16th, 2024 — Source

The collapse of an iconic arch in Utah has some wondering if other famous arches are also at risk
A common line of questions has emerged from visitors to Utah's Arches National Park in the week since an iconic rock arch at Lake Powell known as the "Toilet Bowl" collapsed.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

UK farm ministry offers £27M to support legacy systems for another three years
Controversial payment systems set for another lease of life
August 16th, 2024 — Source

What happened to all the temporary air conditioning units at the Olympic Village?
Air conditioning was a contentious issue at this year's Olympics.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Will the Cowboy State See the Light on Solar Electricity?
Wyoming has ample sun, but only two utility-scale solar energy facilities. Four new project proposals could make it the home of some of the largest solar plants in the region.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

We Asked Experts How States Can Be More Solar-Friendly. Here's What They Said
CNET graded every state based on its residential solar policy. Solar industry experts explain why these incentives are so important.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 14th, 2024

A unique aquaponics system to produce more fish and vegetables with less energy
Climate change poses a severe threat to food production, making it imperative to find sustainable methods. One such method is aquaponics, which grows fish and vegetables together. Now, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev water researchers have offered a proof of concept for a new closed loop system that produced more fish and vegetables while using less energy than conventional systems.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Air New Zealand won't be the last company to miss its climate goals—here's why
Air New Zealand's recent decision to abandon its short-term climate target raises the question of how many other businesses might follow.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Anker's new power station can charge faster using two USB-C adapters at the same time
The $199.99 Anker Solix C300 DC can double its USB-C charging speed, but it will take up two power outlets while doing so.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Athens blaze reignites questions over 'fire every year'
Climate change may have played a part in the latest massive wildfire just outside Athens, but some critics blame inadequate equipment and lack of planning for what has become an annual crisis.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Consumer-grade insecticide sprays fail to control cockroaches, study shows
A common variety of consumer insecticide sprays is mostly ineffective and of "little to no value" in eliminating cockroach infestations, a study in the Journal of Economic Entomology shows.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Installation Companies in Las Vegas
Thinking about going solar in Las Vegas? Here's what you need to know before putting solar panels on your roof.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Early life exposure to common chemical permanently disrupts gut microbiome, mouse study finds
Early life exposure to 'forever chemicals' in the environment permanently disrupts the gut microbiome in mice, contributing to the development of metabolic disease in later life, according to new research led by Penn State.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Earth's oldest, tiniest creatures are poised to be climate change winners—and the repercussions could be huge
The world's oceans are home to microscopic organisms invisible to the human eye. The tiny creatures, known as "prokaryotes," comprise 30% of life in the world's oceans.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Environmental scientists examine effects of salt pollution across generations of zooplankton
As freshwater ecosystems grow saltier around the globe, in part because of overzealous applications of road deicing salts, scientists have had reason to think that inhabitants of these streams, rivers and lakes might adapt to higher salinities over generations.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Findings challenge current understanding of nitrogenases and highlight their potential for sustainable bioproduction
Nitrogenases are among the most geochemically important enzymes on Earth, providing all forms of life with bioavailable nitrogen in the form of ammonia (NH3).
August 14th, 2024 — Source

First biogeographic map of ants reveals nine global realms
The distribution of species around the globe is not a random process but an outcome resulting from several evolutionary mechanisms as well as past and current environmental limitations.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

First-of-its-kind analysis reveals importance of storms in air--sea carbon exchange in Southern Ocean
The ocean has a major influence on weather and climate. Scientists estimate it has absorbed more than 90% of the heat and 25% of the excess carbon released into the atmosphere by human activities.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Government flood maps are often outdated
So residents of cities in the South are documenting on-the-ground flooding in their communities -- the first step in advocating for solutions.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Historic map reveals how mussel farm is bringing shellfish reefs back to the seabed
The UK's first large scale offshore mussel farm is allowing shellfish reefs to return to parts of the seabed off England's south coast for the first time in up to 150 years, a new study has revealed.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

How Wharton and Other Top Business Schools Are Training MBAs for the Climate Economy
As corporate America reckons with the climate crisis, business schools are adapting MBAs to focus on climate and sustainability.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Hurricane Ernesto brushes Puerto Rico, heads toward Bermuda
Ernesto became the Atlantic's third hurricane of 2024, 24 days before the average appearance of the season's third hurricane.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Icelandic group demos private cloud powered by renewables
Sited in Reykjavík, datacenter running on geothermals and hydropower
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Making the Machines That Make Green Hydrogen
 
August 14th, 2024 — Source

MXene-based smart fabric shows potential for energy harvesting and health monitoring
Imagine a coat that captures solar energy to keep you cozy on a chilly winter walk, or a shirt that can monitor your heart rate and temperature. Picture clothing athletes can wear to track their performance without the need for bulky battery packs.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Perovskite-based material could bring a revolution in wearable LEDs and hi-tech attire
Perovskite is once again hailed as a miracle material for future LED applications
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers advance carbon neutrality by producing carbon nanotubes from waste plastic
A research team in the Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST has unveiled an innovative technology for converting waste plastics into carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a high-value material that plays a critical role in achieving carbon neutrality and promoting a circular economy.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers pump extra CO² into an oak forest and discover trees will be 'woodier' in future
Oak trees accumulate more wood when there is more carbon dioxide (CO²) in the atmosphere. That's the key finding from our new study, carried out in a long-established forest in Staffordshire, England, that we have turned into a huge field experiment by injecting with extra CO².
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Rising mercury pollution in soil could be related to climate change, study suggests
In 2017, the Minamata Convention on Mercury went into effect, designed to help curb mercury emissions and limit exposure across the globe. However, a new study of mercury levels in soil suggests that the treaty's provisions might not be enough.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Science Newsfrom research organizations
Giant fossil seeds from Borneo record ancient plant migration
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Should You Crush Cans After Use? Here's How to Recycle Metal Properly
As important as recycling is recycling properly or the whole system gets jammed up. Here's how to recycle aluminum cans and other household metals correctly.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

SolarWinds fixes critical RCE bug affecting all Web Help Desk versions
A critical vulnerability in SolarWinds' Web Help Desk solution for customer support could be exploited to achieve remote code execution, the American business software developer warns in a security advisory today.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

SpaceX slapped with multiple notices over water pollution in Texas
Musk's rush to relaunch Starship allegedly skipped crucial permitting
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Study finds rains that led to deadly Indian landslides were made worse by climate change
The heavy rains that resulted in landslides killing hundreds in southern India last month were made worse by human-caused climate change, a rapid analysis by climate scientists found Tuesday.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals how chromatin structure influences social behavior in dogs
A new study on dogs found that chromatin's spatial structure has a significant role in the evolution of social behavior. Chromatin, the compact form of DNA, not only packages genetic material but also plays a crucial role in gene regulation.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Texas Likely Undercounting Heat-Related Deaths
Deaths from heat are notoriously difficult to quantify because of how complex and subjective the process is. It leaves officials with an incomplete picture of who heat kills.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Unraveling modern bread wheat from the genes up
A genomic resource for the wild grass species Tausch's goatgrass (Aegilops tauschii) has been developed by a team of international researchers led by KAUST. This new understanding will accelerate gene discovery research and shed new light on the story of wheat's evolutionary genetics.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Urban flooding alert: Subway tunnels get early warning system
In recent years, urban waterlogging disasters have become more frequent due to rapid urbanization and climate change, severely threatening city infrastructure. Subway tunnels, with their semi-enclosed structure, face significant risks during floods, leading to difficult evacuations and substantial casualties.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

UK's 'electricity superhighway' gets green light just in time for AI to gobble it all up
500 km transmission cable promises enough power for two million homes, or a heck of a lotta GPUs
August 14th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 8th, 2024

A new algorithm to help robots practice skills independently to adapt to unfamiliar environments
The phrase "practice makes perfect" is usually reserved for humans, but it's also a great maxim for robots newly deployed in unfamiliar environments.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

A rare aid success story has brought riches to a hardscrabble corner of the Pacific. Will it last?
There is so much money sloshing around these days in Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea, the stores are running short of goods and some locals are partying until dawn.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Biodegradable nanocubosomes promise greener crop protection
Polymer science has long been at the forefront of developing materials for agricultural applications, but a persistent challenge has been creating effective delivery systems for agrochemicals that don't contribute to environmental pollution.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

California moves to protect indoor workers from deadly heat
Car washes, warehouses, and other indoor workplaces lacking AC can get brutally hot in the summer.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

CarbonQuest, a carbon capture startup that serves industrial sites, raises cash for expansion
Spokane, Wash.-based startup CarbonQuest raised new capital to expand the reach of its carbon capturing devices. The cash is coming from Riverbend Energy Group, a Houston investment firm. The companies on Thursday did not disclose the amount invested in the Series A round.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Chemists develop new sustainable reaction for creating unique molecular building blocks
Polymers can be thought of like trains: Just as a train is composed of multiple cars, polymers are made up of multiple monomers, and the couplings between the train cars are similar to the chemical bonds that link monomers together.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Climate change is making us sick, literally
In hundreds of U.S. cities and towns, extreme rainfalls are overwhelming outdated sewer systems, flooding waterways with untreated sewage.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Cocoon is transforming steel production runoff into a greener cement alternative
Slag is the molten runoff created while producing steel in a traditional blast furnace. The material has been prized as a greener cement alternative for creating concrete, the Earth's most abundant human-made material. The runoff is facing supply chain issues, however, as the steel industry looks to greener methods of production.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Consumers—and the Environment—Are Going to Pay for Problems With the Nation's Largest Grid Region
Prices soared last week in an auction conducted by PJM Interconnection, reflecting a backlog of approval for renewable energy projects.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Debby Drenched the Southeast. Climate Change Is Making Storms Like This Even Wetter
Warming temperatures and increased water vapor are powering more intense downpours, like those associated with Debby.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Personality may predict pet ownership
Researchers from James Cook University say a new study shows dog owners are likely to be more resilient than cat owners and less neurotic—and the contrast may be down to personality differences inherent between the two groups of people.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Proteomic insights reveal key strategies to extend broccoli's freshness and shelf life
A research team has investigated proteome-level changes in harvested broccoli florets stored at room temperature and refrigerated conditions using Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) technology. Their findings reveal that cold storage temperatures reduce protein degradation pathways and key metabolic activities, including autophagy and carbon metabolism.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Even on Hot Summer Nights, Samsung's WindFree™ Technology Ensures Restful Sleep
Samsung air conditioners equipped with innovative WindFree™ technology have received widespread recognition across markets around the world. Since launching globally in 2017, sales outside Korea have continued to grow with the average annual growth rate reaching 30.7% over the past three years (as of the end of the first half of 2024).
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Finding pearls in the mud: Eco-friendly tungsten recovery from semiconductor waste
Semiconductor industry waste is typically seen as a costly disposal problem and an environmental hazard. But what if this waste could be transformed into a valuable resource?
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Heat stress survival: Unraveling the HsfA2-ACTIN dynamics in lily varieties
A research team has identified that the heat stress transcription factor HsfA2 and actin-interacting protein (AIP) LACTIN interact at the protein level in Lilium longiflorum "White Heaven," mediating gene expression and protecting cells from heat stress.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Hugging Face acquires Seattle data storage startup XetHub
Hugging Face has acquired XetHub, a data storage and collaboration startup founded by former Apple engineers that helped developers streamline the process of building machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

How feeding birds may be polluting local environments
New research led by an NAU alumnus shows that backyard bird feeders, although put out with the best of intentions, is changing the chemistry of local ecosystems, including introducing a potentially harmful amount of phosphorus into the environment.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

In rare opportunity, researchers observe formation of Icelandic valleys
On 10 November 2023, authorities evacuated the city of Grindavík on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. Months of seismic turbulence and other signs of an impending volcanic eruption (which would not actually occur until December) had come to a head with rapid-fire earthquakes and dramatic reshaping of the ground—including faults that cracked through roads, pipelines, and houses.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Mild drought preconditioning boosts tiller growth and resilience in perennial ryegrass
A research team has discovered that drought preconditioning accelerates tiller bud initiation and outgrowth in perennial ryegrass plants. This study revealed that mild drought stress followed by rewatering significantly promoted these processes through the regulation of key genes related to bud dormancy, activity, initiation, and outgrowth.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Novel cloud monitoring algorithm enables enhanced accuracy
Researchers led by Prof. Husi Letu from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a novel algorithm for measuring cloud properties using neural networks.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Researchers calculate up to a billion birds may die in the US each year due to collisions with windows
A team of ornithologists from the Fordham University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the NYC Bird Alliance, Inc, and the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology has found evidence that far more birds are killed by window collisions than previously thought.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Researchers identify seasonal sources of Beijing smog
An international study led by researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI has used a new method to identify the various sources of aerosols that create smog in Beijing.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Protecting communities and watersheds through research in a redwood forestWater trickles in a stream and redwoods tower overhead in Jackson Demonstration State Forest near Fort Bragg in Northern California. Joe Wagenbrenner, a research hydrologist with the U. S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station, shares the story behind the scenery./span>

August 8th, 2024 — Source

Scientists and rangers share knowledge to restore seagrass
Scientists from The University of Western Australia have partnered with Indigenous rangers on a seagrass restoration project in Gathaagudu (Shark Bay) to help moderate climate change and conserve biodiversity.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Sea of opportunity: Protecting mangroves, seagrass could boost Indonesia's new climate targets
Indonesia has signaled it could include blue carbon ecosystems—carbon-rich coastal and marine areas, like mangroves and seagrass—in its new climate targets. This shift follows years of relying heavily on the forestry and land sectors as well as the energy sector.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

South Africa's controversial lion farming industry is fueling the illegal international trade in big cat bones
A paper, "Under the lion's paw: lion farming in South Africa and the illegal international bone trade," published in Nature Conservation has uncovered concerning activities within South Africa's captive lion industry, shedding light on the urgent need for comprehensive governmental action.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Study observes that similarities between physical and biological systems might be greater than we think
A crowd or a flock of birds have different characteristics from those of atoms in a material, but when it comes to collective movement, the differences matter less than we might think. We can try to predict the behavior of humans, birds, or cells based on the same principles we use for particles.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Tribe Sues Interior Department Over Approval of Arizona Lithium Project
In the lawsuit, the Hualapai Nation claims a lithium exploration project near its reservation and the town of Wikieup could threaten a spring sacred to the tribe.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

UK Royal Mint mining PCBs for precious metals in e-waste recovery effort
There's gold in them thar boards
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking the secrets of salt stress tolerance in wild tomatoes
As our climate changes and soil salinity increases in many agricultural areas, finding crops that can thrive in these challenging conditions is crucial. Cultivated tomatoes, while delicious, often struggle in salty soils. Their wild cousins, however, have evolved to survive in diverse and often harsh environments.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

WALTY 2.0 amazing water generating plant pot hits Kickstarter
Ever felt the frustration of watching your beloved houseplants wither away despite your best efforts? You're not alone. Many plant enthusiasts struggle with the delicate balance of watering—too much or too little can spell disaster. But what if there was a way to take the guesswork out of plant care?
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Weather 'whiplash' in Antarctica may help predict effects of future climate change
Weather 'whiplash' in Antarctica may help predict effects of future climate change
August 8th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 6th, 2024

10 Ways To Keep Your Vehicle Engine Cool During Extreme Heat Conditions
Record-high temperatures around the world have become the new normal, and it will probably get worse in the coming decades. This unprecedented change in global climate has had a severe impact on our planet's life, but it also affects human-made machinery like cars. Extreme summer heat, spiced up with the effects of global warming, puts a huge stress on the vehicle's components and could lead to the engine overheating.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

A Legal Fight Over Legacy Oil Industry Pollution Heats Up in West Texas
A "first of its kind" lawsuit contends that oil companies including Chevron failed to properly plug and decommission wells on private property, challenging common assumptions about plugged wells.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Advanced chelators offer efficient and eco-friendly rare earth element recovery
The world is going to need a lot of weird metals in the coming years, according to chemistry professor Justin Wilson at UC Santa Barbara. But he isn't talking about lithium, cobalt or even beryllium. Wilson's interested in dysprosium, which is so hidden in the periodic table that you'd be forgiven for thinking he made it up.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Ancient pines could reveal the heat of thousands of past seasons
High in the arid White Mountains of eastern California stand the gnarled, twisted trunks of ancient bristlecone pines. These slow-growing trees quietly weather the ages; at more than 4,000 years old, some are more ancient than the Great Pyramid of Giza.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Antarctic survey of plant life to aid conservation efforts
The first continent-wide mapping study of plant life across Antarctica reveals growth in previously uncharted areas and is set to inform conservation measures across the region.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Current forecasts of the amount of renewable energy that can be generated are too optimistic, according to study
Holding the increase in the average global temperature to less than 2ºC above pre-industrial levels and limiting this increase to 1.5ºC is the challenge that 190 countries signed in the Paris Agreement for the year 2050. To make this possible, each state must present national plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that they are updated every five years.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Data protection is poor for African farmers who use digital services: Kenya and Ghana cases highlight gaps
Across Africa, agricultural producers are turning to digital solutions to get information about farming methods, market access or financial services.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Fighting for the Native Forest of the Gran Chaco in Argentina
A complaint lodged with the government alleges that Argentine provincial officials and businessmen are profiting from clearing the native forest.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Forests destroyed by wildfires emit carbon long after the flames die—new study
Even in Earth's high northern-latitude forest, climate change is predicted to make wildfires more frequent and severe.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

From Heat Waves to Hurricanes, Climate Hazards Often Hit Renters the Hardest
In an era of climate extremes, it's not a renter's market.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Groundwater reserves in southwestern Europe more stable overall than previously thought
Groundwater is a vital resource, sustaining plants and ecosystems, ensuring agricultural production and serving as a core component of drinking water supplies. However, climate change and anthropogenic pressures can threaten groundwater availability, especially in southwestern Europe.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

How can territorial ecological restoration of counties be used to increase carbon sinks?
Climate change threatens natural ecosystems and socioeconomic systems, with carbon dioxide viewed as the main driving force.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Hunt for herbicide solution in snap bean reveals master switch for stress resistance
Waterhemp is a nuisance for any crop producer, but in snap bean fields, the weed's stem segments can break off during harvest, contaminating the crop with inedible look-alike "pods." However, snap bean is harmed by many of the herbicides registered for waterhemp, leaving producers with few chemical solutions.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Instead of competing for land, some farmers and solar developers want to work side by side
Matt Riggs' family has been farming in Urbana since 1874. But, his parents had to work second jobs to cushion themselves from the volatile corn and soybean markets that dominate Illinois' agricultural sector.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

NASA, EPA tackle NO₂ air pollution in overburdened communities
For the first time, NASA data about nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a harmful air pollutant, is available on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) widely used Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (EJScreen). This update marks a crucial step in addressing air quality disparities in overburdened communities across the United States.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

New bean varieties resist aphids and nematodes
Climate resilient, nutritious long beans are unfortunately susceptible to aphids and nematodes. By creating four new pest-resistant varieties of the beans, scientists aim to reduce farmers' reliance on pesticides.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

New computer vision-based system monitors seasonal dynamics of tropical water
Understanding how water moves and changes around the world is more important than ever due to climate change, but monitoring inland water in the tropics is not easy. Most satellites are optical and simply take photos of surfaces. They cannot see through the thick cloud cover and dense vegetation that conceal the rivers, lakes and wetlands below.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

New Jersey launches heat awareness campaign as extreme weather intensifies
Heat is the deadliest weather hazard, but many Garden State residents underestimate the risks.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

New substrate material for flexible electronics could help combat e-waste
Electronic waste, or e-waste, is a rapidly growing global problem, and it's expected to worsen with the production of new kinds of flexible electronics for robotics, wearable devices, health monitors, and other new applications, including single-use devices.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

New technology protects crops by testing the air for the DNA of plant diseases
Plant infections can now be detected in our crops before they're even visible.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Patents can help researchers understand wildlife trade trends, new study shows
Researchers from the Oxford Martin Program on Wildlife Trade at the University of Oxford have demonstrated that patent data could provide a novel source of evidence that can help identify future commercial trends associated with the overharvesting of wildlife.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Perceptive Space emerges from stealth with plans to improve space weather predictions
Rocket launch providers, satellite operators, and even aviation companies rely on accurate predictions about "space weather," like solar flares and geomagnetic storms, to inform their operations. But this vital information is still supplied mainly by governments using inaccurate, older modeling techniques.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Planning the urban climate of the future
What a tree needs to grow and how it affects its surroundings vary from species to species. This makes it increasingly important for cities to adapt the urban tree cover to local conditions.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Researchers discover optimum twilight time for plant growth
A team of researchers has gained insight into the genetic processes underpinning how plants detect twilight and the role twilight plays in plant growth.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Researchers propose 'carbon removal budget' to tackle climate change
New research from the University of Oxford, published in the journal Carbon Management, makes the case for a novel Carbon Removal Budget to help tackle climate change. It would sit alongside the Carbon Budget that governs how much CO2 can safely be emitted globally.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

See South Carolina webcams as Tropical Storm Debby looms
Meteorologists expect extreme rains.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Shaping dairy farm vaccination decisions: Social pressure and vet influence
A new study by Prof. Eyal Klement and Ph.D. Student Michal Morgenstern from the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at the Hebrew University, in collaboration with Dr. Jaap Sok from the Business Economics Department at Wageningen University and Research, has unveiled key factors influencing vaccination intentions among Israeli dairy farmers.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

The ballad of Union Island
Hurricane Beryl, supercharged by climate change, left an Eastern Caribbean island in ruins just over a month ago. 'You can't pretend that it's not happening,' one resident says.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

The variability of ocean weather: Researchers test for patterns in temperature variability across climate regions
Tropical waters are not as thermally stable as once thought. Ocean waters vary widely in temperature over space and time, but the spatial and temporal resolution of remotely sensed sea surface temperature data is insufficient to capture the fine-scale variability that is relevant for marine organisms.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 3rd, 2024

After a Study Found Lead in Tampons, Environmentalists Wonder if Global Metal Pollution Is Worse Than They Previously Thought
Activists say the research marks a growing awareness connecting everyday life to the toxic contamination of the planet and ongoing harm to the climate. More research is examining how women are disproportionately impacted.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

Born to modulate: Researchers reveal origins of climate-controlling particles
Aerosol particles are tiny. Swirling suspended in the air around us, most are smaller than the smallest bug, thinner than the thinnest hair on your head, gossamer specks practically invisible to the naked eye. Newly formed ones are nano-sized. Yet their influence is gargantuan.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

Bronze Age technology could aid switch to clean energy
Technology with roots going back to the Bronze Age may offer a fast and inexpensive solution to help achieve the United Nations climate goal of net zero emissions by 2050, according to recent Stanford-led research in PNAS Nexus.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

Climate risks from exceeding 1.5°C reduced if warming swiftly reversed, says study
Earth systems could be "tipped" into unstable states if warming overshoots the 1.5°C target, but impacts could be minimized if warming is swiftly reversed.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

Colombia, Guatemala learn from each other in rainforest preservation
In the lush jungle of northern Guatemala—in the largest protected area in Central America—30 leaders from Colombia's Amazon basin region are swapping strategies with local ethnic Maya farmers on how to live off this dense forest without destroying it.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

Deep sea mining opponents suffer major setback
Opponents of deep sea mining suffered a serious setback Friday when they failed to take a first step toward an international moratorium on the controversial practice.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

Minnesota Settles 'Deceptive Environmental Marketing' Lawsuit Over 'Recycling' Plastic Bags
The lawsuit was among a burgeoning crop of plastics litigation amid growing awareness of a global plastics crisis.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

New research sheds light on relationships between plants and insects in forest ecosystems
U.S. Forest Service researchers and partners published new findings on how leaf-eating insects affect forest ecosystems worldwide.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

Tropical Glaciers in the Andes Are the Smallest They've Been in 11,700 Years
Four different glaciers along the Andes range no longer have hospitable conditions.
August 3rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — August 2nd, 2024

Ancient Antarctic microorganisms are aggressive predators
In Antarctica there is a small lake, called Deep Lake, that is so salty it remains ice-free all year round despite temperatures as low as -20°C in winter. Archaea, a unique type of single-celled microorganism, thrive in this bitterly cold environment.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Combined effects of plastic pollution and seawater flooding amplify threats to coastal plant species
Two of the planet's more pressing environmental stressors have the potential to alter the growth and reproductive output of plants found right along the world's coastlines, a new study suggests.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Decoding contaminant mobility: Transient flows and e-waste pollution dynamics
Changing weather patterns, like dry-wet and freeze-thaw cycles, significantly impact the release of harmful chemicals known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from soils at e-waste recycling sites.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Genetic signatures of domestication identified in pigs and chickens
Wild boars and red junglefowl gave rise to common pigs and chickens. These animals' genes evolved to express themselves differently, leading to signatures of domestication—such as weaker bones and better viral resistance—in pigs and chickens, according to a research team based in Japan.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Got questions about climate change? Start here.
Everything you (and the people in your life) wanted to know about the science and potential solutions.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Japan sees hottest July since records began
Japan sweltered through its hottest July since records began 126 years ago, the weather agency said, as extreme heat waves fueled by climate change engulfed many parts of the globe.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Major energy companies conceal 47% of biodiversity damage, according to research
A study by the UPV/EHU's Research Group on Circular Economy, Business Performance and Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals reveals that energy companies conceal 47% of the damage wrought on biodiversity as a result of their activity.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Massive solar wind disturbance caused Earth's magnetosphere to fly without its usual tail
Like a supersonic jet being blasted with high-speed winds, Earth is constantly being bombarded by a stream of charged particles from the sun known as solar wind.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

More microbes found that break down the carbon-fluorine bonds found in some unsaturated PFAS
A team of chemical and environmental engineers at the University of California Riverside, working with colleagues from the University of California Los Angeles, has found a class of microbes that consume PFAS in the environment and sever some of the bonds that hold them tightly together.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Novel system for highly sensitive detection of small molecule pollutants in food and the environment
A research team from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a novel competitive dual-channel color-tone change fluorescent immunochromatographic assay (CFICA).
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Pennsylvania policymakers underestimate public support for solar projects, survey says
Local elected officials surveyed in Pennsylvania underestimate their constituents' support for solar and other clean energy projects, according to a paper, "Public and Local Policymaker Preferences for Large-Scale Energy Project Characteristics," which was published August 1 in Nature Energy.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Potential Tropical Cyclone 4 a heavy rain threat for Florida
The system is expected to become Tropical Storm Debby by Saturday night and bring four to eight inches of rain to Florida by early next week.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Prioritize well-being over growth: New paradigm needed for climate-friendly lifestyles
Ensuring the well-being of citizens while reducing resource consumption has proved to be a massive challenge. Policymakers in the European Union are keen to identify new approaches to provisioning that will safeguard the well-being of citizens without incurring excessive environmental burdens.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers identify useful emission lines in the sun's outer atmosphere
When studying the solar spectrum, researchers often search for specific emission lines: prominent wavelengths emitted by ions as their electrons transition from higher to lower energy levels. Emission spectra of two iron ions, Fe IX and Fe X, are particularly useful for studying the sun's outer atmosphere.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Scientists design a framework to optimize nuclear material coatings discoveries
Nickel-based alloys, critical materials used in many advanced nuclear reactors, come with unwanted baggage. Aside from being very expensive, nickel ore is mined in politically sensitive parts of the world. The ore also has a high moisture content that can pose safety issues for those transporting the ore in cargo ships because the cargo can slosh around and create a load imbalance.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Solving the doping problem: Enhancing performance in organic semiconductors
Cavendish physicists have discovered two new ways to improve organic semiconductors. They found a way to remove more electrons from the material than previously possible and used unexpected properties in an environment known as the non-equilibrium state, boosting its performance for use in electronic devices.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

SunPower, a Major Solar Installer, Went Bankrupt. What Now?
One of the top national solar companies is now going bust, making the necessary moves to liquidate their assets. This is what SunPower customers need to know.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Study refines understanding of factors influencing global N₂O emissions from agricultural soils
Global atmospheric N₂O concentration has surged by more than 23% since the pre-industrial era, rising from 270 parts per billion (ppb) in 1750 to 336 ppb in 2022. Approximately two-thirds of these emissions come from nitrogen fertilizer-applied soils and natural soils. Key factors influencing N₂O emissions include climate, soil properties, and agricultural practices.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

The role of community conversation in improving air quality
Assessments of how transportation pollution affects health often fail to prioritize the needs or concerns of communities experiencing disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards, such as low-income areas or communities of color.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

This smart mug will keep any hot drink warm for as long as you need it to
The Ember Mug 2 is here.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Wasps help farmers fight mealybug pest in Kenya
Papaya farmers in Kenya are turning to a novel solution to combat the devastating papaya mealybug pest—parasitic wasps.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

White ants: The Earth's backboneless backbone
The first thoughts that probably come to mind when you read the words "white ant" are images of house destruction, wood damage, pest control, and spending money! While white ants are in fact a major structural and agricultural pest, they are among the most important organisms to maintain ecosystem health.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Why you need a go-bag
And a few things that should go in it.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 31st, 2024

Applied Carbon's farm robot turns plant waste into biochar to capture CO²
It's incredibly easy to dump carbon into the atmosphere and accelerate climate change. It's a lot harder to take it out. Startups are experimenting with massive industrial systems to draw the pollutant out of the air, with facilities costing hundreds of millions of dollars to construct.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Barriers designed to prevent saltwater intrusion may worsen inland flooding
As Earth continues to warm, sea levels have risen at an accelerating rate—from 1.4 millimeters a year to 3.6 millimeters a year between 2000 and 2015. Flooding will inevitably worsen, particularly in low-lying coastal regions, where more than a billion people are estimated to live.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Dark Oxygen has been discovered on Earth
A groundbreaking discovery of a mysterious oxygen source, termed "dark oxygen," was made 5,000 meters below the ocean surface in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. For years, scientists have puzzled over the sources of oxygen in deep-sea environments.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Digitalization: A blessing for the energy transformation
Many people now work partly or permanently from home. This saves petrol because they no longer have to drive to the office—which is good for the energy transition.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

How climate scientists are unraveling the mysteries of the Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean is important for the Earth's climate system, particularly in absorbing excess heat and carbon from the atmosphere. However, its intricate dynamics remain poorly understood, hindering accurate climate impact predictions.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

How technology and robotics are helping Brazil monitor and control an invasive coral species
When the expanded yellow tentacles of the sun coral began to appear on the Brazilian coastline, alarms rang. This species, also known as Tubastraea, was not supposed to be there. The movement of oil platforms and other shipping near Rio de Janeiro in the late 80s dragged the non-reef-building coral. Since then, it invaded and colonized reef habitats along the Brazilian coast.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Irrigation tax could steer farmers from water-intensive crops
Your post-workout almond milk and fruit smoothie might one day leave your pocketbook significantly slimmer too, as water shortages in western U.S. states threaten to alter the price and availability of some types of produce.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Leaf helps farms decipher the troves of data they generate
Farms produce a lot of data. From machines to irrigation systems, farms generate a lot of information that could be helpful to both them and the companies that serve them. Traditionally this data has been siloed across different formats, making it hard to read and build off of. Leaf is trying to change that.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Long-term whitebark pine restoration project aims to save the trees for future generations
The Western species has been hard-hit by wildfires, mountain pine beetles, and blister rust.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Maestro Orchestrates An October Launch On Quest & Steam
Maestro, an orchestra conducting VR rhythm game, launches this October on Quest & Steam.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Mediterranean heat wave 'virtually impossible' without climate change: Scientists
The punishing heat experienced around the Mediterranean in July would have been "virtually impossible" in a world without global warming, a group of climate scientists said Wednesday.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

New collaborative research generates lessons for more adaptive lake management
"Sometimes the crazy ideas lead to watershed improvements." That was a key takeaway from research conducted by Utah State University, published in the American Society of Civil Engineer's Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

New study reveals new intricate behaviors of deep-sea currents
A new study has revealed that changes in the ocean floor impact currents, giving new insight into the deep-sea pathways of nutrients and pollutants.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Nuclear physicists question origin of radioactive beryllium in the solar system
Scientists have determined that a rare element found in some of the oldest solids in the solar system, such as meteorites, and previously thought to have been forged in supernova explosions, actually predate such cosmic events, challenging long-held theories about its origin.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

PFAS found in nearly all fish tested from four northern Illinois rivers
Scientists tested nine fish species from four northern Illinois rivers for contamination with per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, synthetic chemicals found in numerous industrial and commercial products and known to be harmful to human health.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Recent volcanic 'fires' in Iceland began with vast magma pooling just beneath the surface, scientists report
Scientists from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have detected geochemical signatures of magma pooling and melting beneath the subsurface during the "Fagradalsfjall Fires," that began on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula in 2021.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Revealing the influences on La Niña and El Niño weather conditions
Weather, such as unexpected storms, can influence the climate outcomes of La Niña and El Niño events, determining how much rainfall there is, according to new research by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Self-supervised AI can learn to recognize cloud types in satellite images without human guidance
Clouds play a pivotal role in the Earth's climate and weather. They form in a diversity of distinct patterns and types that can have profoundly different impacts on things such as the water cycle and how radiant energy moves through the atmosphere.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Study catalogs the most frequently used words in the archive of AGU journal article titles
Scientific studies have filled the pages of AGU journals for more than a century. These articles reveal how the study of geophysics has evolved alongside technology and societal interests and they tell the story of our expanding knowledge of Earth and space science.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Surface modification for more effective textured perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells
A coating of solar cells with special organic molecules could pave the way for a new generation of solar panels. As a research team reports in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, this coating can increase the efficiency of monolithic tandem cells made of silicon and perovskite while lowering their cost because they are produced from industrial, microstructured, standard silicon wafers.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

The climate is changing so fast that we haven't seen how bad extreme weather could get
Decades-old statistics no longer represent what is possible in the present day.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

The climate is changing so fast, we haven't seen how bad extreme weather could get
Extreme weather is by definition rare on our planet. Ferocious storms, searing heat waves and biting cold snaps illustrate what the climate is capable of at its worst. However, since Earth's climate is rapidly warming, predominantly due to fossil fuel burning, the range of possible weather conditions, including extremes, is changing.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

The role of subtropical savannas in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation
Savannas are a mixture of patches of trees and shrubs combined with an herbaceous understory. This biome significantly contributes to the global carbon stock and climate change mitigation.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Volcanoes and wine: Eruptions reduced historical Moselle Valley vineyard production
Climate has an important role to play in viticulture (wine production) due to the impacts on grape harvest from variability in parameters such as temperature, precipitation and aridity.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Vulnerability Management in DevOps Environments
Vulnerability management in DevOps integrates security into the development workflow to identify and fix vulnerabilities throughout the software lifecycle.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

With biodiversity under threat, scientists suggest the need for a new biorepository—on the moon
With numerous species facing extinction, an international team of researchers has proposed an innovative solution to protect the planet's biodiversity: a lunar biorepository.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Word is that Intel will Reduce Workforce by 10,000 Jobs, Saving $10 Billion by 2025
Intel is reportedly planning to cut its workforce by 10,000 employees, sources told Bloomberg. This move is seen as a response to increasing pressure from shareholders and a strategy to cope with recent declines in the company's market performance. Over the past few years, competitors like AMD and NVIDIA have made significant inroads into Intel's market share.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

YCC en Español wants your questions about climate change
Journalist Johani Ponce and Editor Pearl Marvell talk about YCC's "Ask the Expert" project.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 29th, 2024

A passive, renewable, more efficient way to extract water from the atmosphere
Freshwater scarcity affects over two billion people in the world, primarily in arid and remote regions, as well as islands and coastal areas without freshwater sources. Climate change and population growth are only making the problem worse, and existing methods require an energy input, usually electrical.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

A strategy to design better materials for thermoelectric power generation
In recent years, engineers and scientists worldwide have been working on new technologies for generating electricity from renewable energy sources, including photovoltaics (PVs), wind turbines and hydro-power generators.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

As California seeks to curb groundwater declines, farmers in one county fight back in court
With long-term declines in groundwater levels putting thousands of domestic wells at risk and causing the ground to sink in parts of the San Joaquin Valley, state regulators are moving forward with efforts to force local agencies to take stronger steps to begin to rein in chronic overpumping by California's agriculture industry.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Avocado genome assembled: Uncovering disease resistance and fatty acid secrets
The avocado, celebrated for its nutritious unsaturated fats and distinctive flavor, encounters notable agricultural challenges, particularly its vulnerability to diseases that can drastically reduce fruit quality and yield.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Complex life on Earth began around 1.5 billion years earlier than previously thought, new study claims
Environmental evidence of the very first experiments in the evolution of complex life on Earth, has been uncovered by an international team of scientists.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Coral restoration and adaptation benefits challenged
University of Melbourne and James Cook University researchers have called for an urgent rethink of the merits of coral reef restoration and adaptation, questioning whether the practice can meaningfully improve reef health.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Countries need to cooperate on migration as climate crisis worsens
Humanity must rethink migration as the climate crisis drives rapid global changes, researchers say.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Exploring new energy for Intermountain West—well retrofits and hydrogen could be key to cleaner energy
Two new papers, both authored by Mohamed Mehana of the Earth and Environmental Sciences division at Los Alamos National Laboratory, explore the feasibility of well retrofitting and clean hydrogen production from fossil fuels.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Faster, cleaner way to extract lithium from battery waste
Microwave-based process boasts 50% recovery rate in 30 seconds
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Great news for the endangered tiger: A 250% increase in tiger numbers recorded in Thailand
There's phenomenal news for the Endangered tiger: There's been a 250% increase in tiger numbers in Thailand's Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) over a 15-year period from 2007 to 2023.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Healthy bees, healthy planet: The impact of balanced diets on honeybee colonies
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has revealed that a balanced diet is essential for the optimal health and task performance of honeybees, a key species for pollination and ecosystem stability. The study, led by Prof. Sharoni Shafir from the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, investigates how honeybees balance their nutritional intake to maintain homeostasis and enhance fitness.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

KLM targets liquid hydrogen plane takeoff in 2026
The hydrogen-powered aircraft could transport 80 passengers over 1500 kilometres
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Manila is reeling after a super typhoon—we must prepare fast-growing megacities for worsening disasters
Last week, a strong typhoon left a trail of destruction across the Philippines, Taiwan and China. Super Typhoon Gaemi began as a tropical storm but intensified rapidly, leaving at least 65 people dead and triggering environmental fears after it sank an oil tanker in Manila Bay.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Mass breeding of desert locusts unlocks new food source
Mass breeding of desert locusts in a controlled environment could provide a sustainable source of protein for animals and humans as well as business opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, researchers say.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Massive appropriation of labor from the Global South enables high consumption in rich countries
The high levels of consumption enjoyed by wealthy countries in the Global North are only possible because of mass appropriation of labor from the population of the Global South. This is evidenced by research from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB), which indicates that this appropriation takes place through unequal exchange in international trade and global commodity chains.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

More Aussies are concerned the transition to renewables will hurt them financially
Support for Australia transitioning to renewable energy is strong across the country (with 59% support), but 41% are concerned about the negative impacts of the transition to green energy on cost-of-living and household energy bills (up 10% since 2022), according to the 2024 Ipsos Climate Change Report, unveiled at Sydney's Greenhouse Tech Hub.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

New data-driven map reveals extensive peatlands in Amazon Basin
A consortium of researchers led by the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and Charles University, Prague have developed a new data-driven map which predicts substantially more peatland area in the Amazon basin than previously estimated. The high-resolution map provides the first field-data-driven extent of peatlands in the Amazon basin and will be useful for future research and policy on the vulnerability of peatlands to climate change and human impacts.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

New lettuce cultivar 'Zhongsheng No. 1' developed using advanced plant factory technology
A research team has demonstrated that using plant factory technology (PFT) to precisely control environmental factors can significantly enhance vegetable quality. By cultivating a new lettuce cultivar in a PFT system, they achieved higher nutritional content in a shorter period compared to traditional open-field cultivation.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

New reconstruction shows low Artic sea ice cover in mid-20th century
An international research team presented a new reconstruction of past Arctic sea ice that revealed low levels of sea ice coverage in the 1940s.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Plants' hidden allies: Root microbiota fight back against leaf-mining flies
Plants encounter various biotic stresses, with insect herbivory being particularly destructive. Traditional chemical insecticides used to combat these pests pose environmental and health risks.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop high-sensitivity technique to detect mercury in soil
Environmental pollution by heavy metals is a major social problem. Among these metals, mercury (Hg) is strictly controlled due to its high toxicity.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Researchers use omics technologies to accelerate yam research progress
A research team has summarized current progress on the yam genome, plastome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome, highlighting the nutrient-rich and bioactive compound-laden Dioscorea species. This research holds significant value for genetic studies and molecular breeding in yams, particularly as their global production has doubled in the past two decades, bolstering food security and sustenance in Africa.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Salt stress promotes early flowering, inhibits floral organ development by disturbing cell cycle in tomatoes
A research team investigated the impact of salt stress on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) floral transition, revealing that salt stress significantly reduced plant biomass and caused early flowering and smaller flowers. This study underscores the importance of understanding salt stress effects on crops, as it highlights how moderate salt stress can accelerate flowering by upregulating the SINGLE-FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) gene.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Scientists finds faster, cleaner way to extract lithium from battery waste
The "white gold" of clean energy, lithium is a key ingredient in batteries large and small, from those powering phones and laptops to grid-scale energy storage systems.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

The first farmers often made landscapes more biodiverse, providing lessons for rewilding today
You don't need to read the news or scroll through Instagram for long to stumble across the latest example of a rare and beautiful species that has gone extinct. Since AD1500, at least 705 vertebrate species and 571 plant species have died out.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

The Galapagos Islands and many of their unique creatures are at risk from warming waters
Warm morning light reflects from the remains of a natural rock arch near Darwin Island, one of the most remote islands in the Galapagos. In clear, deep blue water, thousands of creatures—fish, hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas—move in search of food.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

The grid can handle more renewable energy, but it needs some help
The grid needs to change. To electrify everything from vehicles to heating systems to stovetops, the U.S. grid must expand by about 57% (PDF) and get more flexible, too. Solar and wind energy are the renewables most likely to dominate a future clean energy grid. But they are found primarily in remote areas, far from the hubs that need their power.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

The hidden drivers of evolution: Transposable elements in Rosaceae genomes
Transposable elements are mobile DNA sequences that play a crucial role in plant genome architecture and gene regulation. They drive genome size variation and affect gene expression by altering regulatory networks. Despite their significance, the diverse and dynamic roles of transposable elements (TEs) are not well understood.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Timber plantations near urbanized areas support the movement of small and medium-sized terrestrial mammals
In the fight to mitigate climate change and deforestation in the tropics, timber plantations have emerged as a promising strategy for reforesting degraded land and connecting patches of natural forest. Often, these are species with commercial value for landowners but are not native to the region.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking glucosinolates' potential: Enhancing nutrition and stress tolerance in Brassica crops
A research team has reviewed the potential of glucosinolates, compounds found in Brassicaceae plants like cabbage and broccoli, to enhance stress tolerance and provide health benefits through their hydrolysis products.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

What Project 2025 would do to climate policy in the US
"It's real bad."
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Winter breeding offers lifeline for monarch butterflies in Northern California
Monarch butterflies in Northern California are adapting to a changing climate by embracing an unexpected strategy: breeding in the winter. The shift could be key to the survival of the iconic insect, according to a new study published in the Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 28th, 2024

Bearded fireworm stalks shallows as Mediterranean warms
The fish in Alfonso Barone's net are hauled aboard off Sicily half- eaten, ravaged by bearded fireworms, a voracious predator flourishing in the increasingly warm Mediterranean sea.
July 28th, 2024 — Source

California fire rapidly reaches state's top 10 biggest ever
A fire raging out of control in northern California has rapidly become among the biggest ever in the western US state, authorities said Saturday.
July 28th, 2024 — Source

Endangered gazelles find Libyan 'safe haven'
Cocooned in white bags and nestled in the arms of volunteers, eight young rhim gazelles—an endangered species native to North Africa—have been transferred to an uninhabited Libyan island.
July 28th, 2024 — Source

New research shows how global warming is messing with our rainfall
The past century of human-induced warming has increased rainfall variability over 75% of the Earth's land area—particularly over Australia, Europe and eastern North America, new research shows.
July 28th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 27th, 2024

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Alabama
While Alabama isn't the most solar-friendly state in terms of rebates, there are still plenty of great solar panel installation companies for you to choose from.
July 27th, 2024 — Source

Experts debunk Trump claim that wind energy is killing many U.S. birds
"Other aspects of human life are far more lethal."
July 27th, 2024 — Source

How to watch the spectacular Perseid meteor shower in 2024
One of the year's best celestial displays is here.
July 27th, 2024 — Source

New process uses light and enzymes to create greener chemicals
Researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) have achieved a significant breakthrough that could lead to better—and greener—agricultural chemicals and everyday products.
July 27th, 2024 — Source

Philippine coast guard says oil leaking from sunken tanker
Some of the 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil inside a sunken Philippine tanker has started to leak into Manila Bay, the coast guard said Saturday, as they raced to avoid an environmental catastrophe.
July 27th, 2024 — Source

The secret to better weather forecasts may be a dash of AI
Google adds machine learning to climate models for 'faster forecasts'
July 27th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 26th, 2024

Agtech startup Terrantic raises $3.5M to help food growers optimize yield and quality
A group of former colleagues at DataCloud, a startup that helped mining companies extract value out of data collection, are teaming up again to take aim at another industry: food.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Ancient DNA analyses imply brucellosis pathogen evolved with development of farming
Scientists analyzed ancient DNA extracted from an 8,000-year-old sheep bone and detected the Brucella melitensis pathogen. Brucellosis affects millions of people every year and causes significant harm to the welfare of livestock.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Balancing instability and robustness: New mathematical framework for dynamics of natural systems
Scientists all over the world use modeling approaches to understand complex natural systems such as climate systems or neuronal or biochemical networks. A team of researchers has now developed a new mathematical framework that explains, for the first time, a mechanism behind long transient behaviors in complex systems.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

China: Still the world's biggest emitter, but also an emerging force in climate diplomacy
Seven years seems a lifetime in politics. In 2017, President Donald Trump announced the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement. It prompted Canada, China and the European Union to convene an urgent meeting to reaffirm political commitment to global climate action.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Clearance of deer cull carcasses is a loss to ecosystem, finds Scotland study
The removal of deer bodies following annual culls in Scotland may be depriving the environment of essential nutrients, according to a new study published in Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Communicating numbers boosts trust in climate change science, research suggests
The intuition to distill hard numbers like "90 percent" into words like "almost all" may help make science and statistics more accessible, but new research shows that isn't necessarily the best way to engage people online.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Craft cider is surprisingly good for the environment
Apple cider vinegar seems to be having a moment. People on social media report drinking it to lose weight and improve their health—although not everyone agrees about its purported benefits.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Energy tech startup Greenely grabs €8M to reach more households and support Europe's energy transition
The energy transition is a marathon, not a sprint. But opportunities for acceleration are growing. Swedish startup Greenely has just spotted one. It's closing an €8 million Series A funding round to expand its energy management platform into neighbouring Nordic countries (so around $8.7M at current exchange rates).
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Experts warn against hype for deriving green hydrogen from direct seawater electrolysis
At first glance, the plan sounds compelling: invent and develop future electrolyzers capable of producing hydrogen directly from unpurified seawater. But a closer look reveals that such direct seawater electrolyzers would require years of high-end research. Furthermore, DSE electrolyzers are not even necessary—a simple desalination process is sufficient to prepare seawater for conventional electrolyzers.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

He had his dream career. But was it good for the climate?
After spending years in a conventional job, Felipe Morales decided he wanted to do his part to create a sustainable future for Mexico.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

How a warming Arctic is accelerating global climate change
Three recent papers authored by Ted Schuur, Regents' professor of biological sciences at Northern Arizona University, and other researchers around the world, organized through the Permafrost Carbon Network, investigate the biological processes taking place in the warming Arctic tundra and provide insight into what we can expect from that region as the climate continues to change.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

How roads are reshaping and scarring our planet, and even changing animals' DNA
A web of roads encircles the Earth and stretches 40 million miles. In Crossings, a new book by environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb, tarmac is exposed for the planet-shaping force it is—one that has polluted rivers and the air, emptied soils and woodlands, and struck fear into wild animals.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

How solar storms play havoc with our lives
Despite the 150 million kilometers that separate it from the Earth, the sun does more than just light our way: it also impacts our electricity networks, and even our transport.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Increased demand for metals and minerals needed for clean energy transition puts 4,000+ species at risk, finds study
New research has found that 4,642 species of vertebrates are threatened by mineral extraction around the world through mining and quarrying, and drilling for oil and gas.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Living in a plastic world: Tackling plastic pollution
Plastic pollution has emerged as one of our most pressing environmental issues with the increasing use of disposable plastics. As they are non-biodegradable, plastics accumulate in the environment, altering habitats and natural processes. Millions of wildlife are also trapped by plastic waste every year.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Magnetic fields help understand light particle splitting for boosting solar cell efficiency
Scientists are closer to giving the next generation of solar cells a powerful boost by integrating a process that could make the technology more efficient by breaking particles of light—photons—into small chunks.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Most of the glyphosate in European rivers may not come from farming, researchers suggest
A research team at the University of Tübingen has found that most glyphosate that ends up in European rivers likely does not come from herbicides, as previously assumed; instead, it may be the result of additives to detergents.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

New clam species discovered in South Africa's kelp forest
A new study sheds light on the unexplored diversity of galeommatoidean bivalves, a little-known group of marine mollusks, from the western coast of South Africa.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Philippines races to avoid 'environmental catastrophe' from oil spill
The Philippine Coast Guard on Friday raced to offload 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil from a sunken tanker and prevent an "environmental catastrophe" in Manila Bay.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Rain, cooling slow huge blaze in Canada's Jasper park
Rain and cooler temperatures are helping firefighters battling a huge forest fire that has devastated part of the popular tourist town of Jasper in western Canada, authorities said Friday.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Washington to provide $200 energy credits to low-income households ahead of vote on climate law
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday is highlighting a statewide program that will provide $200 energy credits to help low-income residents pay their electricity bills.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 24th, 2024

A mixed approach to reforestation is better than planting or regeneration alone, study finds
Reforestation in low- and middle-income countries can remove up to 10 times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a lower cost than previously estimated, making this a potentially more important option to fight climate change, according to a new study in Nature Climate Change.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

A Photographer's Mission to Save the Ocean Begins With Powerful Images
National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry has spent decades diving around the globe, telling the stories of the world's oceans. For his latest projects, years in the making, he has been much closer to home, documenting the unprecedented — and deadly — changes happening in the Gulf of Maine, the waters Skerry grew up visiting as a child on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Are chemicals still spreading near Placer County missile site in Northern California? New probe data show the latest
The most recent data collected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Titan-1 missile silo site in Placer County found that despite longstanding concerns, new soil vapor monitoring probes closest to homes in the Sun City Lincoln Hills development do not show signs of trichloroethylene, or TCE, a chemical that can cause health problems.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panels for Your Home in 2024
Our experts looked at key metrics including the efficiency, warranties and performance of the most popular residential solar panels. Here's how they stack up against one another.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Bridge helps Alaska town cope with climate change
During winter, residents used to leave town by driving across a frozen lake. But warming temperatures left the lake ice less dependable.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Can a colossal extreme weather event galvanize action on the climate crisis?
Many extremes over the past 40 years might have triggered transformational change -- but didn't.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

E-commerce is driving up pollution near warehouses
For the first time, satellite data shows the impact of warehouse traffic on air quality in communities across the US.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

How biodiversity is changing in one of the world's most productive ocean ecosystems
In research published in Global Change Biology, investigators have examined DNA within ocean bottom sediment cores to assess changes in living organisms within one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems: the Atacama Trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which is located about 100 miles off the coast of Peru and Chile and lies at a depth of up to 5 miles below the surface.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Micropep taps tiny proteins to make pesticides safer
Farmers have got to do something about pests. But nobody really likes the idea of using more chemical pesticides. Thomas Laurent's company, Micropep, thinks the answer might already be in the plants themselves.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Monday breaks the record for the hottest day ever on Earth
Driven by oceans that won't cool down, an unseasonably warm Antarctica and worsening climate change, Earth's record hot streak dialed up this week, making Sunday, then Monday, the hottest days humans have measured, according to the European climate service.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Nondestructive flash cathode recycling method uses magnetic properties for battery recycling
A research team at Rice University led by James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science and nanoengineering, is tackling the environmental issue of efficiently recycling lithium ion batteries amid their increasing use.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Renewables overproduction turns electricity prices negative
With the proliferation of solar panels and wind turbines an unusual phenomenon is becoming more and more frequent: wholesale electricity prices turn negative.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Research shows the ocean is becoming too loud for oysters
Baby oysters rely on natural acoustic cues to settle in specific environments, but new research from the University of Adelaide reveals that noise from human activity is interfering with this critical process.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Small modular reactors have promise, but researchers find they're unlikely to help Australia hit net zero by 2050
Australia's clean energy transition is already underway, driven by solar, wind, batteries and new transmission lines.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Solar Outburst Could Spark Dazzling Auroras Across Northern US Skies Tonight
A recent solar outburst may cause an aurora across the northern and upper Midwest states from New York to Idaho tonight. The G2 Geomagnetic Storm Watch was triggered by a coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted on July 21, 2024.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Streets turned into rivers as Typhoon Gaemi blows past Philippines
Relentless rain drenched the northern Philippines on Wednesday, triggering floods in Manila and deadly landslides as Typhoon Gaemi intensified the seasonal monsoon.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly research opens the door to new crop varieties
Completely new crop varieties which can better withstand drought, salinity and pests are within reach thanks to international genomics research published today in Nature Genetics.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Trees reveal climate surprise: Microbes living in bark remove methane from the atmosphere
Tree bark surfaces play an important role in removing methane gas from the atmosphere, according to a study published 24 July in Nature.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

'Truly frightening': Pesticides increasingly laced with forever chemicals
Toxic "forever chemicals" are increasingly being used in US pesticides, threatening human health as they contaminate waterways and are sprayed on staple foods, a study said Wednesday.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Unveiling nature's hunters: Dr. Skylar Johnson's research on carnivorous pitcher plants with Absorbance 96 & One in Borneo's rainforests
In this interview, Dr. Skylar Johnson shares her thrilling adventures and groundbreaking research on carnivorous Nepenthes pitcher plants in the lush rainforests of Borneo.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Vietnam allows big companies to buy clean energy directly to meet their climate targets
Vietnam will let electricity-guzzling factories buy electricity from wind and solar power producers, helping big companies like Samsung Electronics meet their climate targets and relieving pressure on the country's overstrained grid.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Warehousing industry found to increase health-harming pollutants, with people of color especially affected
America's demand for products delivered to the doorstep has led to a dramatic increase in e-commerce and the warehousing industry. A first-of-a-kind study now shows that people living in communities located next to these large warehouses are exposed to 20% more of a traffic-related air pollutant that can lead to asthma and other life-threatening health conditions.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Yes, Australia's environment is on a depressing path—but $7 billion a year would transform it, says report
The condition of Australia's environment continues to decline. Many Australians wonder if it's possible to reverse this depressing trajectory—and our landmark assessment released today shows the answer is yes.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 22nd, 2024

Engineers fix ESA's Gaia observatory from 1.5M kilometers away
And you thought rolling back a borked update on a server down the hall was hard?
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Listening to the voices of those most affected by climate change
Researchers at McGill University recently supported the hosting of a major international conference on climate change to create space for the under-represented voices—and knowledge—of those most affected.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Massive solar farm planned for coal mine site in eastern Kentucky
Solar developer BrightNight is set to transform the Starfire coal mine into an 800-megawatt solar farm, bringing renewable energy and jobs to southern Appalachia.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Microsoft invests in Cyclic Materials for rare earth recycling
E-waste is a growing problem, with millions of hard drives discarded each year, often without reclaiming valuable rare earth elements. Microsoft has recognized this issue and is taking action by investing in Cyclic Materials, a company that has developed a groundbreaking technology for rare earth recycling.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Nigeria's chronic power shortages: Mini grids haven't solved the problem—here's why
Electricity is a scarce commodity in Nigeria. With just over 4,000 megawatts supplying nearly 220 million people, the electricity access deficit stands at about 40% nationwide. The picture looks even darker in rural areas. There, 73% of the population is off the power grid.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Reducing electronic waste with biodegradable luminescent polymers
From your car's navigation display to the screen you are reading this on, luminescent polymers — a class of flexible materials that contain light-emitting molecules — are used in a variety of today's electronics. Luminescent polymers stand out for their light-emitting capability, coupled with their remarkable flexibility and stretchability, showcasing vast potential across diverse fields of application./span>
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Reframing sustainable timber sourcing: New research calls for regenerative approach
Amid growing uncertainty about the sustainability of timber sourcing, new research by University of Bristol experts highlights the necessity of shifting focus from simply using certified, locally sourced timber to a more comprehensive understanding of timber availability and sustainability.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers test whether peanuts and cotton could grow in a warmer Midwest
The crops have historically grown farther South.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Sodium-ion batteries are set to spark a renewable energy revolution
The extent to which renewables should dominate Australia's energy grids is a major issue in science and politics. Solar and wind are clearly now the cheapest form of electricity. But limits to these technologies can undermine the case for a renewables-only electricity mix.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Study estimates land use change emissions for six aviation fuel pathways
A new IIASA-led study offers the first detailed estimates of land use change emissions for six sustainable aviation fuel production pathways. The authors focused on both food and non-food raw materials used to produce biofuels, using trusted global data sources to provide fine-scale emissions data.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Submarine canyons are crucial for the instability of the Antarctic ice sheet, suggests study
Antarctic canyons play a crucial role in the instability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, as they facilitate the transfer of relatively warm water (Circumpolar Deep Water) from the abyssal areas to the continental shelf and from there to the base of the ice sheet, thus contributing to its melting.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

The greenest games ever? How claims of Olympic sustainability hit a reef in Tahiti
A greener games? Certainly that is what Paris promised when it made environmental sustainability, innovation and leadership central to its successful bid to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Understanding how a red seaweed reduces methane emissions from cows
Methane is the second-largest contributor to climate warming after carbon dioxide, and so scientists have put a lot of attention toward addressing one of the top sources: methane emissions from livestock. In other words, cow burps are bad for the planet.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

What Is a Solar Flare?
We explain this extraordinary phenomenon—and why solar flares and coronal mass ejections go together like spots on Dalmatians.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 20th, 2024

UK village fights to turn back tide of climate change
Kevin Jordan thought he would spend his retirement listening to the sound of the sea at his home on the Norfolk coast in eastern England.
July 20th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 19th, 2024

Books for adapting cities to climate change
Equitable urban design can help these major population centers respond to and mitigate climate change
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Chemists design novel method for generating sustainable fuel
Chemists have been working to synthesize high-value materials from waste molecules for years. Now, an international collaboration of scientists is exploring ways to use electricity to streamline the process.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Cooling must be seen as critical national infrastructure, new report says
A Cranfield University academic has contributed to a new landmark report that says that governments and policy makers must recognize cooling as critical national infrastructure (CNI) if humanity is to build resilience to the impact of climate change.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

COP29 hosts urge fossil fuel majors to donate to climate fund
Azerbaijan said Friday it hopes to raise money from fossil fuel producers for green projects in developing countries as the petro-state prepares to host the world's most important climate summit.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Engineers eliminate surface concavities to produce more efficient and stable perovskite solar cells
A research team from the School of Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has shown the existence of surface concavities on individual crystal grains, which are the fundamental building blocks of perovskite thin films, while revealing their significant effects on film properties and reliability.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Enhanced information in national policies can accelerate Africa's efforts to track climate adaptation
New analysis of African national adaptation policy documents finds that most fail to provide comprehensive and consistent information. But the authors also uncover compelling examples of robust plans that hold lessons for upcoming climate talks.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Environmental groups ask feds to take over Georgia's coal ash program
A handful of environmental groups filed a petition July 18 asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to claw back oversight of the disposal of Georgia's toxic coal ash from state regulators, citing concerns over groundwater contamination.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Giant millipede was lost to science for 126 years: It's just been found in Madagascar
When a new species is discovered in the depths of the rainforest or on top of a mountain, it can be years before the creature is cataloged again. Separated from science by elevation, water or tangled branches, the species lives undisturbed, its populations existing in an almost-separate world.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Gold co-catalyst improves photocatalytic degradation of micropollutants, finds study
To remove micropollutants such as pesticides and trace chemicals from the environment, you need something equally small and cunning. One potential method is photocatalysis, which uses semiconducting nanomaterials powered by sunlight to adsorb toxic chemicals on the materials' surface and degrade them.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

How camping skills can help prepare you for weather disasters
Many skills used while camping can help you stay safe during emergencies.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

How nature-based solutions can promote effective flood management
Flooding is a challenge affecting everything from economic security, to drinking water and the pursuit of truth and reconciliation. Canada must adapt to the urgent risks posed by worsening floods. Luckily, numerous pathways exist for individual Canadians to engage in collective actions to protect ourselves and our communities.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Microfluidic sensors enable real-time detection of multiple heavy metals in water
A group of researchers from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has designed and developed advanced microfluidic sensor arrays that use fluorescent probes to simultaneously visualize and quantitatively detect multiple heavy metal ions in environmental water in real time.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Million-dollar award will advance Evercloak's low-carbon HVAC technology
Evercloak's ground-breaking HVAC technology recently received another boost, with $1.1 million in funding from Natural Resources Canada's Energy Innovation Program (EIP).
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Neural network learns to build maps using Minecraft
Imagine you are in the middle of an unknown town. Even if your surroundings are initially unfamiliar, you can explore around and eventually create a mental map of your environment—where the buildings, streets, signs, and so on are in relation to one another. This ability to construct spatial maps in the brain is the basis of even more advanced types of cognition in humans: For example, it is theorized that language is encoded in a map-like structure in the brain.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

New dawn for space storm alerts could help shield Earth's tech
Space storms could soon be forecasted with greater accuracy than ever before thanks to a big leap forward in our understanding of exactly when a violent solar eruption may hit Earth. Scientists say it is now possible to predict the precise speed a coronal mass ejection (CME) is travelling at and when it will smash into our planet -- even before it has fully erupted from the Sun.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

New humidity-driven membrane removes carbon dioxide from the air
Direct air capture was identified as one of the "seven chemical separations to change the world." This is because although carbon dioxide is the main contributor to climate change (we release ~40 billion tons into the atmosphere every year), separating carbon dioxide from air is very challenging due to its dilute concentration (~0.04%).
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Smallholder farmers, efficient ranching practices critical to meet restoration targets in Brazil's Atlantic Forest
A new study led by King's College London simulated the effects of various restoration policies to assess their impact on biodiversity and agricultural production.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Study shows tree species have different strategies for coping with light conditions in forest understory
Scientists at the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a breakthrough in understanding why Korean pine trees are struggling to regenerate naturally in certain forests. These broad-leaf Korean pine forests are vital for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and maintaining healthy ecosystems in northeast China.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Sustainable irrigation critical to recovery of Ukrainian farms, a major global exporter of grain and oilseeds
By the middle of the century, three-quarters of Ukrainian croplands—a critical source of the world's grain and oilseeds—will experience water shortages due to the combination of climate change and infrastructural damage caused by the Russian invasion, according to new research from an international research team led by Carnegie Science's Lorenzo Rosa and including members of the World Bank's Global Water Practice unit.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Trillions are lost in worker productivity due to ecological anxiety and 'lie-flat' lifestyles, argues researcher
Could nature and climate anxieties predict future social behaviors, in the same way that consumer sentiment predicts purchasing and investment?
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Wetland wonders unfold: Aerial systems shed light on ecosystem services
Coastal wetlands, situated at the junction of land and water, are vital ecosystems known for their high productivity. They play a key role in carbon sequestration, storm buffering, and providing habitats for diverse species. However, these critical areas are increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Why an 'unexciting' galaxy could provide clues about the universe's evolution
Astronomers believe dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 5238 may have swallowed up a smaller neighbor.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Why we find extreme weather so fascinating
When climate change leads the news, it's often down to a hurricane, heat wave or flood. And, judging by our most widely read environment stories over the past decade, extreme weather really is one of the main ways the public (or at least our readers) learns about climate breakdown.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Working to strengthen Pacific Northwest defenses against wildfires and wildfire smoke
In the summer of 2020, wildfire smoke blanketed the city of Portland, Oregon, leading to a prolonged period of poor air quality and health concerns for residents. Subsequently, in 2021 the city experienced a heat wave with temperatures reaching as high as 116 degrees.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 18th, 2024

Baby bull sharks are thriving in Texas and Alabama bays as the Gulf of Mexico warms
In late spring, estuaries along the U.S. Gulf Coast come alive with newborn fish and other sea life. While some species have struggled to adjust to the region's rising water temperatures in recent years, one is thriving: juvenile bull sharks.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Better dams offer major benefits to farmers and livestock
Managing the water quality of farm dams is critical to the health of livestock as well as boosting crop production, according to new research from the Sustainable Farms group at The Australian National University (ANU).
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Blade collapse, New York launch and New Jersey research show uneven progress of offshore wind
Three events Wednesday highlighted the uneven progress of the offshore wind industry in the Northeast, including the start of a major project in New York, research aimed at preventing environmental damage in New Jersey, and a temporary shutdown of a wind farm in Massachusetts after a broken turbine blade washed ashore on a famous beach.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Bridging the 'valley of death' in carbon capture
Mitigating the effects of climate change has become a major focus worldwide, with countries and international organizations developing various strategies to address the problem. Lowering CO² emissions is at the top, with carbon capture technologies being a promising way forward.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Bubbling with benefits: Hydrogen nanobubbles boost tomato antioxidants
Tomatoes are a key source of antioxidants, crucial for human health as they help combat oxidative stress. Traditional irrigation methods often fail to significantly enhance these beneficial compounds in crops. Hydrogen, known for its unique antioxidant properties, faces challenges in agricultural use due to its low solubility and rapid diffusion.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Earth's melting ice sheets may screw with your tech
Adding another one to the the pile of wild ways human activity is impacting the planet.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Fish barriers may aid baby corals in reef recovery
Scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and James Cook University (JCU) have designed special cradles for baby corals that help prevent fish from eating them alive.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

From flood zones to green zones
In Charlotte, North Carolina, flood-prone apartments were converted into a wetland habitat that now helps protect the community from flooding.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Ginseng's full genome sequenced
Ginseng's role in traditional medicine is underscored by its complex genetic structure due to its allotetraploid nature. A recent study delves into this complexity, revealing key evolutionary insights into its subgenomes that govern saponin biosynthesis—the primary active compounds in ginseng.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Google backs Danish startup using ancient bacteria to ferment CO² into valuable chemicals
The company claims its bioreactor slashes emissions from chemical-making by up to 80%
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Green agendas clash in Nevada as company grows rare plant to help it survive effects of a mine
A botanist gently strokes the pollen of endangered wildflowers with a paintbrush as she tries to reenact nature inside a small greenhouse in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Methane emissions are the low-hanging fruit of the climate transition
Methane is well known for coming from ruminants digestive system. What is less known is its important role in current climate change and what we could do to drastically reduce our emissions.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Nanoscale trilayer exhibits ultrafast charge transfer in semiconductor materials
Successfully innovating optoelectronic semiconductor devices depends a lot on moving charges and excitons -- electron-hole pairs -- in specified directions for the purpose of creating fuels or electricity.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

OptoGPT for improving solar cells, smart windows, telescopes and more
Solar cell, telescope and other optical component manufacturers may be able to design better devices more quickly with AI.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Peeling back the genetic layers of stone fruit domestication
The Prunus genus, encompassing apricots, peaches, plums, and mei, is vital due to its economic and nutritional value. However, the genetic foundations of these species' shared and unique traits remain largely unexplored. This knowledge gap hinders advancements in breeding programs aimed at improving fruit quality and stress tolerance.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Rural belts around cities could reduce urban temperatures by up to 0.5°C, study suggests
The key to cooling 'urban heat islands' may lie in the countryside, according to a new study, published in the journal Nature Cities, from scientists at the University of Surrey and Southeast University (China).
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Scientists replicate enzyme that captures carbon
Scientists from King's College London have recreated the active site of Acetyl-CoA Synthase, an enzyme involved in capturing carbon from the atmosphere. The research, carried out in collaboration with Imperial College London, advances our understanding of this important enzyme, and offers a potential new solution to capture CO² from the atmosphere in the fight against climate change.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Slower metabolism of warm-blooded animals on islands correlated with higher risk of anthropogenic extinction
A multi-institutional team of zoologists and animal behavioral specialists in China and Germany has found an association between the slower metabolism of island-dwelling, warm-blooded animals and an increased risk of anthropogenic extinction.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

SolarWinds fixes 8 critical bugs in access rights audit software
SolarWinds has fixed eight critical vulnerabilities in its Access Rights Manager (ARM) software, six of which allowed attackers to gain remote code execution (RCE) on vulnerable devices.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Study finds seeds with and without pericarps adopt distinct germination strategies
Dry fruits are divided into dehiscent and indehiscent types based on whether the pericarp splits open after reaching maturity. As a maternal tissue, the pericarp may provide seeds with different germination strategies.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Study highlights potential for genetic manipulation in cucumber breeding
The CLAVATA (CLV) signaling pathway is crucial for controlling flower and fruit development by regulating the shoot apical meristem (SAM) size. Despite its significance, the downstream signaling components in crops remain largely unknown. Understanding these pathways is essential for advancing crop breeding techniques to enhance yield and quality.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

The Fiber Shredder: Professor's machine could make clothing more recyclable
The textile industry is a major polluter, producing 92 million tons of textile waste globally each year, according to Boston University.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

This solar-powered drone weighs less than a nickel
The handheld micro-drone can fly indefinitely in natural sunlight
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking the genetic code of Amur grape: Insights into plant cold tolerance and evolution
The Amur grape, indigenous to eastern Asia, is known for its remarkable cold tolerance, able to withstand temperatures as low as -40°C. Despite its significant potential for breeding and agricultural applications, the absence of high-quality genomic data has limited advancements in understanding and improving this species.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 9th, 2024

Aerosols shown to increase size of cloud cells, causing greater radiative cooling under polluted conditions
Aerosols, often emitted alongside greenhouse gases, can brighten clouds and cause significant cooling. However, the uncertainty associated with aerosol--cloud interactions (ACIs) is large and potentially significant enough to mask a sizable portion of greenhouse gas-related warming.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Are solar panels a good investment? New Berkeley study offers an answer
Solar power panels have long seemed an appealing option in California, a state with lots of sunny days that adores its electronic gadgetry and environment, yet is saddled with the highest residential electricity rates in the continental U.S.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Disease has killed most of UK's elm trees since the 1960s—but there are signs they may be making a comeback
Elm trees were once stalwarts of the UK countryside that towered out of hedgerows, lined fields and woodlands. Glance at the landscape paintings of John Constable for a vague idea of what has been lost. Elm timber made ships, chairs and even water pipes until the 19th century.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Get to know the brains behind Seattle's flourishing climate tech ecosystem
The Seattle area is known for business giants, grunge icons, and much more. Now, the burgeoning field of climate tech is making its mark and adding another chapter to the region's rich history of innovation.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Inside airport's efforts to clean up PFAS firefighting foams
Taxiing jet engines groaned on the tarmac, their fumes filling the Port of Seattle's firetruck bays on an early summer day here. Snaking hoses connected tanks and filters in a complex cleanup operation.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Lithium-ion batteries have a forever chemical problem
Rechargeable batteries could lead to more forever chemicals in the environment, study finds.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

New MIT Method Helps Beneficial Microbes Survive Industrial Processing
Engineered resilience could be a game-changer for the healthcare and agriculture industries.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

NovoNutrients tweaks its bugs to turn CO² into protein for people and pets
The easiest way for a person to eat carbon dioxide is by consuming vegetables. David Tze wants his startup's protein to be a close second.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Oregon county seeks to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for extreme heat
Multnomah County's heat dome conditions killed 69 people in 2021.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Our own Bob Henson on the Brian Lehrer show
Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Bob Henson talked heat records, Hurricane Beryl, and even the Dust Bowl with Brian Lehrer on WNYC this morning.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Record heat engulfs both U.S. coasts
Historic heat will likely melt more records as this summer grinds onward.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Researchers engineer poplar trees to synthesize valuable chemical squalene, normally harvested from shark livers
What do poplar trees, sharks and biofuels have in common? While it might sound a bit like a riddle, a team led by Michigan State University biochemists has reported exciting findings concerning all three in the quest for cleaner energy.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

'Southerly busters' in Australia are becoming more frequent but less severe as the climate changes
When Australia's east coast is caught in the grip of a heat wave, relief can come in the form of abrupt, often gale-force wind changes known as "southerly busters."
July 9th, 2024 — Source

The Washington Post made an AI chatbot for questions about climate
The chatbot will use articles from The Washington Post's climate section to inform its answers.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Trauma-sensitive climate change education can develop truthful hope
Summer is a time for educators and students to recharge. For educators, this opportunity to reflect and regroup often includes planning for how to support students in the next school year. It is becoming increasingly important that this support involves helping students navigate the impacts of the climate crisis.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Trends shaping the mobile gaming industry in 2024
Zimad's chief product officer Kirill Zhukovsky and lead marketing manager Anastasia Shilo explore the biggest opportunities in mobile
July 9th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 6th, 2024

Pongamia trees grow where citrus once flourished, offering renewable energy and plant-based protein
An ancient tree from India is now thriving in groves where citrus trees once flourished in Florida, and could help provide the nation with renewable energy.
July 6th, 2024 — Source

Swift Solar receives funding to build perovskite tandem photovoltaics factory
Swift Solar announced the close of its $27 million Series A financing round, which follows on the heels of a $7 million award from the Department of Energy under the Advancing U.S. Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaics funding program.
July 6th, 2024 — Source

The greening of planes, trains, and automobiles
We need new fuels as society moves away from coal, natural gas and oil.
July 6th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 5th, 2024

AI-assisted technology detects nanoplastics in water—instantly
A McGill-led research team has developed the first real-time, on-site technology capable of detecting and deciphering nanoplastics from all other particles in water, a capacity akin to being able to find a needle in a haystack within milliseconds.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Coming soon to Seattle: a co-working space for tackling climate change
The climate tech sector is blossoming in the Pacific Northwest, attracting new innovators eager to tackle what some see as an existential crisis. But the scope of the problem can be overwhelming — especially if going it alone.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Did Hawaii just pave the way for court enforcement of California's climate promises?
Last month, 13 young Hawaiian plaintiffs were set to take the state's Department of Transportation to trial for failing to make real headway on reducing planet-warming pollution. Instead, on the eve of their court date, the youths inked a groundbreaking settlement with Hawaii's governor and ushered in a new phase of climate litigation.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

EarthCARE offers a sneak peek into Earth's energy balance
Offering a foretaste of what's to come once it is fully commissioned, ESA's EarthCARE satellite has returned the first images from its broadband radiometer instrument. These initial images offer a tantalizing glimpse into the intricacies of our planet's energy balance—a delicate balance that governs our climate.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
Microbes that are used for health, agricultural, or other applications need to be able to withstand extreme conditions, and ideally the manufacturing processes used to make tablets for long-term storage. MIT researchers have now developed a new way to make microbes hardy enough to withstand these extreme conditions.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

How an 'always-on' work culture can create a vicious cycle that damages workers and employers
The glamorization of high-pressure work environments, like the infamous "996" culture (where staff work from 9am until 9pm six days a week), often portrays relentless dedication and long hours as key to career success.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

New electrolyte design boosts lithium metal battery range while minimizing fluorine content
A new electrolyte design for lithium metal batteries could significantly boost the range of electric vehicles. Researchers at ETH Zurich have radically reduced the amount of environmentally harmful fluorine required to stabilize these batteries.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Our clothes generate microplastics that pollute the St. Lawrence River and other bodies of water, say researchers
Unlike cotton, which comes from a plant, polyester and the well-known spandex or lycra—which make clothes more stretchy—do not grow in nature. These are artificial fabrics made from plastic that are used in the production of synthetic textiles.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Painting roofs white helps lower city heat, studies say
White or reflective paint is more effective at cooling cities than covering roofs in solar panels or greenery, scientists say, and could offer some relief on extremely hot summer days.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Phone Comparisons: HONOR Magic6 Pro versus Vivo X100 Ultra
This time around we're comparing two camera-centric smartphones, two outstanding camera smartphones. We'll be comparing the HONOR Magic6 Pro

versus Vivo X100 Ultra. Both of these phones launched this year, and even though they are fueled by the same SoC, these two phones are very different. Those differences start with their design and stretch to various other areas.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Satellite images show deforestation toll of Indonesia mines
More than 700,000 hectares of forest in Indonesia have been cleared for mining since 2001, including large tracts of primary forest, a new analysis using satellite data has found.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Southern Australia is freezing: How can it be so cold in a warming climate?
People living in southern Australia won't have failed to notice how cold it is. Frosty nights and chilly days have been the weather for many of us since the start of July.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Sweltering summer days put Arizonans at risk of dangerous burns
One burn center treated 85 people for contact burns in 2022 — and seven died from their injuries.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

This tiny autonomous sailboat is charting a new course for marine science
UK startup Oshen wants to democratise ocean research
July 5th, 2024 — Source

To save bees, scientists say focus on habitat first, then pesticides
Worldwide, hedgerows and wild grass in field margins which previously served as semi-natural habitats are being swallowed up into agricultural production. While scientists have suggested both pesticide use and habitat loss are detrimental to pollinators, their relative impacts have been unclear.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Why the US food system needs agroecology
Agroecology—a science, practice, and movement that seeks social, political, economic, and environmental sustainability in the global food system—is gaining momentum in the U.S., according to a new Dartmouth-led commentary in Nature Food. As the co-authors report, the approach requires coordination among scientists, farmers, and activists.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 4th, 2024

Here's how 'microgrids' are empowering regional and remote communities across Australia
Small collections of electricity generators, or "microgrids", have long been used in disaster recovery, when network supply falters during bushfires or cyclones.
July 4th, 2024 — Source

Student designs wearable purifier to protect underground train users and improve air quality
Commuters on underground trains worldwide may soon breathe easier, thanks to an invention by a Loughborough University student.
July 4th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — July 2nd, 2024

A victory for environmental justice in Minnesota
A recently passed state law aims to limit new pollution in communities already struggling with a disproportionate burden.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Biden administration proposes new heat protections for workers
The Department of Labor proposed new rules to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths on the job.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Cities might hold the key to sustainable woodworking
When a tree falls in a city, it is heard — and (re)used.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Clean aviation startup ZeroAvia lands deal with American Airlines to buy 100 plane engines
American Airlines plans to buy 100 hydrogen electric engines from clean aviation company ZeroAvia to power some of its commercial planes. The deal also includes an investment by the airline of an undisclosed sum.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Escaping the lab into the sunlight: Research examines durability of outdoor perovskite solar cells
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising next-generation solar photovoltaic (PV) cells with high performance and low production costs compared to silicon. However, one of the primary challenges to widespread adoption of PSCs is stability and durability.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Fires near Athens under control as new blazes rage in Greece
Forest fires that raged near Athens over the weekend have been brought under control, firefighters said Monday, but fresh blazes sprang up elsewhere as authorities warned of a difficult fire season ahead.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Hope for Mekong dolphins as Cambodia numbers increase: Minister
The number of Mekong dolphins has risen to more than 100 in Cambodia, the agriculture minister said Monday, raising a glimmer of hope for the endangered mammals.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

How rural families are saving thousands with electric vehicles
EVs don't need gas, and new U.S. tax credits can make purchasing them more affordable.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

New non-fullerene acceptor helps achieve 20.2% efficiency in organic solar cells
In recent years, engineers have introduced a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) solutions that could facilitate the sustainable generation of electricity worldwide. These include organic solar cells (OSCs), PV devices that use organic molecules or polymers to convert sunlight into electrical power.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

New study shows mysterious solar particle blasts can devastate the ozone layer, bathing Earth in radiation for years
The remarkable aurora in early May this year demonstrated the power that solar storms can emit as radiation, but occasionally the sun does something far more destructive. Known as "solar particle events," these blasts of protons directly from the surface of the sun can shoot out like a searchlight into space.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Sinkholes spread fear in Turkey's parched breadbasket
Every time Turkish farmer Fatih Sik drives his tractor across his cornfields he knows the earth could open up and swallow him at any moment.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Study finds emissions trading also creates health benefits
The EU Emissions Trading System is not only good for reducing CO2 and for the climate. It also results in considerable health benefits due to reduced air pollution and saves hundreds of billions of euros, according to a recently released study by a team at Universität Hamburg.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Toyota Is Making Pizzas in a Hydrogen-Powered Stone Oven
Employees are also making croissants during the workday.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

True scale of carbon impact from long-distance travel revealed
The reality of the climate impact of long-distance passenger travel has been revealed in new research from the University of Leeds.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

When it comes to power, solar is about to leave nuclear and everything else in the shade
Opposition leader Peter Dutton might have been hoping for an endorsement from economists for his plan to take Australian nuclear.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 29th, 2024

Planting giant cactus to stave off desertification in Brazil
Giant spiky cacti tower over farmer Alcides Peixinho Nascimento, 70, one of the residents of Brazil's unique Caatinga biome who is on a mission to plant native vegetation in a bid to halt desertification.
June 29th, 2024 — Source

Wildfires Are Raging Across the World. How NASA Is Using Satellite Data to Fight Back
The agency is also developing airspace tech to help drone operators tackle fires.
June 29th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 28th, 2024

Bipartisan consensus in favor of renewable power is ending
The change is most pronounced in those over 50 years old.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Buckwheat responds better than wheat to future climate conditions, scientists confirm
How wheat and buckwheat respond to drought situations with high CO² and high temperatures was investigated in the Department of Plant Biology and Ecology
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Can technology stop a hurricane?
Meteorologist Alexandra Steele looks at the promise — and peril — of emerging technologies.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

China is plowing $11 billion into a solar, wind and coal energy project
The country plans to build 455 gigawatts worth of renewable energy projects in the desert by 2030.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Climate change to shift tropical rains northward
Predictions based on computer modeling of carbon emissions impact
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Constructing a cross-component background error covariance for strongly coupled land-atmosphere data assimilation
Land surface temperature (LST) is the key variable in land--atmosphere interaction, having an important impact on weather and climate forecasting. Although there have been advances in data assimilation within land-atmosphere coupled models, weakly coupled assimilation remains predominant. This means that the cross-component interactions between land and atmosphere are not adequately considered during the assimilation process, making it difficult to achieve consistent analysis between the land and atmospheric variables.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Defensible Moats: Unlocking Enterprise Value with Large Language Models
Nischal HP discusses risk mitigation, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework implementation to achieve sustainability goals, strategic procurement, spend analytics, data compliance.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Discrete-time rewards efficiently guide the extraction of continuous-time optimal control policy from system data
The concept of reward is central in reinforcement learning and is also widely used in the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences. Organisms learn behavior by interacting with their environment and observing the resulting rewarding stimuli. The expression of rewards largely represents the perception of the system and defines the behavioral state of the dynamic system.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Drowning in waste: Pollution hotspots in aquatic environments
An IIASA study explores waste management systems and reveals that achieving zero waste leakage by 2030 is unlikely, potentially jeopardizing related Sustainable Development Goals. The authors emphasize the need for global cooperation, particularly across four regions, to responsibly manage waste disposal.
June 28th, 2024 — Source or Source

Fulani herders struggle as water stress forces longer journeys in the Sahel
The Fulani people of Burkina Faso are cattle herders who move their animals seasonally to find good pastures.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

How technology is transforming farming
Have you ever wondered how a company known for its tractors could become a leader in robotics and AI? John Deere is doing just that, revolutionizing the farming industry with cutting-edge technology. From the self-scouring steel plow to precision farming tools, John Deere has always been a pioneer. But as they integrate more advanced technologies, farmers face new challenges, including increased costs and a dependency on tech. How will this shift impact the traditional farming lifestyle and economic landscape?
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Mutations in wheat TaAPA2 gene result in pleiotropic effects on plant architecture
This study is reported by Shisheng Chen's group at the National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences. Plant architecture has significant impact on plant development and productivity, and thus has been extensively investigated in various plant species. However, studies on the genes and molecular mechanisms regulating plant architecture in wheat remain limited.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Novel method optimizes extraction of antioxidant and colorant from jabuticaba peel
Scientists at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil and the University of Cadiz (UCA) in Spain have successfully deployed a novel method of extracting high-value-added chemical compounds from the peel of jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora).
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Peak performance: Plants' genetic strategies for surviving high-altitude habitats
Alpine habitats present extreme challenges, including low temperatures, high UV radiation, and limited oxygen levels, which demand unique adaptations from the plants that inhabit these regions. Despite their ecological importance, the genetic mechanisms behind these adaptations are not well understood.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Real-time modeling of 3D temperature distributions within nuclear microreactors to improve safety systems
A real-time, 3D temperature map of the inside of a nuclear microreactor for improved safety monitoring was reconstructed using a newly-established theoretical foundation to evaluate basis functions, which can be combined to describe fundamental trends in data, according to a new University of Michigan study.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Save Money on Your AC Bill This Summer by Setting It to This Temperature
Leave your thermostat at this temperature during the heat to help your electricity costs stay low.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

SCOTUS kills Chevron deference, giving courts more power to block federal rules
EPA rules and FCC net neutrality order at risk: "No consumer protection is safe."
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Stigma against benefits has made devastating poverty acceptable in Britain
Britain is in a poverty crisis. Over 14 million people (1 in 5) are living in poverty. Of these, 4 million, including 1 million children, are classed as destitute: regularly unable to meet basic needs for shelter, warmth, food and clothing.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Study Says Data Center Farms In Space Is A Great Idea To Combat Climate Change
A new study suggests that putting data centers in space would have definite advantages compared to Earth-bound ones, with combating climate change being at the top of the list. The study is part of the ASCEND project aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of a space-based data center while demonstrating the EU green ambition.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Tackling the dual threat: A global strategy for PM2.5 and O3 pollution
Air pollution is a severe risk to human health and the environment, particularly from fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3). Despite global efforts, many cities continue to face significant exposure risks from these pollutants.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Video game designers battle to depict climate impacts
Game designer Sam Alfred is keenly aware of the challenge he faces in trying to build a video game with climate change at its heart.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 26th, 2024

A fresh set of eyes on next-generation nuclear reactors
Decarbonization requires radical transformation of the U.S. energy sector, and nuclear energy could be at the center of that transformation. It already provides a fifth of the nation's electricity, and new designs suggest it can generate even more. Essential to achieving U.S. climate goals, nuclear energy is one of the key contributors to a low-carbon energy system.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

A tribal community's struggle against erosion, rising tides, and a devastating storm
The area inhabited by the Pointe-aux-Chienes tribal community looked like a war zone after Hurricane Ida in 2021. But residents are determined to stay put.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Climate X's founders mortgaged their house to stay afloat — now they've raised an $18M Series A
When it comes to building software for climate tech, it might make sense at first to work on something in the general vicinity of carbon accounting, given that the hottest software companies in the space have something to do with either accounting, offsets, removals, or regulatory disclosure.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Biofuel from kudzu vines and branches boosts energy efficiency
Leftover branches and kudzu vines from logging are repurposed as carbon-neutral fuel to generate electricity.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

El Niño forecasts extended to 18 months with physics-based model
Across Asia, the Pacific Ocean, and the Americas, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) brings variations in winds, weather, and ocean temperature that can cause droughts, floods, crop failures, and food shortages. Recently, the world has experienced a major El Niño event in 2023--2024, dramatically impacting weather, climate, ecosystems, and economies globally.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Fossil-fuel-friendly energy policy and isolated infrastructure stifle renewable adoption in Mexico's sun-filled Baja Peninsula
But will Mexico's new president reverse these policies?
June 26th, 2024 — Source

How to Get the Free Legendary Corn Doggo (and Beat the Bull) in Adopt Me Roblox
Corn on the dog
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Leading-edge model predicts impact of river plants on flood level
River plants provide ecological and environmental benefits, but they raise flood risk by blocking the flow during heavy rain. Removing woody riparian vegetation patches is a primary flood prevention method, but it threatens stream's biodiversity. The research team at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) has developed a technology for quantifying the effect of river vegetation patches on flood level changes to aid in better decision-making of river management for balancing ecological benefits and flood mitigation.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Maryland denounces Virginia decision on winter crab fishery: 'A bad day if you care about blue crabs'
Maryland officials and environmentalists are railing against a Virginia decision that could reopen a long-closed segment of that state's blue crab fishery.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

National park wild boar contain five-times more toxic PFAS than humans allowed to eat, study finds
Wild boar in a European national park have been found to contain levels of toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" nearly five-times higher than is allowed to be sold in meat for human consumption under EU law, according to a new study.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

New global study unveils city-region networks, highlights role of intermediate cities
Rural livelihoods are quite intertwined with urban centers, with mid-sized cities playing an extraordinary role in providing required services, including for food security, agricultural livelihoods and viable rural development, according to a new study by researchers at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other institutions.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

New model explains missing aerosol and cloud condensation nuclei
Atmospheric aerosol particles act as a key modulator of Earth's climate. New particle formation (NPF) from condensable gas molecules is the fundamental source of most atmospheric particles.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

New model uses fewer measurements to determine level of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater
It is becoming increasingly obvious that pharmaceutical residues in wastewater are damaging to the environment, making it imperative that wastewater is tested for such residues. However, wastewater measurements are expensive and time-consuming.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Norway's relationship with Russia: The principle of balance between deterrence and reassurance
Norway has a smaller population than Russia, a smaller territory, less military equipment, and no nuclear weapons. Yet, the country has managed to avoid war with its neighbor to the east.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Rainforest lands $20M to challenge Stripe with embedded payments for SaaS providers
Rainforest, a startup that embeds payment processing into other software platforms, has raised $20 million in Series A funding — less than a year after announcing the close of its seed financing.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Researchers address ocean paradox with 55 gallons of fluorescent dye
For the first time, researchers from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography led an international team that directly measured cold, deep water upwelling via turbulent mixing along the slope of a submarine canyon in the Atlantic Ocean.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Samsara Eco is working to replace plastic packaging with fossil fuel-free alternatives
Samsara Eco makes and sells fossil-free polymer resins. These resins can be integrated into supply chains and potentially replace plastic packaging and textile products with more sustainable alternatives.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Solar technology: Researchers develop innovative light-harvesting system
In order to convert sunlight into electricity or other forms of energy as efficiently as possible, the very first step is an efficient light-harvesting system. Ideally, this should be panchromatic, i.e. absorb the entire spectrum of visible light.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Some landfill 'burps' contain airborne PFAS, study finds
Many municipal landfills "burp" gas from decomposing organic matter rather than letting it build up. And burps from buried waste containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can release these "forever chemicals" into the air, say researchers in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

San Diego's plan to help beach neighborhoods survive, and thrive, as seas rise
Six projects proposed for San Diego's coastal areas are part of a comprehensive campaign to prepare every city neighborhood for the worst effects of climate change—wildfires, floods, extreme heat and sea-level rise.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Study highlights potential of ultrafast laser processing for next-gen devices
A new joint study uncovers the remarkable potential of ultrafast lasers that could provide innovative solutions in 2D materials processing for many technology developers such as high-speed photodetectors, flexible electronics, biohybrids, and next-generation solar cells.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Study identifies biting flies as reservoirs of bacteria that cause bovine mastitis on dairy farms
Bovine mastitis, which affects cows, leads to reduced milk production and can be fatal if left untreated. The USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System has reported cases in 99.7% of all dairy operations in the U.S., making it the most prevalent disease on dairy farms.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

The West is warming and drying so fast that a crucial drought-monitoring tool can't keep up, study says
Drought in the American West is becoming a persistent reality instead of a periodic emergency due to climate change, and a recent study found that an essential tool used to measure drought can't keep up.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

To help protect wildlife, Illinois' Kane County Forest Preserve District adopts new policy to fight light pollution
The Kane County Forest Preserve District will soon put in place a new policy designed to reduce light pollution, which officials say hurts wildlife in and around the district's preserves.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Using GreenOps to Improve Your Operational Efficiency and Save the Planet
Paraphrasing the words of a wise Uncle Ben (from the 2002 movie Spiderman): "With great infrastructures come great responsibilities" and these responsibilities are not only towards the end users of our systems but also towards the environment surrounding us.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Wildfires increasingly threaten oil and gas drill sites, compounding potential health risks, study says
More than 100,000 oil and gas wells across the western U.S. are in areas burned by wildfires in recent decades, a new study has found, and some 3 million people live next to wells that in the future could be in the path of fires worsened by climate change.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 24th, 2024

Atom-thin graphene membranes make carbon capture more efficient
Scientists at EPFL have developed advanced atom-thin graphene membranes with pyridinic-nitrogen at pore edges, showing unprecedented performance in CO² capture. It marks a significant stride toward more efficient carbon capture technologies.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

CO² puts heavier stamp on temperature than previously thought, analysis suggests
A doubling of the amount of CO² in the atmosphere could cause an increase in the average temperature on Earth from 7 to a maximum of 14 degrees. This is shown in the analysis of sediments from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, by researchers at NIOZ and the Universities of Utrecht and Bristol.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

Ice recon: Satellite navigation breakthrough in mapping sea ice thickness
The polar regions are critical to understanding climate change due to their significant impact on global weather patterns and sea levels. Traditional methods of measuring sea ice thickness face challenges such as high costs and limited spatial coverage.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

Mashed up purple marine bacteria makes an excellent eco-friendly fertilizer
New research published in npj Sustainable Agriculture reports that biomass made from the purple photosynthetic marine bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum is an excellent nitrogen fertilizer.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

Science review shows fuel treatments reduce future wildfire severity
There is a common belief that prescribed burning, thinning trees, and clearing underbrush reduce risks of the severity of future fires. But is that true? Sometimes anecdotal evidence or limited observations can create doubt.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

Study provides new understanding of Gurbantunggut Desert's dust source
Central Asian dust has a significant impact on regional and global climate, and it is crucial for the balance of local ecosystems, socio-economic development, and human health.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals spatiotemporal changes of ecosystem services in the Aral Sea basin
The Aral Sea, located in Central Asia, has been shrinking in surface area due to climate change and human activities. This shrinkage has caused a regional ecological crisis, significantly affecting the key ecosystem services in the region.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

The U.S. is finally making serious efforts to adapt to climate change
A major bill before Congress could help the country prepare for the coming climate storm.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

'Time for a reckoning:' Kansas farmers brace for water cuts to save Ogallala Aquifer
An inch or two of corn peeks out of the dirt, just enough to reveal long rows forming over the horizon.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

Tiny Graphene Membrane Holds Promise for Fighting Climate Change
Researchers at ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed advanced atom-thin graphene membranes with pyridinic-nitrogen at pore edges, showing unprecedented performance in CO² capture. This research represents a major step toward more efficient carbon capture technologies. The study was published in the journal Nature Energy.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

What do the different hurricane categories mean?
No matter the category, it's important to take hurricanes seriously.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 23rd, 2024

Solar Panel Connectors: What Are The Different Types And Are They Universal
From assessing whether your home is a good candidate for solar energy to figuring out how solar panel tax credits work, a lot goes into setting up a solar power system for a home. However, one of the most important components — solar panel connectors — is often the least talked about.
June 23rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 22nd, 2024

Climate change makes India's monsoons erratic. Can farmers still find a way to prosper?
Each year from June to September, a heavy band of rain makes its way from India's southwest coast to its northeastern borders, quenching farmers' thirsty fields.
June 22nd, 2024 — Source

Emotions may matter more than facts in shaping individual support for renewable energy, new study shows
It seems like energy policies are constantly making headlines these days. Should Canada "axe the tax?" Is it time to end the tax breaks to Canadian fossil fuel companies and invest in renewable energy? Are electric vehicles a good investment? Should governments put the brakes on solar panels and wind turbines?
June 22nd, 2024 — Source

Extreme heat is new danger stalking US-bound migrants
In the Mexican desert near the US border, security forces are on alert after a man was found dead from heat stroke on the journey to what he hoped would be a better life in North America.
June 22nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 21st, 2024

A method to enable safe mobile robot navigation in dynamic environments
To successfully complete missions in dynamic and unstructured real-world environments, mobile robots should be able to adapt their actions in real-time to avoid collisions with nearby objects, people or animals.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Argentina has surplus harvest, but farmers want more from Milei
In the pampas, Argentina's vast and fertile grasslands outside Buenos Aires, grain silos overflow with this year's harvest—but nobody is selling just yet.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Basque immigrant sheepherders left their marks on aspen trees in the American West
Throughout the mountains of the American West, carvings hidden on the trunks of aspen trees tell the stories of the sheepherders who made them as they passed through with their flocks. Most of the men who etched these arborglyphs into the living trees were Basques who, starting with the Gold Rush of the 1840s, had immigrated from the Basque Country that straddles the Pyrenees Mountains.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Circular food systems found to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, require much less agricultural land
Redesigning the European food system will reduce agricultural land by 44% while dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 70%. This reduction is possible with the current consumption of animal protein. If we also reduce the amount of animal protein we eat, replacing it with plant-based protein, land use could be reduced by 60% and emissions by 81%.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Climate change makes it harder for women to collect water in South American and Southeast Asian regions, study shows
Climate change could increase the amount of time women spend collecting water by up to 30% globally by 2050, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change. In regions of South America and Southeast Asia, the time spent collecting water could double due to higher temperatures and less rainfall.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Hawaii agrees to 'historic' settlement in youth climate case
The US state of Hawaii has reached an historic agreement in response to litigation by youth activists, promising to speed up the de-carbonization of its transport sector to protect their right to a safe and healthy climate.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Life cycle analysis reveals mixed CO² benefits from green hydrogen
Green hydrogen often, but certainly not always, leads to CO² gains. This claim is based on research published in Nature Energy by Kiane de Kleijne from Radboud University and Eindhoven University of Technology.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

New insights into the formation of tiny cloud particles in the Arctic
Mobile measuring devices enable the research of atmospheric processes in higher air layers that have not yet been recorded by conventional measuring stations on the ground. The airborne flight systems therefore make an important contribution to research into the causes of climate change in the Arctic.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

New research focuses on use of cactus pear in biofuel production
As much of the world prepares for hotter and drier growing seasons as the result of climate change, a research team led by University of Nevada, Reno researchers has identified several varieties of cactus pear that are particularly well-suited to producing biomass for fuels production.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Recent SolarWinds Serv-U Vulnerability Exploited in the Wild
Threat actors are exploiting a recent path traversal vulnerability in SolarWinds Serv-U using public PoC code.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Researchers decode molecular mechanism in plant cellular recycling
Unlike many animals, plants cannot simply move elsewhere when they encounter hostile conditions. Thus, they are even more dependent on having ways to effectively counteract the negative consequences of harmful environmental influences—also known as environmental stress. This includes breaking down cell components and proteins damaged by environmental stress and recycling their valuable parts.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Restoring the Great Salt Lake would support environmental justice as well as have ecological benefits, researchers say
Inland seas around the world are drying up due to increasing human water use and accelerating climate change, and their desiccation is releasing harmful dust that pollutes the surrounding areas during acute dust storms. Using the Great Salt Lake in Utah as a case study, researchers show that dust exposure was highest among Pacific Islanders and Hispanic people and lower in white people compared to all other racial/ethnic groups, and higher for individuals without a high school diploma.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Scientists document self-propelling oxygen decline in the oceans
Five hundred million years ago, the so-called Cambrian "SPICE" event made oxygen levels in the oceans drop dramatically.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Study shows rising temperatures affect air quality over Los Angeles
Particulate matter and ozone are a major problem for people and the environment. Dr. Eva Pfannerstill, young investigator group leader at Jülich's Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK 8), is investigating where the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) responsible for particulate matter and ozone come from and what climate change has to do with it.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Supporting the right small changes can have big impacts on climate action, say researchers
Small changes in our everyday actions can trigger significant, rapid societal shifts especially when it comes to climate action. A new IIASA-led study highlights the importance of analyzing these dynamics with a comprehensive framework to harness their full potential for reducing carbon emissions.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

'Two-for-one' fission aims to improve solar cell efficiency
Singlet fission occurs when an organic molecule absorbs one photon of light, then splits that light's energy in two—a doubling effect that has the potential to improve the light-harvesting efficiency in solar cells, assuming the generated electrons can be properly harvested.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 20th, 2024

Advanced algae sensor tested in Toledo proves valuable tool in protecting drinking water
Advanced technology tested nearly two years ago in the water treatment system that serves Toledo could prove valuable in efforts to protect the water that pours out of taps well beyond northwest Ohio, according to research published by The University of Toledo.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

AI can help forecast toxic 'blue-green tides'
A team of Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists plan to use artificial intelligence modeling to forecast, and better understand, a growing threat to water caused by toxic algal blooms. Fueled by climate change and rising water temperatures, these harmful algal blooms, or HABs, have grown in intensity and frequency. They have now been reported in all 50 U.S. states.
June 20th, 2024 — Source or Source

Change threatening coastal Native American sites cut from NC bill
A controversial bill that would have allowed developers to build on archaeological sites in some environmentally sensitive coastal areas was overhauled on June 19.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Climate change made deadly heat 35x more likely in US, Mexico, C. America
Deadly heat that blanketed the United States, Mexico and Central America recently was made 35 times more likely due to global warming, an international network of climate scientists said on Thursday.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Defunct satellites burning up in the atmosphere could damage the ozone layer
Communications companies such as Starlink plan to launch tens of thousands of satellites into orbit around Earth over the next decade or so. The growing swarm is already causing problems for astronomers, but recent research has raised another question: What happens when they start to come down?
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Four in five people want more climate action: UN survey
Four in every five people want their country to strengthen its commitments to addressing climate change, according to a global poll of 75,000 participants published on Thursday.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

How shifting cloud patterns are exacerbating climate change
In a warming climate, cloud patterns are changing in ways that amplify global warming. A team of researchers led by Professor Johannes Quaas from Leipzig University and Hao Luo and Professor Yong Han from Sun Yat-sen University in China have discovered increasingly asymmetric changes in cloud cover—cloud cover decreases more during the day than at night.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Invasive, shelled creature seen in popular Georgia lake, experts warn
An invasive, shelled creature was spotted in a popular Georgia lake, as experts warn the public of potential environmental and health risks.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Is U.S. offshore wind dead in the water — or just poised for the next big gust?
The Biden Administration wants to boost offshore wind. But other forces, including cost, political opposition and disinformation, have slowed adoption.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Mountaintop coal mine in Kentucky to become a solar farm
The solar farm will produce enough electricity to power over half a million homes each year.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

'Nature's mirror': Climate change batters Albania's butterflies
Bright yellow, black, red and blue, Alexanor butterflies once fluttered abundantly on southwestern Albania's flowery slopes. Now, like many related species, scientists say they are disappearing due to human impacts, including climate change.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Navigating the hybrid workplace: Balancing productivity, efficiency and security
In today's digital workplace, we rely heavily on a wealth of collaboration solutions; in fact, these tools have become ingrained and part of our daily workflows. Despite hybrid working patterns and the return, for some, to a more traditional work environment, the continued reliance on collaboration apps remains strong.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

New catalyst unveils the hidden power of water for green hydrogen generation
Hydrogen is a promising chemical and energy vector to decarbonize our society. Unlike conventional fuels, hydrogen utilization as a fuel does not generate carbon dioxide in return. Unfortunately, today, most of the hydrogen that is produced in our society comes from methane, a fossil fuel.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

New species of Callicarpa discovered in Hunan, China
Callicarpa L. (Lamiaceae) consists of 140 species that are trees or shrubs, and there are about 53 species in China, mainly distributed south of the Yangtze River. Some plants of Callicarpa are used as traditional medicine in China. In addition, they are also landscape plants with potential for utilization and development due to the abundant flowers and the colorful fruits.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Nigeria's mountain streams are a haven for special creatures—they need protection
Nigeria has many freshwater ecotourism attractions. Among them are the Ikogosi warm spring, the Osun-Osogbo river, and the Olumirin, Owu, Arinta and Ekor waterfalls.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Research review offers insights for transforming the food sector
We're facing rising food insecurity, the cost-of-living squeeze, and ever-changing climate events. It's no wonder our food systems are in urgent need of a reboot.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

So long plastic air pillows: Amazon shifting to recycled paper filling for packages in North America
Amazon is shifting from the plastic air pillows used for packaging in North America to recycled paper because it's more environmentally sound, and it says paper just works better.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

SolarWinds Serv-U path traversal flaw actively exploited in attacks
Threat actors are actively exploiting a SolarWinds Serv-U path-traversal vulnerability, leveraging publicly available proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Study uncovers genetic key to overcoming water stress in cucumbers
Waterlogged conditions, a consequence of heavy rainfall or inadequate drainage, disproportionately affect crops with delicate root systems like cucumbers. These conditions not only impede root respiration and plant development but also threaten agricultural productivity on a global scale.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

This machine weaves gelatin-based clothes you can dissolve after use
An eco-friendly answer to clothing waste
June 20th, 2024 — Source

What actually makes avocados bad for the environment?
The soaring demand for avocados in Europe and North America has led to a trebling of global production in just over 20 years. However, this popular fruit is increasingly controversial because of the environmental impacts of farming and distributing them around the world.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 17th, 2024

Austria's support gets EU biodiversity law over the line
EU member countries on Monday gave final approval to a key biodiversity measure, a bloc-wide nature restoration law, after Austria's climate minister defied her chancellor to back it.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Do horse rides along this Florida causeway pollute the bay? A DNA test has answers
Leaders of environment watch group Suncoast Waterkeeper say they have new DNA evidence linking popular horseback rides in Florida's Palma Sola Bay to water pollution.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

FEMA to distribute $1 billion to underserved, climate-vulnerable communities
The funds will be used for updating sewer systems, managing wildfire-prone forests, and other resilience projects.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Engineers develop highly efficient atmospheric water harvester with record-breaking clean water production
Water scarcity is a growing global challenge, affecting two-thirds of the world's population to varying degrees. While atmospheric water harvesting has long been considered a potential solution, practical applications have been hindered by slow sorption kinetics (the rate at which water is absorbed), salt leakage, and inefficient water collection methods.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Is climate change hurting your skin?
As temperatures rise, sunscreen is just the first step in skin protection.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Nile perch invasion triggered genetic bottlenecks in lake Victoria's endemic cichlids, analyses suggest
Newfound evidence reveals that the upsurge of the exotic Nile perch in Lake Victoria had long-lasting effects on the genetic diversity of various local cichlid species, report scientists from Tokyo Tech. Through large-scale comparative genomic analyses, the researchers found concrete proof in the collective genome of multiple species that this artificially introduced perch decimated many local fish populations, causing a "bottleneck effect."
June 17th, 2024 — Source

New quantum material puts eco-friendly methanol conversion in reach
Griffith University researchers have developed innovative, eco-friendly quantum materials that can drive the transformation of methanol into ethylene glycol.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

North Texas storms may worsen because of climate change, scientists say
In recent weeks, a deadly tornado ripped through North Texas and severe thunderstorms knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of area residents and brought flash flooding and hail.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Novel method for measuring micro- and nanoplastic concentrations in soil using spectroscopy
Micro- and nanoplastics are a well-known menace, found practically everywhere in nature, including soil, oceans, drinking water, air, and even the human body. Studies show that soils in particular hold a significant portion of N/MPs.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Researchers convert alcohols into aldehydes without solvents by using gold-coated milling vessels
A gold-coated milling vessel for ball mills proved to be a real marvel in the research work by Inorganic Chemistry at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. Without any solvents or environmentally harmful chemicals, the team led by Professor Lars Borchardt was able to use the vessel to convert alcohols into aldehydes.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Proof-of-concept study shows satellites can monitor marine debris from space
Detecting marine debris from space is now a reality, according to a new study led by the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) and the University of Cadiz recently published in the journal Nature Communications.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Scientists suggest causes behind one of the most significant climate catastrophes
A team of researchers from the University of Exeter have shone fresh light on the causes of Oceanic Anoxic Event 2—which saw severe global warming and ocean acidification across the Earth around 94 million years ago.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Study of meteorite 'Northwest Africa 14250' reveals composition of the early solar system
A multi-institutional team of planetary scientists has learned more about the early composition of the solar system by studying a meteorite named Northwest Africa 14250. In their study, published in the journal Science Advances, the group used a scanning tunneling microscope to learn more about the isotopic makeup of clasts inside the sample.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Urban wildlife is less diverse in historically redlined neighborhoods, study finds
Redlining, a discriminatory lending practice that originated in the 1930s and blocked people of color from getting mortgages in certain neighborhoods, has significantly altered the distribution of wildlife in four of California's largest cities, according to a first-of-its-kind study published June 11 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Water crisis batters war-torn Sudan as temperatures soar
War, climate change and man-made shortages have brought Sudan—a nation already facing a litany of horrors—to the shores of a water crisis.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Will a $1.6 billion highway save Central Florida's Wekiva River or doom it?
The new and extraordinary superhighway conceived as the savior of the imperiled Wekiva River has begun to reveal itself to environmentalists as the threat they had feared all along.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 16th, 2024

Polar bears could vanish from Canada's Hudson Bay if temperatures rise 2C
An international team of scientists said Thursday that polar bears faced local extinction in Canada's Hudson Bay by mid-century if global warming exceeds limits set under the Paris climate accords.
June 16th, 2024 — Source

Searching for a female partner for the world"s "loneliest" plant
AI assists in the pursuit for one threatened plant species.
June 16th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 14th, 2024

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Texas
Texas has a lot of options for solar companies. Here are our picks for the best, and guidance on how to make the most of your solar panels.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Climate change heat poses lasting brain risks for children, study finds
In a recent study published in Nature Climate Change, researchers investigated the impact of temperature exposure on children's mental health and cognition during prenatal and early childhood periods.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Climate change impacts vary among tree species within the same habitat, finds study
Forests, which cover 31% of the Earth's land surface, are essential for maintaining biodiversity and regulating the climate. However, climate change poses a significant challenge to forest growth, with different tree species responding very differently to extreme drought conditions.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Concrete-nitrogen mix may provide major health and environment benefits
Adding nitrogen to concrete could significantly reduce global levels of potentially harmful nitrogen oxides created by the construction industry in developing towns and cities, a new study reveals
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Finding an insurance policy is getting harder in places hit by extreme weather
You don't need to be a scientist to understand the harms of climate change. All you need is an insurance policy. And finding affordable insurance is getting harder in the places hit hardest by climate change.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Mineralizing emissions: Advanced reactor designs for CO² capture
In advancing sustainable waste management and CO2 sequestration, researchers have crafted reactors that mineralize carbon dioxide with fly ash particles. This avant-garde technique is set to offer a sustainable and lasting solution to the pressing issue of greenhouse gas emissions, repurposing an industrial by-product in the process.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

New method helps to study diurnal variation of leaf stomatal response of tropical trees
The unified stomatal optimization (USO) series models have shown obvious biases in predicting stomatal conductance (gsw) of tropical rainforest trees, especially under low vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and irradiance conditions. However, few studies have focused on the structural problems of the USO series models themselves.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

New research sheds lights on the huge carbon store in Canada's seabed
Protecting and effectively managing oceans and seabeds is crucial in the fight against climate change.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Novel strategy proposed for all-climate zinc-ion batteries
In a study published in Advanced Energy Materials, researchers have constructed a hydrogel electrolyte formula by using ClO4- anions and polyacrylamide chains to anchor water molecules, while glucose molecules preferentially regulate Zn2+ solvation.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Partnership with Microsaic Systems for Optimer-enabled water monitoring
Aptamer Group plc, the developer of novel Optimer® binders to enable innovation in the life sciences industry, announces a partnership with Microsaic Systems to develop a panel of Optimer binders for integration into a water testing system.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Barrier islands and dunes protect coastlines, but how are environmental changes affecting them and adjacent land?
Barrier islands dot the landscape along Virginia's Eastern Shore, protecting the coastline from direct impacts of storms and sea-level rise. Made of sand, they are created and changed by environmental factors. But with climate change and human development, these natural processes can be disrupted.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Six incredibly popular climate policies
The majority of registered U.S. voters support electrification and renewable energy.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Study indicates Pennsylvania private forest landowners value fire as tool to manage woodlands
Fire can help shape ecosystems, and after a century of suppressing naturally occurring fire that has thrown forests out balance, some states—including Pennsylvania—are using controlled burns to help manage forests on public lands. Now, a new four-state study by a team of Penn State researchers shows that many private landowners in the Keystone State value controlled burns and are willing to pay for them on their woodlands, too.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Studying the changing landscape of forest management: Researchers take a humanities approach
Around 40% of forested land in the United States is privately owned, and for agencies tasked with preserving the nation's natural resources, collaborations with private landowners are not just a vast opportunity, but a necessity.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

These Fruits and Vegetables Should Always Be Washed Before Eating
Some produce is riddled with pesticides when it gets to your shopping cart. Here are the 12 fruits and vegetables to always rinse before eating.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Ultracompact and high-efficiency liquid-crystal-on-silicon light engines for augmented reality glasses
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are innovative display technologies with the ability to revolutionize the way we interact and experience the world.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

'We have an obligation': Grandparents take action to help protect their grandkids' future
The Slotes made climate-friendly updates to their home, adding insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, and more.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Why some plant diseases thrive in urban environments
Rachel Penczykowski, an assistant professor of biology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, and five WashU graduate and undergraduate students tracked infestations of powdery mildew on common broadleaf weeds. Their study, published in the journal Ecology, covered 22 sites in the St. Louis area ranging from the rural environment of Shaw Nature Reserve near Gray Summit to Forest Park in the heart of the city.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 12th, 2024

A weeding robot that can autonomously remove seedlings
Robotic systems are already being deployed in various settings worldwide, assisting humans with a highly diverse range of tasks. One sector in which robots could prove particularly advantageous is agriculture, where they could complete demanding manual tasks faster and more efficiently.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Aerosols may affect climate more than previously thought
A key to improving climate prediction is to improve understanding of the impact of aerosol on clouds, commonly known as the aerosol-cloud-interaction, according to a new study led by Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) researchers published in Science Advances.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Businesses' cloud security fails are 'concerning' - as AI threats accelerate
Not enough organizations are conducting regular audits to ensure their cloud environments are secured.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Civic Renewables is rolling up residential solar installers to improve quality and grow the market
For an industry that's about 20 years old, residential solar is still pretty tumultuous.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

From swamp to sponge: Berlin harnesses rain in climate shift
In two years' time, a massive hole in the heart of Berlin will become the German capital's biggest reservoir, capturing an increasingly precious resource—water.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Get the Most Out of Your Solar Panels During Summer's Heat
Summer may not be as great for solar panels as you think. Here's how to keep the energy flowing all summer long.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Lost Aerial Photos Hidden From the Nazis Provide Rare Good News About Climate Change
A forgotten set of aerial photos taken of East Antarctica has provided some rare good news about climate change showing that the glaciers there have stayed the same size and have even increased in some places.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Maine college builds climate-friendly dorm out of wood
The energy-efficient building will soon sport solar panels.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Mongolian grasslands study reveals key drivers of plant community stability in changing climate
An international research team has undertaken a study of plants in the Mongolian grasslands to evaluate the stability of these plant communities over time. They specifically looked at how the dryness of the climate impacted the plant communities and determined that the stability of the plant communities decreased more rapidly in more arid areas. This research helps in the development of effective management strategies that promote stable ecosystems in a time of changing climate.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

New theory describes how waves carry information from surroundings
Waves pick up information from their environment through which they propagate. A theory of information carried by waves has now been developed at TU Wien—with astonishing results that can be utilized for technical applications.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Scientists achieve high efficiency all-polymer solar cells through pincer-shaped, non-covalent bond interactions
In the thriving photovoltaic industry, all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) are gaining attention for their mechanical flexibility, lightweight design, and ability to be printed at low temperatures. However, the complex molecular structures of the polymer materials in all-PSCs pose challenges in controlling the microstructures of the active layers, limiting their performance metrics.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Study finds Arctic warming three-fold compared to global patterns
Global warming is an omnipresent issue, with widespread initiatives to draw down emissions and mitigate against the International Panel on Climate Change's worse-case scenario predictions of 3.2°C of warming by 2100 (relative to pre-Industrial levels). Current measurements stand at 1.1°C of warming across Earth, but polar regions are experiencing enhanced surface warming compared to the rest of the planet.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Sweeping review reveals impact of integrating artificial intelligence technologies into photovoltaic systems
Artificial intelligence is poised to bring photovoltaic systems into a new era through revolutionary improvements in efficiency, reliability, and predictability of solar power generation.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Want to talk to a therapist about climate change? Here are four things to ask.
If feeling helpless, angry, or anxious about climate change is taking over your life, therapy can help. But finding the right person to talk to is critical.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 10th, 2024

After hits like Reddit and Scopely, Collaborative Fund easily raised a $125M fund to tackle climate, health and food
The folks at Collaborative Fund certainly like a challenge.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Analyzing the benefits of trans-boundary cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin
A new study conducted by IIASA researchers and their colleagues highlights that cooperation in infrastructure operation between countries surrounding the Lancang-Mekong River Basin could bring major economic and environmental co-benefits.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Atlanta rebate program helps low-income residents buy e-bikes
Participants can get up to $2,000 off.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Companies of June 2024
If you're looking to install a residential solar panel system, you'll want to hire the best company for the job.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Inverters of June 2024
Solar inverters turn energy your solar panels capture from the sun into energy that can power your toaster. Here are our favorites.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Companies of June 2024
If you're looking to install a residential solar panel system, you'll want to hire the best company for the job.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

EU launches AI-powered 'digital twin' of the Earth
The model is designed to improve climate predictions
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Farming with a mixture of crops, animals and trees is better for the environment—evidence from Ghana and Malawi suggests
Farming just one kind of crop in a field at a time, and using a lot of chemicals, poses a risk to both people and nature. This simplified intensive agriculture often goes hand in hand with increased greenhouse gas emissions, land and water degradation, and loss of biodiversity.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

In a significant first, researchers detect water frost on solar system's tallest volcanoes
An international team of planetary scientists has detected patches of water frost sitting atop the Tharsis volcanoes on Mars, which are not only the tallest volcanic mountains on the Red Planet but in the entire solar system.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Legislation would block carbon dioxide pipelines in Illinois for up to two years
With the prospect of vast networks of carbon dioxide pipelines looming in Illinois and other Midwestern states, the state legislature has taken steps to protect landowners, taxpayers and the environment.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Music to our ears: How playing an instrument affects the adolescent brain
What impact does growing up in a musical environment or during the COVID-19 pandemic have on the brain development of teenagers? This was the focus of psychologist Lina van Drunen's Ph.D. research, which studied hundreds of twins. Her findings reveal that practicing music slows brain development, presenting unique opportunities.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Novel genetic clock discovers oldest known marine plant: Seagrass clone in the Baltic sea is more than 1,400 years old
Using a novel genetic clock, a team of researchers from Kiel, London, Oldenburg, and Davis, California, has determined the age of a large marine plant clone for the first time. This seagrass clone from the Baltic Sea dates back to the migration period 1,400 years ago.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Planetary Health Diet associated with lower risk of premature death, lower environmental impact
People who eat a healthy, sustainable diet may substantially lower their risk of premature death in addition to their environmental impact, according to a new study. This large study directly evaluates the impacts of adherence to recommendations in the landmark 2019 EAT-Lancet report. The researchers have named the dietary pattern outlined in the report -- which emphasizes a variety of minimally processed plant foods but allows for modest consumption of meat and dairy foods -- the Planetary Health Diet (PHD).
June 10th, 2024 — Source or Source

Portrait of a Kansas town that went all-in on clean energy after a devastating tornado
Greensburg, Kansas, built back green after a tornado mostly destroyed the town 17 years ago. Here's what residents think about those big changes today.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Siberia's 'mammoth graveyard' reveals 800-year human interactions with woolly beasts
Woolly mammoths are evocative of a bygone era, when Earth was gripped within an Ice Age. Current knowledge places early mammoth ancestors in the Pliocene (2.58--5.33 million years ago, Ma) before their populations expanded in the Pleistocene (2.58 Ma--11,700 years ago, kyr). However, as climate changed, their numbers dwindled to isolated populations in modern Siberia and Alaska, until their last dated survival 4 kyr ago.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

States beg insurers not to drop climate-threatened homes
In the coming years, climate change could force Americans from their homes, not just by raising sea levels, worsening wildfires and causing floods—but also by putting insurance coverage out of reach.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Study finds natural climate variability impacts Arctic and global warming
When comparing model simulations of Earth's recent warming to real-world observations, differences can arise from several factors, including model errors in the simulated response to increased greenhouse gases and natural fluctuations within the climate system.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

Study: An estimated 135 million premature deaths linked to fine particulate matter pollution between 1980 and 2020
A study led by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) revealed that fine particulate matter from 1980 to 2020 was associated with approximately 135 million premature deaths globally. The findings were published in April in the peer-reviewed journal Environment International.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

The solar system may have passed through dense interstellar clouds 2 million years ago, altering Earth's climate
Astrophysicists calculate the likelihood that Earth was exposed to cold, harsh interstellar clouds, a phenomenon not previously considered in geologic climate models.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

This Solar Cell Shattered an Efficiency World Record. But It's the Whole Panel That Really Matters
Solar manufacturers are pushing the limits of solar efficiency. CNET explains what you need to pay attention to if you're shopping for residential solar panels.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

What Types Of Solar Panels Are Best When Creating A Charging System For Your Boat?
Solar systems can be a great way to harness the sun's energy to create electricity that you're able to use when sailing on your boat, whether that's to power all the appliances onboard or to keep the boat's battery charged so you're able to get to the shore safely. In the absence of a solar system, you'd have to rely on shore power or a noisy generator that increases your carbon footprint.
June 10th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 8th, 2024

At 11,000 feet up, scientists find Earth broke a scary record
"Rising faster than ever."
June 8th, 2024 — Source

A renewable energy transition that doesn't harm nature? It's not just possible, it's essential
Earth is facing a human-driven climate crisis, which demands a rapid transition to low-carbon energy sources such as wind and solar power. But we're also living through a mass extinction event. Never before in human history have there been such high such rates of species loss and ecosystem collapse.
June 8th, 2024 — Source

Are Solar Panels Bad For The Environment?
Solar system installations saw a significant uptick in 2023, and that number is only expected to increase over the course of the next decade. Federal incentives, like tax subsidies, have played a major role in the interest this clean energy source has garnered over the years, but the fact is that solar panel systems today are also more efficient than they were before. 
June 8th, 2024 — Source

New method optimizes lithium extraction from seawater and groundwater
As the electric vehicle market booms, the demand for lithium—the mineral required for lithium-ion batteries—has also soared. Global lithium production has more than tripled in the last decade. But current methods of extracting lithium from rock ores or brines are slow and come with high energy demands and environmental costs. They also require sources of lithium which are incredibly concentrated to begin with and are only found in a few countries.
June 8th, 2024 — Source

The sun is reaching the peak of its activity—here's how that could cause more auroras and solar storms
Many more people around the world than normal were recently able to see the northern and southern lights overhead with the naked eye. This unusual event was triggered by a very strong solar storm, which affected the movement of the Earth's magnetic field.
June 8th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 7th, 2024

1970s Photos of Lower Manhattan Revealed America"s Decay
In the 1970s, photographer Wil Blanche was assigned by the newly-formed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to document New York"s decaying natural environment in what was the first major look at the impact of industrial cities.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

A catalyst's best friend: How neighboring atoms boost CO² electrochemical reduction
Reducing carbon dioxide (CO²) into valuable chemicals is a key strategy for mitigating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality. Traditional catalysts face challenges in selectivity and efficiency. Based on these issues, it is crucial to explore new strategies to improve the performance of electrocatalysts. Due to these challenges, an in-depth study is needed to advance the field.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Basic income can double global GDP while reducing carbon emissions, analysis suggests
Giving a regular cash payment to the entire world population has the potential to increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by 130%, according to a new analysis published June 7 in the journal Cell Reports Sustainability. Researchers suggest that charging carbon emitters with an emission tax could help fund such basic income programs while reducing environmental degradation.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

COP29 climate hosts say they'll keep expanding fossil fuels
The incoming president of the COP29 UN climate summit in Azerbaijan told AFP on Friday that his country would keep increasing fossil fuel production "in parallel" with investments in cleaner alternatives.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Engineered nanocomplexes achieve systemic gene silencing in crops
Gene silencing in plants has faced significant challenges, primarily due to the difficulty of transporting RNA molecules across plant cell membranes and achieving systemic effects. Traditional genetic engineering methods are time-consuming and often limited by plant genotype. Due to these challenges, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions to facilitate efficient gene silencing and enhance crop productivity.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Feds expect to decide this year on Mosaic's 'radioactive roads' plan in Florida
Federal environmental regulators said they expect to decide this year on a controversial proposal that would allow Tampa-based Fortune 500 mining company Mosaic to test its phosphate waste as an ingredient in road construction.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

First ever report of two ancient ape species cohabiting in Miocene Europe 11 million years ago
The Hammerschmiede fossil site in Bavaria, Germany is best known for exceptional remains of the ancient great ape Danuvius dating to the late Miocene Epoch, 11.6 million years ago. Other experts contest the strength of the evidence to support whether Danuvius is a hominid or whether this is a new genus or not.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Home solar systems in South Africa: more will be installed if households are given loans, free maintenance and security
South Africa is making efforts to increase the use of solar photovoltaic energy. But it's happening at a very slow pace.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Ivory Coast bets on solar in clean energy drive
The sun beats down from a cloudless sky on the town of Boundiali, where Ivory Coast's first solar power plant embodies the drive to embrace clean energy without abandoning fossil fuels.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Lavender's secret: Genetic regulator boosts plant health and fragrance output
Plants face various environmental pressures, including biotic stressors like pathogens and abiotic stressors such as extreme temperatures. Among biotic stressors, Pseudomonas syringae significantly threatens plant health worldwide.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Most planes are powered by fossil fuels. That could change.
An alternative known as sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, could one day cut the climate impact of flying.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Portable infrared microspectrometers for real-time air quality monitoring
In an increasingly health-conscious society, data is a hot commodity. Tracking step counts with an old-school pedometer has turned into monitoring heart rates, sleep cycles and blood oxygen levels with wearable fitness trackers, a market that has exploded in recent years. But one critical aspect of health monitoring has yet to become mainstream, because continuous air quality data is currently tied to spaces and not people.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Record highs in the North Sea: Even the German Bight is warmer than ever before
Researchers around the globe are sounding the alarm: ocean temperatures are the warmest ever recorded. In 2023, the North Sea also experienced dramatic record highs, as readings taken by the Alfred Wegener Institute's Biological Institute Helgoland indicate. As data from the time series Helgoland Reede also reveal: It's not the first year in which the German Bight experienced marine heat waves.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Scientists 'read' the messages in chemical clues left by coral reef inhabitants
What species live in this coral reef, and are they healthy? Chemical clues emitted by marine organisms might hold that information. But in underwater environments, invisible compounds create a complex "soup" that is hard for scientists to decipher.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Scientists question effectiveness of nature-based CO² removal using the ocean
Limited understanding of basic ocean processes is hindering progress in marine carbon dioxide removal, with the on-going commercialization of some approaches 'premature and misguided'. Scientists now review the climatic effectiveness of four 'nature-based' techniques using marine biological processes
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Shrinking statures, growing insights: Unraveling the genetic underpinnings of dwarfism in squash
In the quest to bolster crop yields and fortify plants against environmental stressors, the delicate interplay of phytohormones stands as a keystone. Yet, our grasp of these genetic levers, particularly those dictating plant stature and resilience to salinity, remains tenuous. Bridging these knowledge gaps is imperative for cultivating crops that can thrive in the face of environmental adversity.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

SolarWinds Patches High-Severity Vulnerability Reported by NATO Pentester
SolarWinds has released patches for high-severity vulnerabilities in Serv-U and the SolarWinds Platform.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

This Solar Cell Shattered an Efficiency World Record. But It's the Whole Panel That Really Matters
Solar manufacturers are pushing the limits of solar efficiency. CNET explains what you need to pay attention to if you're shopping for residential solar panels.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Tiny crop-health sensors could help cut the cost of groceries
A compact, lightweight sensor system with infrared imaging capabilities developed by an international team of engineers could be easily fitted to a drone for remote crop monitoring.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Try Out These 12 New Habits to Reinvent Your Health This Summer
Take advantage of the warm weather and start implementing these new habits into your lifestyle to improve your health.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

What is 'nature-based carbon removal" and is it any better than carbon offsets?
Planting trees is a controversial way to fight climate change, but tech companies still rely on the strategy to meet sustainability goals.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Wild Weather Ahead: Summer 2024 Could Be a Scorcher After Hottest Year on Record
The climate crisis is causing more severe heatwaves and related events. Here's what to know about dealing with extreme weather in 2024.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — June 6th, 2024

A meteorologist's warning: Hurricanes are intensifying more quickly now
Miami meteorologist John Morales wants people to prepare for storms that get dangerous, fast.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

After historic floods, Brazil braces for severe drought
After torrential rains that sparked historic flooding in southern Brazil, the country expects a swing to severe drought in parts, the environment minister said Wednesday.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

Better farming through nanotechnology: An argument for applying medical insights to agriculture
Advanced technologies enable the controlled release of medicine to specific cells in the body. Scientists argue these same technologies must be applied to agriculture if growers are to meet increasing global food demands.
June 6th, 2024 — Source or Source

Climate-Related Financial Risk: How, When, And For Whom?
Climate change has transcended from being viewed solely as an environmental issue to becoming a pressing financial concern, reshaping the landscape of investment and lending decisions. Banks and institutional investors must recognize the significance of climate risks and integrate them into their investment decisions, risk management processes, disclosures, and operational practices.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

Colombian underwater 'art gallery' serves as coral home
On the Caribbean seafloor, an unusual sculpture gallery is taking shape with an equally unusual purpose: to provide homes for corals under threat from tourism and climate change.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

Combatting Alert Fatigue at Cloudflare
In a detailed blog post, Monika Singh at Cloudflare explores the stressful environment on-call personnel face, often illustrated by the 'this is fine' meme. On-call staff frequently deal with numerous alerts, leading to alert fatigue—a state of exhaustion caused by responding to non-prioritised or unclear alerts. To combat this, Cloudflare teams conduct periodic alert analyses to enhance the accuracy and actionability of alerts.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

Darktrace MDR service improves cyber resilience for organizations
Darktrace launched its new service offering, Darktrace Managed Detection & Response (MDR).
June 6th, 2024 — Source

Earth breaks heat and CO² records once again: 'Our planet is trying to tell us something,' officials say
Humanity is ignoring major planetary vital signs as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels soar to all-time highs and Earth records its 12th consecutive month of record-breaking heat, international climate officials warned this week.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

How many Earths does your lifestyle require?
Climate change might be the most significant environmental disaster facing humanity, but it's not the only one. In fact, humanity already faces five others out of a total of nine possible doomsday scenarios. With each line we cross, we jeopardize the planet's ability to self-regulate.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

In situ microscopy gives atomic-level view of mitochondria
Novel high-resolution microscopy technology is allowing researchers to see for the first time the dynamic processes of respiration in a native membrane environment at the atomic level. The new technique could help researchers better understand what's happening inside mitochondria and other organelles of diseased cells and identify new, more precise drug targets.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

Silkworms help grow better organ-like tissues in labs
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a silk-based, ultrathin membrane that can be used in organ-on-a-chip models to better mimic the natural environment of cells and tissues within the body. When used in a kidney organ-on-a-chip platform, the membrane helped tissues grow to recreate the functionality of both healthy and diseased kidneys.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

Solar investment outstrips all other power forms: IEA
More money is pouring into solar power than all other electricity sources combined, with investments set to reach half a trillion dollars this year, the world's top energy research body said Thursday.
June 6th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 31st, 2024

8-year-old spurs his dad to climate action
Challenged by their son to do something about climate change, Fred Carter and his wife created the Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Renewable Living.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

A strategy to design anti-freezing electrolytes for batteries that can operate in extremely cold environments
Battery technologies that can reliably operate at very low temperatures could be highly valuable for a wide range of applications. These batteries could, for instance, power devices, vehicles, and robotic systems in outer space, deep under the sea, and in other extreme environments.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

AP analysis finds 2023 set record for US heat deaths, killing in areas that used to handle the heat
David Hom suffered from diabetes and felt nauseated before he went out to hang his laundry in 108-degree weather, another day in Arizona's record-smashing, unrelenting July heat wave.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

Can satellites combat wildfires? Inside the booming 'space race' to fight the flames
As the threat of wildfire worsens in California and across the world, a growing number of federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and tech companies are racing to deploy new technology that will help combat flames from a whole new vantage point: outer space.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

Is collapse of the Atlantic Ocean circulation really imminent? Icebergs' history reveals some clues
When people think about the risks of climate change, the idea of abrupt changes is pretty scary. Movies like "The Day After Tomorrow" feed that fear, with visions of unimaginable storms and populations fleeing to escape rapidly changing temperatures.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

Jeff Masters and Bob Henson give us the low-down on the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
The Eye on the Storm meteorologists tell us their process for covering storms and what they're expecting for this season.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

New coral disease forecasting system could help ecological forecasting
Research led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has led to a new tool for forecasting coral disease that could help conservationists step in at the right times with key interventions. Ecological forecasts are critical tools for conserving and managing marine ecosystems, but few forecasting systems can account for the wide range of ecological complexities in near-real-time.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

Satellite data study shows 1.18 billion people are energy poor, finding no evidence of electricity usage from space
An international team of political scientists, data scientists, economists and environmental scientists has found, via study of satellite data, that approximately 1.18 billion people across the globe are energy-poor—viewed from space, they show no evidence of using electricity. In their study, reported in Joule, the researchers mapped artificial light on the ground as viewed by satellites at night for 3,000 nights.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

US wind and solar generation provided $249 billion in climate and air quality health benefits from 2019--2022: Study
A new study published in the journal Cell Reports Sustainability focuses on the air quality and climate benefits of wind and solar energy.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 30th, 2024

As bird flu spreads in cows, US close to funding Moderna's mRNA H5 vaccine
If trials are successful, US government likely to buy doses for vaccine stockpile.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Carbon credits are useful for stabilizing the climate, but are they used effectively?
To have any chance of achieving the goal adopted in the Paris Agreement of stabilizing the global climate at less than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average, humanity would have to become carbon neutral between 2050 and 2070 and show a negative carbon balance after that.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Clues from bird flu's ground zero on dairy farms in the Texas panhandle
In early February, dairy farmers in the Texas Panhandle began to notice sick cattle. The buzz soon reached Darren Turley, executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen: "They said there is something moving from herd to herd."
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Drones offer new perspective on vulnerable tide-exposed coral reefs
A new study has used drone technology and cutting-edge analytical methods for the first time to map the intertidal coral reefs of the Rowley Shoals off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Exploring hierarchy in dynamic environments
Most organizations operate under command hierarchies: Workers, who know the ground reality, report to managers, who know the big picture. If these views conflict, what happens to organizational performance?
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Family farmers make climate-friendly vodka and whiskey
The Silver Tree Beer and Spirits has committed to growing grain sustainably — and the family has launched an initiative to get others in the industry to do the same.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

First use of weather forecasts to show human impact on extreme weather is 'transformational,' scientists say
National forecasting centers like the Met Office could apply the same tools used for weather forecasting to quantify how human behavior is aggravating major events like floods, heat waves and storms, climate scientists at Oxford University Physics show in a study published today in Nature Communications

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May 30th, 2024 — Source

Florida faces hectic hurricane season: Can science say who will get hit in coming months?
The bottom line of every preseason hurricane forecast this spring has been sobering, even a little scary. Meteorologists and their computer models all agree that it's going to be a super busy and perhaps record-breaking season—and that with so many expected storms, it's very likely that somebody, somewhere is going to get smacked this year.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Fracking wastewater has "shocking" amount of clean-energy mineral lithium
40% of US need for lithium could be covered by Pennsylvania's fracking byproduct.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

High performance and stability achieved with multifunctional materials for solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes
Through joint research, a team has developed a 4-Amino-TEMPO derivative with photocatalytic properties and successfully used it to produce high-performance and stable fiber-shaped dye-sensitized solar cells (FDSSCs) and fiber-shaped organic light-emitting diodes (FOLEDs). The paper is published in the journal Materials Today Energy.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Is climate action on extreme heat a human right?
The case for federal heat protection laws.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Iyris makes fresh produce easier to grow in difficult climates, raises $16M
Last year was the hottest year on record, and it doesn't look like we're cooling down anytime soon. Rising temperatures have made farming increasingly difficult in areas that once had prime agricultural resources that are now severely impacted by heat and drought.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Nectarivores: A world of sweet-toothed critters
If you have a sweet tooth, you'll be familiar with the burst of energy known as a sugar rush. But what if your survival depended on it? Would you love it as much? Animals get the nutrients they need from different sources.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

New method makes hydrogen from solar power and agricultural waste
Engineers have designed a new method to make hydrogen gas from water using only solar power and agricultural waste, such as manure or husks. The method reduces the energy needed to extract hydrogen from water by 600%, creating new opportunities for sustainable, climate-friendly chemical production.
May 30th, 2024 — Source or Source

Model simulates urban flood risk with an eye to equity
Plans for flood mitigation along urban rivers often benefit some neighborhoods more than others. Researchers and collaborators in a densely populated California floodplain developed a way to help planners see how infrastructure designs, sea-level rise, and severe storms fueled by climate change will affect flood risk at the local level.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Study finds even low lead levels in US water are linked to lead poisoning among susceptible people
In a first-of-its-kind study, physician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) report that even lead levels below the EPA's threshold in household water may adversely affect individuals with chronic kidney disease.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Sun releases strong solar flare
The sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 10:37 a.m. ET on May 29, 2024. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

The oil and gas industry has been lying about global warming for decades—accountability is long overdue
The science is clear: the planet is warming at an alarming rate and we need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

This Spokane startup catches carbon dioxide at the source, before it escapes to the environment
Washington state's second-largest city is the hub of an ambitious regional tech community seeking to leverage new realities to achieve its longstanding goals, as GeekWire reports in this special series.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Unexpected source of nutrients fuels growth of toxic algae from Lake Erie
Climate change, such as warming and changes in precipitation patterns, affects the frequency and severity of harmful algal blooms (HABs) globally, including those of toxin-producing cyanobacteria that can contaminate drinking water.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

YoLa Fresh, a GrubMarket for Morocco, digs up $7M to connect farmers with food sellers
The fresh produce supply chain in Africa and emerging markets is faced with a daily list of cascading challenges. They include everything from environmental and labor issues to logistical problems, food waste, and poor demand-supply synchronization. These various issues affect stakeholders differently: Farmers struggle with sales while retailers struggle to negotiate effectively.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Washington state grants $40M to programs installing electric heat and cooling systems
Sustainability: News about the rapidly growing climate tech sector and other areas of innovation to protect our planet.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Whatever happened to LA's plan to end its reliance on landfills?
The smoldering, stinking mess at the Chiquita Canyon Landfill in Castaic is a glaring example of the environmental and public health hazards created by burying our trash—and how state and local leaders have allowed this problem to pile up.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 29th, 2024

How Clean Energy Ventures avoided the pandemic bubble and raised a $305M fund
Climate tech couldn't escape the frothiness that engulfed the startup world earlier in the decade. For both founders and venture capitalists, it was tempting to raise money. Interest rates were low, money was cheap and investors looking for better returns were hungry to get in the game.
May 29th, 2024 — Source

ESA satellite launches Dutch tech into space to study climate change
EarthCARE is the most complex mission that ESA has ever undertaken
May 29th, 2024 — Source

Experts find biobased building materials less sustainable than concrete in South Africa
Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered that mycelium composites, biobased materials made from fungi and agricultural residues, can have a greater environmental impact than conventional fossil fuel--based materials due to the high amount of electricity involved in their production.
May 29th, 2024 — Source

How to make vegan and vegetarian meals sound mouthwatering
Step one: Avoid the word 'meatless.'
May 29th, 2024 — Source

How to talk with (just about) anyone about climate and the 2024 elections
These tips can help you connect with friends, family, and strangers.
May 29th, 2024 — Source

Scientists identify gene that could lead to resilient 'pixie' corn
A widely found gene in plants has been newly identified as a key transporter of a hormone that influences the size of corn. The discovery offers plant breeders a new tool to develop desirable dwarf varieties that could enhance the crop's resilience and profitability.
May 29th, 2024 — Source

Solving the problems of proton-conducting perovskites for next-generation fuel cells
In line with global efforts towards cleaner energy technologies, fuel cells may soon become an indispensable tool for converting chemical energy -- stored in the form of hydrogen or other fuels -- into electrical energy. Among the various types of fuel cells being actively researched, those that use solid electrolytes rather than liquid ones have inherent safety and stability advantages.
May 29th, 2024 — Source

Study shows unbalanced air quality improvements can increase forest fires
If we want cleaner air, fewer forest fires, and less severe climate change, a new UC Riverside study shows we must reduce aerosol pollution and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide at the same time.
May 29th, 2024 — Source

US has worst bird flu outbreak in two years at Iowa egg farm
Deadly bird flu was detected in an egg-laying chicken flock in Iowa, affecting 4.2 million birds in the biggest U.S. outbreak since 2022.
May 29th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 28th, 2024

Climate change caused 26 extra days of extreme heat in last year: report
The world experienced an average of 26 more days of extreme heat over the last 12 months that would probably not have occurred without climate change, a report said on Tuesday.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

Deadly Bangladesh cyclone one of longest seen
Bangladeshi weather experts said Tuesday that a deadly cyclone that carved a swath of destruction was one of the quickest-forming and longest-lasting they'd experienced, blaming climate change for the shift.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

Dealloyed Nanoporous Zinc Films for Solar Steam Generation
In a recent article published in Communications Materials, researchers presented a novel solar steam generation approach for water treatment. This method is particularly useful in desalination, harnessing solar energy to evaporate water and leave impurities behind. This method aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6, focusing on clean water and sanitation.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

Millions more trees isn't the climate fix New Zealand thought
Of all the solutions for a warming world, "plant more trees" seems pretty obvious.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

New metasurface-based edge detecting filter for remote sensing could transform crop monitoring
New work by researchers from the ARC Center of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS) and City University of New York (CUNY) published May 27 in Nature Communications realizes a new, tunable edge-detecting filter for flat-optic imaging systems that can switch between an image of an object's outline and a detailed infrared image.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

Simple food swaps could cut greenhouse gas emissions from household groceries by a quarter
Switching food and drink purchases to very similar but more environmentally friendly alternatives could reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from household groceries by more than a quarter (26%), according to a new Australian study from The George Institute for Global Health and Imperial College London published today in Nature Food.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

Study suggests 'biodegradable' teabags don't readily deteriorate in the environment
Some teabags manufactured using plastic alternatives do not degrade in soil and have the potential to harm terrestrial species, a new study has shown.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

Submerged homes, heat waves fuel Mexico climate angst
Waves wash over abandoned homes in a Mexican village slowly being swallowed by the sea—a symbol of the climate change effects being felt by the major fossil fuel producer.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 27th, 2024

From wild to domesticated: Scientists reveal 100,000 years of continuous rice evolution
According to a study published in Science, researchers have used phytolith analysis and other methods to reveal the continuous evolutionary history of rice from wild to domesticated over an astonishing span of 100,000 years, providing new evidence for understanding the development of human society and the origins of agricultural civilization, and confirming that China is the birthplace of rice (Oryza sativa).
May 27th, 2024 — Source

Researchers investigate the origin of circatidal rhythms in freshwater snails
Organisms, including humans, follow a schedule that coordinates important bodily functions such as sleep-wake cycles, metabolism, hormone production, cognitive function, and feeding habits to environmental cycles.
May 27th, 2024 — Source

Sunshades, vines, and trees can help keep playgrounds cool
A North Carolina State University research group designs play areas where kids can stay comfortable as temperatures rise.
May 27th, 2024 — Source

The Risk With Buying Solar Panels From Amazon
Everyone knows that saving money on your electric bill is one of the biggest pros of solar panels. Conversely, the high entry cost is what keeps most people from converting to renewable energy. Plainly put, solar panels can get very expensive. Manufacturers sell a single unit for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and you'll need more than a few if you want to power your entire home.
May 27th, 2024 — Source

Warmer wetter climate predicted to bring societal and ecological impact to the Tibetan Plateau
While recent reports have stated that more than half the world's largest lakes, including lakes in the Tibetan plateau, are drying up, a paper published in Nature Geoscience today (May 27) suggests that, by the end of this century, land-locked lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are set to increase exponentially, resulting in major land loss and related economic, environmental and climatic impacts.
May 27th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 25th, 2024

Airplane turbulence is getting worse. Scientists explain why.
It strikes without warning.
May 25th, 2024 — Source

Scientists discover CO² and CO ices in outskirts of solar system
For the first time, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices have been observed in the far reaches of our solar system on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs).
May 25th, 2024 — Source

Scientists say they can make zero-emission cement
Researchers on Wednesday said they were a step closer to solving one of the trickiest problems in tackling climate change—how to keep making cement despite its enormous carbon footprint.
May 25th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 24th, 2024

Best Solar Generators of 2024
Use the power of the sun to charge your devices with one of the best solar generators on the market. Here are our top picks.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Desert poplar's genetic blueprint: Insights into adaptation and survival mechanisms
Populus pruinosa is a relic species surviving in the harsh desert environments of western China and Central Asia. As global warming and desertification intensify, understanding the genetic mechanisms behind its ecological adaptation is crucial. Previous genomic resources were insufficient for comprehensive studies.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Flexible Solar Panels For RV: Are They Effective And Will They Last?
If you see a solar-powered RV or a van, you're bound to notice panels installed on the roof or even lying down on the ground pointed at the sun. There are several different solar panels that are perfect for RVs that are either the standard rigid style or the more lightweight flexible panels. However, you may feel a bit hesitant to invest in flexible panels. How durable can they be with the ability to bend up to 240 degrees without breaking?
May 24th, 2024 — Source or Source

Historical signs in the landscape: Investigating the practice of pollarding in Western Norway
In the lush landscapes of Western Norway, pollarded trees bridge the past with modern environmental concerns. In a recent study, researchers investigated what motivates farmers to continue this ancient tree pruning practice.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Lower-cost regions are key to the industry's rebuilding | Opinion
As companies start to rebuild the development capacity lost in mass layoffs and closures, much of the focus will be on growing new studios away from traditional high-cost regions
May 24th, 2024 — Source

'Not alone, but with others.' Pastor helps faith leaders speak up on climate change
Pastor Neddy Astudillo says many faith leaders feel called to do something about the crisis.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop organic photoredox catalysts with enhanced stability and recyclability
In recent years, global environmental concerns have prompted a shift toward eco-friendly manufacturing in the field of organic synthetic chemistry. In this regard, research into photoredox catalytic reactions, which use light to initiate redox or reduction-oxidation reactions via a photoredox catalyst, has gained significant attention. This approach reduces the reliance on harsh and toxic reagents and uses visible light, a clean energy source.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Revolutionizing neurological research: Barrow Neuro Analytics Center opens in Phoenix
Barrow Neurological Institute has opened a new cutting-edge research center that is expected to revolutionize neurological research and expand Phoenix's research footprint into the areas of environmental neurology and health equity.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Saltmarshes do store carbon, but their climate impact may have been overestimated
This has lead to them being championed as a nature-based solution to climate change. However, our research suggests the role played by saltmarshes of the UK and north-west Europe more widely in reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has been significantly overestimated.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Scientists call for equitable research partnerships to advance microbiome research
Leading African scientists have issued a compelling call for more equitable research partnerships in a new paper published in Nature Medicine. The paper underscores the critical need for fair and collaborative research efforts to explore the unique and diverse microbiomes found in African populations and environments. Historically, these microbiomes have been underrepresented in global studies.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

South Africa: Gold mine pollution is poisoning Soweto's water and soil—study finds food gardens are at risk
For 140 years, gold mines in Johannesburg, South Africa have been leaking wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. The acid mine drainage from Johannesburg's estimated 278 abandoned mines and 200 mine dumps includes uranium (a radioactive metal), toxic arsenic, copper, cobalt, nickel, lead and zinc.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Study details strategies for successful urban tree planting initiatives
Collaborative research led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst outlines five essential themes to promote equitable and sustainable urban tree planting initiatives (TPIs), which is especially timely given the $1.5 billion for urban and community forestry contained in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

The enduring influence of "The Day After Tomorrow," 20 years later
The groundbreaking film popularized an extreme climate scenario. To what effect?
May 24th, 2024 — Source

These tips can help keep you safe during a potentially severe 2024 wildfire season
High temperatures and widespread drought fueled over 6,600 fires, burning a record-breaking 18.4 million hectares, an area more than double the size of New Brunswick.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Transparent metamaterial for energy-efficient regulation in building can clean itself like a lotus leaf
Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) introduce a polymer-based material with unique properties in the journal Nature Communications. This material allows sunlight to enter, maintains a more comfortable indoor climate without additional energy, and cleans itself like a lotus leaf.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 23rd, 2024

A warming planet has repercussions for human health
Earth's growing fever has obvious repercussions for human health, like heat waves that are hotter than our physiology can tolerate. Humanity's departure from the stable climate it inherited will yield surprises, too, though. Some of those may be existing diseases appearing in new places or spreading with greater ferocity. And some, experts fear, may be new diseases entirely.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Another tornado-devastated town: Why so much severe weather this spring?
It's the nation's worst storm season in a few years, though well short of record territory.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Behind the 'Bechdel test for climate change' in movies
An interview with two of the creators of the Climate Reality Check, which evaluates whether films reflect the fact that the climate is changing.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panels for Your Home in 2024
We compared the efficiency, warranties and performance of the most popular solar panels available. Here's how they stack up against each other.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Climate change will reduce streamflow in the upper Colorado river basin as groundwater levels fall, study finds
The Colorado River makes life possible in many Western cities and supports agriculture that sustains people throughout the country. Most of the river's water begins as snowmelt from the mountainous watersheds of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, and a warming climate will drastically reduce these streamflows, new research finds.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Combating invasive species globally with new algorithm
A new study at Hebrew University has developed an innovative computer algorithm that suggests how to significantly enhance the management of invasive species. This algorithm offers a cost-effective solution for allocating resources across diverse locations, crucial for safeguarding ecosystems, agriculture, and public health.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Computer modeling deepens scientists' understanding of solar cycle
Phenomenon underpinning aurora has eluded explanation as we approach 11-year flip
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Could alien solar panels be technosignatures?
If alien technological civilizations exist, they almost certainly use solar energy. Along with wind, it's the cleanest, most accessible form of energy, at least here on Earth. Driven by technological advances and mass production, solar energy on Earth is expanding rapidly.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Get ready for a rough hurricane season
2024 could be a record-breaking hurricane season with unusually warm waters in the Atlantic and the return of La Niña.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

How do we navigate climate disinformation online?
From blatant greenwashing on TikTok to influencers spreading misinformation, it's tricky terrain.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

How farming could change in a post-growth world
Degrowth, or the idea that we can save the planet by shrinking our economies, is ceasing to be a fringe concept. In the past years, green politicians across the EU have increasingly claimed the school of thought offers the best solution to the ecological crisis.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Man converts his home to all-electric dream house
Eric Laine once spent about $500 on propane in just one month. Now that's a thing of the past.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Most recent cyber attacks on water systems won't be the last, says cybersecurity expert
More government agencies are taking steps to shore up their cybersecurity measures. Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would step up inspections of water facilities that may be vulnerable to cyberattacks.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Recycling carbon dioxide into household chemicals
New catalyst transforms carbon dioxide from industrial emissions into commonly used chemicals
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Researchers strive to make 'clean fuels' a reality through the production of electrofuels
Starting in 2035, the European Union (EU) will prohibit the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles powered by gasoline or diesel, except for newly manufactured cars that utilize electrofuels (e-fuels, manufactured using green hydrogen obtained through electrolysis using renewable energy with carbon dioxide captured from the air). Considered as "clean fuels," electrofuels are expected to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in the transportation sector.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

SunPower Review: Best-Performing Solar Panels Available
The first step to going solar is finding an installer you trust. SunPower's excellent warranties and quality equipment make them a solid option to consider.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

The global clean water crisis looms large
Water scarcity will intensify with climate and socioeconomic change, disproportionately impacting populations located in the Global South.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

Three questions to ask yourself buying groceries
My personal journey with Peace Coffee began out of a simple love for coffee, but it quickly evolved into a deeper understanding of the industry's complexities and the importance of ethical practices. Working here has opened my eyes to how unfairly coffee farmers can be treated, and that realization has profoundly changed my relationship with coffee.
May 23rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 21st, 2024

Costly gas separation may not be needed to recycle CO² from air and industrial plants
A costly step in the process of taking carbon dioxide emissions and converting them into useful products such as biofuels and pharmaceuticals may not be necessary, according to University of Michigan researchers.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

Cultivating A Healthy Habitat
I am writing from home today, a little week-long staycation I take each spring to spend planting and tending my garden. The long days outside, hands and bare feet in the soil, are good for my heart, my soul, and my body.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

Transforming CO² emissions into valuable products may be less costly with new technology
A costly step in the process of taking carbon dioxide emissions and converting them into useful products such as biofuels and pharmaceuticals may not be necessary, according to University of Michigan researchers.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

Corn, millet and ... rooftop solar? Farm family's newest crop shows China's solar ascendancy
Shi Mei and her husband earn a decent enough living by growing corn and millet on their small farm in eastern China's Shandong province. In 2021, they diversified by investing in solar energy—signing a contract to mount some 40 panels on their roof to feed energy to the grid.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

Exploring the depths: How iron snow could unlock the secrets of life on Europa
Ever since the tantalizing discovery of icy ocean worlds within our own solar system, such as Europa and Enceladus, scientists have been captivated by the possibility of life lurking beneath their frozen surfaces.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

In Darwin's footsteps: Scientists recreate historic 1830s expedition
Like Charles Darwin did in 1831, a group of scientists and environmentalists last year set sail from the English port of Plymouth, headed for the Galapagos islands off the coast of Ecuador.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

On the trail of global climate change—volcanism as a driver of the climate in the 'Carnian Crisis'
New research on the so-called Carnian Crisis by a team led by Alexander Lukeneder, paleontologist at the Natural History Museum Vienna, reveals astonishing developments surrounding global climate change during the Triassic period.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

Research reveals that prehistoric seafloor pockmarks off the California coast are maintained by powerful sediment flows
New MBARI research on a field of pockmarks—large, circular depressions on the seafloor—offshore of Central California has revealed that powerful sediment flows, not methane gas eruptions, maintain these prehistoric formations.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

The EPA is cracking down on cybersecurity threats
After finding 'alarming' vulnerabilities to cyberattack, the EPA is stepping up inspections of drinking water systems.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

The largely untapped energy source beneath our feet
Recent advances in technology could boost geothermal energy's prospects.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

The silent tragedy of local restrictions on renewable energy
New research shows how policies blocking cleaner energy sources, often inspired by persistent disinformation, harm the communities that adopt them.
May 21st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 17th, 2024

Ancient arachnid from coal forests of America stands out for its spiny legs
The spiny legged 308-million-year-old arachnid Douglassarachne acanthopoda was discovered the famous Mazon Creek locality.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

At Thailand dive expo, fears for coral's future
Jakkapat Yodnil calls out to visitors at a diving expo in Bangkok, eager to share details of his shop's expeditions to the azure waters around the Thai island of Koh Tao.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Inverters of May 2024
Solar inverters are an integral part of a home solar system, converting the electricity solar panels produce into something your home can use. Here are some of the best.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Biloxi, Mississippi, is losing a foot of salt marsh shoreline a year
So Mississippi State University and Keesler Air Force Base are working on a project to shield a 2.5-mile stretch of the city from erosion.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Climate Change Is Making Rooftop Solar More Valuable, Research Shows
In a warmer world, it will take more energy to cool people off. Rooftop solar could step in to fill the energy gap.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Controversial floating beach unveiled off French Riviera
A controversial private floating beach anchored off the French Riviera has entered service despite opposition from local politicians and environmental groups, its backers said on Friday.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Differing values of nature can still lead to joined up goals for sustainability
Recognizing and respecting the different ways nature is valued can enable better environmental decision-making, according to new research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA).
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Do you have to go vegan to save the climate?
Alexandra Steele takes a look at the truth behind the claims.
May 17th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Energy transition risks critical mineral shortage: IEA
The sharp drop in prices for minerals critical to the green energy transition is masking a looming shortage due to inadequate investment, the International Energy Agency said Friday.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Everything You Need To Know About SunPower Solar Panels In 2024
Humans have harnessed the sun's energy for heat and light in various ways for centuries. From housing designs featuring thermal mass heated by the sun, to solar powered ovens and greenhouses, the value of solar power isn't anything new. What is new is the rising efficiency and popularity of solar powered electrical system usage in business, home, and mobile camping applications. 
May 17th, 2024 — Source

FFF Activists Vandalize Berlin Apple Store Over Alleged Congo Exploitation
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently accused Apple of committing heinous crimes, and DRC lawyers further stated that Apple products such as Macs, iPhones, and others are stained with the blood of local people. Now, activists have vandalized the Berlin-based Apple Store on Rosenthaler Strasse, alleging that Apple exploited the Congo.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Floating photovoltaics could limit Africa's future reliance on hydro-generated energy
Floating photovoltaics (FPV), also known as floating solar farms, are photovoltaic systems that can be deployed on the sea's surface or on other bodies of water. While their environmental impact is still the topic of debate worldwide, these systems could be highly advantageous for generating renewable energy, particularly in warm regions where available land is scarce or costly.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

From fungi to fashion: Mushroom eco-leather is moving towards the mainstream
As fashion designers look for alternatives to leather, growing mycelium—or fungi-based—'leather' substitutes using a new paste media has opened up the possibility of growing this bio-fabricated material faster, and of cultivating it more easily.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Furry thieves are running loose in a Maine forest, research shows
Scattered across the Penobscot Experimental Forest are veritable treasure troves for its denizens, each containing riches beyond comprehension. These caches do not contain gold or jewels—they're filled with eastern white pine seeds and were placed by a team of researchers at the University of Maine for one purpose: to catch furry thieves red-handed.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

How China's massive water transfer shapes drinking water quality
Dissolved organic matter (DOM), originating from both natural and human activities, is a complex mixture of organic substances that can vary by season, location, and environmental conditions. DOM impacts the coagulation process, membrane fouling, and the potential for disinfection by-product (DBP) formation, necessitating dynamic water treatment adjustments to maintain compliance with drinking water standards.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

How heat waves are affecting Arctic phytoplankton
The basis of the marine food web in the Arctic, the phytoplankton, responds to heat waves much differently than to constantly elevated temperatures. This has been found by the first targeted experiments on the topic, which were recently conducted at the Alfred Wegener Institute's AWIPEV Station.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Linking leaf elemental traits to biomass across forest biomes in the Himalayas
The growth, development, and functioning of plants in various environments depend on multiple elements. However, our understanding of how the element concentrations in leaves that are associated with plant functioning and adaptation affect biomass in tree communities along elevation has been limited.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Modern plant enzyme partners with surprisingly ancient protein
Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered that a protein responsible for the synthesis of a key plant material evolved much earlier than suspected. The research published in The Plant Cell, explores the origin and evolution of the biochemical machinery that builds lignin, a structural component of plant cell walls with significant impacts on the clean energy industry.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Overlooked coastal marine ecosystems can capture more carbon dioxide than previously thought, finds study
The ability of coastal ecosystems to capture and store carbon dioxide has been underestimated. The question is not just about seagrass meadows and mangrove forests, which have already attracted attention, but a wide range of different ecosystems whose carbon storing function has been overlooked. However, for these areas to be able to combat climate change, they must be protected.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Plants restrict use of 'Tipp-Ex proteins'
Molecules that modify copies of genes are only permitted in certain cell organelles.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Researchers unlock water-saving potential of wheat with TabHLH27 balancing stress and growth
Wheat plays a critical role in global food security, but water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions hinders its efficient production, suggesting significant opportunities for water saving. Therefore, understanding the genes that control wheat's drought tolerance and water use efficiency is critical for improving genetic resilience and breeding water-efficient varieties.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop new geochemical 'fingerprint' to trace contaminants in fertilizer
An international team of scientists has uncovered toxic metals in mineral phosphate fertilizers worldwide by using a new tool to identify the spread and impact of such contaminants on soil, water resources, and food supply.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Space telescope captures solar megastorm behind epic northern lights
Plus: AI knew the solar storm was coming
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Spiny legged 308-million-year-old arachnid discovered in the Mazon Creek locality
More than 300 million years ago, all sorts of arachnids crawled around the Carboniferous coal forests of North America and Europe. These included familiar ones we'd recognize, such as spiders, harvestmen and scorpions—as well as exotic animals that now occur in warmer regions like whip spiders and whip scorpions.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Study indicates Earth's earliest sea creatures drove evolution by stirring the water
A study involving the University of Cambridge has used virtual recreations of the earliest animal ecosystems, known as marine animal forests, to demonstrate the part they played in the evolution of our planet.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals how a sugar-sensing protein acts as a 'machine' to switch plant growth—and oil production—on and off
Proteins are molecular machines, with flexible pieces and moving parts. Understanding how these parts move helps scientists unravel the function a protein plays in living things—and potentially how to change its effects. Biochemists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and colleagues at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have published a new example of how one such molecular machine works.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Sun, sustainability, and silicon: A double dose of solar fuel research
The race is on to develop a new generation of liquid fuels that are activated by sunlight, and Yale researchers are helping to lead the way.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Tidal Vision, a startup turning crab shells into a green industrial chemical, is raising fresh cash
After crabs like these caught in the Bering Sea have been processed, seafood companies are stuck with the problem of disposing of the shells. Tidal Vision has developed a green chemistry technology for turning the discarded shells into a useful, sustainable industrial chemical
May 17th, 2024 — Source

To save their soil, Kansas tribe shifts to regenerative agriculture—and transforms their farms
When one of the elders in the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska asked if he could keep bees on the reservation, Tim Rhodd's answer was straightforward: "Absolutely."
May 17th, 2024 — Source

TSMC Might Use More Nuclear Power For Chip Manufacturing If Taiwan's Law Is Revised
Members of the current planning body of the Taiwanese national legislature, the Executive Yuan, showed a willingness to amend laws after the incoming economic minister set to succeed Weng Mei-hua, J.W. Kuo, remarked in the Executive Yuan that he believed nuclear energy was a clean power source.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

US reaches a new clean energy milestone, with 5 million solar projects installed
But installation went smoothly, the smooth black panels lowered his electric bills, and Gorr—who is very concerned about climate change—relished the opportunity to lower his carbon footprint.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 14th, 2024

90% of Floridians believe climate change is happening
New survey shows belief in human-caused climate change surges among Independents, slips among Republicans
May 14th, 2024 — Source or Source

2023 was the hottest summer in 2,000 years, study finds
Researchers have found that 2023 was the hottest summer in the Northern Hemisphere in the past 2,000 years, almost 4°C warmer than the coldest summer during the same period.
May 14th, 2024 — Source or Source

A bionanomachine for green chemistry
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have for the first time precisely characterised the enzyme styrene oxide isomerase, which can be used to produce valuable chemicals and drug precursors in an environmentally friendly manner.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Ancient trees show how hot summers have gotten
The Northern Hemisphere had its hottest summer in 2,000 years, and 2024 could be just as bad.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

April 2024: Earth's 11th-consecutive warmest month on record
An astonishing 34 nations or territories set or tied their hottest April readings, including seven all-time highs for any month.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Generators of 2024
Use the power of the sun to charge your devices with one of the best solar generators on the market. Here are our top picks.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Can Philly become a hothouse for bananas and pineapples as the climate warms?
As climate change warms Philadelphia, the plants that can be grown in the city will change, too.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Climate-change research project aboard USS Hornet paused for environmental review
The city of Alameda has indefinitely shut down the Marine Cloud Brightening Program—a study based out of the University of Washington and set up on the deck of the U.S.S. Hornet to utilize the San Francisco Bay's ideal cloudy conditions—citing concerns over health and safety.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

'Dancing' raisins: A simple kitchen experiment reveals how objects can extract energy from their environment
Scientific discovery doesn't always require a high-tech laboratory or a hefty budget. Many people have a first-rate lab right in their own homes—their kitchen.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Genetic discovery helps Angus producers protect their herds
When an East Texas cattle operation contacted Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service cattle specialists in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science after experiencing a rash of neurological, unknown issues with their calves, it started a seven-year search for answers.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

How do we reduce pesticide use while empowering farmers? A more nuanced approach could help
Pesticides threaten humans, wildlife and our environment. Food production must change.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

How pooling solutions can be strengthened in road transport
Less than a hundred kilos of human weight, more than two metric tons of steel: individual road transport is a huge climate killer, and switching to electric vehicles is only part of the solution because manufacturing the vehicles also causes emissions.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

How wildfires change soil chemistry
The huge, long-lasting wildfires that have become increasingly common in recent years can cause changes in soil chemistry that affect water contamination, air quality, and plant growth. But these changes are poorly monitored and rarely factor into post-fire recovery efforts or risk assessments, according to a review study published May 14 in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

New technique to transform waste carbon dioxide into high-value chemicals achieves cost reduction of about 30%
Addressing the urgent challenge posed by escalating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their impact on climate change, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a novel technique that significantly advances the conversion of waste carbon dioxide (CO2) into value-added chemicals and fuels.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Study explores over a century of temperature trends at Beijing Observatory
In a significant stride towards understanding climate change, a recent study published in the International Journal of Climatology has successfully homogenized and analyzed over a century's worth of daily temperature data from the Beijing Observatory (BO), spanning from 1915 to 2021.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Study finds antimicrobial resistance in soils Scotland-wide
Resistance to antibiotics has been found in the environment across Scotland, according to a new international study involving Strathclyde.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Study shows how avocado pruning residues can be used to produce more sustainable food packaging
Although plastic allows food to be packaged safely and hygienically, its extensive use constitutes a significant environmental challenge due to its limited recyclability and short shelf life. Thus, industry and the scientific community have been looking for more sustainable alternatives for decades.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Swedish researchers develop eco-friendly and affordable battery for low-income countries
A battery made from zinc and lignin that can be used over 8,000 times has been developed by researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, with a vision to provide a cheap and sustainable battery solution for countries where access to electricity is limited. The study has been published in the journal Energy & Environmental Materials.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

West Virginia man works to boost solar industry in his home state
Solar Holler founder Dan Conant wants to create new career paths for young West Virginians.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Zscaler Confirms Only Isolated Test Server Was Hacked
Zscaler has completed its investigation into the recent hacking claims and found that only an isolated test environment was compromised.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 13th, 2024

Bid to end deadly cooking methods which stoke global warming
Fifty countries are meeting in France on Tuesday to discuss the lack of access to clean cooking methods worldwide which causes millions of deaths every year and fuels global warming.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Brook trout are in trouble in Adirondacks lakes
Climate change is squeezing the habitat of this colorful fish.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Cambodia's famed Kampot pepper withers in scorching heat wave
Farmer Chhim Laem shakes his head as he walks between long rows of dead bushes, their brown leaves scorched by heat and drought that have devastated Cambodia's famed Kampot pepper crop.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Chinese firms exit Romania solar tender after EU probe
Two Chinese-owned solar panel manufacturers have withdrawn from a public procurement tender in Romania after the EU launched a foreign subsidies probe, Brussels said Monday.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Climate change is affecting mental health literally everywhere
Extreme weather, water scarcity, air pollution, and more are taking a toll on people across the world.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

FAA initiates environmental impact study for SpaceX Starship launches from Kennedy Space Center
SpaceX's plans to build a Starship launch complex at Kennedy Space Center are moving closer to reality even as it potentially takes over a launch site from neighboring Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

How trash, sprawl and a warming world impact Michigan mosquito seasons
Not all of the quintessential characteristics of a Michigan summer are as pleasant as campfires, cookouts and baseball games. There are the mosquitoes, too.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Lake Tahoe expected to be full for first time since 2019, thanks to winter storms
Lake Tahoe is expected to fill for the first time since 2019, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Long-term study finds organic farming leads to adaptations in the genetic material in plants
Plants adapt genetically over time to the special conditions of organic farming. This has been demonstrated in a long-term study conducted at the University of Bonn.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Madagascar's ancient baobab forests are being restored by communities—with a little help from AI
Six of the world's eight baobab species are indigenous to Madagascar, where the distinctive trees with giant trunks have historically grown in huge forests. But these forests are threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture—4,000 hectares of baobab forest in Madagascar are destroyed every year .
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Nitrogen pollution is less harmful to mixed forests, study shows
In a study published in the journal Plant and Soil, researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have shown that mixed larch and deciduous forests are more resistant to soil acidification—a decrease in soil pH—than pure larch forests.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Climate change solution can carry environmental costs
Solar power, widely seen as humanity's best hope for avoiding catastrophic climate change, can carry a heavy environmental cost, depending on where panels and transmission lines are built.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Recyclable nanomotors enable ultra-sensitive detection of trace pollutants in water
The presence of trace emerging pollutants in aquatic environments poses a significant challenge to the health of ecosystems and human populations. These pollutants, which include persistent organic compounds, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, can exert adverse effects even at extremely low concentrations.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Researchers complete mitochondrial genome analysis of endangered plant Primulina hunanensis
Primulina hunanensis is a perennial herb in the genus Primulina Hance of the family Gesneriaceae. It is very adaptable to low-light and barren cave environments, and is unique in its species evolution and environmental adaptation. P. hunanensis has beautiful flowers and a graceful shape that makes it valuable for horticultural cultivation.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Researchers reveal how genetically identical water fleas develop into different sexes
Daphnia are tiny crustaceans, or "water fleas," that are extremely adaptable to their environment. This is due to their remarkable phenotypic plasticity, i.e., their ability to change their form or behavior despite their genetic makeup remaining unchanged. Even male and female Daphnia are genetically identical.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Starlink suffers 'degraded service' from solar storm but emerges intact
Unusually high activity from Sun may have also hastened Hubble's demise
May 13th, 2024 — Source

The price tag of phasing-out coal
Coal phase-out is necessary to solve climate change, but can have negative impacts on workers and local communities dependent on coal for their livelihoods. Researchers have studied government plans for coal phase-out around the world and discovered that more than half of such plans include monetary compensation to affected parties.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

What causes the different colors of the aurora? An expert explains the electric rainbow
Last week, a huge solar flare sent a wave of energetic particles from the sun surging out through space. Over the weekend, the wave reached Earth, and people around the world enjoyed the sight of unusually vivid aurora in both hemispheres.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

What's The Failure Rate Of Panasonic Solar Panels? Here's What We Know
When you think of Panasonic, solar panels might not immediately come to mind. However, the Japanese electronics company has had a footing in the renewable energy market for quite a while. We even named the Panasonic EverVolt 2.0 one of the best 2023 Tesla Powerwall alternatives. However, despite their environmental benefits and potential to save you money on your electric bill, all solar panels come with risks, including the chance that they stop working due to climate or other factors.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

World's "largest" air vacuum fires up in Iceland, will suck CO² from air and bury it
A critical response to ever-increasing CO² emissions
May 13th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 12th, 2024

Transparent Solar Panels: What Do They Cost, And Are There Any Disadvantages?
In a world that relies on batteries and energy supplies, there's something quite attractive about the idea of a transparent surface that can harness the power of the sun. Think about it — the windows of your home can be individualized solar panels, eliminating the need for those unsightly installations atop your roof. Even your smartphone's screen might be a solar panel, drawing in and storing power as needed, virtually making wall and wireless chargers obsolete.
May 12th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 10th, 2024

Alerting communities to hyperlocalized urban flooding
As climate change continues to warm the planet, scientists expect natural hazards such as flooding to increase. Urban flooding can be caused by extreme precipitation events, storm surges, or high tides, with dangerous and expensive consequences for public health and infrastructure.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Batteries of May 2024
Solar batteries won't let your extra solar energy go to waste and will help keep your home powered during an outage. These are some of the best.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Inverters of May 2024
Solar inverters are an integral part of a home solar system, converting the electricity solar panels produce into something your home can use. Here are some of the best.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panels for Your Home in 2024
Looking for the right solar panels for your home? Here's how the most popular residential solar panels stack up after we compared efficiency, warranties and performance.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Bilbies could hop back into mild climate zones, study finds
Bilbies bred in a sanctuary in Dubbo have provided researchers with vital clues about how they would fare in temperate Australia where they once thrived.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Climate protestors clash with police outside Tesla's German gigafactory
Activists want to stop the plant's planned expansion, which locals overwhelmingly oppose.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Cloud environments beyond the Big Three
The idea of decentralizing cloud computing has been overshadowed by AI, but frustration with high cloud prices has boosted interest in other options.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Drought fuels wildfire concerns as Canada braces for another intense summer
The 2023 wildfire season was historic and deadly in Canada. This summer could be more of the same.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Environmentalists battle to get Peco to increase its use of green energy, but the oil industry calls it a job killer
The nation is in the middle of a contentious transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

First 'extreme' solar storm in 20 years brings spectacular auroras
Earth was set to be struck by more powerful solar storms on Saturday, a day after the most extreme events in two decades triggered spectacular celestial light shows from Tasmania to Britain and threatened possible disruptions to satellites and power grids.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Genetic study of cauliflower reveals its evolutionary history
A team of plant-breeding specialists at Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Science's State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding and other institutions has, via genetic analysis, revealed some of the changes that cauliflower has undergone throughout its evolution.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

How local journalism boosts support for fixing crumbling infrastructure
Strong local newspapers are tied to greater support for funding dams, sewers, and other basic infrastructure vital to climate resilience, according to a new study by researchers at UCLA and Duke University.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

In praise of shade trees
Urban areas with trees can be as much as 15 degrees cooler Fahrenheit than areas with less foliage.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Latest CO2 increase marks largest rise ever in world's atmosphere
Climate change isn't stabilizing, it's getting worse
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Many people in the Arctic are staying put despite climate change, study reports
Temperatures are rising rapidly in the Arctic, raising questions about how communities are coping in the shifting climate. A team led by Penn State researchers reviewed studies from the past 30 years to examine whether these challenges are causing people to migrate out of the area—or if, and why, they're deciding to stay.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Natural biosurfactants: The future of eco-friendly meat preservation
A recent study has unveiled the potential of biosurfactants—natural compounds produced by microbes—to dramatically improve the preservation of meat products. This innovative approach could replace synthetic chemicals, enhancing food safety and quality.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Researcher exposes child labor trafficking as a hidden crime after investigating 132 victims
Children trafficked for their labor often work in public view in restaurants, laundromats, agricultural fields and water parks, but little has been known about their plight.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Researchers investigate impact of elevated CO² concentration on subtropical trees
The atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO²) concentration has been continuously increasing since the industrial revolution, and the increase in CO² concentration will have an important impact on the physiological function and growth of plants. However, few studies have focused on how the hydraulic structure and growth of plants in subtropical zones respond to elevated CO² concentrations.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Scientists convert chicken fat into energy storage devices
The global move toward more sustainable, green energy has increased power reserves and the demand for energy storage devices. Unfortunately, some materials for these devices can be expensive and environmentally problematic. Producing alternative energy storage devices from things that are usually thrown away could help resolve these challenges.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Solar Flares Hurtling Towards Earth Trigger Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Warning
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is currently monitoring the sun after a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) erupted on May 8, 2024. Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the evening of Friday, May 10.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Team develops technology for producing bioplastics from agricultural and food byproducts
As kimchi has been drawing attention as a global healthy food trend, cabbage is one of the representative vegetables used as a main ingredient for manufacturing kimchi overseas.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

The answer to AI's energy needs could be blowing in the wind
AI is power-hungry, and it could partner well with offshore wind farms.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

The world's largest direct carbon capture plant just went online
It can capture around 36,000 tons of CO² per year, but that's just a drop in the bucket.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Wildfires in old-growth Amazon forest areas rose 152% in 2023, study shows
Although the rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell in 2023, the region is faced with another challenge in the shape of fire affecting the native vegetation that has so far been spared destruction.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 8th, 2024

A 'conservation conundrum'—when rat control to conserve one species threatens another
When pest rats and mice decimate populations of native species, pest control is a no-brainer. But what if baiting rats protects threatened songbirds, while poisoning critically endangered owls?
May 8th, 2024 — Source

A low-energy process for high-performance solar cells could simplify the manufacturing process
Finding reliable, eco-friendly power sources is crucial as our world grapples with increasing energy needs and the urgent call to combat climate change. Solar energy offers one solution, with scientists devising ever more efficient materials for capturing sunlight.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Acceptance of animals in urban environments
How do city residents feel about animals in their immediate surroundings? A recent study shows how different the acceptance of various wild animals in urban areas is. Important factors are the places where the animals are found and their level of popularity -- squirrels and ladybugs come out on top here. The results have important implications for urban planning and nature conservation.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

As climate change amplifies urban flooding, here's how communities can become 'sponge cities'
"When it rains, it pours" once was a metaphor for bad things happening in clusters. Now it's becoming a statement of fact about rainfall in a changing climate.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Chemists present roadmap to a carbon-neutral refinery by 2050
Would it be possible to build a refinery that is completely fossil-free, and thereby significantly contributing to a carbon-neutral society by as early as 2050? According to two chemists from Utrecht University it is. In a Nature article, they present a roadmap in which oil refineries could be reinvented to be completely fossil-free. Processes will be electrified if possible, and raw materials will change to CO2, agricultural and municipal waste. "We wanted to see what would be needed to make a fossil-free refinery and took that to the extreme."
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Limited adaptability makes freshwater bacteria vulnerable to climate change
Freshwater bacteria with small genomes frequently undergo prolonged periods of adaptive stagnation. Based on genomic analyses of samples from European lakes, researchers uncovered specific evolutionary strategies that shape these bacteria's lifestyles. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of aquatic microbial communities is key to safeguarding ecosystem services.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Many people are feeling ecological grief. How can we help those whose work puts them at risk?
We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and well-being globally.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

More and faster: Electricity from clean sources reaches 30% of global total
Billions of people are using different kinds of energy each day and 2023 was a record-breaking year for renewable energy sources—ones that don't emit planet-warming pollutants like carbon dioxide and methane—according to a report published Wednesday by Ember, a think tank based in London.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

New study delves into ozone's influence on exoplanetary climate
In the quest for life beyond our solar system, a new study delves into the atmospheric dynamics of planet Proxima Centauri b, illuminating ozone's pivotal role in shaping planetary climates. This research signifies a significant leap forward in our understanding of habitable exoplanets.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

No one has seen the data behind Tyson's "climate friendly beef" claim
Millions of taxpayer dollars flow to livestock companies raising "low carbon" beef.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Researchers identify cause of electron-hole separation in thin-film solar cells to increase solar cell efficiency
A team of researchers have collaborated to characterize electron-hole separation in the light-absorbing layer of kesterite thin-film solar cells. This study is expected to improve the efficiency of solar cells and promote the use of green energy. The research is published in the journal Carbon Energy.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Researchers map out anatomy of wooden breast syndrome in broiler chickens
Each year, Delaware farms raise more than 240 million broiler chickens, the top agricultural commodity in the state with a $3.5 billion impact on the state's economy.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop energy-efficient memristive hardware for transparent AI decision-making
Artificial intelligence has rapidly progressed in recent years, transforming fields from healthcare to finance to transportation. AI systems can now match or exceed human-level performance on many complex tasks. However, as AI becomes more ubiquitous, a critical challenge has emerged - the "black box" problem. Most cutting-edge AI systems, powered by deep neural networks, make decisions in ways that are extremely difficult for humans to understand or interpret.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Study informs climate resilience strategies in urban, rural areas
Local decision-makers looking for ways to reduce the impact of heat waves on their communities have a valuable new capability at their disposal: a new study on vegetation resilience.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals late Pleistocene island weathering, precipitation in the Western Pacific Warm Pool
In a study published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science on April 18, researchers from China, South Korea, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States have reconstructed the weathering history of the Western Pacific island arc over the past 140,000 years, combined with the simulation results from transient climate models, and revealed the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of deep convection-precipitation evolution in the Western Pacific Warm Pool (WPWP).
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Swarms of miniature robots clean up microplastics and microbes, simultaneously
When old food packaging, discarded children's toys and other mismanaged plastic waste break down into microplastics, they become even harder to clean up from oceans and waterways. These tiny bits of plastic also attract bacteria, including those that cause disease. Researchers describe swarms of microscale robots (microrobots) that captured bits of plastic and bacteria from water. Afterward, the bots were decontaminated and reused.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

The world's largest carbon removal plant is here, and bigger ones are on the way
A big new facility built to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere opened up in Iceland. It's a stepping stone to bigger plans in the US.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

US's largest public utility ignores warnings in moving forward with new natural gas plant
The nation's largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. The Tennessee Valley Authority announced in April that it would replace the aging coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant with gas amid growing calls for the agency's new board of directors to invest in renewables.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Venezuelan-American journalist brings climate change awareness to both Spanish- and English-speaking audiences
Mariana Atencio has seen the effects of climate change while reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Why switching to an EV is good for the climate
Over its lifetime, an electric vehicle produces much less climate-warming pollution than a similar gas-powered car.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 7th, 2024

A second life for discarded lithium-ion cells
In 2030, around 1.2 million lithium-ion batteries of electric cars, buses and construction machinery will be decommissioned worldwide because they will reach the end of their planned service life, their warranty will expire or the entire vehicles will be scrapped.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

From fossils to fuel: Energy potential of Mozambique's Maniamba Basin
In the ever-expanding search for energy resources, a new study has emerged from Mozambique's Maniamba Basin. A team led by Nelson Nhamutole, a Ph.D. student at the University of the Witwatersrand, and his team of scientists from around the world, shared in an article published in the South African Journal of Geology that Mozambique's Maniamba Basin could be a big source of natural gas.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Study demonstrate improved root growth in radio-cesium contaminated soil
Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have identified a way for plants to gain resistance to cesium, a radioactive toxin that can be found in contaminated soil. After manipulating a specific biological signaling pathway, plants were able to resist cesium stress, meaning that their growth was less stunted, at least in the roots.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Free-forming organelles help plants adapt to climate change
Plants' ability to sense light and temperature, and their ability to adapt to climate change, hinges on free-forming structures in their cells whose function was, until now, a mystery.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Global meta-analysis quantifies benefits of cover crop use
For years, both scientists and farmers have debated whether the use of cover crops—plants used to cover the ground after harvesting of main crops—have a positive or negative impact on subsequent crop yield. Hundreds of studies have been performed on the subject, with each resulting in a different conclusion.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

In Brazil, 76% of deforestation in three Amazonian states occurred in a planned agricultural development zone
The Brazilian government is discussing the creation of an "agricultural development zone" at the confluence of three states in the Amazon region—Amazonas, Acre, and Rondônia (hence the proposed acronym AMACRO).
May 7th, 2024 — Source

New process brings commercialization of CO² utilization technology to produce formic acid one step closer
CCU (carbon capture and utilization), which captures CO² and converts it into useful compounds, is crucial for rapidly transitioning to a carbon-neutral society. While CCS (carbon capture and storage), which only involves CO² storage, has entered the initial commercialization stage due to its relatively simple process and low operational costs, CCU has only been explored at the research level due to the complexity of conversion processes and high production costs of compounds.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Researchers show that slow-moving earthquakes are controlled by rock permeability
Earthquakes are the most dramatic and noteworthy results of tectonic plate movement. They are often destructive and deadly, or at the very least physically felt—they're literally groundbreaking geological events. However not all tectonic movement results in effects that humans can perceive.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Prescribed burning can reduce wildfire damage
Low-intensity fires help clear out dead wood and vegetation, reducing the fuel available when a wildfire comes along.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Strengthening Swiss hydropower with science
Researchers at ETH Zurich led by Robert Boes are developing specific solutions to optimize electricity production from Swiss hydropower plants. This will ensure that hydropower remains the backbone of Switzerland's electricity supply in the future.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Study identifies early warning signals for the end of the African humid period
The transition from the African humid period (AHP) to dry conditions in North Africa is the clearest example of climate tipping points in recent geological history. They occur when small perturbations trigger a large, non-linear response in the system and shift the climate to a different future state, usually with dramatic consequences for the biosphere.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

What makes people tick environmentally?
Research from the University of Canterbury explores the crucial role emotions play in behavior change and decision-making when acting sustainably.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

White House environmental official tours PFAS-site in Minnesota
A member of President Joe Biden's administration stopped in the city of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, on May 6 to talk PFAS with local officials, visiting an area that's been at the forefront of contamination just three weeks after the Biden administration released the first-ever drinking water standards for the so-called "forever" chemical.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 3rd, 2024

A rare tropical cyclone landfall is on tap for Tanzania
Hurricane-strength Hidaya is heading toward a flood-ravaged area.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Climate change amplifies severity of combined wind-rain extremes over the UK and Ireland
Climate change will cause an increase in extreme winter storms combining strong winds and heavy rainfall over the UK and Ireland, new research has shown.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Climate change threatens mountain meadows by reducing humus content, finds study
Mountain meadows are unique ecosystems. A research team led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now discovered that climate change reduces the humus content as well as the nitrogen stores in the grassland soils of the Alps and disturbs the soil structure. Organic fertilization, for example with liquid manure, can compensate this loss of soil organic matter to some extent.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Climate tech investment roars back with an $8.1B start to 2024
Climate tech startups raised $8.1 billion in the first quarter, near record amounts of money that suggest 2023's quiet close might have been more of a blip than the sign of a protracted downturn.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Connecticut Solar Panel Incentives: Tax Breaks, Net Metering and More
Connecticut residents can save on residential solar with a range of rebates, special loans and tax breaks.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Contemporary wildfires not more severe than historically in western US dry forests: Study
Wildfires have increased over the last few decades in dry forests, which cover 25.5 million ha (63 million acres) of the western U.S. But are high-severity fires that kill 70% or more of trees already burning at rates that exceed historical (preindustrial) rates?
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Demystifying the complex nature of Arctic clouds
With dancing ribbons of light visible in the sky, a team of researchers flew on a series of scenic and sometimes stormy flights into the cold unknown, trying to learn more about why one of the most frigid places on Earth is warming at a feverish pace.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Environmental journalism is under attack
Attacks on environmental journalists are on the rise, according to a UNESCO report.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

'Gap' in carbon removal: Countries' plans to remove CO² not enough
New research suggests that countries' current plans to remove CO² from the atmosphere will not be enough to comply with the 1.5 C warming limit set out under the Paris Agreement.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Lake tsunamis pose significant threat under warming climate
Cowee Creek, Brabazon Range, Upper Pederson Lagoon—they mark the sites of recent lake tsunamis, a phenomenon that is increasingly common in Alaska, British Columbia and other regions with mountain glaciers.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

New research investigates how climate change amplifies severity of combined wind-rain extremes over the UK and Ireland
Climate change will cause an increase in extreme winter storms combining strong winds and heavy rainfall over the UK and Ireland, new research has shown.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

NOAA reports continued drop in overfishing
In a report released May 2, NOAA Fisheries announced that 2023 saw a record low for the number of fish stocks subject to overfishing. The annual "Status of the Stocks" report is an assessment of the 506 stocks and stock complexes managed by NOAA Fisheries, and provides a look at the overall health of fisheries in the U.S.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Path to easier recycling of solar modules
Use of lasers to melt edges of glass together eliminates troublesome polymers
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Positive school climate boosts high school grades, study finds
A study led by a UC Riverside graduate student has found that Latino high school students achieve higher grades when they perceive a more positive school climate and when they have a stronger sense of self-esteem.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Research quantifies 'gap' in carbon removal for first time—shows countries need more awareness, ambition and action
New research involving the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggests that countries' current plans to remove CO² from the atmosphere will not be enough to comply with the 1.5ºC warming limit set out under the Paris Agreement.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Sister cities can help communities better navigate the climate crisis, research suggests
Anthropologists at Rice University suggest in a new study that establishing networks of 'sister cities' dedicated to addressing the impact of natural disasters can mitigate the devastation wrought by climate change.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Solar orbiter takes a mind-boggling video of the sun
You've seen the sun, but you've never seen the sun like this. This single frame from a video captured by ESA's Solar Orbiter mission shows the sun looking very fluffy! You can see feathery, hair-like structures made of plasma following magnetic field lines in the sun's lower atmosphere as it transitions into the much hotter outer corona. The video was taken from about a third of the distance between the Earth and the sun.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Startup mimics nature to produce zero-carbon cement
Prometheus Materials is creating a cement made from algae.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Stony coral tissue loss disease is shifting the ecological balance of Caribbean reefs
The outbreak of a deadly disease called stony coral tissue loss disease is destroying susceptible species of coral in the Caribbean while helping other, "weedier" organisms thrive—at least for now—according to a new study published in Science Advances.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Tidal energy is coming to Alaska. But how much?
Much of Alaska is empty—of humans, at least. Vast tundra and forest separate cities and villages, dividing the state into more than 150 isolated power grids. The largest of these grids, known as the Railbelt, carries 70% of the state's electrical energy to about three-quarters of its population. Today, that grid runs mostly on natural gas.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Uncovering the reasons behind the rapid warming of the North Pole
The North Pole region heats up faster than the rest of the world. Though this is a known fact, climate models underestimate the speed with which the region warms up. Sjoert Barten obtained his PhD on this subject at Wageningen University & Research on 26 April and shares his insights.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Understanding Email Threats with Cloudflare Radar
Cloudflare recently announced the launch of a new Email Security section on Cloudflare Radar. This section will provide insights into the current state of email security. The new metrics offer real-time visibility into email-borne threats, allowing organizations to correlate trends within their environment with broader security observations from Cloudflare.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Why India is key to heading off climate catastrophe
For the world to have a chance to meet its climate goals, India must transition away from fossil fuels — quickly.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Wildfires in wet African forests have doubled in recent decades
Climate change and human activities like deforestation are causing more fires in central and west Africa's wet, tropical forests, according to the first-ever comprehensive survey there. The fires have long been overlooked.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — May 1st, 2024

Allergy symptoms got you down? Blame pollen AND air pollution.
It's a double-whammy for allergy sufferers.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Companies of May 2024
Choosing the right solar installer for you can make all the difference in your energy independence journey. Here are CNET's picks for the best national installers.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Business and management graduates can become sustainability champions—lessons from Uganda and Tanzania
There is no doubt about it: the world is in the grips of a climate crisis (pdf). The headlines are full of reports about extreme weather events and the negative effects of the fossil fuel industry.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

CMU is developing low-flying drones to map wildfires
A harsh truth: As bad as North American wildfires have grown over the past several years, things are only going to get worse. Climate change continues to accelerate the issue, putting people, property, nature and animals at risk.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Cooler Master unveils new Caliber X2C and R3C gaming chairs
Cooler Master has recently updated its gaming chair portfolio with the Caliber X2C and Caliber R3C, part of the refreshed Cool-In series. These chairs are designed to cater to the needs of gamers who look for style and substance, promising to keep you cool under pressure.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Is bioenergy ever truly green? It depends on five key questions
Plans to revive an old coal-fired power station using bioenergy are being considered in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Similar plans for the station have previously not gone ahead.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Marriage of synthetic biology and 3D printing produces programmable living materials
Scientists are harnessing cells to make new types of materials that can grow, repair themselves and even respond to their environment. These solid "engineered living materials" are made by embedding cells in an inanimate matrix that's formed in a desired shape.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

New climate study shows cloud cover is easier to affect than previously thought
A new analysis of cloud measurements from outside the coast of California, combined with global satellite measurements, reveals that even aerosol particles as small as 25--30 nanometers may contribute to cloud formation. Hence, the climate impact of small aerosols may be underestimated.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop genetic plant regeneration approach without the application of phytohormones
For ages now, plants have been the primary source of nutrition for animals and mankind. Additionally, plants are used for the extraction of various medicinal and therapeutic compounds. However, their indiscriminate use, along with the rising demand for food, underscores the need for novel plant breeding practices.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Rough seas or smooth sailing? The cruise industry is booming despite environmental concerns
Cruise ship season is officially underway in British Columbia. The season kicked off with the arrival of Norwegian Bliss on April 3—the first of 318 ships that are scheduled to dock in Victoria this year. Victoria saw a record 970,000 passengers arrive in 2023, with more expected in 2024.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Silicon Valley is enamored with a company that pumps poop underground
Alphabet and Meta are among the big names that have inked a deal with startup Vaulted Deep.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

Why you can taste more ethanol in a cold pint of beer or warm glass of baijiu
We all have our own preferred drinking temperatures for different alcoholic beverages, with people commonly enjoying beer or white wine chilled, red wine near room temperature, or baijiu (Chinese whisky) or sake warmed.
May 1st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 30th, 2024

8 years into America's e-scooter experiment, what have we learned?
The climate benefits of shared e-scooters depend upon how companies deploy and manage them and what steps are taken to keep riders safe.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

AC, Power Banks, Mini Fridges: Oregon Equips Medicaid Patients for Climate Change
Oregon is shipping air conditioners, air purifiers, and power banks to some of its most vulnerable residents, a first-in-the-nation experiment to use Medicaid money to prevent the potentially deadly health effects of extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and other climate-related disasters.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Atmospheric 'teleconnections' sustain warm blobs in the northeast Pacific Ocean
The past 10 years have seen a series of "warm blobs" in the northeast Pacific Ocean. These marine heat waves do widespread damage to ecosystems and marine life in the area, but the mechanisms by which they develop and are sustained are still uncertain. Now a research group has found that they are caused by climate "teleconnections" from wave trains that originate in the Mediterranean Sea and North Atlantic region.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Believing environmental damage is done by others can cause 'race to the bottom'
Recent research shows that if communities think outsiders are stealing their forest resources, they are more likely to want to increase their own harvest.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Biodegradable 'living plastic' houses bacterial spores that help it break down
A new type of bioplastic could help reduce the plastic industry's environmental footprint. Researchers led by the University of California San Diego have developed a biodegradable form of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a soft yet durable commercial plastic used in footwear, floor mats, cushions and memory foam.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Engineered increase in mesophyll conductance improves photosynthetic efficiency in field trial
It is possible to engineer increased mesophyll conductance in plants according to new research from the University of Illinois. Mesophyll conductance plays a key role in photosynthesis and refers to the ease with which CO² can diffuse through a leaf's cells before reaching the location where it is ultimately turned into sugar to feed the plant (carbon fixation).
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Former school gets new life as an energy-efficient shopping center
Loan programs in 30 states are helping owners revitalize old, inefficient buildings.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

How the plant world shapes the climate cycle
In order to understand the Earth's resilience, researchers at ETH Zurich are modeling climate changes from times long past. And they show that plants are not simply victims of circumstances, but have helped to shape climate conditions on Earth.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Mimicry allows lesser necklaced laughingthrush birds to benefit from living among larger related species
A team of ecologists, environmentalists and biologists from several institutions in China, working with a colleague from Nepal and another in the U.S., has found an instance of mimicry in a species of necklaced laughingthrush. In their study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group studied lesser and greater necklaced laughingthrush birds found both in museums and in the wild.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Productive solar technologies draw investors as global off-grid solar sector funding slumps
Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) technologies, especially those in the solar irrigation and cold chain segment, saw increased investor interest last year, despite a 43% funding slump recorded in the global off-grid solar sector.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Researchers disprove current thinking on how to achieve global collaboration
The world's most pressing issues such as climate change will only be solved through global cooperation. New research by academics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, however, has identified a fundamental flaw in the theory that underpins much of today's thinking around how to create the lasting and meaningful large-scale change needed to solve these issues.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Researchers find pesticides in a third of Australian frogs tested. Did these cause mass deaths?
In winter 2021, Australia's frogs started dropping dead. People began posting images of dead frogs on social media. Unable to travel to investigate the deaths ourselves because of COVID lockdowns, we asked the public to report to us any sick or dead frogs.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Self-digesting plastic could be better, faster, stonger
International researchers have developed a self-digesting plastic, which they say could not only help reduce plastic pollution, but also strengthen the plastic itself. The team developed a biodegradable version of the commercial plastic polyurethane, which is often used in phone cases, footwear, and car parts but currently has no recycling stream and mostly ends up in landfill.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Should chatbots chime in on climate change? Study explore potential of AI platforms for climate literacy
Can chatbots provide accurate information about the dangers of climate change? Well, that depends on a variety of factors including the specific topic, location being considered, and how much the chatbot is paid, according to a group of Virginia Tech researchers.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Shinkei's humane, quality-preserving fish-harvesting tech could upend the seafood industry
Harvesting fish is an inherently messy business, what with being at sea, the slippery creatures wriggling around and everything else. Shinkei is working to improve it with an automated system that more humanely and reliably dispatches the fish, resulting in what could be a totally different seafood economy.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Toxic gas adds to a long history of pollution in Southwest Memphis
For many years, Rose Sims had no idea what was going on inside a nondescript brick building on Florida Street a couple of miles from her modest one-story home on the southwestern side of town.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 29th, 2024

African farmers look to the past and the future to address climate change
From ancient fertilizer methods in Zimbabwe to new greenhouse technology in Somalia, farmers across the heavily agriculture-reliant African continent are looking to the past and future to respond to climate change.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

Aggressive wall lizard provides clues to understanding evolution
Body shape, color and behavior often evolve together as species adapt to their environment. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have studied this phenomenon in a specific type of large, bright green and aggressive common wall lizard found near the Mediterranean.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

Alaska Native community experiments with growing food above the Arctic Circle
Climate change is making some traditional foods harder to find, so community members are looking to new ways to increase food security.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

An Extensive Analysis of Environmentally Friendly Nanolubricant Grinding
A recent study published in Advances in Manufacturing highlights significant developments in the application of nanobiolubricants for grinding operations. This technique demonstrates a practical and effective way to combine industrial performance with environmental sustainability.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

Climate change, Brexit threaten to wilt Dutch tulips
Arjan Smit gazes out over his tulip fields, a riot of red and pink flowers he has cultivated all his adult life and part of a family business his grandfather started in 1940.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

Here"s what record-breaking temperatures looked like around the globe
Climate change is affecting every continent and the oceans.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

Mammals on 'sky islands' may be threatened by climate change, human development
A new study sheds light on how climate change and human development threaten mammal species living in isolated biodiversity hotspots known as "sky islands."
April 29th, 2024 — Source

Prehistoric Irish monuments may have been pathways for the dead
Archaeologists have used advanced lidar technology to discover hundreds of monuments in the famous prehistoric landscape of Baltinglass, Ireland, revealing insights into the ritual activities of the farming communities that occupied the area.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

Researchers Develop Recyclable PCB Material That Dramatically Reduces E-Waste
Researchers at the University of Washington have made a big breakthrough, developing a PCB that is able to be recycled several times over while losing very little material in the process. This development can be a game changer in a world where supply chains are under stress and where the current technology ends up in e-waste landfills causing environmental destruction.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

The giant sheep helping Tajikistan weather climate change
In the hills outside the Tajik capital Dushanbe, shepherd Bakhtior Sharipov was watching over his flock of giant Hissar sheep.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 28th, 2024

A strategy to boost the efficiency of perovskite/organic solar cells
In recent years, researchers have been experimenting with a wide range of solar cell designs in the hope of facilitating their widespread deployment. Organic solar cells based on perovskite materials have been found to exhibit various advantages over conventional solar cell designs based on conventional silicon, including lower costs of fabrication, greater flexibility and tunability.
April 28th, 2024 — Source

Human activities have an intense impact on Earth's deep subsurface fluid flow
The impact of human activities—such as greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation—on Earth's surface have been well-studied. Now, hydrology researchers from the University of Arizona have investigated how humans impact Earth's deep subsurface, a zone that lies hundreds of meters to several kilometers beneath the planet's surface.
April 28th, 2024 — Source

Nottingham Forest versus Man City Livestream: How to Watch English Premier League Soccer From Anywhere
The defending champions are in ominous form as they take on the Tricky Trees.
April 28th, 2024 — Source

Swimming and spinning aquatic spiders use slick survival strategies
Some make nests inside seashells, others tote bubbles of air on their backs.
April 28th, 2024 — Source

Trash Gobbling Robots Cleaning Lake Tahoe and Beyond!
 
April 28th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 27th, 2024

Ground-Mounted versus Roof-Mounted Solar Panels: Which Are Better?
When deciding to put solar panels on your property, there are a few key decisions that have to be made before you get to harnessing the sun's power. First, you have to decide whether to go with monocrystalline solar panels or polycrystalline solar panels, which is essentially deciding between black- and blue-colored panels (but a little more complicated).
April 27th, 2024 — Source

How Do Solar Panels Work?
Find out how solar cells power a good portion of homes today—and how they might power virtually everything in the future.
April 27th, 2024 — Source

The 'valley of death' for climate lies between early-stage funding and scaling up
It's easier for climate companies to get enough funding to get started. It's much harder once they need money to scale.
April 27th, 2024 — Source

Why Germany ditched nuclear before coal—and why it won't go back
The past year has seen record renewable power production nationwide.
April 27th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 26th, 2024

6 Best Payroll Software for Farms in 2024
Streamline payroll processing for your farming business with one of these top-rated payroll software options. Our guide covers the features, pricing, and pros and cons of the best software options for farmers.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

A $7 Billion US Investment Expands Solar for All: Here Are the Projects in Your State
New grants for Solar for All programs aim to install solar panels and boost community solar access nationwide. Here's the list of grantees near you.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Anthropologist documents how women and shepherds historically reduced wildfire risk in Central Italy
In the last several decades, large forest fires have increasingly threatened communities across the Mediterranean. Climate change is expected to make these fires larger, hotter, and more dangerous in the future. But fire management lessons from the past could help to improve the resilience of local landscapes.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Atlanta's population could boom as people flee sea level rise, wildfires, and hurricanes
Sea level rise alone could drive 320,000 people from coastal areas to the city.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Climate Change Is Making Homeownership More Expensive. Here's How to Weather the Storm
Extreme weather is the next hurdle for homebuyers.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Good news for Rubrik, bad news for TikTok and medium news for early-stage startups
You don't have to be venture-backed to be successful
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Granting legal 'personhood' to nature is a growing movement: Can it stem biodiversity loss?
Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Lost opportunity: We could've started fighting climate change in 1971
President Nixon's science advisors recommended building global CO2 monitoring network.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

New algorithm cuts through 'noisy' data to better predict tipping points
Whether you're trying to predict a climate catastrophe or mental health crisis, mathematics tells us to look for fluctuations.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

New rock art discoveries in Eastern Sudan tell a tale of ancient cattle, the 'green Sahara' and climate catastrophe
The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new research has found rock art over 4,000 years old that depicts cattle.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Proof of concept study shows path to easier recycling of solar modules
The use of femtosecond lasers to form glass-to-glass welds for solar modules would make the panels easier to recycle, according to a proof-of-concept study conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Researchers outline path forward for tandem solar cells
As the old saying goes, two heads are better than one. The same is true when it comes to solar cells working in tandem. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have prepared a roadmap on how to move tandem solar cells—particularly those that mesh different photovoltaic technologies—closer to commercialization.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Some anglers say Rhode Island's Block Island wind farm has improved fishing
The bases of the turbines attract fish, survey respondents reported.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

UK agriculture department slammed for paper pushing despite tech splurges
Defra is counting contractors like sheep
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Umami-rich scrap fish and invasive species can liven up vegetables, says gastrophysicist
Greening the way we eat needn't mean going vegetarian. A healthy, more realistic solution is to adopt a flexitarian diet where seafoods add umami to "boring" vegetables. University of Copenhagen gastrophysicist Ole G. Mouritsen puts mathematical equations to work in calculating the umami potential of everything from seaweed and shrimp paste to mussels and mackerel.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

US's power grid continues to lower emissions—everything else, not so much
Excluding one pandemic year, emissions are lower than they've been since the 1980s.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Wild Weather Ahead: Summer 2024 Could Be a Scorcher After Hottest Year on Record
The climate crisis is causing more severe heatwaves and related events. Here's what to know about dealing with extreme weather in 2024.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 24th, 2024

A chemical mystery solved—the reaction that explains large carbon sinks
A mystery that has puzzled the scientific community for more than 50 years has finally been solved. A team from Linköping University, Sweden, and Helmholtz Munich have discovered that a certain type of chemical reaction can explain why organic matter found in rivers and lakes is so resistant to degradation.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

A simple 'twist' improves the engine of clean fuel generation
Researchers have found a way to super-charge the 'engine' of sustainable fuel generation -- by giving the materials a little twist.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Airborne observations of Asian monsoon sees ozone-depleting substances lofting into the stratosphere
Powerful monsoon winds, strengthened by a warming climate, are lofting unexpectedly large quantities of ozone-depleting substances high into the atmosphere over East Asia, new research shows.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

'Basic peer pressure': The plan to turn out millions of pro-climate voters in the 2024 U.S. election
A conversation with the Environmental Voter Project's Nathaniel Stinnett.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Feasibility of thin-film electronics for flexible chip design
The mass production of conventional silicon chips relies on a successful business model with large 'semiconductor fabrication plants' or 'foundries'. New research by KU Leuven and imec shows that this 'foundry' model can also be applied to the field of flexible, thin film electronics.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Climate change supercharged a heat dome, intensifying 2021 fire season, study finds
As a massive heat dome lingered over the Pacific Northwest three years ago, swaths of North America simmered—and then burned. Wildfires charred more than 18.5 million acres across the continent, with the most land burned in Canada and California.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

EU lawmakers agree to exit energy treaty over climate fears
The European Parliament on Wednesday backed the EU's withdrawal from an international energy treaty over concerns it offers too much protection to fossil fuel companies.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Future hurricanes could compromise New England forests' ability to store and sequester carbon
Nature-based climate solutions can help mitigate climate change, especially in forested regions capable of storing and sequestering vast amounts of carbon. New research published in Global Change Biology indicates that a single hurricane in New England, one of the most heavily forested regions in the United States, can down 4.6--9.4% of the total above-ground forest carbon, an amount much greater than the carbon sequestered annually by New England's forests.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Hidden biosphere discovered beneath world's driest hot desert
In a finding with implications for the search for extraterrestrial life, researchers have discovered microbial life 13 feet below Earth's most inhospitable desert. The research is published in the journal PNAS Nexus.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Illinois residents encouraged to destroy the eggs of invasive insects to slow spread
While Chicagoans were alarmed to learn the spotted lanternfly had been found in Illinois last year, experts say spring is the time to take action against that insect—as well as another damaging invasive species that has made far more inroads and gotten less attention.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

JFK Airport parking lot to become biggest solar array in New York
The future is looking sunny for Kennedy Airport's long-term parking lot No. 9. Construction began on April 23 on a solar array meant to cover some 21 acres of the lot while maintaining the car park beneath.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Modeling broader effects of wildfires in Siberia
As wildfires in Siberia become more common, global climate modeling estimates significant impacts on climate, air quality, health, and economies in East Asia and across the northern hemisphere.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Novel Au-BiFeO3 nanostructures for efficient and sustainable degradation of pollutants
The need for sustainable and environment-friendly solutions has accelerated the global demand for green and renewable technologies. In this regard, semiconductor photocatalysts have emerged as an attractive solution, owing to their potential in mitigating pollutants and harnessing solar energy efficiently. Photocatalysts are materials that initiate chemical reactions when exposed to light.
April 24th, 2024 — Source or Source

Papaya Peel Waste Offers Eco-Friendly Photocatalyst Solution
In a recent study published in the journal Bioresources and Bioproducts, an international team of researchers synthesized a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and fluorescent carbon dot (CD) nanocomposite from papaya peel waste, marking a significant advancement toward sustainable environmental management and antimicrobial strategies.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Securing competitiveness of energy-intensive industries through relocation: The pulling power of renewables
Countries with limited potential for renewables could save up to 20% of costs for green steel and up to 40% for green chemicals from green hydrogen if they relocated their energy-intensive production and would import from countries where renewable energy is cheaper, finds a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Tire Toxicity Faces Fresh Scrutiny After Salmon Die-Offs
For decades, concerns about automobile pollution have focused on what comes out of the tailpipe. Now, researchers and regulators say, we need to pay more attention to toxic emissions from tires as vehicles roll down the road.
April 24th, 2024 — Source or Source

What are fuel cell EVs?
They have several advantages over battery-powered EVs for trucking.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 22nd, 2024

3 carbon capture technologies you've probably never heard of
Startups are coming up with weird and wonderful ways to remove carbon from the air
April 22th, 2024 — Source

A $7 Billion US Investment Expands Solar for All: Here Are the Projects in Your State
New grants for Solar for All programs aim to install solar panels and boost community solar access nationwide. Here's the list of grantees near you.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Acer Commits to Collecting 50 Tons of Plastic Waste From the Environment Through Plastic Bank Partnership
Echoing this year's Earth Day theme of "Planet vs Plastics", Acer has partnered with Plastic Bank and has pledged to collect and recycle at least 50 tons of plastic waste from the environment in 2024. The Canada-based social enterprise focuses on tackling the growing issues of plastic pollution by building recycling ecosystems and creating livelihood opportunities in vulnerable coastal areas.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

All About Thunderbolt Solar Panels (And Where You Can Find Them)
Everyone knows solar panels are a potentially worthwhile investment. Sure, there are some hidden costs associated with solar panels that need to be taken into consideration, but installing them can pay off in the long run. Not only are you helping the environment by switching to solar, but you can also save money you would otherwise spend on electricity bills.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Diablo Developer Blizzard Is Donating Millions Of Maggots For Earth Day To Save Birds
All you have to do is like a tweet and you can help donate maggots to birds in need.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Earth Day: Ecosia launches world's first energy-generating browser
The more you browse, the more clean energy gets sent to the grid
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Gen Z Will Thrive on Clean-Energy Jobs. The Climate Corps Promises to Start Their Careers
The growth of renewable energy and climate tech is helping Gen Z find stability in this economy. This Earth Day, President Biden's new climate program offering training and jobs has opened for applications.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

General Galactic emerges from stealth to make methane from carbon dioxide
Plenty of products benefit from tight integration, where companies design and sometimes build key components of a product in-house: Apple and its custom microprocessors and Tesla and its Superchargers are two notable examples.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Increasingly hot European summers are harming health, report says
Heat stress in Europe is increasingly threatening people's health as global warming makes summers there hotter and deadlier, two leading climate monitors warned on Monday.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Mangrove blue carbon at higher risk of microplastic pollution
Earth's oceans and coastal ecosystems are a major sink for carbon storage, known as blue carbon. Sequestration of carbon is vitally important in the fight against climate change as it 'locks away' this molecule, alleviating pressure on greenhouse gas-induced warming.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

More than coral: The unseen casualties of record-breaking heat on the Great Barrier Reef
In past bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef, the southern region has sometimes been spared worst of the bleaching. Not this time. This year's intense underwater heat has triggered the most severe heat stress ever seen on record
April 22th, 2024 — Source

My Best Tips After Setting Up My Own Off-Grid Solar Energy System
Going solar is a big deal and a sizable investment, but thinking it through ahead of time can help you save time and money.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Ocean Cleanup System 03 Is Catching Plastic Pollution in the Pacific
Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, explains the nonprofit's mission to clean up floating plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman invests in solar power firm Exowatt to fuel AI datacenters
$20m to keep the industry from having to rely on fossil fuels
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Plasma treatment enhances electrode material for fuel cells in industry, homes and vehicles
Researchers from Skoltech and their colleagues have improved the properties of a carbon-based electrode material by exposing it to air plasma. Such treatment turned out to enhance electrode performance, which is the limiting factor for high-tech energy sources—particularly fuel cells.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

PlanetPlay's new initiative helps studios earn more revenue, while fighting climate change
Make Green Tuesday Moves is an industry call to action supported by SYBO, Lockwood Publishing, CM Games, Ten Square Games and more
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Planning at multiple scales for healthy corals and communities
Governments in the Mesoamerican Reef region are exploring the use of nature-based solutions to strengthen coral health and societal benefits for coastal communities. A new study led by Stanford researchers in collaboration with scientists from the World Wildlife Fund, the Healthy Reefs Initiative, and others from the Smart Coasts project quantified the outcomes of different watershed interventions to support coral health at regional versus national scales, and identified target areas that could improve both ecosystem and societal benefits nationally and across the region.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Want to restore a forest? Give it back to Indigenous peoples who call it home
These women took back their land in Costa Rica, and now they plan to reforest it.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

What are virtual power plants?
They could help utilities balance electricity supply and demand as more renewables join the grid.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Which States Have Community Solar? Find Out Here
Community solar is growing quicker than ever before, thanks to federal funding for Solar for All projects. Find out if you can buy solar power without the solar panels.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Wind and solar in limbo: Long waitlists to get on the grid are a 'leading barrier'
Ninety miles west of Chicago, the corn and soybean fields stretch to the sky, and dreams of the clean energy future dangle—just out of reach.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 19th, 2024

Apple ramps up investment in clean energy and water around the world
Apple this week announced new progress to expand clean energy around the world and advance momentum toward Apple 2030, the company's goal to be "carbon neutral" across its entire value chain by the end of this decade. More than 18 gigawatts of clean electricity now power Apple's global operations and manufacturing supply chain, more than triple the amount in 2020.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

A hydrocarbon molecule as supplier and energy storage solution for solar energy
Until now, the generation and storage of electricity from solar energy has been dependent on various devices, leading to conversion losses. That may change soon, as chemists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and other research institutes in Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden and the U.S. are conducting research into a hydrocarbon molecule that can either convert sunlight into electricity or save the energy for a long time in a chemical form.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

A third of U.S. adults are interested in cutting back on meat, report finds
Health and cost are the driving motivations, but plant-rich meals can also help the climate.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Apple Ramps Up Work to Help the Environment. But Here's the Change I Want to See as a Customer
Commentary: Apple brings innovation to its ambitious environmental initiatives. Can it spare some innovation for better "green" accessories?
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Changing Crops' Colors Would Help Agricultural Robots Spot Them, Scientists Suggest
How do you feel about eating blue wheat?
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Climate change will increase value of residential rooftop solar panels across US, study finds
Climate change will increase the future value of residential rooftop solar panels across the United States by up to 19% by the end of the century, according to a new University of Michigan-led study.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Cloud cost management is not working
As cloud costs got out of control, we turned to cost optimization approaches and tools, and have little to show for it. What now?
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Everything You Need To Know About Tesla Solar Panels In 2024
Switching from traditional energy sources to solar requires a substantial investment, but it pays off. Expert estimates suggest it takes about ten years for solar panels to pay for themselves, though you'll break even on your investment even earlier if you qualify for the solar panel tax credit, which can reach up to 30%. Either way, you can count on virtually free electricity for two to three decades, since that is the typical lifespan of a solar panel system.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

'Green muscle memory' and climate education promote behavior change: Report
This year, organizers of Earth Day are calling for widespread climate education as a critical step in the fight against climate change.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Harnessing solar energy for high-efficiency NH³ production
A technology that harnesses solar energy to produce high-efficiency ammonia (NH³) has been unveiled by a research team affiliated with UNIST.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

How climate change affects potato cultivation in South Korea
A study published in the journal Potato Research presents results on the response of spring and summer potatoes to climate change in South Korea. The study, conducted by scientists from the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, investigates the effects of global warming on the potato crop and presents adaptation strategies.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

If You're a Gen Z Renter, Solar Power Isn't Out of Your Reach
A generation of young people is struggling to find homes, but that doesn't mean that they can't switch to clean energy -- and put more money in their pockets.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

It never rains but it pours: Intense rain and flash floods have increased inland in eastern Australia
Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia's flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Merging nuclear physics experiments and astronomical observations to advance equation-of-state research
final resting places. When a supergiant star runs out of fuel, it expands and then rapidly collapses on itself. This act creates a neutron star—an object denser than our sun crammed into a space 13 to 18 miles wide. In such a heavily condensed stellar environment, most electrons combine with protons to make neutrons, resulting in a dense ball of matter consisting mainly of neutrons.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

My Solar Panels Are Modern Magic at Work
While providing me 100% energy independence for my off-grid home, solar panels demystified the enigma of electricity for me and increased my understanding of the movements of the Earth itself.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Previously unknown details of aphids in flight to contribute to improved crop security
Researchers led by a scientist at Keele University in Staffordshire have studied the previously unknown flight mechanisms of a common crop pest, to learn more about their movements in a bid to improve food security and prevent the spread of disease.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Researchers reveal sources of black carbon in southeastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau
Black carbon (BC) is the result of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, with strong light absorption. It is second only to carbon dioxide as a climate-forcing factor for atmospheric warming. Deposition of BC on snow and ice surfaces reduces albedo, accelerates glacier and snow cover melting, and alters hydrological processes and water resources in the region.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Scotland is ditching its flagship 2030 climate goal—why legally binding targets really matter
The Scottish government has rescinded its 2030 target of a 75% emissions cut to greenhouse gas emissions, relative to 1990. The target was statutory, meaning it had been set in law in the Emissions Reduction Targets Act of 2019.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Self-adjusted reaction pathway enables efficient oxidation of aromatic C-H bonds over Co@Y catalyst
The selective oxidation of aromatic C-H bonds has drawn significant attention in both industrial and fine chemistry due to its crucial role in converting readily- and cheaply-available aromatic hydrocarbons into high-value-added oxygenated products for diverse fields such as biology, medicine, fragrance, and agriculture.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Some plant-based steaks and cold cuts are lacking in protein, researchers find
Many plant-based meats have seemingly done the impossible by recreating animal products ranging from beef to seafood. But beyond just the taste and texture, how do these products compare to the real thing in nutritional value? A small-scale study published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows that while some "plant steaks" and "plant cold cuts" might be comparable to meats on some fronts, their amino acid content and protein digestibility fall short.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Study highlights importance of caregiver well-being in Uganda
A group-based curriculum called Journey of Life (JoL)—delivered over 12 sessions in the Kiryandongo refugee settlement in Uganda—led to improvements in mental health, social support, parental warmth and attitudes around violence against children, finds a new study from the Brown School.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

The Italian central Apennines are a source of CO², study finds
Tectonically active mountains play an important role in the natural CO² regulation of the atmosphere. Competing processes take place here: At Earth's surface, erosion drives weathering processes that absorb or release CO², depending on the type of rock. At depth, the heating and melting of carbonate rock leads to the outgassing of CO2 at the surface.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

US says two 'forever chemicals' are hazardous, tells polluters to pay
The US Environmental Protection Agency on Friday classified two so-called "forever chemicals" as hazardous substances, meaning those responsible for releasing them will have to pay to clean up contamination.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Warming of Antarctic deep-sea waters contribute to sea level rise in North Atlantic, study finds
Analysis of mooring observations and hydrographic data suggest the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation deep water limb in the North Atlantic has weakened. Two decades of continual observations provide a greater understanding of the Earth's climate regulating system.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Water is at the heart of farmers' struggle to survive in Benin
Small-scale farmers and local NGOs work together to create resilience in the face of climate change in this Western African country.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Wild and domestic ungulates are key to Mediterranean ecosystem sustainability, finds study
Researchers from Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) have conducted a vegetation analysis over the last 30 years using satellite images from two environments in the Sierra de Cazorla Natural Park (southeast Spain)—one with wild ungulates such as deer and the other predominantly with domestic ungulates specifically Segureño sheep—which concludes that these types of herbivores produce different effects on vegetation.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 17th, 2024

3LT Ultra Plates Arca-Swiss compatible, long release plates for photographers and video maker tripods
As a photographer or videographer, you're constantly seeking gear that not only improves your creative potential but also prioritizes efficiency and user-friendliness. That's where the Ultra Plates by 3 Legged Thing come in -- a revolutionary accessory engineered specifically for Arca-compatible tripods. These plates are meticulously designed to cater to the ever-changing needs of both DSLR and mirrorless camera systems, offering you unrivaled stability and adaptability.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

A nematode gel to protect crops in Africa and Asia
The fall armyworm is a destructive corn pest that recently arrived in Africa and Asia from the Americas and began causing major yield losses and increased use of insecticides, which pose environmental and human health risks.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

A simpler way to inorganic perovskite solar cells
Inorganic perovskite solar cells made of CsPbI3 are stable over the long term and achieve good efficiencies. A team led by Prof. Antonio Abate has now analysed surfaces and interfaces of CsPbI3 films, produced under different conditions, at BESSY II.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Amazon, Microsoft back campaign against initiative that would defund climate efforts in Washington
More than 100 companies, tribal groups, union organizations, environmental nonprofits and political groups are backing a campaign to defeat a November ballot initiative that would scuttle Washington state's most impactful climate policy.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Anthropocene activities dramatically alter deep underground fluid flux, researchers find
Much of Earth's water is hidden hundreds of meters beneath our feet, among soil particles and deep within rock pores and fractures.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Biden administration set to deny 200-mile Ambler mining road through Alaska wilderness
The U.S. Department of the Interior is expected to issue an environmental report that recommends denying a permit needed to build a 200-mile access road to the Ambler mining district, according to national news reports on April 16.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Can Solar Farms Save the Bees?
Here's how solar panels can make space for pollinators, just when we need more of both.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Climate change played a role in killing tens of thousands of people in 2023
And that's an extremely conservative estimate.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Disease-resistant strains of carp provide advancements in aquaculture, enhance gefilte fish quality
A new study led by Prof. Lior David from the Faculty of Agriculture at the Hebrew University investigated the infectivity of disease-resistant and susceptible fish by examining their roles as shedders (infecting) and cohabitants (infected) in various combinations. The study focused on common carp; a species that's commonly cultivated in aquaculture.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

East coast mussel shells are becoming more porous in warming waters
Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History have found that over the last 120 years, the porosity—or small-scale holes—in mussel shells along the East Coast of the United States has increased, potentially due to warming waters. The study, which analyzed modern mussel shells in comparison to specimens in the Museum's historic collection, was published in the journal PLoS ONE.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Field-margin wetlands alone can't fix the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone, say researchers
Each summer, a hypoxic dead zone forms in the Gulf of Mexico, making some marine habitats unlivable. The dead zone is caused by nutrients—primarily from agricultural fertilizers—flowing into the Gulf from the Mississippi River.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

First evidence of human occupation in lava tube cave in Saudi Arabia
Recent strides in interdisciplinary archaeological research in Arabia have unveiled new insights into the evolution and historical development of regional human populations, as well as the dynamic patterns of cultural change, migration, and adaptation to environmental fluctuations.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Fluctuating coffee prices are putting mental pressure on Vietnamese farmers
While your invigorating morning coffee may become cheaper when there are large fluctuations in the world market price, they are a major additional psychological burden for the farmers who grow the coffee.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Global coral bleaching caused by climate change demands a global response
The fourth global coral bleaching event, announced this week, is an urgent wake-up call to the world.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Highly efficient and stable near-infrared phosphor for night vision and bio-imaging
Near-infrared (NIR) light source, characterized by non-destructive and rapid detection, has a wide range of applications in diverse fields including food testing, safety, sensing, agricultural production and biomedicine. The availability of a compact, highly efficient and low-cost NIR phosphor is a key factor in achieving its wide application.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Ice age climate analysis reduces worst-case warming expected from rising CO²
As carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, the Earth will get hotter. But exactly how much warming will result from a certain increase in CO² is under study. The relationship between CO² and warming, known as climate sensitivity, determines what future we should expect as CO² levels continue to climb.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Maize cultivation 300 years ago resulted in karst rock desertification, suggest researchers
Understanding regional vegetation dynamics and historical changes in rocky desertification is crucial for assessing the sustainability and potential of afforestation in karst regions.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Marine plankton behavior could predict future marine extinctions, study finds
Marine communities migrated to Antarctica during the Earth's warmest period in 66 million years long before a mass-extinction event.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Novel method proposed to design high-efficiency guest components for ternary organic solar cells
A research group led by Prof. Ge Ziyi at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed a key strategy for optimizing guest components to minimize non-radiative voltage losses and thus achieve high-efficiency ternary organic solar cells (OSCs).
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Paradox of extreme cold events in a warming world
Warm Arctic-Cold Continent events are expected to intensify until the 2020s but decline post-2030s, impacting the global weather dynamics
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Plant sensors could act as an early warning system for farmers
Using a pair of sensors made from carbon nanotubes, researchers from MIT and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have discovered signals that reveal when plans are experiencing stresses such as heat, light, or attack from insects or bacteria.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Plugging the leak on laundry pollution
Joaquim Goes, an ocean biochemist at Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, had to look twice when he first saw the tiny strands of fiber floating in a water sample from the Hudson River. An expert in microplastics detection, he has seen a lot of tiny particles in urban waterways before.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Retro-reflectors could help future cities keep their cool
Engineers at Princeton University have quantified the cooling benefits of a simple solution for beating urban heat: reflecting solar radiation back from whence it came.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Scientists navigate the paradox of extreme cold events in a warming world
According to Copernicus Climate Change Service, February 2024 was the warmest February ever recorded globally.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Sink to source: Does what we put into our plumbing end up back in the water supply?
When you see an advertisement for a detergent promising to brighten your clothes, something called a fluorescent whitening compound, or optical brightener, is probably involved. Such material absorbs UV light and emits visible blue light via fluorescence.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Study finds world economy already committed to income reduction of 19% due to climate change
Even if CO² emissions were to be drastically cut down starting today, the world economy is already committed to an income reduction of 19% until 2050 due to climate change, a study published in Nature finds. These damages are six times larger than the mitigation costs needed to limit global warming to two degrees.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Substantial global cost of climate inaction
Pioneering study reveals that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius could reduce the global economic costs of climate change by two thirds. If warming continues to 3 degrees Celsius, global GDP will decrease by up to 10 percent -- with the worst impacts in less developed countries.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Understanding climate warming impacts on carbon release from the tundra
The warming climate shifts the dynamics of tundra environments and makes them release trapped carbon, according to a new study published in Nature. These changes could transform tundras from carbon sinks into a carbon source, exacerbating the effects of climate change.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Unique field study shows how climate change affects fire-impacted forests
During the unusually dry year of 2018, Sweden was hit by numerous forest fires. A research team led from Lund University in Sweden has investigated how climate change affects recently burned boreal forests and their ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Vivo X100 Ultra could use Samsung's new 200MP camera
The Vivo X100 Ultra is the company's upcoming flagship, and it could use Samsung's new 200MP camera. In fact, this camera is not even official, but it's expected to launch in the near future.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

What is a passive house?
These ultraefficient homes use up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling than conventional homes.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Why a Connecticut river is named one of 'most endangered' in US
The Farmington River, "the top priority watershed in the state," according to the state's environmental agency, has been named one of America's Most Endangered Rivers by the organization American Rivers.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Wine growers 'on tip of Africa' race to adapt to climate change
At a South African wine farm, dry, uprooted grapevines are stacked at the bottom of a hilly stretch of brown fallow land.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 15th, 2024

Could a bald eagle and a winery block a proposed rock quarry along the Boise River?
A nesting bald eagle, a beloved local winery and over 30 neighbors may jeopardize a proposal to open a 260-acre surface mine along the Boise River.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Environmental concerns raised by rocket flights over San Diego County
Plans by SpaceX and other companies to boost the number of rocket launches sometimes seen streaking across San Diego County's skies have prompted the California Coastal Commission to question the environmental effects.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Heat and desiccation tolerances predict bee abundance under climate change
Recent research by the University of New Mexico alumnus Melanie Kazenel and colleagues predicts climate change will reshape bee communities in the southwest United States, with some thriving and others declining. The research, titled "Heat and desiccation tolerances predict bee abundance under climate change," was recently published in Nature.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

How expectant parents can prepare for extreme weather
If extreme weather strikes during labor or soon after you give birth, you'll need some backup options.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

lithium, a key element for green energy
There's a reason airlines won't let you put your laptop in your checked luggage; the lithium-ion battery poses a serious fire hazard. But why? Lithium is incredibly reactive. For instance, pure lithium violently interacts with seemingly innocuous water, releasing heat and forming highly flammable hydrogen.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

New catalyst allows energy-friendly ammonia production for fertilizers and alternative fuel
Researchers led by Satoshi Kamiguchi at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have discovered a greener way to produce ammonia, an essential compound used in fertilizers.
April 15th, 2024 — Source or Source

Newly sequenced genome reveals coffee's prehistoric origin story, and its future under climate change
The key to growing coffee plants that can better resist climate change in the decades to come may lie in the ancient past.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Northern permafrost region emits more greenhouse gases than it captures, study finds
Permafrost underlies about 14 million square kilometers of land in and around the Arctic. The top 3 meters contain an estimated 1 trillion metric tons of carbon and 55 billion metric tons of nitrogen. Historically, the northern permafrost region has been a sink for carbon, as frozen soils inhibit microbial decomposition. But rising temperatures contribute to thawing permafrost and enhance the biogeochemical activities that exacerbate climate change by releasing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Out on dry land: Water shortage threatens species in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania
Climate change is not the only cause of arid landscapes. A research team led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) has investigated the consequences of increased water abstraction for agriculture and livestock farming from the Great Ruaha River.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Record heat rots cocoa beans threatening Ivory Coast agriculture
Surrounded by cocoa trees and intense heat, Christian Andre Yapi is forced to admit that the precious beans are no longer growing as they should, a major problem for the world's leading producer.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Reducing CO² emissions by 20% with only a 2% economic loss
A "rapid and far-reaching change" is necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). "However, the transformation of the economy towards climate neutrality always involves a certain amount of economic stress—some industries and jobs disappear while others are created," explains Johannes Stangl from the Complexity Science Hub (CSH). When it comes to climate policy measures, how can economic damage be minimized?
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Report explores possibilities of capturing and using carbon dioxide for sustainable production routes
A new DECHEMA report "Carbon for Power-to-X—Suitable CO² sources and integration in PtX value chains" deals with possibilities of capturing and utilizing carbon dioxide for sustainable production routes. Carbon dioxide can serve as a carbon feed for numerous climate friendly commodities produced with Power-to-X technologies. The report elaborates on point sources and state-of-the-art capture methods.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Researchers discover previously unknown gene that indirectly promotes photosynthesis in blue-green algae
Cyanobacteria—also called blue-green algae—are known as the "plants of the ocean" because they carry out photosynthesis on a gigantic scale, produce oxygen and extract the greenhouse gas CO² from the environment. However, to do this they need additional nutrients such as nitrogen.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Scientists say coral reefs around the world are experiencing mass bleaching in warming oceans
Coral reefs around the world are experiencing global bleaching for the fourth time, top reef scientists declared Monday, a result of warming ocean waters amid human-caused climate change.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

'Step on the gas,' 'well-oiled machine,' and other fossil-fuel phrases that pervade our language
Once you start listening for them, you'll hear these idioms everywhere.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

'Snow Farming' Helps Ski Resorts Circumvent Unpredictable Weather
This centuries-old strategy can supplement conventional snowmaking to conserve water and energy.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Study shows how plants influence Europe's climate
The climate regulates plant growth and yet the climate is also influenced by plants. A study by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), which was published in the journal Global Change Biology, has found that ecosystems can have a strong impact on Europe's climate depending on their plant mix.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Study unearths survival strategies of root systems
New research from The University of Western Australia has examined how fine root lifespan is linked to root strategies of resource acquisition and protection.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Swiss climate policy in spotlight after court ruling
Switzerland, known for pristine countryside and snow-capped peaks, is facing scrutiny of its environmental policies after becoming the first country faulted by an international court for failing to do enough against climate change.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Switch to green wastewater infrastructure could reduce emissions and provide huge savings, new research finds
University researchers have shown that a transition to green wastewater-treatment approaches in the U.S. that leverages the potential of carbon-financing could save a staggering $15.6 billion and just under 30 million metric tons of CO²-equivalent emissions over 40 years.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

The big dry: Forests and shrublands are dying in parched Western Australia
Perth has just had its driest six months on record, while Western Australia sweltered through its hottest summer on record. Those records are remarkable in their own right. But these records are having real consequences.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

The South's aging water infrastructure is getting pounded by climate change. Fixing it is also a struggle
Climate change is threatening America's water infrastructure as intensifying storms deluge communities and droughts dry up freshwater supplies in regions that aren't prepared.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Tropical forests can't recover naturally without fruit eating birds, carbon recovery study shows
New research from the Crowther Lab at ETH Zurich illustrates a critical barrier to natural regeneration of tropical forests. Their models—from ground-based data gathered in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil—show that when wild tropical birds move freely across forest landscapes, they can increase the carbon storage of regenerating tropical forests by up to 38%.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Unraveling differences in temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition under various oxygen conditions
Soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition is a key process that affects soil carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions. Investigating the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of SOM decomposition and its regulating mechanisms is important for improving predictions of SOM stability and carbon fluxes under future warming.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 12th, 2024

AI is giving boost to crop improvement research
What is the role of artificial intelligence for crop improvement? Questions about artificial intelligence are becoming more pressing in every discipline. For crop improvement, AI provides a new lens to bridge science and practice, according to Jianming Yu, one of the world's top-ranked scientists in the fields of quantitative genetics and plant breeding.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

America's roads and bridges to get $830 million for a climate makeover
Climate change is wearing down aging infrastructure. The Biden administration is funneling money into making vulnerable roads and bridges more resilient.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

As climate change progresses, new rainfall patterns may affect plants worldwide
April showers are increasingly becoming deluges due to climate change, and May flowers will never be the same. And it's not just April; the warming of the planet is causing a year-round, worldwide trend toward more intense but less frequent rainfalls, a dynamic that will increasingly impact plants worldwide, according to a University of Maryland-led study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

BLUETTI's Solar+ Program Expands to CA, MA, and NC, Empowering Homes with Hassle-Free Solar Solutions
BLUETTI, a leading provider of energy storage solutions, has expanded its Solar+ program, a one stop solution for solar transition, to three new states in the US, starting from March 14, 2024.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Earth just had its warmest March on record
March 2024 was the planet's 10th consecutive warmest month on record. Australia's Great Barrier Reef suffered its worst coral bleaching in history.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Environmental groups grateful but vigilant after Key Bridge collapse
When Alice Volpitta watched the video of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, and the trucks tumbling into the Patapsco River in the darkness, she thought first for the people who had fallen.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Fewer showers, less laundry, as water cuts hit Bogota
Residents of Bogota are facing fewer showers, minimal laundry loads and dirty cars as the Colombian capital imposes water rations due to a severe drought aggravated by the El Niño climate phenomenon.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Making cement is very damaging for the climate. One solution is opening in California
It's a major contributor to climate change—the way buildings and roads are made with concrete. It's also a problem that's growing as more of the world develops. So the race has been on to find solutions for a material that's responsible for roughly 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Microbial food as a food production strategy of the future
The global food crisis is increasing due to rapid population growth and declining food productivity from climate change. Moreover, today's food production and supply system emits a huge amount of carbon dioxide, reaching 30% of the total amount emitted by humanity, further aggravating climate change. Sustainable and nutritious microbial food is attracting attention as a key to overcoming this impasse.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Novel hydrogel removes microplastics from water
Microplastics pose a great threat to human health. These tiny plastic debris can enter our bodies through the water we drink and increase the risk of illnesses. They are also an environmental hazard; found even in remote areas like polar ice caps and deep ocean trenches, they endanger aquatic and terrestrial lifeforms.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: El Niño drought leaves Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba only 13% full—a disaster for people and wildlife
Water levels at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe have dropped dramatically because of the latest El Niño drought. The country's president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has declared a national disaster.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Salmon fishing off California's coast banned for second year in a row
Salmon fishing off the coast of California will be banned for a second consecutive year, authorities said Wednesday, citing lower fish stocks impacted by drought and wildfires.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Retention ponds can deliver a substantial reduction in tire particle pollution, study suggests
Retention ponds and wetlands constructed as part of major road schemes can reduce the quantities of tire particles entering the aquatic environment by an average of 75%, new research has shown.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Rock permeability, microquakes link may be a boon for geothermal energy
Researchers report the strength of seismic activity has a direct link to energy extraction efficiency
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Scientists at Spain meeting sound alarm over ocean warming
Scientists at a United Nations conference in Spain called Friday for more research into the sharp rise in ocean temperatures which they warn could have devastating consequences.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Solar canopy over Denver school parking lot will provide energy to low-income families
Some families are expected to save up to $700 a year on their electricity bills.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

SpaceX is launching more rockets from a military base: Can the Coastal Commission impose a limit?
SpaceX has significantly increased the frequency of its rocket launches from a Santa Barbara County military base, and its plans to add even more have raised concerns by the California Coastal Commission over the impacts on the environment and nearby communities.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

The DiskMantler violently shakes hard drives for better rare-earth recovery
A nifty HDD disassembly tool, sure, but we also have a larger global need for magnets.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 11th, 2024

Cloud engineering could be more effective 'painkiller' for global warming than previously thought
Cloud "engineering" could be more effective for climate cooling than previously thought, because of the increased cloud cover produced, new research shows.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Earthquakes may not be primary driver of glacial lake outburst floods
Glacial lakes form when meltwater is trapped behind a dam, usually glacial ice, bedrock or a type of moraine (terminal types being an unconsolidated pile of debris at the maximum extent of the glacier). When a dam fails, the resulting sudden release of a large volume of water is known as an outburst flood, having catastrophic consequences on the environment and communities downstream. Such events are seemingly becoming more common as glaciers retreat and meltwater accumulates in larger and more numerous glacial lakes, due to climate change.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

EU to make pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries pay for treating water
The European Union's parliament Wednesday approved a package of rules that will make the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries cover more of the costs of cleaning up their wastewaters.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Ghost roads speed destruction of Asia-Pacific tropical forests, finds study
Researchers mapping tropical forests have found many more roads than declared by official sources, which is raising fears of a huge increase in environmental degradation as the pace of road building increases.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

How Long It Takes For Solar Panels To Pay Themselves Off May Surprise You
When it comes to ways to make the average household more eco-friendly, it's always worth considering solar panels as a green energy alternative. Not only do solar panels help the environment in all sorts of ways, but they can also reduce your energy bill. That cost-saving benefit may stand out to some, considering solar panels aren't the cheapest product on the market. As a result, many people view solar panel installation as a financial expense that will ultimately pay for itself over time through the money they consequently save on their electric bill. 
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Hybrid intelligence can reconcile biodiversity and agriculture
A research team at the University of Hohenheim and Technical University of Munich has developed a new transdisciplinary approach to resolve the tradeoff between biodiversity and agricultural production.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Industry has a huge carbon footprint. This technology could help.
A new industrial-strength heat pump boiler uses electricity to generate the high-temperature steam needed to manufacture many products.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Ocean currents threaten to collapse Antarctic ice shelves, study finds
A new study published in Nature Communications has revealed that the interplay between meandering ocean currents and the ocean floor induces upwelling velocity, transporting warm water to shallower depths. This mechanism contributes substantially to the melting of ice shelves in the Amundsen Sea of West Antarctica. These ice shelves are destabilizing rapidly and contributing to sea level rise.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Panama plans dry alternative to drought-hit canal
Panama on Wednesday unveiled plans for a "dry canal" to move cargo between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans due to low water levels in its century-old maritime channel.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Pork labeling schemes 'not helpful' in making informed buying choices, say researchers
Researchers have evaluated different types of pig farming—including woodland, organic, free range, RSPCA assured, and Red Tractor certified, to assess each systems' impact across four areas: land use (representing biodiversity loss), greenhouse gas emissions, antibiotics use and animal welfare.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Puerto Rico declares an emergency as cases of dengue fever spike
Warmer temperatures are driving outbreaks of dengue worldwide, with millions of cases already reported in 2024.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

PumpkinOS carves out a FOSS PalmOS-compatible runtime environment
And rePalm may yet bring real PalmOS to new hardware ... even the Raspberry Pi
April 11th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Rock permeability, microquakes link may be a boon for geothermal energy
Using machine learning, researchers at Penn State have tied low-magnitude microearthquakes to the permeability of subsurface rocks beneath the Earth, a discovery that could have implications for improving geothermal energy transfer.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

South Florida researchers trying to prevent predatory fish from devouring laboratory-grown coral are grasping at biodegradable straws in an effort to restore what some call the rainforest of the sea.
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April 11th, 2024 — Source or Source

The Weather Channel's parent company has a new AI tool to make hyperlocal weather videos
The Weather Company says ReelSphere cuts down the amount of work meteorologists have to do to keep viewers updated on the weather.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

These biodegradable straws could prevent new coral from becoming expensive fish food
South Florida researchers trying to prevent predatory fish from devouring laboratory-grown coral are grasping at biodegradable straws in an effort to restore what some call the rainforest of the sea.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Tropical coral-infecting parasites discovered in cold marine ecosystems
Parasites thought only to infect tropical coral reefs have been discovered in a large variety of creatures in cold marine ecosystems along the Northeast Pacific, according to new research from University of British Columbia botanists.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 10th, 2024

Adelaide is losing 75,000 trees a year. Tree-removal laws must be tightened for cities to be livable and green
Large areas of concrete and asphalt absorb and radiate heat, creating an "urban heat island effect." It puts cities at risk of overheating as they are several degrees warmer than surrounding areas.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Caterpillar 'noses' are surprisingly sophisticated, researchers find
Caterpillars have the ability to consume copious amounts of plant materials in a short time. Caterpillars use their antennae to scan their surroundings in order to eat safely in a hostile environment. Researchers of Wageningen University & Research discovered that the tiny caterpillar 'nose' is also surprisingly advanced. This insight can serve to help protect crops without the use of harmful pesticides.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

EPA Sets Legal Limits on PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' in Drinking Water
The new rule, the most significant PFAS regulation in the U.S. to date, could reduce exposure for 100 million Americans
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Green transition at the centre of EU-China tech rivalry
The EU is investigating Chinese wind turbine suppliers over unfair competition practices
April 10th, 2024 — Source

How to prepare your finances for an extreme weather disaster
Taking these steps can help make your financial recovery smoother if the worst happens.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Key sectors stymie emission reduction efforts in New Zealand, reveals study
The impact of Aotearoa's main tool in the fight against climate change could be heightened if five sectors were better regulated, according to a new study.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Microplastic 'hotspots' identified in Long Island Sound
Forensic and environmental experts have teamed up to develop a new scientific method to pinpoint microplastic pollution 'hotspots' in open waters.
April 10th, 2024 — Source or Source

New approach needed to save Australia's non-perennial rivers
Non-perennial rivers, which stop flowing at some point each year, dominate surface water movement across Australia, yet monitoring the continued health of these vital waterways demands a new type of research attention.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

New quantum material promises up to 190% quantum efficiency in solar cells
Researchers from Lehigh University have developed a material that demonstrates the potential for drastically increasing the efficiency of solar panels.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

New report 'braids' Indigenous and Western knowledge for forest adaptation strategies against climate change
There are 154 national forests in the United States, covering nearly 300,000 square miles of forests, woodlands, shrublands, wetlands, meadows, and prairies. These lands are increasingly recognized as vital for supporting a broad diversity of plant and animal life, for water and nutrient cycling, and for the human communities that depend on forests and find cultural and spiritual significance within them.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Novel UV broadband spectrometer revolutionizes air pollutant analysis
A research team has developed a broadband UV dual-comb spectrometer with which air pollutants can be continually measured and their reaction with the environment can be observed in real time.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Oil bosses call phasing out fossil fuels a 'fantasy'—but an international agreement is plausible
Amin Nasser, chief executive of the world's largest oil company Saudi Aramco, recently called on nations to "abandon the fantasy" to phase out fossil fuels, adding that the transition to renewable energy sources is "visibly failing." However, the latest science on climate change is unequivocal: the world must eliminate fossil fuel-based energy systems—and fast.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

The urban-rural death divide is getting alarmingly wider for working-age Americans
The cause is unclear, but poverty and worsening health care access are likely factors.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

What is Mexico doing about climate change?
The country's general election is in June of this year, and the most popular candidates promise a cleaner and greener future.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Wind energy and bat conservation: Scientists call for the global application of measures to reduce fatalities
The construction of wind turbines as a cornerstone for the production of climate-friendly electricity is rapidly increasing all over the world—and everywhere this results in major challenges for bats, which die directly at the turbines or lose valuable habitats in their vicinity.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 6th, 2024

Large Format Photos Capture Humanity's Destruction of Earth
Photographer Edward Burtynsky has spent his career capturing stunning large format photographs that — despite their beauty — actually show the damage that's being done to the planet.
April 6th, 2024 — Source

What You Need To Know Before Buying A House With Solar Panels
Buying a house these days is no easy feat, with prices through the roof and the supply of suitable homes on the market dwindling. Therefore, if you are fortunate enough to secure one, you want to make sure it's in good shape, worth your money, and, if you're interested in a smart home, equipped with all the must-have devices. Additionally, you could even buy a house with solar panels, affording you an alternative and effective energy source. If you elect to do so, you should know a few key things first.
April 6th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 5th, 2024

eDNA methods give a real-time look at coral reef health
The human gut is full of microbes. Some microbes can make people sick, while others are responsible for balancing gut health. But humans aren't the only species whose health depends on these microorganisms. Coral reef ecosystems rely on microorganisms to recycle organic matter and nutrients. These cells also help feed corals and other life reliant on reefs.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Here's What the Solar Eclipse Will Do to All Our Solar Panels
On April 8, the solar eclipse will block out the sun for a lot of solar panels. Here's how it will affect the grid.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

How big is your carbon footprint?
And what can you do to reduce it?
April 5th, 2024 — Source

How do manufacturing choices affect microfiber shed?
New research in Frontiers of Environmental Science sheds light on how manufacturing choices influence microfiber release in textiles.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

How to Shop for Home Insulation
Insulation eases your energy bills while keeping your home more comfortable year-round. Here's what you need to know to get the best results.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

New U.S. 'green bank' aims to steer over $160B in capital into climate tech
For years, banks have been financing large renewable power projects, from utility-scale solar farms to horizon-spanning wind farms. But smaller projects, like installing a heat pump in someone's home or retrofitting affordable housing, often get passed over.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Missed the Solar Eclipse? How to Stream the Recap and Prepare for the Next Eclipse
The great American eclipse was the last total solar eclipse that will be visible over North America for 20 years. But there will be others across the globe.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Ocean waves propel PFAS back to land, new study finds
A new study by researchers at the Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, published in Science Advances, reveals that PFAS re-emit into the air from crashing ocean waves at levels comparable to or greater than other sources, establishing a cyclical transport process for these "forever chemicals" between land and sea.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Opinion: Air pollution, neurodegeneration, neuropsychiatric, and neurodevelopmental disorders
An opinion paper published by University of Montana professor Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas MD, Ph.D. and co-authors, Dr. Alberto Ayala and Dr. Partha Mukherjee discussed ow US citizens are not fully aware of the harmful brain impact of exposures to ubiquitous anthropogenic combustion emissions and friction-derived nanoparticles, industrial nanoplastics, wildfires and smoke plumes of soot.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Sonnen Battery Review: Solar Batteries That Aren't All About Backup Power
Sonnen batteries were created with virtual power plant technology as the main focus. But you'll get backup power too.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Want a climate-friendly home? You might need a new breaker box.
Before you start swapping your old, fossil-fuel-powered appliances for clean, electric versions, you'll likely want to install a 200-amp electrical panel.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Waterfront cities in Europe set sail for climate resilience
A group of European urban areas bordering seas and rivers is paving the way for climate neutrality by 2030.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

What Happens To Your Solar Panels During An Eclipse?
For most of us, the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8 will be a fun day, with family and friends assembling outside and having a great time. Yet, for those working in the energy industry, the solar eclipse takes on a different significance. For them, it's not just a rare celestial event but also a unique opportunity to observe and understand the impact of eclipses on the electrical grid.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 4th, 2024

A nemesis of clams is thriving as Maine's waters warm
Populations of invasive green crabs — which eat clams — have exploded.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Africa's carbon sink capacity is shrinking
The population of Africa, the second-largest continent in the world, currently sits at about 1.4 billion, but is set to exceed 2 billion by 2040. This means greater swaths of land than ever before are being used for agriculture, and livestock numbers are increasing.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Developing artificial skin that can regenerate skin and transmit sensation at the same time
Damage to nerve tissue due to skin defects such as burns, skin diseases, and trauma causes loss of sensory and cognitive functions that are essential for life-sustaining activities, as well as mental and physical distress.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Elastocaloric cooling: Refrigerator cools by flexing artificial muscles
There is room for just one small bottle in the world's first refrigerator that is cooled with artificial muscles made of nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy. But the mini-prototype is groundbreaking: it shows that elastocalorics is becoming a viable solution for practical applications.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Exploring the resilience of the Texas power grid against extreme weather conditions
The Gulf Coast of the United States is often hit by tropical cyclones (TCs), hurricanes and other extreme weather phenomena, which can cause widespread electricity outages. Climate change and global warming are expected to increase the risk of these events occurring, which could significantly disrupt activities in the area.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Forecasters predict an extremely active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
Colorado State University's hurricane forecasting team is calling for a near-record active season with 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

JETP Resource Mobilization Plan: How Viet Nam can turn ambition into action
As various emerging economies are seeking to leapfrog coal and move to clean energy through Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), Viet Nam has passed an important first milestone by setting its Resource Mobilization Plan (RMP). A sign of strategic collaborations and investment opportunities to come, this plan has already prompted high-level discussion between the Asian Development Bank and Vietnam Electricity on a battery energy storage system pilot project.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Only 57 companies produced 80 percent of global carbon dioxide
The report looks at the seven years following the Paris Agreement.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Oura rings may get symptom-spotting upgrade
Symptom Radar: Not a diagnostic tool, maybe a detection tool.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Pacific rock samples offer glimpse of active Earth 2.5 billion years ago
In Earth science, small details can help explain massive events. Rita Parai, an assistant professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, uses precision equipment to measure trace levels of noble gases in rocks, samples that can provide key insights into planetary evolution.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: How do animals react to a solar eclipse?
On April 8, many of us will be huddling behind protective glasses and feasting our eyes on a rare solar stunner. But the sun's eye-catching performance won't be the only thing on display. You may also notice our animal friends behaving oddly.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Shifting power operations to reduce wildfires
A new method can help avoid public safety power shut-offs during fire-prone climate conditions.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Study reports that people and environment both benefit from diversified farming, while bottom lines also thrive
A massive new global study led by the University of Copenhagen and University of Hohenheim has examined the effects of diversified agriculture. The conclusion is abundantly clear—positive effects increase with every measure, while negative effects are hard to find.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Textiles and food packaging biggest source of PFAS in Yangtze River
The first study of toxic "forever chemicals" along the full length of Asia's longest river, the Yangtze, has found 13 different types of PFAS, nearly half of them coming from textile treatments and food packaging.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition is again free to claim on Epic Games Store
Epic Games is giving away a copy of The Outer Worlds The game was already available for free in December. GThe Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition is once again available for free on the Epic Games Store.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

What four decades of canned salmon reveal about marine food webs
Alaskan waters are a critical fishery for salmon. Complex marine food webs underlie and sustain this fishery, and scientists want to know how climate change is reshaping them. But finding samples from the past isn't easy.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

What To Know Before Adding Solar Panels To Your Greenhouse
Personal greenhouses are an excellent way to extend the growing season for any region throughout the United States and Canada. By starting seeds well before the last frost date, it's possible to cultivate tender seedlings inside a greenhouse's warm, protected environment.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Why workers are leaving fossil fuel jobs — and what to do if you feel like 'climate quitting'
Young workers take a stand by giving in their notices
April 4th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — April 2nd, 2024

A blizzard put a hyper-efficient home to the test. It passed.
'I was sitting in my living room in a T-shirt, and outside it was negative 40 windchill.'
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

A coastal community provides valuable insights about home heating, energy use, and the future power grid
There may be few better real-life laboratories in the United States than Cordova, Alaska, to evaluate the challenges and benefits of transitioning to new, cleaner methods of home heating in a colder climate.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

A new estimate of US soil organic carbon to improve Earth system models
Soil contains about twice as much carbon as the atmosphere and plants combined. It is a major carbon sink, capable of absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases. Management of soil carbon is key in efforts to mitigate climate change, in addition to being vital to soil health and agricultural productivity.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

ADATA Partners with Micron to Plant Trees for a Sustainable Future
ADATA Technology Chairman Simon Chen and Micron Taiwan Chairman Donghui Lu attended in person. Witnessed by Chen Chijung, Deputy Branch Director of the Taichung Branch of the Forest and Nature Conservation Agency, both Chairmen led dozens of employees in rolling up their sleeves in the bright sun to plant saplings, taking concrete action to restore nature and protect native habitats, looking forward to building a sustainable future for Taiwan together through the power of corporations.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Australia on track for unprecedented decades-long megadroughts, finds modeling study
Australia could soon see megadroughts that last for more than 20 years, according to new modeling from The Australian National University (ANU) and the ARC Center of Excellence for Climate Extremes.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Chicago
Thousands of residents across Illinois are saving money on solar panel installations by taking advantage of the federal solar tax credit and state incentives. Here's how you can too.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Delaware
Between state grants, SRECs, net metering and the federal solar tax credit, there are a lot of benefits to going solar in Delaware. Here's what you need to know.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Rhode Island
High electricity rates and clean energy incentives mean Rhode Islanders could end up saving money by installing their own rooftop solar panels.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in South Dakota
The residential clean energy credit bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act can help you go solar in South Dakota. Here's what to know before switching to clean energy.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Building blocks for greener energy: Reconfigurable elastic metasurface components akin to LEGO
Energy harvesting, an eco-friendly technology, extends beyond solar and wind power in generating electricity from unused or discarded energy in daily life, including vibrations generated by passing car engines or trains. Recent intriguing research aims to enhance the efficiency of energy harvesting using a new type of metasurface that can be reconfigured, resembling the assembly of LEGO bricks.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Catkins are flowering at different times, threatening their pollination and the wildlife that feed on them
As the days grow longer and the air warms up, nature is bursting back to life. Even before their leaves return, trees produce delicate, fuzzy structures known as catkins. These tiny, downy threads, often described as kitten tails (thanks to a fun translation from Dutch to English back in 1578), herald the arrival of spring.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Chemistry researchers modify solar technology to produce a less harmful greenhouse gas
Researchers in the UNC-Chapel Hill Chemistry Department are using semiconductors to harvest and convert the sun's energy into high-energy compounds that have the potential to produce environmentally friendly fuels.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Citizen scientists invited to collect data for NASA during eclipse
On April 8, 2024, as the moon passes between the sun and Earth, thousands of amateur citizen scientists will measure air temperatures and snap pictures of clouds. The data they collect will aid researchers who are investigating how the sun influences climates in different environments.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

From data to decisions: AI and IoT for earthquake prediction
The study of earthquakes remains a main interest worldwide as it is one of the least predictable natural disasters. In a new review published in Artificial Intelligence in Geosciences, a team of researchers from France and Turkey explored the role of conventional tools like seismometers and GPS in understanding earthquakes and their aftermath.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health data storage has a climate cost. In the future, data may be stored in DNA
A lot of energy is required to analyze and store large amounts of data. We may therefore have to take a different approach to data storage in the future, so says Professor Soren Brunak at the University of Copenhagen.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Here's What the Solar Eclipse Will Do to All Our Solar Panels
On April 8, the solar eclipse will block out the sun for a lot of solar panels. Here's how it will affect the grid.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Hop on a bike with your editors
The Yale Climate Connections editorial team talks bike safety, climate benefits, and our favorite accessories.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

In the elastocaloric cooling process, a refrigerator cools by flexing artificial muscles
There is room for just one small bottle in the world's first refrigerator that is cooled with artificial muscles made of nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy. But the mini-prototype that the team led by professors Stefan Seelecke and Paul Motzki will be presenting at the Hannover Messe from 22 to 26 April is groundbreaking: It shows that elastocalorics is becoming a viable solution for practical applications
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Most Efficient Solar Panels of April 2024
You might be able to meet your energy goals (and save some money) with less efficient solar panels, but these models will squeeze the most electricity from sunlight.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

New deep learning model predicts water and energy demands in agriculture with great accuracy
Water scarcity and the high cost of energy represent the main problems for irrigation communities, which manage water for this end, making it available to agriculture.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Not in the path of totality? You can still watch Monday's total solar eclipse online
If you're nowhere near the path of totality or if clouds spoil your view, you can still catch the total solar eclipse online.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Ocean forests: How 'floating' mangroves could provide a broad range of ecological and social benefits
It is a well-known fact that mangrove forests are among the most productive marine ecosystems in the world, located at the very start of the marine food web (the productivity of biomass by plants is called primary productivity). They serve as a natural nursery for fish and also provide protection against coastal erosion.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Pollen Systems raises $2.4M and expands global reach of its crop analysis platform
New funding, new hires: Pollen Systems, a Seattle-area ag-tech startup, has raised $2.4 million in new capital and hired nine new employees, including sales directors for Spain and Peru as well as Singapore and Southeast Asia.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers build selenium--silicon tandem solar cell that could improve efficiency to 40%
A team of physicists and engineers at Technical University of Denmark reports that it is possible to build a working selenium--silicon tandem solar cell, a combination that could theoretically improve the efficiency of solar cells to 40%. The study is published in the journal PRX Energy.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Roll embossing: New system improves production of bipolar plates
Climate-friendly fuel cell systems, which are set to power vehicles in the future, are still rare and expensive these days. There are several reasons for this, including the complex and costly process used to produce bipolar plates—a key component in electrolyzers and fuel cells, which are needed for many hydrogen systems.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Seso is building software to fix farm workforces and solve agriculture's HR woes
Migrant workers are a critical labor force for U.S. farms, but getting them here on proper H-2A visas can be complicated, and the compliance surrounding these employees is taxing for farms.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Sleep cooler thanks to this deal on the Eight Sleep Pod 3 cover
Get optimal sleep at the right temperature.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

That starry night sky? It's full of eclipses
Our star, the sun, on occasion joins forces with the moon to offer us Earthlings a spectacular solar eclipse—like the one that will be visible to parts of the United States, Mexico, and Canada on April 8.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

These plants evolved in Florida millions of years ago. They may be gone in decades.
Scrub mints are among the most endangered plants you've probably never heard of. More than half of the 24 species currently known to exist are considered threatened or endangered at the state or federal level, and nearly all scrub mints grow in areas that are being rapidly developed or converted to agricultural pastures.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Totality ready: US braces for April 8 solar eclipse frenzy
US communities along the path of the April 8 total solar eclipse are preparing for the year's biggest astronomic event, with millions of visitors expected to brighten local economies—and snarl up logistics.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Variable rates of flatback turtles hatching on Western Australia's Pilbara beaches
Climate change will impact the emergence success and sex ratio of flatback turtle hatchlings in the Pilbara region of Western Australia within the next two decades, according to a new study.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

What to know about next week's total solar eclipse in the US, Mexico and Canada
Monday's total solar eclipse will make landfall along Mexico's Pacific coast and cross into Texas and 14 other U.S. states, before exiting over Canada.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Why we need to rethink what we know about dust
You may think of dust as an annoyance to be vacuumed and disposed of, but actually, on a grander scale, it is far more important than most people realize. Globally, dust plays a critical role in regulating our climate, radiation balance, nutrient cycles, soil formation, air quality and even human health.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 29th, 2024

A catalyst for converting carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming, into ethylene using vitamin C
A joint research team has developed a new electrochemical catalyst that promotes the conversion from carbon dioxide to ethylene.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

A high-efficiency photocatalyst for converting carbon dioxide into environmentally friendly energy using sunlight
DGIST Professor In Su-il's research team has developed a high-efficiency photocatalyst that utilizes sunlight to convert carbon dioxide, the primary cause of global warming, into methane fuel. The research team expects that this environmentally friendly technology can be applied to Carbon Capture and Utilization technology.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Abrupt climate fluctuations in Tibet as imprints of multiple meltwater events during the early to mid-Holocene
127.8 m from the Zangser Kangri (ZK) ice cap in the central Tibetan Plateau (TP) in April 2009. The ice core was not well dated until the development of ¹⁴C dating technique at the microgram level in glacier ice in the past decade..
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Biofuels could help island nations survive a global catastrophe, study suggests
A major global catastrophe could disrupt trade in liquid fuels used to sustain industrial agriculture, impacting the food supply of island nations like New Zealand that depend on oil imports.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

BLUETTI Expands Solar+ Program to Three New States, Simplifying Solar Adoption
BLUETTI, a renowned provider of energy storage solutions, has announced the expansion of its Solar+ program to three additional states in the United States. Building upon its successful launch in Texas last year, BLUETTI now extends its reach to California, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Book review: 'Saving Ourselves' author says we can't wait on global leaders to save the climate
A new book by sociologist Dana Fisher argues that global climate negotiations have proven ineffective. So it's time for regular people to get organized and take back power from fossil fuel companies.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Canopy soil of old-growth forest fosters unique invertebrate diversity that is vulnerable to human disturbance
Yakushima Island, a world heritage site in Japan, is renowned for its rich biodiversity. The huge Japanese cedar (Yaku-sugi) forests, which are over a thousand years old, are a symbolic ecosystem of the island. Although the canopy of these colossal trees, including the Japanese cedar (Yaku-sugi), is considered to harbor a wealth of undiscovered biodiversity, conducting actual surveys presents significant challenges.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Climate adaptation research applied 'in real-time'
With global South countries already bearing the devastating consequences of climate change, adaptation research needs to have immediate on-the-ground impact, while still being scientifically rigorous, say climate action specialists in a review published in Climate Services.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

EPA sets strict emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses in bid to fight climate change
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday set strict emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, buses and other large vehicles, an action that officials said will help clean up some of the nation's largest sources of planet-warming greenhouse gases.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Group to monitor air pollution in 12 U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations
The project will share real-time data with community members.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

In Canada's Quebec, residents miffed over mining boom
Canada's Quebec province is rich with minerals needed for everything from electric cars to cell phones, but residents living atop the potential windfall are worried their backyards will be dug up—and they won't get a dime.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Increasing the efficiency of eco-friendly solar cells by converting wind energy into high-voltage electricity
A research team led by Professor Lee Ju-hyuck of DGIST in the Department of Energy Science & Engineering has successfully developed an energy harvesting device that enhances solar energy efficiency by removing and preventing surface contamination on solar cells.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Research highlights health risks posed by 2,6-DHNPs in drinking water
2,6-DHNPs, a group of disinfection byproducts (DBPs), are raising alarm bells for public health. These bad actors in the water world are tougher and more toxic than many other pollutants, making it hard for typical water cleaning methods to get rid of them. They pack a powerful punch, being significantly more harmful to marine life and cells than similar pollutants.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Researchers look to rice for 'clean label' ingredients
Naturally occurring polyphenols and proteins from pigmented waxy rice may help starch ingredients improve texture without any chemical modification—a change some consumers may welcome, said Ya-Jane Wang, professor of carbohydrate chemistry.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Reviving Europe's orchard meadows: Researchers call for action
A study spearheaded by researchers at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research and Macquarie University has highlighted the important ecological role of traditional orchard meadows, calling for political and public support and incentives for farmers to protect these landscapes.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Study underscores uncertain costs of iron fertilization
As society grapples with the intensifying consequences of climate change, decision-makers are increasingly looking to carbon dioxide removal as a necessary complement to emission reductions. One of the strategies that has received the most attention is the idea of fertilizing parts of the ocean with iron to stimulate phytoplankton growth.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

The US tightens greenhouse gas emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles
The US has new standards for planet-heating tailpipe pollution from vehicles like 18-wheelers and buses.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

University student entrepreneurs pitch planet-protecting ideas in annual 'Environmental Innovation Challenge'
University students from the Pacific Northwest on Thursday competed in the Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge in Seattle, pitching their best ideas for potential startups that could help protect the planet.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 28th, 2024

A boost for fusion power: With new law, Washington state leaders signal support for sector's next steps
While the reality of affordable fusion energy is still an atom-smashing twinkle in physicists' eyes, the state of Washington is moving ahead with plans to support the nascent commercial fusion sector.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

A data scientist's case for 'cautious optimism' about climate change
An interview with Hannah Ritchie, author of the provocative new book, 'Not the End of the World.'
March 28th, 2024 — Source

A growing number of homeowners face repeat flooding
People need access to funding to make their homes more resilient rather than just rebuilding, one analyst says.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Athens chokes in clouds of Sahara dust
Athenians are choking in clouds of thick dust blown in from the Sahara along with unseasonably warm weather, weather forecasters and doctors warned on Thursday.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Atmospheric observations in China show rise in emissions of a potent greenhouse gas
To achieve the aspirational goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change—limiting the increase in global average surface temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels—will require its 196 signatories to dramatically reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Attaching seaweed spores to used scallop shells could restore UK's coastal kelp forests
Kelp spores are being seeded and grown on small rocks and scallop shells—a seafood waste product—in efforts to regenerate the UK's coastal kelp forests.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Better math adds up to trillions in climate-related savings: Statisticians curb uncertainty in climate models
A new study greatly reduces uncertainty in climate change predictions, a move economists say could save the world trillions in adaptations for a hotter future. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, considers dozens of climate models from different countries that differ in the magnitude of global warming they predict to occur by the end of the century.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Blood, sweat, and water: New paper analytical devices easily track health and environment
When you need to measure white blood cell counts, it usually involves trips to clinics and expensive equipment for analysis. Likewise, checking water quality for contaminants can be a lengthy process.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Blueprint for mandating indoor air quality for public buildings in form of standards
In research published in the journal Science experts addressed setting standards for three key indoor pollutants—carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), PM_2.5https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0677, which are particles so small they can lodge deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream—and ventilation rate. The paper is titled "Mandating indoor air quality standards for public,"
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Climate tech VC Satgana closes first fund that targets early-stage startups in Africa, Europe
Climate tech VC Satgana has reached a final close of its first fund, which aims to back up to 30 early-stage startups in Africa and Europe.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

China ships Tibetan glacier water to climate-threatened Maldives
China has sent more than a million bottles of water from melting Tibetan glaciers to the Maldives, officials said Thursday, a gift from the world's highest mountains to a low-lying archipelago threatened by rising seas.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Cold stratification impacts germination rates in Vitis species
It is imperative for the success of the grape industry to develop new grape varieties capable of enduring shifting climates and heightened pressures from diseases and insects. The majority of grape cultivars rely on a specific amount of "chilling hours"' to complete dormancy for optimal growth and yield.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Cosmochemistry: Why study it? What can it teach us about finding life beyond Earth?
Universe Today has had some fantastic discussions with researchers on the importance of studying impact craters, planetary surfaces, exoplanets, astrobiology, solar physics, comets, planetary atmospheres, and planetary geophysics, and how these diverse scientific fields can help researchers and the public better understand the search for life beyond Earth.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Direct lithium extraction from spent batteries for efficient lithium recycling
Recently, the research findings of Professor Xie's group (Huazhong University of Science and Technology) were published in Science Bulletin. This study proposed a simple, efficient, and low-energy chemical leaching strategy, utilizing a lithium extraction solution composed of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon reagents and ether solvents to directly extract active lithium from retired batteries.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Ecologists call for strengthening nature-based climate solutions at the federal level
U.S. scientists and policy experts with a broad range of expertise in the fields of climate and ecosystem sciences have outlined key recommendations aimed at bolstering the scientific foundation for implementation of nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) across the nation.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

ESA and NASA team up to study solar wind
In the run up to April's total solar eclipse, ESA-led Solar Orbiter and NASA-led Parker Solar Probe are both at their closest approach to the sun. Tomorrow (March 29), they are taking the opportunity to join hands in studying the driving rain of plasma that streams from the sun, fills the solar system, and causes dazzlement and destruction at Earth.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Going 'back to the future' to forecast the fate of a dead Florida coral reef
Rising temperatures and disease outbreaks are decimating coral reefs throughout the tropics. Evidence suggests that higher latitude marine environments may provide crucial refuges for many at-risk, temperature-sensitive coral species. However, how coral populations expand into new areas and sustain themselves over time is constrained by the limited scope of modern observations.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

How carbon removal fits into the architecture of EU climate policy
The EU has recently made far-reaching decisions on rapid greenhouse gas emissions reduction. For example, from 2027, like in the energy and industry sectors, it will also cap emissions in the problem sectors of heating and transport through emissions trading, and gradually reduce them toward zero.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

How extratropical ocean-atmosphere interactions can contribute to the variability of jet streams
The interaction between the oceans and the atmosphere plays a vital role in shaping the Earth's climate. Changing sea surface temperatures can heat or cool the atmosphere, and changes in the atmosphere can do the same to the ocean surface. This exchange in energy is known as "ocean-atmosphere coupling."
March 28th, 2024 — Source

How to enable insider social change agents to tackle social and environmental issues in organizations
Businesses play a crucial role in building a sustainable future, but it's the passionate individuals within these organizations who often lead the change. Known by many names— tempered radicals, social intrapreneurs, champions, reformers, advocates, activists, and more—these insider social change agents are the driving force behind efforts to tackle social and environmental issues.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Intel's green dream is chips without any dips in Mother Nature's health
Sustainability Summit pushes industry partners to reduce their environmental impact, including harmful chemicals
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Last coal-burning power plant in New England set to close in a win for environmentalists
The last coal-fired power plant in New England, which had been the focus of a lawsuit and protests, is set to close in a victory for environmentalists.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Milk on ice: Antarctic time capsule of whole milk powder sheds light on the enduring qualities of dairy products
In a remarkable discovery, whole milk powder manufactured in New Zealand in 1907 and transported to Antarctica with explorers seeking the South Pole was unveiled after more than a century. The findings have allowed dairy researchers to answer the question: Is the milk we enjoy today different from the milk consumed in previous generations?
March 28th, 2024 — Source

More than half of Colorado River's water used to irrigate crops, assessment shows
Irrigation for agriculture uses more than half of the Colorado River's total annual water flow, reports a paper published in Communications Earth & Environment. This finding is part of a new comprehensive assessment of how the Colorado River's water is consumed—including both human usage and natural losses—and provides a more complete understanding of how the river's water is used along its over 2,300 km (almost 1,500-mile) length.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Nanoshell catalysts capture methane emissions
A University at Buffalo-led research team is developing new catalysts that aim to turn climate-warming methane emissions into useful commercial products.
March 28th, 2024 — Source or Source

New simulation framework guides design of high-performance semitransparent organic solar cells
In the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, organic solar cells (OSCs) have emerged as a promising technology for semitransparent applications, such as building-integrated photovoltaics and greenhouses.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

New approach to monitoring freshwater quality can identify sources of pollution, predict their effects
The source of pollutants in rivers and freshwater lakes can now be identified using a comprehensive new water quality analysis, according to scientists at the University of Cambridge and Trent University, Canada.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

New York's first offshore wind hub to be built with union labor
The agreement prioritizes hiring locally for union construction jobs to build a 'linchpin' of the Biden administration's offshore wind ambitions.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Progress and challenges on the road to net zero: Q&A
In early March, after years of deliberations, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced a new reporting requirement for U.S.-based public companies. Beginning in 2025, companies that meet a certain threshold of market value will be required by law to report carbon emissions data, as well other information related to climate risk and progress toward decarbonization pledges.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Researchers discover key gene for toxic alkaloid in barley
All plants mediate their environmental interactions via chemical signals. An example is the alkaloid gramine produced by barley, one of the world's most widely-grown cereals. Gramine provides protection against herbivorous insects and grazing animals and inhibits the growth of other plants.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Scientists confirm that methane-processing microbes produce a fossil record
Communities of microbes that live in ocean sediments can consume methane. In oxygen-deprived sediments these microbes form clusters, called aggregates, that can have deposits of silica on their surfaces. It is not clear if these silica deposits result from the activity of methane consuming aggregates, or if their formation is unrelated to biological processes.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Team shows ion-induced field screening is a dominant factor in the operational stability of perovskite solar cells
Researchers from the University of Potsdam, together with colleagues from other universities, have shown that ion-induced field screening is a dominant factor in the operational stability of perovskite solar cells. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Energy, lay the foundation for new strategies to improve the lifetime of the next-generation solar cells.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Tuberculosis vaccine may enable elimination of the disease in cattle by reducing its spread
Vaccination not only reduces the severity of TB in infected cattle, but reduces its spread in dairy herds by 89%, research finds. The research, led by the University of Cambridge and Penn State University, improves prospects for the elimination and control of bovine tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease of cattle that results in large economic costs and health impacts across the world. The study is published in the journal Science.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Study finds landfill point source emissions have an outsized impact and present opportunity to tackle US waste methane
A new study, led by Carbon Mapper scientists alongside researchers from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Scientific Aviation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provides the largest comprehensive assessment of hundreds of U.S. landfills using direct observations through airborne surveys.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

What do scientists hope to learn from total solar eclipse in US?
When a rare total solar eclipse sweeps across North America on April 8, scientists will be able to gather invaluable data on everything from the sun's atmosphere to strange animal behaviors—and even possible effects on humans.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Wild desert plants face viral surprise
Just as many people battle seasonal colds and flu, native plants face their own viral threats. People have long known that plants can succumb to viruses just like humans. Now, a new study led by Michigan State University and the University of California, Riverside reveals a previously unknown threat: non-native crop viruses are infecting and jeopardizing the health of wild desert plants.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 27th, 2024

A solar cell you can bend and soak in water
Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and collaborators have developed an organic photovoltaic film that is both waterproof and flexible, allowing a solar cell to be put onto clothes and still function correctly after being rained on or even washed.
March 27th, 2024 — Source or Source

After a hurricane or wildfire, communities can be overwhelmed by debris
And some of it's hazardous.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

An eco-lodge in Baja California Sur teaches guests how to live sustainably. Can it survive rising seas and storms?
Gabriela Flores bought a remote swathe of desert 30 years ago. Now its coastal dunes are under threat from rising seas, storms, and careless human actions.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Anthropologists create computational model to predict likelihood of future animal extinctions
During the Late Pleistocene, California—at least at its lower elevations—was teeming with vegetation. While much of North America was covered in Ice Age glaciers, here, mastodons lumbered across verdant meadows, stopping to feed on brush, warily eyeing the forest's edge for saber-tooth cats on the prowl for their calves.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Climate change is messing with how we measure time: Study
Struggle to wrap your head around daylight savings? Spare a thought for the world's timekeepers, who are trying to work out how climate change is affecting Earth's rotation—and in turn, how we keep track of time.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Climate change policies found to lose popularity when combined with pausing regulations or social justice
Legislators love bundling things together. It lets them accomplish more with less hassle and attempt to make legislation more appealing to a broader group.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Critical materials assessment tags potential supply chain bottlenecks
Global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) increased from 716,000 vehicles in 2015 to 10.6 million vehicles in 2022. Meanwhile, demand rose for the materials used in EV batteries such as graphite, cobalt and lithium.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Different Types Of Consumer Solar Panels (And Which Is Right For You)
Solar is the most popular form of renewable energy worldwide, accounting for a reported three-quarters of all new renewable capacity in 2023. While much of that capacity comes from large-scale solar farms, an increasing number of homeowners are opting to install solar panels to cut down their electricity bill or, in some cases, become entirely self-sufficient.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Effective data management plays vital role for smallholder sheep and goat breeding programs
Sheep and goat breeding plays a vital socioeconomic role in the agricultural sector across Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) and beyond, providing valuable resources such as meat, milk, and wool. However, insufficient or ill-adapted breeding programs and practices are compromising the conservation and improvement of animal genetic resources, resulting in lower quality and less productive herds, which in turn impacts farmers' incomes and livelihoods.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Enhancing chickpea irrigation efficiency, yield and sustainability
A new study published by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) introduces a non-invasive technique for evaluating chickpea water status, offering farmers a powerful tool to fine-tune irrigation schedules and potentially elevate the sustainability of chickpea cultivation.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Europe's forgotten forests could be 21st century 'biodiversity hot spots'
An overlooked and long-neglected type of forest has vast capacity to rebound, enhancing species diversity and resilience to climate change, according to an international team of forest scientists.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Find the Best Solar Installers Near You With These 7 Tips
If you've decided to go solar, finding the right solar installer is the most important thing you can do. Here's how to do that.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Forest regeneration projects failing to offset carbon emissions
Forest regeneration projects that have received tens of millions of carbon credits and dominate Australia's carbon offset scheme have had negligible impact on woody vegetation cover and carbon sequestration, new research from The Australian National University (ANU) has found.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Future of 1 billion people in South Asia hinges on water pact, says new analysis
Better collaboration is urgently needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change on three key river basins in South Asia—the Brahmaputra, Indus and Ganges—according to new analysis.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Heat, cold extremes hold untapped potential for solar and wind energy, climate scientist suggests
A Washington State University-led study found that widespread, extreme temperature events are often accompanied by greater solar radiation and higher wind speeds that could be captured by solar panels and wind turbines. The research, which looked at extensive heat and cold waves across the six interconnected energy grid regions of the U.S. from 1980--2021, also found that every region experienced power outages during these events in the past decade.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

High-resolution solar data enables renewable energy expansion across two continents
More than 20 years of research in solar radiation at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is now poised to advance power system planning and solar energy deployment across Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Highest power efficiency achieved in flexible solar cells using new fabrication technique
Flexible solar cells have many potential applications in aerospace and flexible electronics, but low energy conversion efficiency has limited their practical use. A new manufacturing method has increased the power efficiency of flexible solar cells made from perovskite, a class of compounds with a specific crystalline structure that facilitates the conversion of solar energy into electricity.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

How eutrophication and climate change alter food webs in the Baltic Sea
Phytoplankton is the primary energy source for all marine ecosystems: These tiny plants floating in the seawater use photosynthesis to bind energy in the form of biomass, which is then passed on step by step in the marine food webs all the way to different types of fish and piscivores.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

How To Protect Your Solar Panels From Getting Destroyed By Hail
On March 15, 2024, thousands of solar panels installed at the 3,300-acre Fighting Jays Solar Farm in Fort Bend County, Houston, Texas, were damaged after a powerful hailstorm hit the area. Even as authorities continue to assess the scale of damage caused by this extreme weather event, the incident — once again — highlighted one of the major risks people need to contend with while setting up solar power systems.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Imaging turbulence within solar transients for the first time
The Wide-field Imager for Parker Solar Probe (WISPR) Science Team, led by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), captured the development of turbulence as a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) interacted with the ambient solar wind in the circumsolar space. This discovery is reported in the Astrophysical Journal.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Is Your Roof Suitable For Solar Panels? A Quick Guide
With electricity bills hitting sky-high levels, the thought of switching to solar energy is more tempting than ever. Solar panels can help cut down your energy costs (despite the hidden solar costs) and are good for the planet too.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Israel's war budget leaves top scientists in limbo
Israeli scientist Ellen Graber has spent years researching ways to save chocolate crops from climate change. But with the government slashing spending to fund the war in Gaza, her project is one of hundreds now hanging in the balance.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Looking at a solar eclipse can be dangerous without eclipse glasses. Here's what to know
Millions of people along a narrow band in North America will look up when the sky darkens during a total solar eclipse on April 8. When they do, safety is key.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Mighty microbes: Soil microorganisms are combating desertification
Desertification is a significant problem for arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions of Earth, whereby grasslands and shrublands become a comparatively barren desert as vegetation disappears over time. This poses an extreme hazard to local ecosystems, as well as communities who rely on these areas for their livelihoods, by increasing soil erosion and reducing water storage, which leads to a loss of biodiversity and agricultural productivity.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

More investment needed for climate science in Africa to improve weather forecasting and save lives
Africa needs long-term investment in scientific infrastructure and science careers to allow the continent to adapt to climate change and its effect on weather systems.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

New study shows ways forward for future EU food labeling
A study led by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and published in the journal Ecological Economics provides important insights into the future of food labeling in the EU. By analyzing expert opinions from the food industry, the study identifies a broad consensus on the need for new food labels to encourage farmers to provide more ecosystem services.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Newly uncovered history of a key ocean current carries a warning on climate
It carries more than 100 times as much water as all the world's rivers combined. It reaches from the ocean's surface to its bottom, and measures as much as 2,000 kilometers across. It connects the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and plays a key role in regulating global climate. Continuously swirling around the southernmost continent, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (PDF) is by far the world's most powerful and consequential mover of water.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

North American cities may see a major species turnover by the end of the century
Climate change may dramatically affect the animal species observed in North American cities, according to a study published March 27 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Alessandro Filazzola of the University of Toronto Mississauga and Apex Resource Management Solutions, Canada, and colleagues.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Plastic 'interceptor' tackles trash in Bangkok river
Black flies exploded into the air as plastic waste fell from bamboo conveyor belts into skips on a solar-powered barge attempting to remove rubbish from the main river of Thailand's capital Bangkok.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Protesters block entrances at Amazon HQ, objecting to planned use of fossil fuels in Oregon
Dozens of environmental activists this morning blocked the entrances at Amazon's Day 1 building at its Seattle headquarters.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Researchers demonstrate that forests trap airborne microplastics, acting as terrestrial sinks
A research group led by Japan Women's University finds that airborne microplastics adsorb to the epicuticular wax on the surface of forest canopy leaves, and that forests may act as terrestrial sinks for airborne microplastics.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Rice husk can be used as a promising sustainable packaging material
Rice husk, the hard-protective layer that envelopes the inner grain of rice, constitutes approximately 20%--25% of the entire rice structure and produces a considerable amount of by-products.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Scientists discover that the natural purification of groundwater is enhanced by nitrate
In recent years, the world has been experiencing floods and droughts as extreme rainfall events have become more frequent due to climate change. For this reason, securing stable water resources throughout the year has become a national responsibility called "water security," and "Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR)", which stores water in the form of groundwater in the ground when water resources are available and withdraws it when needed, is attracting attention as an effective water resource management technique.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Scientists warn that the Baltic Sea gray seal hunt is too large
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg warn that today's hunting quotas of about 3,000 animals pose a risk to the long-term survival of the gray seal in the Baltic Sea. The conclusions of this new study are based on statistics from 20th century seal hunting and predictions of future climate change.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Solar-powered emission-free technology converts saltwater into drinking water
Scientists have developed a new solar-powered system to convert saltwater into fresh drinking water which they say could help reduce dangerous waterborne diseases like cholera.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Sounds emanating from coral reefs found to change as the moon rises and sets
A pair of underwater researchers at the U.S. Navy's Naval Undersea Warfare Center, working with a colleague from the Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy, also in the U.S., has found that sounds emanating from coral reefs change as the moon rises and sets.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Spatiotemporal variations of rainy season precipitation in the Tibetan Plateau during the past two millennia
The quantitative reconstruction of the length of the rainy season and precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is crucial for revealing the spatiotemporal evolution of the Westerlies and South Asian monsoon, as well as its ecological and environmental effects.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Study finds decline in the stability of water yield in watersheds
Extreme climatic events such as droughts, heat waves, and cold spells not only modify hydro-meteorological conditions but also alter the underlying characteristics (e.g., wildfires due to droughts changing the vegetation cover). Intense human activities, such as river channel modifications, afforestation, deforestation, industrialization, and urbanization, further amplify the variability of watershed system components.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Your emotional reaction to climate change may impact the policies you support, study finds
Emotional reactions to climate change may lead to specific policy preferences, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Climate by Teresa A. Myers of George Mason University and colleagues.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

World's tallest wooden wind turbine promises a cleaner future
Wooden turbines could help eliminate the carbon emissions coming from steel production.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 25th, 2024

Industry shutdowns are messy and painful: Four lessons Australia's coal sector can learn from car makers
Shifting Australia's electricity sector to low-carbon technologies and closing coal plants is vital to tackling climate change. But such transitions are easier said than done.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

New modeling shows the intensity of CO² uptake is higher in coastal seas than in the open ocean
Coastal seas form a complex transition zone between the two largest CO² sinks in the global carbon cycle: land and ocean. Ocean researchers have now succeeded for the first time in investigating the role of the coastal ocean in a seamless model representation.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Scientists discover methods to regulate carbon storage in humus layer of forest in north China
It is estimated that 30% of the world's terrestrial carbon stocks are found in the boreal forest, 60% of which is below ground. Organic soil horizons contain about one-third of the soil carbon. Therefore, the stability of boreal soils is critical to understanding global carbon cycle feedbacks to climate change and soil management. However, the regulating factors of humus carbon sequestration in the boreal forests globally are not entirely understood.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

'Urgent and sustainable' action needed to safeguard health, according to new report on health and climate change
A focus on heat and health, and decarbonization of the health sector, are among the key implications of the latest report of the MJA--Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 22nd, 2024

A strong earthquake shakes Indonesia's Java Island but no reports of casualties
A strong and shallow undersea earthquake shook the eastern side of Indonesia's main island of Java on Friday, causing some damage but no immediate reports of casualties.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

AI's excessive water consumption threatens to drown out its environmental contributions
Water is needed for development, production and consumption, yet we are overusing and polluting an unsubstitutable resource and system.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

An account of Australia's oldest, boldest trees
Every state and territory in Australia has got big things. Consider the big Merino ram, big chooks, big Ned Kelly, or even the big golden guitar.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

April's total solar eclipse promises to be the best yet for experiments
April's total solar eclipse promises to be a scientific bonanza, thanks to new spacecraft and telescopes—and cosmic chance.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Court upholds California rules to protect fish, but Newsom wants lenient Delta approach
A Sacramento judge upheld a decision by California's water regulator to cut back agricultural and municipal water use from the San Joaquin River. The decision could lend support for future regulations in the rest of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta system.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Gigawatt: The Solar Energy Term You Should Know About
What exactly is a gigawatt, and what does it have to do with solar power? Here's everything you need to know about the gigawatt.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

In Lake Erie, climate change scrambles zooplankton's seasonal presence
A new analysis of zooplankton in western Lake Erie shows that their biomass and seasonal behavioral patterns have been drastically altered by human-driven changes in water temperature and food webs.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Lack of resources threatens research in the Amazon
Teaching and research institutions in the Amazon say they are struggling to maintain their output due to dwindling financial resources despite Brazil's climate promises on the global stage.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Multi-cusped postcanine teeth associated with zooplankton feeding in phocid sealsaw junction, horizontal green arrow depicts tooth width, and vertical green arrow depicts tooth height. (e) Green line shows tooth perimeter. (f) Green line shows perimeter of the smallest bounding rectangle of the tooth. (g) Mandible tooth row, showing canine and 5 postcanine (PC1--PC5) teeth. (h) Green arrow shows gap length between PC3 and PC4. Credit: Ishihara U, Miyazaki N, Yurkowski DJ, Watanabe YY (2024) Multi-cusped postcanine teeth are associated with zooplankton feeding in phocid seals. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 729:233-245. 10.3354/meps14509
The morphology of an animal's teeth often reflects its diet. A well-known example of a mammal that feeds in the water is the crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophaga), which consumes large amounts of zooplankton.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

New model integrates soil microbes, large perennial grasses
Of all the carbon stored in ecosystems around the world, about half can be found in soils. Depending on climate, vegetation, and management, soils can be either a carbon source or a sink.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers publish dataset of over 6,000 agri-environmental policies from all over the world
There can be no analysis without data. In this spirit, researchers from the University of Bonn and the Swiss Federal Institution of Technology (ETH) Zurich have published a database containing over 6,000 agri-environmental policies, thus enabling their peers as well as policymakers and businesses to seek answers to all manner of different questions.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Will climate change take snow away from us?
Experts explain in just 60 seconds.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

What to expect when total solar eclipse passes through Ohio
On April 8, millions of observers in Ohio will witness a total solar eclipse, a rare celestial event that promises to be an otherworldly experience.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

What To Know Before Installing Solar Panels On A Metal Roof
Anyone who has ever sat on a metal slide in the middle of summer as a kid can agree that the light of the sun makes metal exceptionally hot. The various metal surfaces that make up a piece of property absorb an impressive amount of heat during the sunny season.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Wild Weather Ahead: Here's How 2024 Is Shaping Up After the Hottest Year on Record
The climate crisis is impacting communities around the world. Here's what to know about dealing with extreme weather in 2024.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Wind farm radar system reduces nighttime light pollution in Iowa
The system turns on flashing warning lights only when a plane is nearby. Otherwise, they stay dark.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 20th, 2024

3 reasons why you are burnt out teaching climate change, and how to sustain your spark
I don't know about you, but since work from home started in earnest, meetings seem full of check-in questions. Don't get me wrong, I like them. One of my favorites that comes up regularly is, who was your favorite teacher? Answers always feature people whose love and passion for their area of expertise shine through in their teaching.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

10 years after the deadliest US landslide, climate change is increasing the danger
After the mountainside collapsed, obliterating a neighborhood and 43 lives in the worst landslide disaster in U.S. history, Jessica Pzsonka made a promise --- to herself, to her bereft parents and to her late sister, who was buried along with two young sons, her husband and in-laws.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

A southeast Alaska community wrestles with a deadly landslide's impact
Jamie Roberts and her husband felt lucky when they found an A-frame cabin on forest-draped Wrangell Island in southeast Alaska, where they could settle on a few acres and have some chickens.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar-Powered Home Security Cameras for 2024
Opting for a solar-powered security camera is a great way to protect your home while saving on power. Here are the best options we've seen.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Characterizing salps as predators of marine microbes
A huge fraction of global flows of carbon and other nutrients pass through marine microbes. Little is known about their causes of death, however. This information determines where those nutrients will go.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Cleaning up environmental contaminants with quantum dot technology
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was focused on quantum dots—objects so tiny, they're controlled by the strange and complex rules of quantum physics. Many quantum dots used in electronics are made from toxic substances, but their nontoxic counterparts are now being developed and explored for uses in medicine and in the environment. One team of researchers is focusing on carbon- and sulfur-based quantum dots, using them to create safer invisible inks and to help decontaminate water supplies.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Climate change threatens resilience of Sri Lankan rainforests
Tropical ecosystems store over half of the world's above-ground carbon in their biomass, making them critically important in the global fight against climate change. As carbon dioxide levels continue to rise in the atmosphere, scientists are questioning whether climate change will enhance carbon sequestration through accelerated tree growth or expose rainforests to warmer, drier climates that could increase water stress, suppress tree growth, and dry out soils.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Evaluating land-based mitigation strategies for achieving 2°C climate targets
Global warming poses a significant threat to ecosystems, societies, and economies worldwide. In recent decades, an international climate policy goal of limiting global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels was established. This was to avoid severe and irreversible impacts on the environment.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Hypoxia is widespread and increasing in the ocean off the Pacific Northwest coast, study shows
Low oxygen conditions that pose a significant threat to marine life are widespread and increasing in coastal Pacific Northwest ocean waters as the climate warms, a new study shows.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

iWood technology - integrating tactile sensing with natural wood for smart, responsive environments
Wood is one of the oldest and most ubiquitous materials used by humans, with applications spanning construction, furniture, flooring, and beyond. For centuries, wood has served as the interface through which we interact with our built environment.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

New insights on the transcriptional regulation of seed germination
Seeds remain in a dormant state, waiting for the right environmental conditions to germinate, thus increasing the probability of fragile seedling survival. The transition from a dry seed to a vegetative seedling is an irreversible process that requires a near-complete reprogramming of the plant transcriptome.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

No oil and gas majors aligned with climate targets: Report
All major oil and gas companies plan fossil fuel expansion incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a new report said Wednesday.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Novel method to measure root depth may lead to more resilient crops
As climate change worsens global drought conditions, hindering crop production, the search for ways to capture and store atmospheric carbon causing the phenomenon has intensified. Penn State researchers have developed a new high-tech tool that could spur changes in how crops withstand drought, acquire nitrogen and store carbon deeper in soil.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: British champagne production overtaking French? How the shifting seasons are playing havoc with our crops
Spring equinox is fast approaching, on 20 March, but the changing seasons are playing havoc with UK wildlife and crops. This comes after England and Wales had their warmest Februarys on record, according to the Met Office.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Recyclable reagent and sunlight convert carbon monoxide into methanol
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) have demonstrated the selective conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into methanol using a cascade reaction strategy. The two-part process is powered by sunlight, occurs at room temperature and at ambient pressure, and employs a recyclable organic reagent that's similar to a catalyst found in natural photosynthesis.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Researchers find evidence of 68 'forever chemicals' in food packaging around the world
A team of environmental scientists with the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, based in Zürich, has found evidence of 68 "forever chemicals" in food packaging used around the world. For their study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the group mapped evidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in food contact materials using information from databases.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Restoring reefs killed by climate change may simply put corals 'back out to die'
Coral reefs, like sprawling cities of the sea, support an estimated 25% of all plants and animals in the ocean. Worldwide, 1 billion people depend on these ecosystems for food, income and coastal protection.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Rising scourge of e-waste a 'catastrophe' for environment: UN
The world threw away a record amount of smartphones, televisions and other electrical devices in 2022, the UN said Wednesday, warning this avalanche of dumped gadgets was polluting the planet.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Scientists outline actions to protect lochs from climate change
Scientists have outlined the urgent actions needed to protect Scotland's lochs from the impacts of climate change, estimating that harmful algal blooms cost the national economy at least £16.5 million a year.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Scientists uncover a causal relationship between remote extreme heat and the Canadian wildfires in 2023
Wildfires are events that can have significant impacts on ecosystems and human society. In the context of global warming, there has been a notable surge in the frequency and ferocity of wildfires in the Northern Hemisphere over recent years. In 2023, Canada experienced an unprecedented wildfire event, with CO2 emissions increasing by 527.1% over the average of 2001--2022 during the months of May--August.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Sea surface temperature research provides clear evidence of human-caused climate change
Claims that climate change is natural are inconsistent with new oceanic temperature trends.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

The heat index -- how hot it really feels -- is rising faster than temperature
A 3 degree F rise in temperature due to global warming may seem endurable, but it can actually feel like 10 degrees F
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Toba supereruption may have facilitated dispersal of modern humans out of Africa
Modern humans dispersed from Africa multiple times, but the event that led to global expansion occurred less than 100,000 years ago. Some researchers hypothesize that dispersals were restricted to "green corridors" formed during humid intervals when food was abundant and human populations expanded in lockstep with their environments.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Understanding soil carbon's sensitivity to increasing global temperatures
Particulate soil carbon may be more vulnerable to microbial decomposition under warmer temperatures associated with climate change.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

US and Germany partnering on mission to track Earth's water movement
NASA and the German Space Agency at DLR (German Aerospace Center) have agreed to jointly build, launch, and operate a pair of spacecraft that will yield insights into how Earth's water, ice, and land masses are shifting by measuring monthly changes in the planet's gravity field. Tracking large-scale mass changes—showing when and where water moves within and between the atmosphere, oceans, underground aquifers, and ice sheets—provides a view into Earth's water cycle, including changes in response to drivers like climate change.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Vietnam farmers struggle for fresh water as drought brings salinization
Every day, farmer Nguyen Hoai Thuong prays in vain for rain to fall on the cracked dry earth of her garden in Vietnam's Mekong Delta—the country's "rice bowl" agricultural heartland.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 18th, 2024

A holistic look at Earth's chemical cycling sheds light on how the planet stays habitable
We all know Earth is special, but we may not fully appreciate how good we have it on this planet. Unlike its planetary neighbors, Earth has remained habitable for billions of years thanks to a complicated, ever-changing dance of elements.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Advancements in greenhouse spike detection with deep learning for enhanced phenotypic trait analysis
Accurate extraction of phenotypic traits from image data is essential for cereal crop research, but spike detection in greenhouses is challenging due to the environmental and physical similarities between spikes and leaves.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Artificial streams reveal how drought shapes California's alpine ecosystems
A network of artificial streams is teaching scientists how California's mountain waterways—and the ecosystems that depend on them—may be impacted by a warmer, drier climate.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Cacao plants' defense against toxic cadmium unveiled
Researchers from the University Grenoble Alpes (UGA), France, together with the ESRF, the European Synchrotron located in Grenoble, France, used ESRF's bright X-rays to unveil how cacao trees protect themselves from toxic metal cadmium. This knowledge is relevant as new EU regulations restrict cadmium concentration in chocolate.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

California's new megafires are taking a toll on wildlife habitat, researchers find
Long-toed salamanders top the list of more than 500 animals whose habitats burned during massive fires in 2020 and 2021.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Can used coffee grounds help clean up environmental toxins?
Global coffee consumption generates millions of tons of spent coffee grounds each year, which can be damaging to wildlife and the environment.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Climate change alters the hidden microbial food web in peatlands, study shows
The humble peat bog conjures images of a brown, soggy expanse. But it turns out to have a superpower in the fight against climate change.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Communities more likely to adopt conservation measures if their neighbors have, says study
A new paper published in Global Environmental Change featuring Imperial College London researchers explores how Indigenous-led initiatives can be scaled to protect marine ecosystems.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Computer model helps grape growers adapt to shorter winters
As the climate changes, winter is shortening, causing vines and trees to bud earlier in the year, thereby increasing the chances they will be exposed to spring cold snaps and frost that can be hazardous to yields.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Erratic Weather, Erratic Mood? What to Know About Spring Fever
Spring is full of changes. Here's what to know about spring-time euphoria and how to tell you need help for mood changes.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

How a snowmobile tour company is getting ready for a future with less snow
Snow and ice conditions have gotten less reliable in the Charlevoix region near Quebec City.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Livestock farming is responsible for up to a quarter of air pollution in Lombardy region: Study
Agricultural activities and livestock farming are key contributors to the concentrations of hazardous pollutants for health and the environment in the atmosphere, but the potential action in these sectors is often overlooked in public debate.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Modulate: Reducing toxicity in online games is a positive for profits
How Modulate's AI-assisted voice moderation tool ToxMod isn't just efficient at tackling toxicity but results in increased user retention and spending
March 18th, 2024 — Source

New composite decking could reduce global warming effects of building materials
Buildings and production of the materials used in their construction emit a lot of carbon dioxide (CO²), a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. But storing CO² in building materials could help make them more environmentally friendly.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

New study uncovers how hydrogen provided energy at life's origin
Hydrogen gas is a clean fuel. It burns with oxygen in the air to provide energy with no CO². Hydrogen is a key to sustainable energy for the future. Though humans are just now coming to realize the benefits of hydrogen gas (H² in chemical shorthand), microbes have known that H² is a good fuel for as long as there has been life on Earth. Hydrogen is ancient energy.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Pesticide-free as a new pathway for agriculture
A new approach is gaining momentum in European agriculture: a "third way" that lies between conventional production and organic farming systems. Here farmers must forego synthetic pesticides only—which is simpler to implement than a switch to organic farming.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Rapid study of Kakhovka Dam breach impacts will support biodiversity's recovery
UK scientists' unprecedented rapid assessment of the environmental impacts of the Kakhovka Dam's breach will support international action to restore a biodiversity hotspot.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Reimagining the future of solar energy
Scientists are always on the lookout for ways to make our world a better place, and one area they're focusing on is solar energy. One idea in this area is to make solar cells more efficient by concentrating more solar light on them.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Reimagining the future of solar energy
Scientists are always on the lookout for ways to make our world a better place, and one area they're focusing on is solar energy. One idea in this area is to make solar cells more efficient by concentrating more solar light onto them. While investigating this recently, a group of scientists at the Cavendish Laboratory and AMOLF (Amsterdam NL) have found that improving solar cells efficiency in this way is harder than we might think but have discovered other avenues by which it might be possible to improve solar energy capture anywhere on the planet.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Research could advance soft robotics manufacturing and design
Soft robots use pliant materials such as elastomers to interact safely with the human body and other challenging, delicate objects and environments. A team of Rice University researchers has developed an analytical model that can predict the curing time of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers as a function of temperature.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop genomic method of monitoring for pesticide resistance
Farmers rely on pesticides to control agricultural pests. But insects often develop resistance to the toxins in pesticides. University of Maryland researchers have developed and successfully tested a strategy for using genomics to monitor for and identify emerging resistance to specific toxins early, well before it becomes a widespread problem.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Research team designs new porous materials to advance environmental remediation research
In a landmark achievement, the Functional Materials Group (FMG) led by Prof. Dr. Bassam Alameddine, has propelled porous materials research to new horizons. The latest endeavor was highlighted in a study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces showcasing the FMG's pioneering work in designing new materials that uptake carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and iodine gases, thus, igniting interest across scientific communities worldwide.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Scientists find evidence of a wetter world, recorded in Australian coral colony
When climate scientists look to the future to determine what the effects of climate change may be, they use computer models to simulate potential outcomes such as how precipitation will change in a warming world.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Scientists hack weather satellite data to quantify methane leaks
Satellites sitting more than 22,200 miles above the Earth's surface have been capturing storms and weather data for decades. Now, scientists have essentially hacked the data coming back for another purpose: spotting methane emissions.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Self-heating concrete is one step closer to putting snow shovels and salt out of business
Drexel researchers show concrete with phase-change material can warm itself when temperatures fall
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Study explores how wind turbine visibility affects property values across the US
Renewable energy sources are essential for transitioning towards a decarbonized energy system and making the electricity grid more environmentally sustainable. Clean energy alternatives like wind power can effectively replace fossil fuels, contributing to reduced air pollution and slowing down climate change.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Study highlights achievements of the scientific drilling of Songliao Basin
Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, the increase in carbon dioxide emissions has consistently warmed the Earth's climate. At the current warming rate, our planet might potentially be on track toward witnessing a greenhouse climate state with no ice on polar caps.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Sustainable biomass production capacity could triple US bioeconomy, report finds
The United States could triple its current economy by producing more than 1 billion tons per year of plant-based biomass for renewable fuels while meeting projected demands for food, feed, fiber, conventional forest products, and exports, according to the Department of Energy's latest Billion-Ton Report led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

The hands-on drive for sustainable living in Europe
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

The last mile's at risk in our hostile environment. Let's go the extra mile to fix it
The web doesn't work 'cos the vandals used a candle
March 18th, 2024 — Source

This little carbon-sucking machine could crack DAC's big energy problem
Direct air capture is expensive. UK startup Mission Zero believes it has a fix
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Transforming wood waste for sustainable manufacturing
Lignin, a complex organic polymer, is one of the main components of wood, providing structural support and rigidity to make trees strong enough to withstand the elements. When transforming wood into paper, lignin is a key ingredient that must be removed, and it often becomes waste.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Two-faced solar panels can generate more power at up to 70% less cost
Scientists at the University of Surrey have built a new kind of solar panel with two faces, both of them pretty.
March 18th, 2024 — Source or Source

Unlocking clearer views of our world's water: A Landsat legacy
Satellite remote sensing is vital for monitoring marine and freshwater ecosystems, leveraging missions like SeaWiFS, MODIS, MERIS, Landsat, and Sentinel to track water parameters such as chlorophyll, sediment, and temperature. The dynamic nature of water bodies demands high-frequency observations for accuracy, with limitations highlighted by factors like clouds and sunlight.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Urban greening can lead to an increase of rodent-borne zoonotic pathogens
Wild rodents can host a great diversity of zoonotic pathogens. Rodents that live close to humans increase the likelihood of the transfer of such pathogens. "Changes in the environment, such as urban greening, can increase the presence of rodents and result in a higher human disease risk in urban areas," states Marieke de Cock based on her research. She successfully defended her Ph.D. from Wageningen University & Research on March 15, 2024.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 15th, 2024

3 Reasons Home Solar Panels Might Not Be Worth Installing On Your House
As technology advances and prices increase, everyone is looking for ways to cut corners and save a penny or two. Enter solar panels, which have only continued to rise in popularity with a 10% increase in shipments into the U.S. in 2022 (following a 34% increase between 2020 and 2021), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Advocates push to extend Lake Tahoe restoration for another decade
Against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol, Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., and other local advocates called on Congress to extend funding to support environmental preservation in the cherished Lake Tahoe region for another decade.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

AI unlocks new solar energy horizons in China
In a new study published in the Journal of Remote Sensing in February 2024, researchers utilized data augmentation alongside the LightGBM machine learning model for the estimation of both diffuse and direct solar radiation.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

An invisible water surcharge: Climate warming increases crop water demand in the San Joaquin Valley
University of California researchers from the Secure Water Future project recently found that increases in crop water demand explain half of the cumulative deficits of the agricultural water balance since 1980, exacerbating water reliance on depleting groundwater supplies and fluctuating surface water imports.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Arctic cooperation at a standstill because of Russia's war in Ukraine: Report
A new ZOiS Report analyzes the various effects of Russia's war against Ukraine on the Arctic region. The authors also assess how a baseline of coordination with Russia on the vital issues of security and climate change could be re-established for the sake of the common good.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Damaged coral reefs can be saved with enticing underwater soundscape, study suggests
"If we can save reefs, we can save anything"
March 14th, 2024 — Source

China's urban jungles: How city parks are winning the battle against concrete
In the face of rapid urbanization, China has embarked on an impressive journey of urban greening, transforming the environmental narrative from degradation to sustainability. The collaboration between the University of Copenhagen and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has yielded groundbreaking insights through satellite analysis of the evolution of greenness in over 974 cities from 2000 to 2020.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Climate: Carbon capture tech is booming, and confusing
Humanity's failure to reduce planet-heating carbon pollution—at record levels in 2023—has thrust once-marginal options for capping or reducing CO² in the atmosphere to center stage.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Compact robot takes flight to support CERISS initiative
A new robot will be taking flight soon to test its ability to support biological and physical science experiments in microgravity. As one of NASA's 2023 TechFlights selections, this compact robot will have a chance to fly on a commercial suborbital flight to see just how well it can perform in a space environment.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Deadly morel mushroom outbreak highlights big gaps in fungi knowledge
Prized morels are unpredictably and puzzlingly deadly, outbreak report shows.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Earth just had its warmest February on record: Report/NCEI
Last month continued the world's record-warm streak, with February 2024 ranking as the planet's warmest February on record—the ninth month in a row of record-warm months.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Even inactive deep-sea 'smokers' are densely colonized by microbial communities, study shows
Under certain conditions microbial communities can grow and thrive, even in places that are seemingly uninhabitable. This is the case at inactive hydrothermal vents on the sea floor. An international team that includes researchers from MARUM—Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen, is presently working to accurately quantify how much inorganic carbon can be bound in these environments.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Global climate databases work with incorrect data for the tropics, study shows
Accurate climate data is immensely important for climate change predictions and modeling. Using a unique climate data set of 170 stations, mainly from the mountains of Tanzania including Kilimanjaro, Dr. Andreas Hemp, researcher at the Chair of Plant Systematics at the University of Bayreuth, shows that the commonly used data sets are inaccurate.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Global warming may intensify the modulation of tropical cyclone genesis by summer intraseasonal oscillation
Global warming, the long-term warming of Earth's overall temperature, has greatly accelerated in the last 100 years due to human factors such as the burning of fossil fuels. Along with this trend, certain atmospheric phenomena have also changed, such as typhoons and other types of disastrous weather becoming more intense than before and bringing about more serious impacts.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

New framework embraces uncertainty to make sense of history
There are many things we don't know about how history unfolds. The process might be impersonal, even inevitable, as some social scientists have suggested; human societies might be doomed to decline. Or, individual actions and environmental conditions might influence our communities' trajectories. Social scientists have struggled to find a consensus on such fundamental issues.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

New method for tracking water bodies improves security against extreme events
Surface water (SW) is crucial for life, ecosystems, and human activities, serving many functions from climate regulation to supporting biodiversity and agriculture. It's highly dynamic, influenced by climate change, land use alterations, and human interventions such as dam construction, making its monitoring essential for effective management and conservation.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Oil resources should stay underground to meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement, study finds
In order to limit the increase in global average temperature to 1.5°C, it is essential to drastically reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the atmosphere. This would mean not exploiting most of the existing coal, conventional gas and oil energy resources in regions around the world, according to research led by the University of Barcelona and published in the journal Nature Communications.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Revealing environmental exposure to liquid crystal monomers from digital displays
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are synthetic organic chemicals used in manufacturing liquid crystal displays (LCDs) present in numerous digital electronic devices. As the use of digital electronics, such as computers and smartphones, becomes increasingly prevalent, concerns over LCM exposure have risen to prominence as a public health issue.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Satellite data unlocks drought impact on southwest China's carbon cycle
Over the past four decades, Southwest China has been a major carbon sink, significantly mitigating anthropogenic CO² emissions. However, recent severe droughts, especially from 2009 to 2013 and in 2022, have drastically reduced its carbon absorption capacity by affecting vegetation and biomass.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Solar Panel Credits 2024: How Much Can You Save And How To See If You Qualify
Solar panels are not inexpensive. Costing anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000, not including the hidden costs of solar panels, this type of installation is usually a significant investment for the home buyer. Additionally, the estimated cost could easily go up based on how many solar panels you need to power your home. That said, although the upfront cost is undeniably high, solar panels work out to be more economical in the long term.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Study finds lands used for grazing can worsen or help climate change
When it comes to global climate change, livestock grazing can be either a blessing or a curse, according to a new study, which offers clues on how to tell the difference.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

UK fusion startup trials plasma-stabilising laser for 'holy grail' of energy
The laser looks to control plasma which is six times hotter than the sun and moving at superspeed
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking the climate secrets of North China with ancient tree rings
A study published in the Journal of Geographical Sciences reveals a novel method for reconstructing historical warm season temperatures in North China. Utilizing the blue intensity (BI) of tree rings of Picea meyeri, researchers have developed a 281-year chronology, offering unprecedented insights into the region's climatic past.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Which actions benefit the climate the most? This tool can show you.
The online tool called En-ROADS helps communities understand which policies will help the most.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Wildfire smoke warnings need to be issued sooner, study finds
Environmental and public health agencies often don't warn people about smoke-choked air until it's already swept in, a new study from the University of Oregon suggests.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

World's first N-channel diamond field-effect transistor for CMOS integrated circuits
A National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) research team has developed the world's first n-channel diamond MOSFET (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor). The developed n-channel diamond MOSFET provides a key step toward CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor: one of the most popular technologies in the computer chip) integrated circuits for harsh environment applications, as well as the development of diamond power electronics.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 14th, 2024

A 790,000 year-old asteroid impact could explain seafloor spherules
Our solar system does not exist in isolation. It formed within a stellar nursery along with hundreds of sibling stars, and even today has the occasional interaction with interstellar objects such as 'Oumuamua and Borisov. So it's reasonable to presume that some interstellar material has reached Earth.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Advanced analytical technologies for controlling medical cannabis production
To facilitate the use of cannabis in the medical field, researchers from the IBeA group of the UPV/EHU have developed a rapid analytical technique for the strict control of the growth of cannabis plants. The plants have been classified according to cannabinoid type using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Advances and challenges in understanding compound weather and climate extremes
In the context of global warming, many extremes, such as heat waves, heavy precipitation, and droughts, have become increasingly frequent and intense, as expected theoretically. Somewhat unexpectedly, these extremes have also exhibited tightened linkage in both time and space, constituting compound weather and climate extremes with larger impacts.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

An electricity generator inspired by the drinking bird toy powers electronics with evaporated water
Inspired by the classic drinking bird toy, scientists in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China have developed an engine that efficiently converts energy from water evaporation into electricity to power small electronics. The device produces energy outputs exceeding 100 volts—much higher than other techniques that generate electricity from water—and can operate for several days using only 100 milliliters of water as fuel, according to a study published March 14 in the journal Device.
March 14th, 2024 — Source or Source

Analyzing impact of climate flooding images and political cues in news coverage
According to a Rutgers study, news stories that include vivid photos of episodic climate change-related flooding (specifically flooded houses) significantly increase Americans' perception of such flooding as a threat.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Ancient ice may still exist in distant space objects, researchers find
Study challenges existing predictions and opens up new avenues for understanding the nature of comets and their origins
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Arizona's most populous county has confirmed 645 heat-associated deaths in metro Phoenix last year
Public health officials in Arizona's most populous county on Wednesday reported they confirmed a staggering 645 heat-associated deaths last year—more than 50% higher than 2022 and another consecutive annual record in arid metro Phoenix.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Bosnia's lithium discovery raises hopes and fears
In northeast Bosnia's rolling hills, the local community is torn between fears of environmental ruin and hopes of riches from huge deposits of the critical minerals Europe needs for its green transition.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Caffeine makes fuel cells more efficient, cuts cost of energy storage
Boffins show less platinum may be needed for long-lived power source
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Consumers across political spectrum share food pricing frustrations
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign agricultural and consumer economist Maria Kalaitzandonakes recently completed a survey of U.S. consumers, gauging their perceptions of market share and tendency to overcharge by different players in the food system.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Defective thermoplastic composite parts can be reborn with better characteristics
Skoltech researchers have demonstrated that reinforced plastics can be recycled without loss of original mechanical properties, sometimes even with improved characteristics. Published in Composites Communications, the Source brings hope for an environmentally sounder—and economically viable—production of construction parts, car, aircraft, and marine vessel components, high-end sports equipment and other articles that currently end their service life in landfills.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Diverse habitats help salmon weather unpredictable climate changes, says studynto River.
Restored salmon habitat should resemble financial portfolios, offering fish diverse options for feeding and survival so that they can weather various conditions as the climate changes, a new study shows.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Dragonflies with waxy coating better able to resist a warming climate, research suggests
A trio of biologists at the University of Colorado has found that dragonflies that cover themselves in a waxy coating fare better as the climate grows warmer and drier in regions where they live. In their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Michael Moore, Sarah Nalley and Dalal Hamadah tested the impact of pruinescence in two ways with dragonflies living in dry parts of North America.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

During This Year's Eclipse, Watch Closely For This Mysterious Phenomenon
On April 8, much of North America is in for an infrequent and quite breathtaking cosmic event. The moon will pass over the sun, creating a total solar eclipse in specific regions at specific times. For those hoping to witness this remarkable moment, there are multiple times and places where the eclipse will be visible.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Forest and stream habitats keep energy exchanges in balance, global team finds
Forests and streams are separate but linked ecosystems, existing side by side, with energy and nutrients crossing their porous borders and flowing back and forth between them. For example, leaves fall from trees, enter streams, decay and feed aquatic insects. Those insects emerge from the waters and are eaten by birds and bats.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Gov. Shapiro calls for Pennsylvania carbon cap and trade market, plus higher clean energy requirements
Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled his energy strategy on March 12, a two-pronged approach that would create a carbon cap and trade market in Pennsylvania and boost the amount of clean energy delivered to electric utility consumers in the state.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Increasing participation in the energy transition: Making community energy cooperatives more diverse
The term "community energy" can be applied to a variety of projects, some of which are more grassroots-focused ("grassroots movement"), while others are professionally managed, large-scale energy projects.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

It's hearty, it's meaty, it's mold: Hacking the genome of fungi for smart foods of the future
With animal-free dairy products and convincing vegetarian meat substitutes already on the market, it's easy to see how biotechnology can change the food industry. Advances in genetic engineering are allowing us to harness microorganisms to produce cruelty-free products that are healthy for consumers and healthier for the environment.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

'Just watch us': Gates-backed TerraPower is bullish on being the first next-gen nuclear plant in U.S.
Inside TerraPower's cavernous 65,000 square-foot laboratory north of Seattle, there's a suite of stations for experimenting with new materials and cutting-edge methods for generating nuclear power.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Perovskite solar cells: Vacuum process may offer a short track to commercialization
Research and industry worldwide work on the commercialization of perovskite photovoltaics. Most research laboratories focus on solvent-based manufacturing processes because these methods are versatile and easy to use. Established photovoltaic industries, however, almost exclusively apply vacuum processes for the deposition of high-quality thin films.
March 14th, 2024 — Source or Source

Plant identification via app enables phenological monitoring
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena and the Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany, have shown that plant observations collected with plant identification apps such as Flora Incognita allow statements to be made about the developmental stages of plants—both on a small scale and across Europe.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop a new type of frequency comb that promises to further boost the accuracy of timekeeping
Chip-based devices known as frequency combs, which measure the frequency of light waves with unparalleled precision, have revolutionized timekeeping, the detection of planets outside of our solar system and high-speed optical communication.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers find new ways to regulate hole transport layer for efficient perovskite solar cells
According to a study published in Nano Energy, a research group led by Prof. Chen Chong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has increased the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to 24.5%.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers help robots navigate efficiently in uncertain environments
If a robot traveling to a destination has just two possible paths, it needs only to compare the routes' travel time and probability of success. But if the robot is traversing a complex environment with many possible paths, choosing the best route amid so much uncertainty can quickly become an intractable problem.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers offer unique way to monitor carbon emissions in bodies of water
Carbon dioxide emissions are not typically associated with water ways, like streams and rivers, but emerging research shows that water bodies play an important role in storing and releasing carbon dioxide.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers: Sweden has vast 'old growth' forests, but they are being chopped down faster than the Amazon
Most of Europe's natural ecosystems have been lost over the centuries. However, a sizeable amount of natural old forest still exists, especially in the north. These "old-growth" forests are exceptionally valuable as they tend to host more species, store more carbon, and are more resilient to environmental change.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Scientists can now remove nanoplastics from our water with 94% efficiency
University of Waterloo researchers have created a new technology that can remove harmful nanoplastics from contaminated water with 94% efficiency. The study, "Utilization of epoxy thermoset waste to produce activated carbon for the remediation of nano-plastic contaminated wastewater," was published in the journal Separation and Purification Technology.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Shade-grown coffee demonstrates the benefits of combining agriculture and conservation
Increasing shade cover over coffee plants can increase biodiversity and provide new ways to combine agriculture and conservation, a new study has revealed.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Sheep are living their best life at Susquehanna University
They're eating the grass and weeds that grow around the Pennsylvania college's solar array.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Surprising insights about debris flows on Mars
Research pushes the presence of water on Mars further into the past
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Total solar eclipses provide an opportunity to engage with science, culture and history
On April 8, 2024, there will be a total solar eclipse in Canada. This is an opportunity to experience, learn from and participate in the excitement and wonder. And rather than hiding inside, researchers have been communicating how people can safely enjoy this unique opportunity.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

We just had the warmest February on record
February 2024 was the planet's ninth consecutive warmest month on record, according to NOAA.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

What Can A 400 Watt Solar Panel Power?
Electricity changed human history forever. We are desperately reliant on it for everything, even the most basic things like cooking food and heating our homes in some cases. The United States is going through an energy crisis, however, with electricity prices rising all over the country.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

What Happens To Solar Panels At The End Of Their Lifespan?
Few items on a house make it look more futuristic and conscious of the environment than a roof topped off with solar panels. They've become increasingly cost-efficient, and there have been some breakthroughs that may dramatically increase the reliability of solar technology in the future. Solar panels today can last for a couple decades before getting enough of the sun and breaking down
March 14th, 2024 — Source

With discovery of roundworms, Great Salt Lake's imperiled ecosystem gets more interesting
Biologists announce the discovery of numerous species of roundworm in the highly saline waters of Great Salt Lake, the vast terminal lake in northwestern Utah that supports millions of migratory birds. Previously, brine shrimp and brine flies were the only known multicellular animals living in the water column. The scientists found nematodes, belonging to a family known for inhabiting extreme environments, in the lake's microbialites, reef-like structures covering about a fifth of the lakebed.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Women favor climate actions that benefit future generations more than men, research shows
The decisions we make now inevitably shape the prospects for generations to come. So tackling a long-term problem like climate change raises an intergenerational moral dilemma: should we invest in solutions that might not personally benefit ourselves but will help future generations reach net zero—or should money be spent to ensure everyone right now has the best possible quality of life?
March 14th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 11th, 2024

A Total Solar Eclipse Is 'Radically Different' From a 99% Eclipse, Experts Say
If you live in the US and you've never seen totality, the upcoming April 8 eclipse might be worth going the (literal) extra mile.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

April's eclipse will mean interruptions in solar power generation, which could strain electrical grids
During the most recent total solar eclipse visible in the U.S., on Aug. 21, 2017, the skies darkened as the moon crossed in front of the sun. It blocked out all sunlightâ€"except for that from a golden ring visible around the moon's shape, called the corona. Not surprisingly, solar power generation across North America plummeted for several hours, from the first moment the moon began to obscure the sun to when the sun's disk was clear again.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Asia Pacific tops list of most impacted by weather perils
Climate change will be the main driver of future economic risks, with countries in the Asia Pacific region among the most vulnerable to extreme weather events, according to new analysis.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Connecticut
With state-level incentives like property and sales tax exemptions, installing solar panels in Connecticut is a great way to help you save money on your bills.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in New Mexico
With some of the best peak sunlight hours in the country and solid state-level financial incentives, could the switch to clean energy in New Mexico be right for you?
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in North Dakota
North Dakota ranks last for solar, but net metering policies and property tax exemptions on solar panels can still help you switch to clean energy in the state.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

'Bypass surgery for the Everglades': Scientists detail latest on restoration efforts
When Steve Davis jumped out of the airboat and into the water in the middle of the Everglades, it rose to just below his waist, higher than last year when it pooled around his knees.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

California can't let big polluters win by undermining climate change disclosure laws
California took a big step last fall when lawmakers passed a pair of laws requiring big companies doing business in the state to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risks, shining a light on their role in fueling the climate crisis.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Climate change means beer made from sewer water, says North Carolina brewery
Water? Like from the toilet?
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Cutting carbon emissions on the US power grid: Online model enables users to calculate the least-cost strategy
To help curb climate change, the United States is working to reduce carbon emissions from all sectors of the energy economy. Much of the current effort involves electrification—switching to electric cars for transportation, electric heat pumps for home heating, and so on.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks, researchers say
Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world and governments are too slow in taking action to reduce these climate risks. According to co-authors Robbert Biesbroek and Simona Pedde of Wageningen University & Research, many of these risks, which threaten our food security and financial stability, among other things, have already reached critical levels and could become catastrophic without a change of mindset towards urgent and decisive action.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Europe must do more against 'catastrophic' climate risks: EU
Europe could suffer "catastrophic" consequences from climate change if it fails to take urgent and decisive action to adapt to risks, a new EU analysis warned Monday.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Four most polluted national park sites are in California
A couple years ago, as part of the Sierra Club's Outdoors for All campaign, Roberto Morales took a group of low-income Los Angeles area residents north to Sequoia National Park to help with a forest restoration project.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

How nature-based knowledge can restore local ecosystems and improve community well-being
Organizations in the food and agriculture sector have been looking to nature for inspiration to improve soil health, maintain water quality and foster local food security in the places where they operate.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

In New York City, heat pumps that fit in apartment windows promise big emissions cuts
For 27 years, the heat in Regina Fred's Queens apartment building came from a noisy steam radiator that she couldn't control and sometimes didn't come on at all, leaving her shivering. Sometimes, the radiators ran so hot that residents had to keep their windows open in the middle of winter for relief.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

New study reveals transgenerational effects of pesticide linuron on frogs
Grand-offspring of male frogs exposed to the pesticide linuron exhibited changes in their DNA that were linked to significant physiological impacts, a study from Stockholm University reveals. The research highlights the profound transgenerational consequences of environmental pollution on amphibian populations, which are already under threat of extinction.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Pioneering agricultural resilience and sustainability in the face of climate change
With climate change and growing global populations posing increasing threats to food security, the quest for agricultural sustainability and the resilience of crop yields becomes paramount. Current research strategies focus on genetic improvements to cultivate crop varieties better suited to these changes, alongside refining crop management practices to enhance resource efficiency.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Pressed for space, solar farms are getting creative
Solar power is expected to dominate global electricity markets in the next few decades, and already accounts for three-quarters of renewable energy capacity, according to the International Energy Agency. This year, BloombergNEF predicts solar builds will climb another 25%, adding more than 500 gigawatts of capacity.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Researchers create global maps to show changes in irrigation across the planet
Of all the ways that humans consume water, there is no practice that uses more water than irrigation, which accounts for more than 90% of humanity's water consumption. While irrigation is necessary to help increase global crop production, it can simultaneously lead to stress on freshwater resources if it is not done in a sustainable manner leaving insufficient supply for nature and for other human needs.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Researchers discover new insights hiding above a 60-year-old fire
Microbes are vital to maintaining healthy, fertile soil, which, in turn, is vital to the overall health of ecosystems. But what happens to these microbes when humans cause long-term damage to the environment?
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Restored coral reefs can grow as fast as healthy reefs after just four years, researchers find
The coral reefs of south Sulawesi are some of the most diverse, colorful and vibrant in the world. At least, they used to be, until they were decimated by dynamite fishing in the 1990s.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Rock weathering and climate: Low-relief mountain ranges are largest carbon sinks
How erosion and weathering affect the co2 budget over millions of years
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Root phenotyping research: Automated total root length estimation from in situ images without segmentation
Climate change stresses severely limit crop yields, with root traits playing a vital role in stress tolerance, thus highlighting the importance of root phenotyping for crop improvement. Recent advances in image-based root phenotyping, particularly through the minirhizotron (MR) technique, offer insights into root dynamics under stress. However, the manual and subjective nature of MR image analysis poses significant challenges.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Satellite measurements show that global carbon emissions are still rising
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), human activities have significantly impacted the planet. As global greenhouse gas emissions (mainly carbon dioxide) have continued to increase, so too have global temperatures with severe ecological consequences. Between 2011 and 2020, global surface temperatures rose by an estimated 1.07°C (2.01°F) above the average in 1850â€"1900.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Scientists Discover the World's Oldest Fossilized Forest in Wales
The forest stood some 390 million years ago when life on Earth looked much different than it does today.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Scientists design bifunctional catalyst to address environmental pollution problems
A team of researchers from Bohai University in China has designed and synthesized a bifunctional catalyst that can solve the environmental pollution caused by mustard gas and phenolic compounds.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Scientists reveal effect of land conditions on Asian monsoon climate
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used numerical simulations to show how conditions on land impact weather during Asian summer monsoons. Focusing on the Tibetan plateau, they studied how varied land conditions combined with fixed maritime conditions illuminate the specific effects of the land on the weather.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Shields up: New ideas might make active shielding viable
Active shielding was first proposed in the '60s. We're finally close to making it work.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Study explores impacts of Arctic warming on daily weather patterns in the US
Arctic sea ice is shrinking as the world continues to warm, and a new study led by researchers at Penn State may provide a better understanding of how the loss of this ice may impact daily weather in the middle latitudes, including the United States.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Study raises concerns over rising river temperatures in Scotland
Rivers in Scotland's west and northwest could be the most sensitive to climate change and should be monitored more closely, according to a study, published in the journal, Science of The Total Environment, by scientists at The James Hutton Institute and the University of Aberdeen.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Tesla Powerwall 2 Review: A Well-Rounded Solar Battery With a Lower Price
The Tesla Powerwall is CNET's best overall solar battery for its well-rounded specs, few weaknesses and cheaper price.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

The Great Barrier Reef's latest bout of bleaching is the fifth in eight summers—the corals now have almost no reprieve
For the fifth time in just the past eight summers "2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and now 2024" huge swathes of the Great Barrier Reef are experiencing extreme heat stress that has triggered yet another episode of mass coral bleaching.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

The world is not moving fast enough on climate change—social sciences can help explain why
In late 2023 the United States government released its Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA). The NCA is a semi-regular summation of the impacts of climate change upon the U.S. and the fifth assessment was notable for being the first to include a chapter on social systems and justice.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Total solar eclipse 2024: The moon's moment in the sun
On April 8, 2024, much of North America will experience a solar eclipse: a cosmic alignment of sun, moon, and Earth, in that order. The moon's shadow path will make landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast, cross the United States from Texas to Maine, and exit North America via Newfoundland, Canada, continuing into the Atlantic Ocean.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

We need to talk about food prices
They're one indicator of the havoc that climate change is wreaking.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Why more CO² could be bad news for crops
Carbon dioxide can boost photosynthesis, but that benefit can be outweighed by an increased risk of damage from extreme weather.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 8th, 2024

5 Common Myths About Solar Panels: And The Facts Behind Them
The equipment required for a solar power system varies slightly depending on whether it's off-grid or grid-tied. However, both types start with solar panels. Solar panels contain multiple photovoltaic (PV) cells, also known as solar cells, that use the sun's energy to excite electrons and create streams of electricity.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

A new approach to 24/7 air quality monitoring using cameras
Air pollution is a critical global health issue, demanding innovative monitoring solutions. Traditional methods, reliant on ground stations, are expensive and geographically limited, hindering comprehensive coverage.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Can we connect renewable energy hubs with electricity consumption hubs?
A new approach to grid planning could make it possible to power your home with the nation's best and lowest-cost wind and solar energy, no matter where you live.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Detroiters more likely to support local solar development if they think it reduces energy prices for their community
Michigan residents overwhelmingly want more solar power.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Good news for coral reef restoration efforts: Study finds 'full recovery' of reef growth within four years
While the majority of the world's reefs are now under threat or even damaged potentially beyond repair, a new study offers some encouraging news: efforts to restore coral reefs not only increase coral cover, but they can also bring back important ecosystem functions, and surprisingly fast.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Google's super high-tech new office building has terrible Wi-Fi
Is that weird roof design to blame?
March 8th, 2024 — Source

High-energy laser weapons: How they work, what they are used for
Nations around the world are rapidly developing high-energy laser weapons for military missions on land and sea, and in the air and space. Visions of swarms of small, inexpensive drones filling the skies or skimming across the waves are motivating militaries to develop and deploy laser weapons as an alternative to costly and potentially overwhelmed missile-based defenses.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

How green corridors are breathing new life into French forests
In the summer of 2008, during a family holiday road trip, we passed by the Aquitaine region in southwestern France. As we drove through a sprawling woodland, a mesmerizing sight unfolded before my eyes: a meticulously ordered army of trees, standing tall and proud. It could have been an army regiment classified by age.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Improving wood products could be a key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, researchers suggest
Harnessing the ability of wood products to store carbon even after harvest could have a significant effect on greenhouse gas emissions and change commonly accepted forestry practices, a new study from NC State researchers suggests.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Inland waters are a blind spot in greenhouse gas emissions
In a new review published in theJournal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, Qianqian Yang and colleagues summarize what's known about carbon dioxide and methane release from China's inland waterways and suggest that a widespread monitoring network could help researchers understand this important aspect of climate change.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Irrigation tech startup led by farming experts blossoms with revenue growth and new cash
New name, new funding: CODA Farm Technologies, an agtech company founded by two brothers with farming roots, has changed its name and landed some cash. The startup, based north of Seattle, has raised a $750,000 seed round and is now FarmHQ, which is also the name of its irrigation hardware and software platform.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Mapping the future's sweet spot for clean energy and biodiversity
Climate change is driving both the loss of biodiversity and the need for clean, renewable energy. It is also shifting where species are expected to live in the future. Yet these realities are rarely considered together. Where can clean energy projects be built without impacting the future habitat ranges of threatened and endangered species?
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Open creativity: Increased creativity due to network relationships
A paper published in International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management aims to show that the network of frequent relationships established between agents in coworking environments, through weak ties, increases the generation of ideas. The paper is titled "Open Creativity: Increased Creativity Due to Network Relationships in Coworking Environments."
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Physicists develop a modular robot with liquid and solid properties
Schools of fish, colonies of bees, and murmurations of starlings (Youtube) exhibit swarming behavior in nature, flowing like a liquid in synchronized, shape-shifting coordination. Through the lens of fluid mechanics, swarming is of particular interest to physicists like Heinrich Jaeger, the University of Chicago Sewell Avery Distinguished Service Professor in Physics and the James Franck Institute, and James Franck Institute research staff scientist Baudouin Saintyves, who apply physics principles to the development of modular, adaptive robotics.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Primatologist observes how monkeys change behavior to survive deforestation
Deep within the forest, monkeys can be very social creatures: they play, fight, vocalize, and even groom one another within their social groups. But as University of Toronto Mississauga primatologist Laura Bolt and her colleagues have recently discovered, these primates are quick to alter their natural social behaviors—and adopt new ones to ensure their survival—when their environments are impacted through deforestation.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Reduced red meat intake could hit Scotland climate goals
Scotland could make significant progress towards its climate change targets by reducing meat consumption in line with existing dietary advice, research shows.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Research links rapidly evolving photovoltaic module technologies with potential reliability impacts
Historically, photovoltaic (PV) modules have demonstrated high reliability, making them a dependable and growing part of global decarbonization efforts. PV module technology also has a history of iteration and evolution over time, with potential impacts for module reliability.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Solar Loans: What They Are and How to Get One
Solar panel systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and most people can't pay that much in cash upfront. Here's how to get solar-specific financing.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Solar project at Fort Lauderdale park keeps basketball players cool
Solar panels shade an open-air pavilion and supply clean power to the nearby African American Research Library and Cultural Center.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

The warmest winter in U.S. history leaves its mark
Snow cover was scarce, the Great Lakes were mostly ice-free, and a million-acre wildfire tore across Texas.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Transcription factors that regulate development of light organs and bioluminescence in firefly identified
Two bio-researchers, one with Huazhong Agricultural University, the other the Firefly Conservation Research Center, both in China, have identified the key transcription factors that regulate the development of light organs and bioluminescence in the firefly.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Two former CloudKitchens execs are tackling Mexico's solar power lag
For a country with some very sunny regions, Mexico has strikingly little solar power. At just over 10 gigawatts of solar capacity, it has one-eighth that of Germany, a country with less sunlight and 40% fewer people.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Warmest US winter on record
This winter was the warmest ever recorded in the mainland United States, data showed Friday—the latest sign the world is moving towards an unprecedented era as a result of the climate crisis.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Wind power surge: China's push towards a green future
The push for renewable energy is critical in addressing climate change, with wind power at the forefront. As the leading emitter of greenhouse gases, China has embarked on a transformative journey towards greener alternatives, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2060.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Wood: Building on an abundant natural resource
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 6th, 2024

A new triple-junction tandem solar cells with world-record efficiency
Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a novel triple-junction perovskite/Si tandem solar cell that can achieve a certified world-record power conversion efficiency of 27.1 per cent across a solar energy absorption area of 1 sq cm, representing the best-performing triple-junction perovskite/Si tandem solar cell thus far.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Ammonia production is filthy. This 'nitrolyzer' could clean it up
The machine can make zero-emission ammonia fertiliser directly at the farm
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Babylon Micro-Farms is bringing vertical farming to K-12 classes
In an e-mail exchange, Babylon Micro-Farms CEO Alexander Oleson tells me "we'll have these in every school and apartment one day." It's a nice vision, and really the level of belief/commitment required to run a startup — particularly in a field as oft-fraught at vertical farming.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Birds, beetles, bugs could help replace pesticides: Study
Natural predators like birds, beetles and bugs might be an effective alternative to pesticides, keeping crop-devouring pests populations down while boosting crop yields, researchers said Wednesday.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Cities are sinking, and it's making them more vulnerable to climate change
Sea level rise is a bigger problem for cities where land is sinking.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Comparable net radiation between the high-elevation Tibetan Plateau and the low-elevation Yangtze River region: Study
Land--atmosphere interactions play a crucial role in shaping Earth's climate system, profoundly influencing weather patterns, climate variables, and ecological processes. Despite being located at similar latitudes, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and Yangtze River region (YRR) represent two distinct climate zones, garnering significant attention in this field.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Comparison of diploid and triploid hybrid fish from the same parents
The determination of animal growth rate and body size is an interesting scientific issue, and understanding the molecular mechanisms involved can guide agricultural production for genetic breeding.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Designing a drone that uses adaptive invisibility: Towards autonomous sea-land-air cloaks
The idea of objects seamlessly disappearing, not just in controlled laboratory environments but also in real-world scenarios, has long captured the popular imagination. This concept epitomizes the trajectory of human civilization, from primitive camouflage techniques to the sophisticated metamaterial-based cloaks of today.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Heat pumps are keeping homes warm in Maine
Even in below-zero temperatures, electric heat pumps can be an effective and cost-effective heating option.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

How much energy will new semiconductor factories burn through in the US?
Semiconductor factories are coming back to the US, and they're going to use a lot of energy.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Ice cores suggest 16th-century pandemics may have caused declines in atmospheric CO²
hanges in human activity may have led to atmospheric CO² levels declining in the 16th century, due to large-scale land use changes in the Americas during New World-Old World contact between 1450 and 1700 CE, suggests a Nature Communications paper. The findings are based on data from an Antarctic ice core, dated up to about 500 years old.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

In peatland soil, a warmer climate and elevated carbon dioxide rapidly alter soil organic matter
Soils in northern freshwater wetlands, called peatlands, are cold, water-saturated, and acidic. These conditions slow microbes' decomposition of organic matter into greenhouse gases. This process stores carbon in the soil.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

India's 'drone sisters' steer farming and social change
Once a housewife in rural India, Sharmila Yadav always wanted to be a pilot and is now living her dream remotely, flying a heavy-duty drone across the skies to cultivate the country's picturesque farmlands.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Invasive plant time bombs: A hidden ecological threat
Invasive plants can stay dormant for decades or even centuries after they have been introduced into an environment before rapidly expanding and wreaking ecological havoc, according to a new study led by the University of California, Davis.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

IONIX Exposure Validation identifies and prioritizes exploitable vulnerabilities
IONIX announced a significant extension to its Attack Surface Management (ASM) platform, Automated Exposure Validation.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

It's time we include cities and regions as equal partners in global climate negotiations
Last year's UN climate conference (COP28) made history in Dubai by introducing—for the very first time—language on "transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems" in the final version of the negotiated text.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Metal-organic framework research makes key advance toward removing pesticide from groundwater
Scientists led by an Oregon State University chemistry researcher are closing in on a new tool for tackling the global problem of weedkiller-tainted groundwater.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Microbes impact coral bleaching susceptibility, new study shows
A new study provides insights into the role of microbes and their interaction as drivers of interspecific differences in coral thermal bleaching. The study was published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Nature experiences may hold the key to a healthier relationship with time
According to a new study published in People and Nature, there is mounting evidence that nature can help humans address the time pressure of contemporary urban lifestyles by contributing to the regulation of the human sense of time.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Nanodevices can produce energy from evaporating tap or seawater
Evaporation is a natural process so ubiquitous that most of us take it for granted. In fact, roughly half of the solar energy that reaches the earth drives evaporative processes. Since 2017, researchers have been working to harness the energy potential of evaporation via the hydrovoltaic (HV) effect, which allows electricity to be harvested when fluid is passed over the charged surface of a nanoscale device.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

New deep-sea worm discovered at methane seep off Costa Rica
Greg Rouse, a marine biologist at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and other researchers have discovered a new species of deep-sea worm living near a methane seep some 50 kilometers (30 miles) off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Rouse, curator of the Scripps Benthic Invertebrate Collection, co-authored a study describing the new species in the journal PLOS ONE.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

New hydrogen producing method is simpler and safer
Researchers in Sweden unveiled a new concept for producing hydrogen energy more efficiently, splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen without the dangerous risk of mixing the two gases.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Photocatalytic nonoxidative coupling of methane to ethylene over carbon-doped ZnO/Au catalysts
A study on the photocatalytic nonoxidative coupling of methane to ethylene over carbon-doped ZnO/Au catalysts was published by Prof. Wei Xiao (College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University) and Dr. Yuhao Peng (College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University).
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: The critical need to address chemical contamination in drinking water
A Special Issue of the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology co-edited by Yale School of Public Health Associate Professor Dr. Nicole Deziel, Ph.D., presents the latest research on exposure, health, and justice issues surrounding chemical contamination in drinking water. This Special Issue includes 17 articles authored by experts from around the globe and across multiple disciplines including environmental engineering, hydrology, exposure science, epidemiology, toxicology, and climate science.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Renewable Energy used at Canon Manufacturing Sites for Printing Business
Canon converts 100% of power to renewable energy at five manufacturing sites for printing business
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Researchers create viscose from recycled textiles
At present, viscose textiles are made of biomass from the forest, and there is no such thing as fully recycled viscose. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now succeeded in making new viscose—from worn-out cotton sheets.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

SEC adopts climate disclosure rules, giving carbon accounting startups firm footing
The SEC voted on Wednesday to require public companies to report a portion of their greenhouse gas emissions and their exposure to risks from climate change.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

SEC says companies must disclose their greenhouse gas emissions — but not all of them
The SEC voted to mandate climate disclosures, but the rules are weaker than it initially proposed.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Study explains how a fungus can control the corn leafhopper, an extremely harmful pest
The corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis has become a serious problem for farmers. This tiny insect is now widely distributed in the Americas, from the south of the United States to the north of Argentina. In Brazil, it uses only corn plants as hosts, and little is known about its survival mechanisms in the absence of these plants. In corn, it causes damage directly by sucking sap from the phloem, the vascular tissue that conducts sugar and other metabolic products downward from the leaves.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

The U.S. has never produced more energy than it does today
Oil, gas, and renewables are all growing.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Understanding wind and water at the equator are key to more accurate future climate projections: Study
Getting climate models to mimic real-time observations when it comes to warming is critical—small discrepancies can lead to misunderstandings about the rate of global warming as the climate changes. A new study from North Carolina State University and Duke University finds that when modeling warming trends in the Pacific Ocean, there is still a missing piece to the modeling puzzle: the effect of wind on ocean currents in the equatorial Pacific.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Why the US Added a Record Amount of Solar Power in 2023
More than half of the added grid capacity in 2023 was solar energy -- in large part thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act's tax incentives.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 4th, 2024

7 Tips to Avoid Getting Ripped Off When Buying Solar Panels
Most people go solar to save money, but getting stuck in a bad deal can actually cost you more. Here's how to avoid a bad solar deal.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

10 Things You Need To Know Before Installing Solar Panels On Your Home
Electricity is a crucial part of daily life. We rely on it to power appliances, and many use electricity to heat their homes and cook food. You can't even search the internet or play video games without electricity. Almost everyone pays for electricity, but how many consider where it comes from?
March 4th, 2024 — Source

As seas rise, task force recommends new bridges for Outer Banks island
Storms have repeatedly isolated North Carolina's Hatteras Island from the mainland.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Balancing building temperatures sustainably with a device requiring no extra energy
Heating and cooling buildings currently accounts for a significant portion of global energy consumption, posing a challenge for reducing reliance on fossil fuels. By using less energy to heat and cool our buildings, we can take a big step towards sustainable building practices that help reduce or eliminate consumption of fossil fuels for heating and cooling.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Hawaii
Though state incentives in Hawaii are few and far between, say aloha to solar panels for lower energy costs and a reduced carbon footprint.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Maine
Higher than average energy prices and decent state solar incentives might mean solar is right for you in the Pine Tree State.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Wyoming
With relatively low electricity rates and no state incentives, the decision to install rooftop solar in Wyoming will depend on your situation.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Climate journalism is strong in hard-hit countries
Climate change has disproportionate impacts globally, and in the most vulnerable and impacted countries, journalists report on the issue in unique and in-depth ways, according to a study published in Environmental Research Letters. The study called into question previous research that found news coverage in less-resourced countries lacked journalistic resources and scientific training.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Conservation value of field research stations grossly misunderstood and underfunded, scientists say
Funding of field conservation research stations worldwide has been drastically reduced since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising the alarm of more than 170 conservation researchers representing 157 field stations in 56 countries in a paper published in Conservation Letters.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Cost of direct air carbon capture to remain higher than hoped
Switzerland plans to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by no later than 2050. To achieve this, it will need to drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In its climate strategy, the Swiss government acknowledges that some of these emissions, particularly in agriculture and industry, are difficult or impossible to avoid.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

How one methane scientist influenced Biden's pause on LNG approvals
When the Biden administration paused approval of new liquefied natural gas export licenses in January, the decision was driven by a recognition that the climate impact from the fossil fuel needs to be reassessed.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

How to Deal With Aggressive Solar Salespeople
Here's how to spot red flags, handle aggressive "sales bros" and get the best deal when shopping for solar panels.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

How to normalize the climate conversation
It can be hard to talk to our loved ones about climate change and not 'give a talk.'
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Less ice in the Arctic ocean has complex effects on marine ecosystems and ocean productivity, study finds
Over the past 25 years, the amount of summer Arctic sea ice has diminished by more than 1 million square kilometers. As a result, vast areas of the Arctic Ocean are now, on average, ice-free in summer. Scientists are closely monitoring how this impacts sunlight availability and marine ecosystems in the far north.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Mantle convection linked to seaway closure that transformed Earth's oceanographic circulation patterns
Continental drift is a concept familiar to many, referencing the movement of Earth's continents due to shifting tectonic plates over millions of years, splitting one globe-spanning supercontinent into the configuration we see today. Alongside this there have been smaller land mass movements that have opened seaways, affecting ocean circulation patterns and climate.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Micron New York mega fab faces an environmental exam
At least the US Army is thinking about the frogs in those 226 acres of wetland
March 4th, 2024 — Source

MRI shows how crown rot infection progresses in strawberries
Researchers from the Department of Technical Physics and the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate how the pathogen Phytophthora cactorum affects the growth and development of strawberry plants. This pathogen causes crown rot in strawberries and can lead to significant losses on horticultural crops.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Multiple spacecraft tell the story of one giant solar storm
April 17, 2021, was a day like any other day on the sun, until a brilliant flash erupted and an enormous cloud of solar material billowed away from our star. Such outbursts from the sun are not unusual, but this one was unusually widespread, hurling high-speed protons and electrons at velocities nearing the speed of light and striking several spacecraft across the inner solar system.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

New ocean thermal energy device under construction in Canary Islands
The project is pumping new life into a 140-year-old idea
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Researchers reveal anomalous heating in the sun's upper atmosphere
In a study published in The Astrophysical Journal, researchers from the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences depicted a complete physical image of the anomalous heating in the upper atmosphere of the sun (the solar corona and the solar chromosphere).
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Researchers succeed at generating 3D visualizations of chloroplasts' copying machines
For life on Earth, it is essential that plants carry out photosynthesis and ultimately produce oxygen and chemical energy with the help of sunlight. Researchers from Göttingen and Hannover have now succeeded for the first time in visualizing the copying machine of chloroplasts, the RNA polymerase PEP, in high-resolution 3D.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

River pollution is causing harmful outbreaks of sewage fungus in the UK
The pollution of the UK's waterways and coastlines with sewage is throwing its ecosystems out of balance. One well documented example is the spread of microscopic bacteria that can multiply rapidly into algal blooms, causing extensive dead zones once oxygen in the water has been used up.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

"There was no sea ice this year"
In Savoonga's realm, where ice once reigned, Whispers weave a haunting tale, an Arctic refrain. "No sea ice this year," the villagers cried, Their ancestral Yupik traditions, in climate's grip, denied.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 2nd, 2024

A strategy to further boost the efficiency of copper indium gallium selenide solar cells
Until recently, chalcopyrite-based solar cells have achieved a maximum energy conversion efficiency of 23.35%, as reported in 2019 by Solar Frontier, a former Solar Energy company based in Japan. Further boosting this efficiency, however, has so far proved challenging.
March 2nd, 2024 — Source

Best Portable Solar Panels of 2024
When you need to charge away from home, a portable solar panel can help. Here are CNET's favorites.
March 2nd, 2024 — Source

In wake of powerful cyclone, remarkable recovery of Pacific island's forests
After one of the most intense cyclones in world history tore through the Pacific island of Tanna in Vanuatu, new research led by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa showed the resilience of the island's forests.
March 2nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — March 1st, 2024

A Major Source of Toxic PFAS Has Been Eliminated, FDA Says
Manufacturers have stopped selling grease-proof food packaging coatings that contains the harmful chemicals. It's a key step, but it's not the end of PFAS.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

African savanna antelopes need space to survive climate changes
Human-caused environmental changes threaten natural ecosystems. These ecosystems are essential to creating and maintaining a rich, resilient, and adaptable biosphere. In East Africa's savanna, antelope populations are vital for a healthy and functioning ecosystem.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Baiting foxes can make feral cats even more 'brazen,' study of 1.5 million forest photos shows
Foxes and cats kill about 2.6 billion mammals, birds and reptiles across Australia, every year. To save native species from extinction, we need to protect them from these introduced predators. But land managers tend to focus on foxes, which are easier to control. Unfortunately this may have unintended consequences.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Building bionic jellyfish for ocean exploration
Jellyfish can't do much besides swim, sting, eat, and breed. They don't even have brains. Yet, these simple creatures can easily journey to the depths of the oceans in a way that humans, despite all our sophistication, cannot.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Clean energy is growing, but so is planet-heating pollution
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions hit a new high in 2023.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions hit record levels in 2023: IEA
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose to a record level in 2023, but the growth slowed from previous years thanks to continued expansion of clean technologies, the International Energy Agency said Friday.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Faulty warnings, deforestation turned Philippine rains 'deadly': Study
Faulty warning systems, poverty and deforestation of mountains in the southern Philippines turned recent unseasonably heavy rains into deadly disasters, scientists said in a report Friday.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Go ahead and alter the atmosphere, no one's going to stop you — probably
Countries tried and failed to establish tougher ground rules for solar geoengineering.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

How will space transform the global food system?
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global agricultural production will need to increase by 60% by 2050 to meet the food demands of the growing global population.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Hurricanes and power grids: Eliminating large-scale outages with a new approach
Large scale-power outages caused by tropical cyclones can be prevented almost entirely if a small but critical set of power lines is protected against storm damages, a new study published in Nature Energy finds. Scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) developed a new method that can be used to identify those critical lines and increase the system's resilience.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Is marijuana bad for the climate?
Indoor cannabis farms consume lots of electricity, boosting their carbon footprints.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Lianas, trees show varied stem xylem structure-function link
The xylem of the plant stem performs several important functions. Elucidating the coordination or trade-offs between xylem functions is critical for understanding plant ecological strategy and adaptation to different environments. However, how xylem cell tissues influence their functions among different growth forms remains unresolved.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Livestock guardian dogs create landscape of fear for predators
A new study reveals how Livestock Guardian Dogs change predator behavior in ways that both protect livestock and support conservation efforts.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Measuring and modeling methane emissions in wetlands
Global atmospheric methane concentrations have risen steadily since 2006. Growth in agriculture, transportation, and industry are partly to blame, but so too is the rise in biogenic emissions, or emissions from natural sources.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Not such a bright idea: Cooling the Earth by reflecting sunlight back to space is a dangerous distraction
The United Nations Environment Assembly this week considered a resolution on solar radiation modification, which refers to controversial technologies intended to mask the heating effect of greenhouse gases by reflecting some sunlight back to space.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Questioning cloud's environmental impact
Cloud can be a green technology, but not without significant planning and up-front work that most enterprises are reluctant to fund.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Researchers use GPS-tracked icebergs in novel study to improve climate models
Over the last four decades, warming climate and ocean temperatures have rapidly altered the Greenland Ice Sheet, creating concern for marine ecosystems and weather patterns worldwide. The environment has challenged scientists in their attempts to measure how water moves around and melts the ice sheet because equipment can be destroyed by icebergs floating near the glaciers.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Satellite Photos and AI Combine to Reveal Secret Roads Damaging Rainforests
Scientists used AI to analyze satellite images and find the secret, unmapped roads that are destroying rainforests.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Scientists propose new method for tracking elusive origins of CO² emissions from streams
Process called carbonate buffering acts as a reserve for CO² fluxes and makes it difficult to track where emissions come from
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Syrenna's WaterDrone is the ocean-monitoring 'underwater weather station' of the future
As crucial as the ocean is to countless industries, we lack the kind of systematic knowledge of it that we have of the surface. Syrenna has built a versatile robotic platform that you might think of as a mobile weather station for the sea, and is ready to emerge from stealth to enable precise, real-time monitoring of Earth's largest liquid asset.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

The artistic flair inspiring greener European cities
Arts and culture can bring imagination and momentum to projects for putting urban neighborhoods more in tune with nature.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

World resource extraction could surge 60% by 2060, UN warns
Extraction of Earth's natural resources could surge 60 percent by 2060, imperiling climate goals and economic prosperity, the UN said Friday, calling for dramatic changes in energy, food, transport and housing.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Zombie climate myths that refuse to die (feat. Bob Henson)
As soon as you kill one of these climate change myths, another rises from the dead
March 1st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 28th, 2024

A Deep Dive Into 8K: Underwater Cinematographer Pawel Achtel on New Era of High-Resolution Filmmaking
The world of videography and filmmaking is constantly evolving, with new technologies pushing the boundaries of what's possible. The latest of these technologies is 8K resolution video which offers a new level of detail and clarity that was previously unimaginable. With 8K, filmmakers and videographers can capture images — both above and below sea level — in incredible precision and realism, giving TV viewers a truly immersive viewing experience.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

AI protects power grid from fluctuations caused by renewables and EVs
They may be better for the planet but when combined, renewable energy and electric vehicles may also destabilize power grids, setting in motion a range of problems from malfunctioning laptops to regional blackouts. That's because random variations in supply and demand place pressure on the network's capacity to maintain a steady voltage level.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

AI sorts public photos to show recovering pacific humpback whales hit climate ceiling
Scientists have found that recovering humpback whales in the North Pacific are now responding to shifts in food availability affected by climate change.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Climate change threatens thousands of archaeological sites in coastal Georgia
Thousands of historic and archaeological sites in Georgia are at risk from tropical storm surges, and that number will increase with climate change, according to a study published in PLOS ONE by Matthew D. Howland and Victor D. Thompson of Wichita State University and the University of Georgia.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Diffusion transformers are the key behind OpenAI's Sora — and they're set to upend GenAI
OpenAI's Sora, which can generate videos and interactive 3D environments on the fly, is a remarkable demonstration of the cutting edge in GenAI — a bona fide milestone.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

High schoolers helped develop Tuscon's climate action plan
They may not be able to vote yet, but they're already having an influence.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

I'm a doctor. Here's what Western medicine misunderstands about nature.
It takes a dangerously short-sighted approach.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Lululemon hires fossil fuel-linked PR firm in the face of greenwashing allegations
Athleisure and activewear giant, lululemon, has hired a PR firm to face the greenwashing allegations made earlier this month by a nonprofit organization. The firm, Edelman, is known for its connections to the fossil fuel industry. Head below to learn more.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Michael Mann beat his defamers. But climate scientists are still under attack.
Climate scientists report that death threats and online harassment are causing anxiety, sleeping problems, and loss of productivity.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Nature's sonar: Scientists reveal how Japanese horseshoe bats perceive moving objects
Unlike most animals that rely on visual senses, bats navigate and locate prey or obstacles through echolocation. By emitting sounds and comparing them to the reflected echoes, bats can "visualize" movement in the environment.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Predatory insects protect apples from pests when flowers are planted on farms, finds study
Bugs including hoverflies, lacewings and ladybirds play an important role in keeping Britain's apples healthy, a new study has shown.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Prospects for battery recycling in Latin America
Reuse and recycling are core elements of a sustainable approach to used lithium-ion batteries in Latin America. This is essential to conserve valuable resources and avoid climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions. The application of tried-and-proven best practices here would potentially avoid the disposal of up to two million tons of batteries as waste and enable up to 2.8 million tons to be recycled in the region by 2050.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Reducing halide segregation in wide-bandgap mixed-halide perovskite solar cells using redox mediators
Multi-junction solar cells, solar cells comprised of many individual semiconductor junctions stacked together, have the potential of outperforming single-junction solar cells both in terms of efficiency and stability. In recent years, material scientists and engineers have been trying to identify viable material combinations for fabricating these solar cells.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop a more precise carbon footprint measurement method
by Jennifer Opel, Bayreuth University
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Researchers found 37 mine sites in Australia that could be converted into renewable energy storage
The world is rapidly moving towards a renewable energy future. To support the transition, we must prepare backup energy supplies for times when solar panels and wind turbines are not producing enough electricity.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Researchers: We can't say yet if grid-breaking thunderstorms are getting worse, but we shouldn't wait to find out
On February 13, six transmission line towers in Victoria were destroyed by extreme wind gusts from thunderstorms, leading to forced electricity outages affecting tens of thousands of people. The intense winds knocked trees onto local power lines or toppled the poles, which caused about 500,000 people to lose power.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Scalable photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen possible, if made from efficient all-perovskite materials
Our recent article published in Nature Energy relates our first attempt at the development of a scalable photoelectrochemical (PEC) system to produce green hydrogen.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals accelerated soil priming under climate warming
A first-of-its-kind study led by researchers at the University of Oklahoma highlights a crucial biosphere feedback mechanism and its effects on releasing soil carbon into the atmosphere.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Study unlocks nanoscale secrets for designing next-generation solar cells
Perovskites, a broad class of compounds with a particular kind of crystal structure, have long been seen as a promising alternative or supplement to today's silicon or cadmium telluride solar panels. They could be far more lightweight and inexpensive, and could be coated onto virtually any substrate, including paper or flexible plastic that could be rolled up for easy transport.
February 28th, 2024 — Source or Source

The importance of critical minerals should not condone their extraction at all costs, says researcher
Global warming is real and climate change is worsening day-by-day with raging forest fires, unseasonably warm winters and flooding disasters taking place across Canada. Meanwhile, the carbon-zero transition required to move away from such a dire future is hampered by a key weakness—"critical minerals."
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking the ocean's secrets: Next-gen tech for precision seafloor mapping
The exploration of oceanic resources through seismic methods necessitates precise seafloor geophone positioning. Traditional techniques, however, grapple with issues such as the influence of outliers, suboptimal use of precise observations, and the inefficiency of real-time data processing.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Under climate change, catastrophic bushfires in Australia can strike any time
Victorians were braced for the worst on Wednesday amid soaring temperatures and gusty winds, creating the state's worst fire conditions in years. Authorities have declared a "catastrophic" fire risk in some parts of the state.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Urban nature is often plentiful but inaccessible, says study
Living near parks, trees, streams, coastlines, and other green and blue natural features may promote physical and mental well-being.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Want fewer microplastics in your tap water? Try boiling it first
Nano- and microplastics are seemingly everywhere—water, soil and the air. While many creative strategies have been attempted to get rid of these plastic bits, one unexpectedly effective solution for specifically cleaning up drinking water might be as simple as brewing a cup of tea or coffee.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Where does lightning strike? New maps pinpoint 36.8 million yearly ground strike points in unprecedented detail
It's been a warm day, maybe even a little humid, and the tall clouds in the distance remind you of cauliflower. You hear a sharp crack, like the sound of a batter hitting a home run, or a low rumble reminiscent of a truck driving down the highway. A distant thunderstorm, alive with lightning, is making itself known.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

World must act to stem surge of polluting trash, UN warns
The world generated 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal waste last year and the pile of trash is set to grow another two-thirds by 2050, the UN said Wednesday, warning of devastating costs for health, economies and the environment.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 27th, 2024

Advancing climate change research and policy demands knowledge from Indigenous Peoples, study says
As you read this, many regions of the world are implementing crisis plans against drought while, simultaneously, torrential rains wreak havoc in other corners of the planet, submerging cities and crops under the forces of wild waters.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Antarctica provides at least $276 billion a year in economic benefits to the world, new research finds
All humanity benefits from Antarctica and the Southern Ocean that surrounds it. To some, these benefits may seem priceless. But in our market-driven world, calculating the economic value of the environment can be a useful tool in garnering support for its protection.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Herbaria's use and importance grows with climate change
There are more than 350,000 species of flowering plants on Earth, yet only 12 of them separate humans from starvation. And, Charles Davis says, 2 out of 5 plant species are likely to go extinct in the near future because of land use and climatic changes caused by people.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Improving organic solar cells with propeller-shaped isomers
Imagine technology as a race car speeding down a track -- it can only go as fast as its engine allows. But just when it seemed like organic solar cells hit a roadblock, along comes 3PNIN, a game-changing molecule shaped like a propeller, ready to turbocharge their progress and break through barriers.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Novel nanocrystal harnesses full solar spectrum for hydrogen production
The sunlight received by Earth is a mixed bag of wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to visible to infrared. Each wavelength carries inherent energy that, if effectively harnessed, holds great potential to facilitate solar hydrogen production and diminish reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

To collaborate or confront? New research provides key insights for environmental NGOs
Just after dawn, volunteers for a Toronto-based NGO called the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) Canada make their way along the streets of the city's downtown core. FLAP's mission is to limit the number of migratory birds injured or killed due to collisions with windows.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Vital seagrasses in gulf of Mexico are retreating amid rapid sea level rise
The Gulf of Mexico is experiencing sea level rise two to three times as fast as the global average due to a combination of warmer waters and wind circulation patterns. Now, a newly released long-term study from marine scientists at The University of Texas at Austin has found rising sea levels can be linked to a loss of valuable seagrass habitats in Texas.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

We must cut carbon from industry. Here's how we can do it.
An excerpt from "Zero-Carbon Industry," a new book by Jeffrey Rissman, senior director of the industry program at nonpartisan think tank Energy Innovation.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 26th, 2024

A new theoretical development clarifies water's electronic structure
There is no doubt that water is significant. Without it, life would never have begun, let alone continue today—not to mention its role in the environment itself, with oceans covering over 70% of Earth.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

All this climate data is wild
Animals wearing sensors gather tremendous amounts of data from forbidding regions such as high altitudes, ocean depths, and frozen areas near the poles.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Catalyst combines vanadium-based components and nitrogen-doped biomass carbon for pollutant removal
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans are dangerous pollutants due to their carcinogenicity and persistence in the environment. Traditional catalytic oxidation methods for their removal face challenges like high cost and inefficiency at lower temperatures.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Converting vacant offices to apartments would be a win for the climate
Repurposing a building reduces the need for new concrete and steel, which create a lot of carbon pollution during manufacturing.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Ditching meat could release vital land to produce energy and remove carbon from the atmosphere—new study
A radical reduction in the amount of meat, dairy and other products sourced from animals is possible in the coming decades, as people turn to an increasing variety of alternatives. This would unlock vast amounts of land currently used to rear animals and to grow crops that feed them.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Electrification of society is putting major demands on supply security, say researchers
Power cuts can be caused by heavy snow and icing, as well as lightning strikes and strong winds bringing down power lines. Together with more extreme weather events, Norway is also facing a major power supply deficit. So what can we do to avoid a total electricity crisis?
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Energy-saving electrochemical hydrogen production via co-generative strategies in hybrid water electrolysis
With the increase in global energy demand and environmental pollution, the development of sustainable energy to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels (such as oil, natural gas, and coal) has become the key to achieving sustainable development of human society.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Global dataset shows protecting fish doesn't have to mean neglecting people
With fish stocks declining globally, more than 190 countries recently made a commitment to protect about a third of the world's oceans within "Marine Protected Areas," or MPAs by the year 2030. But these designated areas of the ocean where fishing is either regulated or outright banned can come at a huge cost to some coastal communities, according to a new analysis.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

'Janitors' of the sea: Overharvested sea cucumbers play crucial role in protecting coral
Corals are foundational for ocean life. Known as the rainforests of the sea, they create habitats for 25% of all marine organisms, despite only covering less than 1% of the ocean's area.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Management technique shows promise against emerging soybean pest
In the late 2010s, a mysterious pest—one that came to be identified as a new species of gall midge, Resseliella maxima—began infesting the soybean fields of Nebraska and neighboring states. Since then, the tiny but deadly fly has spread to at least seven Midwestern states, threatening the yields of the region's second most common crop.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

New world record for CIGS solar cells
A new record for electrical energy generation from CIGS solar cells has been reached. Scientists have achieved a 23.64 percent efficiency.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

New study uses AI and machine learning to improve seasonal weather predictions
A team of researchers at the Universities of Lincoln, Sheffield, and Reading have developed a new method to improve the prediction of seasonal weather conditions in the U.K. and Northwest Europe.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Northwest Indiana residents, upset over refinery pollution, take complaints to public meeting
Bearing signs with slogans like "East Chicago demands clear air" and "IDEM, let us breathe," nearly 100 Northwest Indiana residents and environmental advocates gathered to voice anger and frustration at BP Whiting refinery at a public meeting held by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Novel material increases efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells
In an article published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C, Brazilian researchers describe a strategy to enhance the efficiency and stability of solar cells made of perovskite, a semiconductor material produced in the laboratory. The results of the project could be highly positive for the future of the solar power sector.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Novel theory-based evaluation gives a clearer picture of fusion in the sun
Most of the energy from the sun and other stars comes from a chain of nuclear fusion reactions. The end of this chain is marked by the fusion of protons with beryllium-7 to form boron-8. This process is key in determining the flow of high-energy solar neutrinos that reach the Earth.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Prosocial preferences can provide better risk management for smallholder farming communities amid rising climate risks
Research conducted by scientists from IIASA and Princeton University suggests that a combination of insurance subsidies and policies that promote "prosocial preferences"―decision-making preferences that account for community well-being―can help facilitate optimal climate risk management and reduce economic losses.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop new method for assessing climate change risks to ecosystems
The Bayreuth plant ecologists Prof Dr. Steven Higgins and Dr. Timo Conradi argue in favor of interpreting the coming climatic changes from the perspective of plants in order better to assess the risks of climate change for ecosystems.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Researchers set new world record for CIGS solar cells
Uppsala University is the new world record holder for electrical energy generation from copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells. The new world record is 23.64% efficiency. The measurement was made by an independent institute, and the results are published in Nature Energy.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop technology to reduce pathogens in intact eggs
The CDC estimates Salmonella bacteria causes about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year. Despite their appearance in everyday meals and snacks, the truth is that raw eggs and egg products can carry Salmonella and cause foodborne illness and outbreaks, and even death, in some circumstances.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Scientists propose new method for tracking elusive origins of CO² emissions from streams
A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst that specializes in accounting for the carbon dioxide release by streams, rivers and lakes has recently demonstrated that the chemical process known as "carbonate buffering" can account for the majority of emissions in highly alkaline waters. Furthermore, carbonate buffering distorts the most commonly used method of tracking the origins of CO² in streams.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Temperature, humidity may drive future transmission of parasitic worm infections
As climate changes, temperature isn't the only factor to influence the spread of infectious diseases. Humidity plays a role, too, according to new research published this week (Feb. 25) in Ecology Letters.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

This solar module could power and heat your home at the same time
The device uses mirrors to maximise electricity and heat generation
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Turning waste into wealth: Synergistic recovery of metal from copper slag
Copper smelting is a major source of copper production, generating significant amounts of slag. In 2022, China produced over 11,000 kilotons of refined copper, leading to 2.2 to 3 tons of slag per ton of copper produced. This slag contains valuable metals like copper (0.5%--6%), lead (0.2%--0.6%), and zinc (1%--5.5%), which are often not recovered, resulting in resource waste and environmental hazards from leaked toxic ions.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking the heat in mosquito modeling: Exploring disease transmission under climate change
Thermal adaptation is the ability of organisms to adjust their life history traits as the temperature changes. In the case of mosquitoes, these traits can determine their risk of transmitting mosquito-borne diseases and how this risk might change in the future as they respond to climate warming.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

What ancient farmers can really teach us about adapting to climate change—and how political power influences outcomes
In dozens of archaeological discoveries around the world, from the once-successful reservoirs and canals of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the deserted Viking colonies of Greenland, new evidence paints pictures of civilizations struggling with unforeseen climate changes and the reality that their farming practices had become unsustainable.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

What will it take for China to reach carbon neutrality by 2060?
To become carbon neutral by 2060, as mandated by President Xi Jinping, China will have to build eight to 10 times more wind and solar power installations than currently exist in the country. Reaching carbon neutrality will also require major construction of transmission lines.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

What's behind this winter's U.S. snow drought?
Rain-soaked, packed into skinny bands, or simply sparse: U.S. snow has been hammered by El Niño atop longer-term warming.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 25th, 2024

Side-effects of expanding forests could limit their potential to tackle climate change—new study
Tackling climate change by planting trees has an intuitive appeal. They absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere without using expensive technology.
February 25th, 2024 — Source

When homes hit 40°C inside, it's better to draw on residents' local know-how than plan for climate change from above
Weather extremes driven by climate change hit low-income communities harder. The reasons include poor housing and lack of access to safe and comfortable public spaces. This makes "climate readiness" a pressing issue for governments, city planners and emergency services in fast-growing areas such as Western Sydney.
February 25th, 2024 — Source

Why the Cost of Getting Solar Panels Is So Unpredictable
It's hard to get a straight answer out of a solar installer about how much you'll pay. How to get the best deal.
February 25th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 23rd, 2024

An increase in blood-sucking black flies is expected in Germany
Researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt and the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center have modeled the spatial distributional patterns of black flies in Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony for the first time.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

As India Prepares for Elections, Government Silences Critics on X with Executive Order
It is troubling to see that the Indian government has issued new demands to X (formerly Twitter) to remove accounts and posts critical of the government and its recent actions. This is especially bears watching as India is preparing for general elections this spring, and concerns for the government's manipulation of social media critical of it grows.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Assessing soil carbon stocks accurately
Researchers from Teagasc have published an article in Geoderma Regional highlighting the consequences of not measuring soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in Irish grassland soils precisely. Quantifying changes in SOC, either carbon sequestration or losses into the atmosphere, requires accurate determination of soil bulk density, which is only achieved by accounting for soil stone content (rock fragments higher than 2 mm in size).
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Batteries of March 2024
Solar batteries let you stash away your extra solar energy to use later. Here are CNET's picks for the best ones.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Generators of 2024
By using the power of the sun, you can charge your devices on the go while enjoying the great outdoors. CNET tests the best solar generators.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Shingles for March 2024
If solar panels don't fit your home's aesthetic, solar shingle installation might be the answer for you. Check out our picks for the best solar shingles.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

BLUETTI Launches SwapSolar on Indiegogo, Elevating Your Outdoor Experience
First unveiled at CES 2024, the SwapSolar includes the world's first LFP-powered MultiCooler portable fridge and the AC180T hot-swappable battery power station. This groundbreaking duo offers an unprecedented blend of convenience and functionality for outdoor activities.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Can Green Software Engineering Solve the Climate Crisis?
Sara Bergman overviews the emerging green software engineering, then dives into understanding the challenges related to assessing and mitigating the carbon impacts of software systems.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Can we drill for hydrogen? New find suggests additional geological source.
Problems at a chromium mine in Albania traced to nearly pure hydrogen in a fault.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Clearwater Forest could get Intel inside the server room again
Intel's Clearwater Forest looks to be a very impressive upgrade to Intel's server chips. It will be built on their 18A process and will replace the aging FinFET design with RibbonFET. With RibbonFET the transistor gate is wrapped around the channel, and hose channels can be of different widths which should have a positive effect on efficiency.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Climate change is fanning the flames of NZ's wildfire future. Port Hills is only the beginning, researcher says
Last week, wildfire burned through 650 hectares of forest and scrub in Christchurch's Port Hills. This is not the first time the area has faced a terrifying wildfire event.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

'Climate contrarianism' is down but not out, expert says
In 2011, Max Boykoff attended the 2011 Heartland Institute's Sixth International Conference on Climate Change in Washington, D.C., to better understand how the prominent conservative think tank was influencing the climate debate.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

EPA raises concerns about Georgia's handling of toxic coal ash
The federal Environmental Protection Agency has notified counterparts at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division that they believe the state may be allowing Georgia Power to store toxic coal ash in ways that are "less protective" than federal standards require.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

First reports of severe coral bleaching this summer as the Great Barrier Reef warms up
As ocean temperatures continue to warm over the Great Barrier Reef this summer, James Cook University scientists have reported areas of moderate to severe coral bleaching around the Keppel Islands offshore from Rockhampton.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Forever chemicals reach extraordinary levels in wildlife at Holloman Air Force Base
A team of researchers from The University of New Mexico's Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) have reported unexpectedly high levels of chemical contamination in wild birds and mammals at Holloman Air Force Base, near Alamogordo, N.M. in new research published in Environmental Research.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Global warming found to increase the diversity of active soil bacteria
Warmer soils harbor a greater diversity of active microbes, according to a new study from researchers at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

How the world can achieve climate goals with clean hydrogen production
Driving on hydrogen and using it to heat our homes could be a solution to the climate problem. At least, if we start producing it in the right, clean way. Leiden researchers mapped out the global environmental impact of hydrogen production and looked ahead to 2050.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

NASA Warns Of Comms And Electric Grid Disruptions As Sun Spews Solar Flares
NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory, or SDO, detected three strong solar flares with the potential to disrupt radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and could even pose a risk to spacecraft and astronauts. The first flare detected was an X1.8 flare, the second flare being classified as an X1.7 flare, and the third as a massive X6.3 flare.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

New species of fungi potentially harmful to humans identified in freshwater ecosystems
A study by the Mycology and Environmental Microbiology Unit of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili has identified new species of fungi that may cause infections or diseases in people and animals. Carried out in river ecosystems, the research is part of a project on biodiversity and the role played by a large group of fungi, the ascomycetes, in the aquatic ecosystem.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Potential gene targets for managing cassava whitefly, a viral diseases vector threatening food security
Whiteflies, particularly the African cassava whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, SSA1-SG1), pose a significant threat to agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa by transmitting viruses that cause cassava brown streak disease and cassava mosaic virus disease. In a new study published in PeerJ, Dr. Tadeo Kaweesi and his team at the National Agricultural Research Organization identify potential gene targets that could revolutionize the management of this devastating pest and prove vital for food security in the region.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Protected lands provide a last stand for critically endangered vultures in West Africa
Among the fastest-declining birds in the world, African vultures battle many of the problems commonly plaguing wildlife today, such as habitat loss, hunting, and poisoning, but they also face a more unique set of obstacles.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Research into marine plastic pollution reveals bacterial enzymes actively degrading plastic
A new study led by researchers at the University of Stirling has uncovered the crucial roles of bacteria living on plastic debris. The research also identifies rare and understudied bacteria that could assist in plastic biodegradation, offering new insights for tackling plastic pollution.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Researchers introduce biomineralization as a sustainable strategy against microbial corrosion in marine concrete
Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) is a prevalent issue in marine environments, leading to structural damages such as cracking in concrete infrastructure. This corrosion poses a persistent challenge, significantly reducing the lifespan of marine structures and resulting in substantial economic losses.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study shows cloud clustering causes more extreme rain
Understanding cloud patterns in our changing climate is essential to making accurate predictions about their impact on society and nature. Scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and the Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology published a study in the journal Science Advances that uses a high-resolution global climate model to understand how the clustering of clouds and storms impacts rainfall extremes in the tropics.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Solar physics: Why study it? What can it teach us about finding life beyond Earth?
Universe Today has investigated the importance of studying impact craters, planetary surfaces, exoplanets, and astrobiology, and what these disciplines can teach both researchers and the public about finding life beyond Earth.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Solving Singapore's urban heat island effect
According to Singapore's Meteorological Service, Singapore has been warming up twice as fast compared to the rest of the world.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Strategic grazing could boost conservation of 'near-threatened' sage-grouse
A multi-agency study, spearheaded by researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno's College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, underscores the impacts of strategic cattle grazing, particularly on restoring the declining population of the greater sage-grouse bird, a keystone species in the Great Basin region.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

The cultural evolution of collective property rights
New simulation model shows that the evolution of sustainable institutions critically depends on clearly defined and enforced access rights
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Wetlands, parks and botanical gardens the best ways to cool cities during heat waves, finds study
Wetlands, parks and even botanical gardens among the best ways to cool cities during heat waves—says biggest-ever global study
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Young people push for a Green New Deal for schools across the U.S.
As a result of student activism, a school district in Colorado will include climate change in the curriculum and implement clean energy initiatives.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 21st, 2024

A new tool can help protect California and Nevada communities from floods while preserving their water supply
At the dawn of the new year in 1997, the Truckee River transformed. The winter season had thus far been great for snow, but when a subtropical storm from near the Hawaiian Islands rolled in, it carried with it unseasonably warm rain. The warm rainfall combined with snowmelt to swell the rivers, with the Truckee burying much of downtown Reno under water.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

An ultrafast SnO_{2 passivation strategy for low-temperature manufacture of perovskite solar cells}
SnO_{2 has been widely used as electron transport layers (ETLs) for efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its high transparency, high electron mobility, and favorable band alignment. PSCs based on chemical bath deposition (CBD)-prepared SnO2 have demonstrated the best performance so far.}
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Antibiotic use on Kenya's dairy farms is putting consumers and animals at risk
Farmers often use antibiotics to keep their livestock healthy. They're sometimes used as "quick fixes", to avoid more costly management measures like regular disinfection, waste management, routine vaccination or provision of clean drinking water.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Carbon capture startup takes 'good enough' approach to slash costs
The 80/20 rule. Diminishing returns. The "good enough" principle. Sometimes, striving for perfection just isn't worth it. At least, that's what Glen Meyerowitz thinks.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Chicago sues oil and gas companies for their role in contributing to climate change
The city of Chicago is suing five oil and gas companies and a trade group that represents them over their role in contributing to climate change and its effects, arguing that the companies have misled the public about how the use of fossil fuels affects city residents' well-being.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Company manufactures skis from algae oil
They're an alternative to skis made from fossil-fuel-based plastic.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

China issues highest weather alert as temperatures plunge
Severe weather warnings were in place across swathes of China on Wednesday as temperatures plummeted across the south and Beijing shivered in snowy conditions.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Contamination around Fort Story base is under control, Navy's five-year review says
The Navy released recently a five-year review of an environmental restoration program at Virginia's Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story, finding that environmental contamination of industrial solvents and arsenic at two sites is under control.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Hemispherical solar cells could significantly improve sunlight absorption
Enhancing light absorption with photovoltaic tech thanks to 3D finite element analysis
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Highways through historically redlined areas likely cause air pollution disparities today
As part of the New Deal, several governmental programs were created to expand homeownership through mortgages and loans. However, neighborhoods with primarily Black or immigrant communities often were rated "hazardous" for repayment under the discriminatory, "redlining" practice that restricted lending.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

How do renewable energy and innovation impact environmental quality in different countries?
Renewable energy production leads to reduced carbon dioxide emissions in countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) but increased emissions in emerging economies, according to the results of a study published in the Natural Resources Forum.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

How global warming is reshaping winter life in Canada
As we begin to emerge out of yet another mild winter, Canadians are once again being reminded of just how acutely global warming has changed Canada's winter climate.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

How much water are we actually supposed to drink in a day?
With the virality of #WaterTok, a trending hashtag on TikTok, questions about how much water we are meant to consume is once again making the rounds in various news outlets and on social media. When you add in the explosive popularity of a Stanley Cup 40-ounce tumbler, the question of how much water is enough water per day is an especially curious one.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Mercury levels in tuna remain nearly unchanged since 1971, study says
Tuna is one of the most popular seafoods worldwide. But this protein-rich fish can build up high levels of methylmercury from feeding on contaminated prey, like smaller fish or crustaceans. Despite efforts to reduce mercury emissions into the environment, researchers report in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology Letters that levels in tuna appear to be unchanged since 1971. They warn that more aggressive emission reduction targets are needed to start nudging down tuna mercury levels.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Meteorologist explains how climate change will affect the back-and-forth La Niña, El Niño weather patterns
Scientists do expect rising global temperatures to influence the weather patterns known as La Niña and El Niño—but just how strong that influence will be remains unclear. Much will depend on the many other variables that play a part in our daily weather and long-term climate.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

New evidence shows UK solar parks can provide for bees and butterflies
A new study shows that U.K. solar parks, if managed correctly, can provide vital resources to help stem the decline in the nation's bees and butterflies.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

New tool can assess the climate of equity and inclusion in medical schools
Yale researchers have developed a new tool that can assess the state of equity and inclusion in medical school learning environments and provide feedback on how schools can make improvements. Using the tool could yield the timely and recurrent information needed to develop effective, evidence-based interventions, said the researchers.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

New tool helps users track fruit-plant readiness for growing season
Purdue University's Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) has launched its new interactive chilling hours tool. Growers now can more closely monitor accumulated chilling hours, an important factor that tracks how long fruit plants have been exposed to an ideal range of cool temperatures throughout the dormant season.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Overcoming barriers to climate-smart agriculture in South Asia
Despite the possibility of climate-smart agriculture improving food security, most CSA practices and technologies are not widely adopted in South Asia.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Potato plant radiation sensors could one day monitor radiation in areas surrounding power plants
While expanding nuclear energy production would provide carbon-free power and can help countries around the world meet their climate goals, nuclear energy could also come with some inherent risk. Radioactive pollution damages the environment, and it's nearly impossible to detect without specialized equipment.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Quality scores for forestry carbon credit types reveal complex landscape of integrity risks, transparency issues
The Carbon Credit Quality Initiative (CCQI) released new scores for two types of forestry carbon credits: improved forest management (IFM) and commercial afforestation. Together, these project types comprise approximately 10% of recent credit issuances in the voluntary carbon market.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Scientists discover the real-life impacts of northern elephant seal bottleneck
New research of northern elephant seals has revealed their reproductive and foraging success has been affected by a population bottleneck which nearly caused their extinction and could make them vulnerable as the environment changes in the future.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Semi-transparent perovskite solar cells achieve efficiency of 21.68%
The Photovoltaics Research Department of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), working with the KIER Energy AI and Computational Science Lab, has achieved advancements in the stability and efficiency of semi-transparent perovskite solar cells.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Supreme Court considers challenge to EPA's 'Good Neighbor' ozone rule
The regulation is to reduce ozone emissions that may worsen air pollution in neighboring states
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop world's most efficient quantum dot solar cell
A groundbreaking research breakthrough in solar energy has propelled the development of the world's most efficient quantum dot (QD) solar cell, marking a significant leap towards the commercialization of next-generation solar cells.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Reusing failed bee colony resources may curb rearing of queens
As pollinators of flowers, trees and more than 50 crops, whereby they add an estimated $34 billion per year to the U.S. economy, honey bees offer value both ecological and economic—even before accounting for their signature product.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Textured Solar Cells Could Capture 66% More Sunlight
A theoretical study out of Turkey shows that braille-like bumps would allow light to enter the cell from a wider range of directions.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

The most outstanding solar-flare eruptions are not always the most influential
While many studies have compared the magnetic properties of confined and eruptive solar flares, few have considered the thermodynamic properties of confined flares and even fewer in comparison to eruptive ones.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

The Sea We Breathe Uses VR To Teach Kids About Climate Change
The Sea We Breathe wants to teach children about climate change using VR.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Varaha helps Indian farmers reduce climate-harming practices like burning crop residue and flooding rice fieldsVaraha has attracted investor interest as an end-to-end developer for carbon credits that it generates by working with thousands of smallholder farmers yielding crops on a total land of over 700,000 acres across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Kenya.
Varaha helps Indian farmers reduce climate-harming practices like burning crop residue and flooding rice fieldsVaraha has attracted investor interest as an end-to-end developer for carbon credits that it generates by working with thousands of smallholder farmers yielding crops on a total land of over 700,000 acres across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Kenya.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Weedy rice gets competitive boost from its wild neighbors
Rice feeds the world. But a look-alike weed has many ways of getting ahead. Weedy rice is an agricultural pest with a global economic impact. It is an aggressive weed that outcompetes cultivated rice and causes billions of dollars in yield losses worldwide. In the U.S. alone, crop losses attributed to weedy rice could feed an additional 12 million people annually.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Why are fish getting smaller as waters warm? It's not their gills, finds study
A collaborative team of scientists led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently found that there is no physiological evidence supporting a leading theory—which involves the surface area of fish gills—as to why many fish species are "shrinking" as waters grow warmer due to climate change. Known as the Gill Oxygen Limitation (GOL) theory, it has been proposed as the universal mechanism explaining fish size and has been used in some predictions of future global fisheries yields.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Winter drought grips southern Europe, northern Africa
Drought plaguing the Mediterranean has failed to recede over winter months that brought below-average rainfall, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service has reported, prompting water restrictions and state of emergency declarations.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Your guide to 2024's best environmental films
Five highlights from the 2024 Wild and Scenic Film Festival — and how to host your own mini festival this weekend.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 19th, 2024

A rare bird in the South Atlantic: Tropical Storm Akará
Tropical storms seldom roam off the coast of Brazil — and until this century, they weren't recognized at all.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Balsa tree is suitable for planting in Xishuangbanna, finds study
Ochroma pyramidale, commonly known as the balsa tree, is a large, fast-growing tree native to the Americas. The tree is known for its wide use in woodworking, due to its softness and its high strength compared to its low density.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Inverters of February 2024
Solar inverters turn your solar energy into usable electricity for your home. Here are our top picks for the best.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panels for Your Home for 2024
We identified the best solar panels, based on scores for warranties, efficiency and performance. But do you even need the best?
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Colorado is now home to America's newest national park
Amache National Historic Site in southeastern Colorado is officially America's newest national park, the National Park Service announced Thursday.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Company gives retired wind turbine blades new life
Turbine blades are made of a composite material that can be tricky to recycle, but a company called Carbon Rivers has found a way.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Economic model shows trust in government is linked to takeup of renewables
South Africa relies heavily

on energy from coal-fired power stations, which emit large quantities of carbon. But making the transition to greater use of renewable energies, such as solar, is being hampered by a number of factors. Chief among them is corruption, which is affecting the quality of institutions.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Microplastics found to enter agricultural land through wastewater
As we strive towards a circular economy, the application of treated sewage sludge (biosolids) to land is an opportunity to enhance soil health and reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

More coral may not equal more fish on reefs
A team of international and North Queensland researchers from James Cook University have found the link between fishes and corals may not be as strong as scientists had always assumed. The study

is published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Natural pesticides gain ground in 'agri-tox' capital Brazil
Inspecting a thriving green field, Brazilian farmer Adriano Cruvinel is beaming: Using a fraction of the chemical products he used to, he is growing even more soy, thanks to natural pesticides.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Nature-based solutions play key role in mitigating climate change, suggest researchers
A new study shows that nature-based solutions are crucial to mitigate climate change, but only if they go hand in hand with a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Potassium depletion in soil threatens global crop yields
Potassium deficiency in agricultural soils is a largely unrecognized but potentially significant threat to global food security if left unaddressed, finds new research involving researchers at UCL, University of Edinburgh and the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop coral-tentacle-inspired antifouling membrane spacer
A research group led by Prof. Wan Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a coral-tentacle-inspired antifouling membrane spacer through the sequential growth of functional polymer brushes on the spacer surface. The study was published in AIChE Journal.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Researchers reveal relationship between air oxidation and air pollution
In the atmospheric environment, the pollutants emitted by human activities are oxidized to secondary pollutants and gradually removed from the atmosphere. Therefore, the understanding of atmospheric oxidation is of great significance for air pollution control.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

What does Lake Washington's warming mean for its future?
The region's cold, watery heart is nestled between Seattle and the Eastside. It uniquely supports two major roadways atop floating bridges, has offered beachgoers a summertime respite for decades and is central to the identity of the Seattle area's culture.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 16th, 2024

A geothermal-powered, climate-friendly way to capture carbon dioxide in the air
In a new study, researchers have developed a method for capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, powered by clean and relatively inexpensive geothermal energy.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

A strategy for integrating online digital data for monitoring biodiversity
Scientists from the University of Helsinki together with colleagues from other universities and institutions around the world propose a strategy for integrating online digital data from media platforms to complement monitoring efforts to help address the global biodiversity crisis in light of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Advanced artificial photosynthesis catalyst uses CO² more efficiently to create biodegradable plastics
Amid growing global concern over climate change and plastic pollution, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University are making great strides in the sustainable production of fumaric acid -- a component of biodegradable plastics such as polybutylene succinate, which is commonly used for food packaging.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Applying plasma technology for more effective lithium extraction
Recent research suggests an improved method for extracting lithium by applying plasma technology. Researchers from the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) have successfully increased the lithium extraction rate by three times compared to pre-existing methods by applying CO² microwave plasma technology.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Arcadia Power Review: Community Solar Made Simple
This company connects you with solar farms so you can buy clean electricity -- if community solar is available where you live.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

As the world heats up, solar panels will degrade faster—especially in hot, humid areas: What can we do?
To reach the goal of 82% renewable energy in Australia's grid by 2030, we'll need to build a lot more solar.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Belgian researchers provide a strong boost to sustainable agriculture
Much has been written about the European Climate law and the European Nitrate Directive. Besides social concerns, drastically reducing greenhouse gases by 2030 and structurally lowering the use of nitrogen in agriculture poses significant challenges. Researchers from the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology now present concrete research results to lower nitrogen usage by targeting microorganisms in the soil.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Big firms with $7 tn exit climate investment pressure group
A pair of large investment companies with nearly $7 trillion in assets, said Thursday they exited a climate change investor initiative that aims to pressure companies to quickly cut carbon emissions.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Climate change has brought forward the flowering period in Doñana National Park by 22 days, finds study
Researchers from the University of Seville have investigated how the flowering of 51 species of shrubs, bushes and trees has changed over the last 35 years in Doñana National Park so as to understand how plant communities are responding to climate change in the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Developers in England will be forced to create habitats for wildlife—here's how it works
England's new environmental policy, biodiversity net gain, went live on February 12. Most new developments—everything from a few houses to large solar farms or new roads and railways—will now have to provide a 10% net gain in biodiversity, maintained for at least 30 years.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Earth Receives First-Ever Power Beam From Orbiting Satellite
This is a big win for space solar power, which has more energy-grabbing potential than stationary solar panels on Earth.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Electrification or hydrogen? Both have distinct roles in the European energy transition
A study, published in One Earth, is the first to analyze the interplay of electrification and hydrogen in EU climate neutrality scenarios at greater sectoral detail. The analysis shows higher potential for electrification and identifies a more confined deployment range for hydrogen-based energy than earlier studies.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Erratic weather fueled by climate change will worsen locust outbreaks, study finds
Extreme wind and rain may lead to bigger and worse desert locust outbreaks, with human-caused climate change likely to intensify the weather patterns and cause higher outbreak risks, a new study has found.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Forest Service warns of budget cuts ahead of a risky wildfire season—what does that mean for safety?
A wet winter and spring followed by a hot, dry summer can be a dangerous combination in the Western U.S. The rain fuels bountiful vegetation growth, and when summer heat dries out that vegetation, it can leave grasses and shrubs ready to burn.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Georgia cities face tall task to meet new air pollution standard
Environmental regulators have decided to set a tighter standard for a tiny, but insidious class of air pollution particles linked to serious illnesses and thousands of premature deaths.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Great Lakes ice coverage hits a record low
As a result of a record-warm winter over much of the region, ice coverage on the Great Lakes is only a sliver of the average for the date.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

How to prepare for an evacuation
Here's how to get ready — before disaster strikes.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Increased access to water may be a threat to nomadic livestock farmers in the long term
Increasing access to water in extremely arid parts of sub-Saharan Africa can help nomadic livestock farmers in the short term. However, in the long run, it may lead to serious consequences for their livelihoods. This is shown by new research from Uppsala University published in Nature Climate Change.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Landsat's Images Are Vital in the Fight Against Climate Change
This week, NASA Goddard released a new video that highlights the Landsat program's achievements in 2023. A joint mission between NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), satellite imagers have been orbiting Earth since Landsat 1 was launched in July 1972.
February 16th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video or Watch Video

Microbial cell factories offer sustainable alternative to chemical factories for compound production
As climate change and environmental concerns intensify, sustainable microbial cell factories garner significant attention as candidates to replace chemical plants. To develop microorganisms to be used in the microbial cell factories, it is crucial to modify their metabolic processes to induce efficient target chemical production by modulating its gene expressions.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

Skyrocketing ocean temperatures have scientists scratching their heads
Shattered temperature records have grim implications for hurricane season.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

SolarWinds fixes critical RCE bugs in access rights audit solution
SolarWinds has patched five remote code execution (RCE) flaws in its Access Rights Manager (ARM) solution, including three critical severity vulnerabilities that allow unauthenticated exploitation.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

SunPower Review: Best-Performing Solar Panels Available
High quality equipment and strong warranties make SunPower worth considering.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

What does a warming Arctic mean for the future?
The Arctic is experiencing disproportionately higher temperature increases compared to the rest of the planet, triggering a series of cascading effects. This rapid warming has profound implications for global climate patterns, human populations and wildlife.
February 16th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 14th, 2024

Controlling root growth direction could help save crops and mitigate climate change
Scientists find highly conserved ethylene signaling pathway can be targeted to control the direction of root growth, in turn creating deeper root systems that hold on to carbon and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Did Eurasia's dominant East-West axis 'turn the fortunes of history'?
New research shows that environmental barriers have influenced the spread of cultural innovations but do not consistently favor Eurasia
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Five reasons to heat your home using infrared fabric
Imagine heating your home from the ceiling, not from underfloor heating or radiators. Once installed like wallpaper, hi-tech infrared fabric emits heat in a similar way to the sun's rays. This could be a logical way to add low-carbon heat into existing homes that need retrofitting to improve energy efficiency.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

'Fortress' conservation policies threaten the food security of rural populations, says researcher
Barriers created by "fortress conservation"—as in the near-total sectioning off of land for conservation without human interference—are threatening important dietary diversity for the up to 1.5 billion people around the world who rely on wild foods, from bushmeat to wild vegetables and fruit.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Google Partners With the Environmental Defense Fund to Tackle Climate Change
Google is working alongside the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to better understand methane emissions and potential mitigations.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

His roof wasn't suitable for solar panels. Here's what he did instead.
John Smillie found a different way to help the climate and his community.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

How robotics and AI helped Hippo Harvest land $21M to grow lettuce
Lettuce isn't the world's most challenging crop, but as any farmer knows, there are plenty of problems that pop up between planting and harvest. The gamut runs from pests to pathogens and rain — both too little and too much.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Irrigation strengthens climate resilience in Mali
The installation of small-scale irrigation systems in communities in Mali led to lasting increases in agricultural productivity, decreases in local child malnutrition, and decreases in local conflict, providing resilience to climate change.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Is the Amazon forest approaching a tipping point?
Global warming may be interacting with regional rainfall and deforestation to accelerate forest loss in the Amazon, pushing it towards partial or total collapse. New research has identified the potential thresholds of these stressors, showing where their combined effects could produce a 'tipping point' -- in which the forest is so fragile that just a small disturbance could cause an abrupt shift in the state of the ecosystem.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Last month was the world's warmest January on record
January 2024 was the planet's eighth consecutive warmest month on record, according to NOAA.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Lumio Solar Review: What You Get From This Solar Installer
With an expanding footprint and optional services like roofing, Lumio could be a fit for your solar needs. Find out if they operate in your state.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Microbial biomanufacturing using chemically synthesized non-natural sugars as substrate
Biomanufacturing using biomass sugars such as corn obtained from agriculture is attracting attention as an environmentally friendly technology. However, the supply of such conventional biomass sugars is limited in relation to the huge demand for the production of fuels and chemical products, leading to concerns about competition with food due to the expansion of industrial use.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

New paths in climate change education: Drama as a key to change?
Given the pressing challenges of climate change, education is increasingly seen as a key to transformative adaptation to a changing environment. A study, conducted in collaboration between the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the University of Victoria (Canada), takes a closer look at an innovative approach: the use of drama in climate change education.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: How climate change is impacting the maple syrup industry
In the depths of winter, sugar on snow is a yearly treat many Vermonters eagerly anticipate. But with winters warming and snow barely on the ground in some parts of the state, climate change presents a host of challenges for Vermont's iconic maple industry.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Riverine fish numbers increase amidst environmental challenges
Surprising trends in the abundance and species richness of riverine fish across the globe have been unveiled in a new study.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Scientists use AI to identify new MOF materials for carbon capture
Generative AI techniques, machine learning and simulations give researchers new opportunities to identify environmentally friendly metal-organic framework materials.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

The ice caps are melting. Is geoengineering the solution?
We're not ready for what's coming.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

These States Are Poised for Community Solar Growth, Report Finds
Community solar can help those with no access to solar panels switch to clean energy. Here's why these programs might see growth in the near future.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Upscaling a technology for large-scale carbon storage
SINTEF researchers are applying methodologies used to transport oil and gas in their efforts to upscale a technology for carbon capture and storage. This is good news for the climate.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Video of wolf killing northern Minnesota deer becomes political fodder
A lone gray wolf bolted past a logger last week, on the edge of a clear cut forest in northern St. Louis County. The wolf ran past a giant industrial saw and leaped over felled trees in pursuit of what was either a young doe or an antlerless buck. Seconds later, the wolf killed the deer on the other side of a neatly stacked pile of freshly cut logs, oblivious to the logger, who captured the chase on video.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Vittrup Man crossed over from forager to farmer before being sacrificed in Denmark
DNA, isotope, protein analysis reveal genetic ancestry and migration of a human found in a peat bog
February 14th, 2024 — Source or Source

General — Environment — February 12th, 2024

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Wisconsin
Net metering policies, property tax exemptions and installation rebates mean getting rooftop solar might help offset your utility costs in Wisconsin.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Chile on green hydrogen investment hunt in Europe
Chile is embarking on a European hunt for investors in solar, wind and green hydrogen technologies as it looks to decarbonize copper mines and other industries reliant on fossil fuels.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Clouds disappear quickly during a solar eclipse, shows study
Cumulus clouds over land start to disappear almost instantly during a partial solar eclipse. Until recently, satellite measurements during the eclipse resulted in dark spots in the cloud map, but researchers from TU Delft and KNMI were able to recover the satellite measurements by using a new method.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Could your next home be made of hemp?
Building materials are a major source of climate-warming pollution. Hempcrete, a material made from hemp, could be part of the solution.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Drought may drive deadly amphibian disease, researchers find
Pumpkin toadlets are in trouble. Progressively severe droughts are disrupting the microbiomes of the thumbnail-sized orange frogs, potentially leaving them vulnerable to a deadly fungal disease, according to a new study by an international research team.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Environmental protection agency finalizes stronger air quality standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has introduced a tougher air quality standard that takes aim at fine particulate matter by lowering the allowable annual concentration of the deadly pollutant that each state can have.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Genomic study sheds light on immune microenvironment in transplanted pediatric hearts
Pediatric heart transplantation has long been hailed as a life-saving intervention for children suffering from end-stage heart failure. While the procedure offers hope, the long-term outcomes for these young patients remain suboptimal due to allograft rejection and graft failure.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Global deforestation leads to more mercury pollution, finds study
About 10% of human-made mercury emissions into the atmosphere each year are the result of global deforestation, according to a new MIT study.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

In the Cerrado, crop diversification has beneficial effects on wildlife and reduces the presence of boars
There are no substitutes for native vegetation, but replacing large areas of monoculture with diversified crops in places where agricultural activities are widespread can have beneficial effects on the mammals that still inhabit the region.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

It began with a bite: Five dazzling new species of eyelash vipers discovered in Colombia and Ecuador
A group of scientists led by researchers of from the Khamai Foundation discovered five dazzling new species of eyelash vipers in the jungles and cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador. This discovery was made official in a study published in Evolutionary Systematics.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

JET Fusion Reactor Sets World Record for Generating Energy
The JET reactor produced 69 megajoules of fusion energy for five seconds.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Net Metering: How You Can Save Even More Money With Solar
Many utilities will pay you for the extra power your solar panel system produces, but this popular policy is changing in many places.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Ongoing Microsoft Azure account hijacking campaign targets executives
A phishing campaign detected in late November 2023 has compromised hundreds of user accounts in dozens of Microsoft Azure environments, including those of senior executives.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Permaculture showed us how to farm the land more gently. Can we do the same as we farm the sea?
As wild fish and other marine species get scarcer from overfishing and demand for 'blue foods' grows around the world, farming of the ocean is growing rapidly. Fish, kelp, prawns, oysters and more are now widely farmed. The world now eats more farmed seafood than wild-caught.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Researchers develop eco-friendly 'magnet' to battle microplastics
Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, and University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment researchers are leading the charge with an innovative solution.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Researchers studying ocean transform faults, describe a previously unknown part of the geological carbon cycle
This study reports widespread mineral carbonation of mantle rocks in an oceanic transform fueled by magmatic degassing of CO2. The findings describe a previously unknown part of the geological carbon cycle in transform faults that represent one of the three principal plate boundaries on Earth.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Study could lead to improved mussel production
New research by the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture could help improve mussel farming practices and lead to increased production.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals winners and losers from climate and land-use change
New research from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Northumbria University has determined that as warm-loving species expand their ranges under climate change, Britain's landscapes are losing their biological uniqueness.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Study shows pesticide spread in an alpine ecosystem from the valley to the summit region
The Venosta Valley is located in South Tyrol, which is primarily associated with mountains and nature. In this region in the North of Italy, more than 7,000 apple growers produce 10% of all European apples. Conventional apple cultivation relies primarily on synthetic pesticides, which are applied by fan-assisted sprayers: insecticides to combat pests such as the codling moth and fungicides against fungal diseases that cause scabs on the fruit.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

The US government makes a $42 million bet on open cell networks
The Open RAN dream stays alive.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Using isotopic measurements on stalagmites to investigate 'climate hiccups'
Climate changes usually happen over long periods of time, but during the last glacial period, extreme fluctuations in temperature occurred within just a few years. Researchers at the University of Basel have now been able to prove the phenomenon also occurred during the penultimate glacial period.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Using thermotropic liquid crystals to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar modules
Solar panels and photovoltaics (PVs) are becoming increasingly widespread, contributing to ongoing efforts aimed at decarbonizing electricity production. Solar cells based on perovskites, a class of minerals that can leverage parts of the solar spectrum, have recently achieved highly promising energy conversion efficiencies and stabilities.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

What motivates forest owners to engage in early harvesting?
Data from Norway's National Forest Inventory and from the forest authorities' quality monitoring regime show that over 25% of the forests in Norway are harvested before reaching maturity class 5, the development stage where the forests are normally considered ready for the final harvest.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 9th, 2024

Best Internet Providers in Cape Coral, Florida
CNET's pick for the best internet service provider for most Cape Coral households is Quantum Fiber. Although this ISP doesn't offer the widest coverage -- that would be Xfinity -- Quantum Fiber's symmetrical speeds and simple service details make it an enticing option for home internet.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Fresno
Fresno's bright sun and hot climate make solar energy attractive. Here's what to know before making the decision.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Sacramento
Net metering, PACE programs and economic assistance for disadvantaged people make Sacramento a great place to go solar.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Beyond Plastic Particles: Nanoplastics Discovery Raises Concerns
Empa researchers have recently demonstrated that some nanoplastics are made up of water-insoluble oligomers rather than plastic particles. The consequences they have on people and the environment are not yet fully understood.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Climate change to bring invasive weeds to mid-Atlantic and northeastern US states: Study
In an online article published In Invasive Plant Science and Management, Justin D. Salva and Bethany A. Bradley performed and reported impact assessments on 104 plants most likely to expand with climate change into one or more Eastern U.S. States (Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and/or West Virginia) by 2050.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Goodbye, snow?
Five surprising facts about how climate change is affecting winter weather
February 9th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Hong Kong researcher recycles textile waste for 'building clothing' as thermal insulation
Textiles account for 10% of carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions, while 85% of textile waste is simply sent to landfill or incinerated. Buildings in Hong Kong generate 60% of CO² emissions and air conditioners consume 30% of energy. Therefore, providing an attractive technology to recycle textile waste and save building energy simultaneously holds high promise for carbon reduction.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

How an unprecedented magma river surged beneath an Iceland town
A river of magma flowed underneath an Icelandic fishing village late last year at a rate never before recorded, scientists said Thursday, as the region suffered yet another dramatic eruption.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Indiana wetlands bill garners praise, criticism as it heads to governor's desk
Supporters of wetland legislation approved 6 Feb. by the Indiana legislature say the regulations are fair to residents, property owners, agriculture and developers while those against it say the state has already weakened wetland protections and this will only serve to damage sensitive ecosystems, increase flooding and decrease water quality.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Nuclear fusion world record a promising step toward limitless energy
The feat was a "fitting swansong" for the retired JET reactor in Oxford
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Recycled food waste may be contaminated with pharmaceutical residues, research reveals
New research reveals that recycled food waste may be contaminated with pharmaceutical residues. The good news is that fungi cultivated in biogas digestate show minimal absorption of these contaminants. On February 16, Astrid Solvåg Nesse will defend her PhD dissertation at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Solar Windows? New Tech Could Change How You Power Your Home
Transparent new solar technology offers novel ways to use electricity around your home and could automate new and existing window functions.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

John Deere aims to offer variety of electric tractors, construction equipment by 2026
The company is building a facility in Kernersville, North Carolina, to manufacture electric battery and charging technology.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Over a decade later, climate scientist prevails in libel case
But the case is not entirely over, as he plans to go after the publishers again.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

These States Are Poised for Community Solar Growth, Report Finds
Community solar can help those with no access to solar panels switch to clean energy. Here's why these programs might see growth in the near future.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Understanding the chemical communication between cells
Like the people they make up, cells communicate by bumping into one another and exchanging handshakes. Unlike people, cells perform these handshakes using the diverse range of sugar molecules coating their surface like trees covering a landscape. Handshakes between these sugar molecules, or glycans, trigger cells to react in specific ways toward each other, such as escape, ignore or destroy.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Women train to fight fire with fire in Portugal
Women from around the world gathered in northwest Portugal this week to practice a traditional technique of deliberately burning land to prevent the kind of wildfires—intensified by climate change—that have killed hundreds across Europe.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 7th, 2024

3D printed nanocellulose upscaled for green architectural applications
The study, from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the Wallenberg Wood Science Center, shows how the abundant sustainable material can be 3D printed into a wide array of architectural components, using much less energy than conventional construction methods.
February 7th, 2024 — Source or Source

A new map tool for monitoring pan-Arctic trends of permafrost landscape change
Permafrost (from "permanent" and "frost") is ground that continuously remains at or below 0° C for at least two consecutive years. Around 15% of the land surface in the Northern Hemisphere is underlain by permafrost, which often contains and preserves biomass accumulated throughout millennia and thus acts as a carbon sink.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

California Solar Panel Incentives: Tax Credits, Rebates, Financing and More
Solar incentives are one reason Californians can save money with solar panels, despite weaker net metering rules enacted nearly a year ago.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Can solar geoengineering save the world?
The concept of solar geoengineering—blocking the sun's radiation to slow Earth's warming—is no longer just the realm of science fiction. In 2023, the U.S. government and the UN released reports on the topic. Whether or not solar geoengineering can save the world is up for debate, and Tony Harding, an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy, is contributing to the conversation.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Creativity helps the disempowered to highlight climate emergency concerns, study shows
Creativity can help promote environmental justice and support the disempowered to highlight their concerns about sustainability issues, a study shows.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Curved carbon nanotubes enhance electrocatalysts for carbon neutrality
Electrocatalysis plays a vital role in developing clean energy, greenhouse gas removal and energy storage technologies. A study co-led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) researchers found that single-walled carbon nanotubes are excellent substrates for enhancing greenhouse gas conversion through molecular curvature.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Decoding thermophotovoltaic efficiency
The field of solar cells has witnessed exponential development over the past decades. Evaluating the performance of solar cells has been simple because all devices can be compared given a single metric, the efficiency, which is measured under standardized conditions.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on soil nematode community of soybean farmland
As a predator of soil microorganisms, nematodes respond rapidly to changes in soil environment, which can reflect climate conditions, ecosystem succession status, nutrient cycling and soil ecosystem health. In agroecosystems, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers are often applied in large quantities.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Environmentally-friendly InSb/InP colloidal quantum dots for fast and sensitive short-wave infrared photodetectors
The SWIR light sensor industry has been dominated for years by epitaxial technology, mainly based on devices made of indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs). However, several factors such as high production costs, low-scale manufacturability and incompatibility with CMOS have confined the epitaxial technology to niche and military markets.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

EU agrees on plan to boost homegrown green tech, taking on US and China
The bloc aims to cover at least 40% of its net-zero technology demand by 2030
February 7th, 2024 — Source

How to speak with your family and friends about environmental issues
A simple guide to getting started.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

If plants can pick fungi to help fight pests and diseases, it opens a door to greener farming and ecosystem recovery
Just beneath your feet, an ancient and silent alliance endures. This alliance between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is one of the oldest biological partnerships on Earth.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Inexpensive, carbon-neutral biofuels are finally possible
When it comes to making fuel from plants, the first step has always been the hardest — breaking down the plant matter. A new study finds that introducing a simple, renewable chemical to the pretreatment step can finally make next-generation biofuel production both cost-effective and carbon neutral.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Measuring household air pollution exposure in sub-Saharan Africa
Researchers from the University of Liverpool, dedicated to addressing the issue of household air pollution (HAP) in sub-Saharan Africa, have released new data to better understand the problem.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Natural gas flare samples collected by aircraft reveal high variation in nitrogen oxides emission estimates
Natural gas flaring, or burning, is commonly used in parts of the United States to dispose of the gas byproduct from oil extraction. The flare's combustion converts hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water, which lessens the climate impact and reduces the safety concerns of the natural gas on site but also produces nitrogen oxides, or NO_x.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

New tool skillfully predicts marine habitat shifts
As global temperatures rise, so do ocean temperatures. The ocean absorbs about 90% of the world's excess heat, and this leads to changes to the marine environment that go beyond temperature, making some areas uninhabitable for some marine species.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

New UN weather agency chief says rate of global warming is speeding up
The new chief of the World Meteorological Organization said it looks to her that the rate of human-caused climate change is accelerating and that warming has triggered more Arctic cold outbreaks in North America and Europe, weighing in on two issues that divide climate scientists.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Perovskite single-pixel detector for efficient extraction of meta-images in complex environments
Information technology plays a pivotal role in contemporary society, influencing aspects such as social communication, audio-visual entertainment in daily life, and the integration of cloud computing and the Internet of Things in industrial production.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Reinforcing the diverse ways people access seafood can ensure healthy communities in the face of change
As climate change affects the oceans, coastal communities—particularly those at the front lines of ocean warming and sea level rise—are facing pressures that could threaten their access to aquatic foods.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Spain sees warmest January on record
Spain has just experienced its warmest January since current records began in 1961, national weather office Aemet said Wednesday, after temperatures neared 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Spent hemp biomass: A feed use that supports milk production in dairy cows
Hemp cultivation has exploded in recent years, especially as CBD, a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, has grown in popularity. As a result, there have been increasing calls—including from the Association of American Feed Control Officers—for CBD's by-product, spent hemp biomass, to be investigated as a potential animal feed ingredient.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Study shows how plants adapt to cold ambient temperatures and frost
As plants are sessile organisms, they must be highly flexible in their ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions in order to survive. Researchers from the Department of Plant Physiology at the RPTU Kaiserslautern are investigating plant adaptation mechanisms, particularly to abiotic stress factors such as light intensity or temperature.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Texas Solar Panel Incentives: Tax Credits, Rebates and Net Metering Programs
Buying solar panels is expensive. Texans can access an array of tax credits, rebates and solar buyback programs to help ease the financial burden.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 5th, 2024

After a Tumultuous 2023, What's Next for Rooftop Solar?
A policy change crushed the biggest solar market in the US, but nationwide incentives showed up to the party. What comes next?
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Artists and environmentalists seek creative ways to keep plastics out of landfills
In high school, Jordan Parker wrote a paper on plastic pollution titled: "Is our country doomed to be buried beneath its own garbage?" Decades later, that question continues to galvanize Parker.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Ohio
Looking to install solar panels in the Buckeye State? Take a look at solar installers, cost and incentives in Ohio.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Currently stable parts of East Antarctica may be closer to melting than anyone has realized
In a warming climate, meltwater from Antarctica is expected to contribute significantly to rising seas. For the most part, though, research has been focused on West Antarctica, in places like the Thwaites Glacier, which has seen significant melt in recent decades.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Does the Saffir-Simpson Scale for hurricanes need a Category 6?
Two scientists say that it's time to recognize what a warming planet has done to the fiercest hurricanes.
February 5th, 2024 — Source or Source or Source

Does Your State Have Solar Net Metering?
Net metering or net billing policies determine how you get paid for the extra energy your solar panels produce. Here's how it works in every state.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Grape white rot resistance and the role of VvWRKY5 in enhancing pathogen defense through the jasmonic acid pathway
Grape white rot, caused by Coniella diplodiella (Speg.) Sacc. (Cd), significantly impacts grape production and quality, highlighting the need for effective disease management strategies beyond fungicide use due to concerns over food safety and environmental impact.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

How climate change contributes to wildfires like Chile's
At least 112 people have been killed by wildfires in central Chile, leading its president to declare two days of national mourning. The devastation comes soon after Colombia declared a disaster over wildfires. Scientists say climate change makes the heat waves and drought now hitting South America more likely—and both contribute to wildfires by drying out the plants that feed the blazes.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Improving climate predictions by unlocking the secrets of soil microbes
Climate models are essential to predicting and addressing climate change, but can fail to adequately represent soil microbes, a critical player in ecosystem soil carbon sequestration that affects the global carbon cycle.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Mapping Australia's marine estate: Seafloor surveillance for biodiversity management
Global marine biodiversity is continually being threatened by oceanographic changes linked to both global warming and anthropogenic activities that degrade the ambient environment for marine organisms. Australia's oceanographic biodiversity is globally admired, with new initiatives being undertaken to aid conservation of marine ecosystems for decades to come, both at the local and global scale.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

New findings explain how soil traps plant-based carbon
When carbon molecules from plants enter the soil, they hit a definitive fork in the road. Either the carbon gets trapped in the soil for days or even years, where it is effectively sequestered from immediately entering the atmosphere. Or it feeds microbes, which then respire carbon dioxide into the ever-warming environment.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

New technology unscrambles the chatter of microbes
Researchers from University of California San Diego, as part of a large collaboration with scientists around the world, have developed a new search tool to help researchers better understand the metabolism of microorganisms. Microbes are key players in virtually all biological and environmental systems, yet limitations in current techniques used to study microbial metabolism make it difficult to decode their interactions and activities.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Ocean sponges suggest Earth has warmed longer, more than thought; some scientists dubious
A handful of centuries-old sponges from deep in the Caribbean are causing some scientists to think human-caused climate change began sooner and has heated the world more than they thought.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Researchers discover new species of mussel that lives in an ancient undersea forest
A Northeastern marine scientist has discovered a new species of tiny mollusk that lives in an ancient, submerged cypress grove called the Alabama Undersea Forest.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Researchers uncover biological circuit that offers a new avenue for creating drought-resistant crops
Climate change is already harming agricultural yields and may one day pose a significant threat to the world's food supply. Engineering more resilient crops, including those able to thrive in the face of drought or high soil salinity levels, is an increasingly urgent need.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Space reflectors could ensure bright future for solar power farms
Reflectors placed in orbit around the Earth that reflect sunlight toward future solar power farms at dawn and dusk could help accelerate the transition to net-zero, researchers say.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Stellar Blade Features a Mix of Linear Environments and Open World Zones; Various Quests and Fishing Confirmed
Shift Up's upcoming game Stellar Blade was selected as one of Wccftech's most anticipated action titles for 2024. With only a couple months and a half left before the launch date, the developers have revealed more details about this game in an interview with IGN Japan.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Study challenges the classical view of the origin of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and warns of its vulnerability
The most powerful ocean current on the planet
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Study of Indigenous and local communities finds happiness doesn't cost much
Many Indigenous peoples and local communities around the world are leading very satisfying lives despite having very little money. This is the conclusion of a study by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB), which shows that many societies with very low monetary income have remarkably high levels of life satisfaction, comparable to those in wealthy countries.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Washington state drinking water, hydropower at risk as Pacific Northwest snowpack shrinks
At Diablo Lake, North Cascades National Park the clouds lift by noon and wind screams down the mountainsides. Temperatures sunk to zero as Jon Riedel, a retired geologist with the National Park Service, stood on a ridge above the blue-green reservoir, which holds water that will later be released to spin the turbines at the dam and help power Seattle.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

What to know about Chile's voracious wildfires
Coming in the middle of a fierce heat wave, Chile's forest fires engulfed communities with a destructive speed that has stunned the nation.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

What Type of Solar Panels Should You Get?
Polycrystalline or monocrystalline? Going solar can be complicated. Here's what you need to know about solar panel types.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Wildfires scorch central Chile, death toll tops 110
The death toll from central Chile's blazing wildfires climbed to at least 112 people on Sunday, after President Gabriel Boric warned the number would rise "significantly" as teams search gutted neighborhoods.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — February 2nd, 2024

Biodegradable sensor monitors levels of pesticides via direct contact with surface of fruit and vegetables
Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) in Brazil have developed a sustainable sensor that can be placed directly on the surface of a vegetable or fruit to detect the presence of pesticides. Known for this reason as "plant-wearable," it is made of cellulose acetate, a material derived from wood pulp.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Engineers Capture First Clear Images of Ocean Nanoplastics
Millions of tons of plastic waste enter the oceans each year. The sun's ultraviolet light and ocean turbulence break down these plastics into invisible nanoparticles that threaten marine ecosystems.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

'Everything was messed up': NYC's day cares grapple with flooding
Over 2,000 licensed child care providers in the city use homes with basements for classrooms, offices, and storage, leaving them damage-prone when heavy rains strike.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Fooled: Herbivorous animals 'led by the nose' to leave plants alone
University of Sydney researchers have shown it is possible to shield plants from the hungry maws of herbivorous mammals by fooling them with the smell of a variety they typically avoid.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Sedimentary records of contaminant inputs in Frobisher Bay provide record of changes in contaminant levels over decades
Although contaminant levels in Arctic environments are often lower than those in temperate locations close to cities and industrial areas, contaminant studies in the Arctic remain important due to the potential for bioaccumulation and biomagnification through food webs to top consumers and humans. Regions important for traditional food harvesting are a priority for monitoring.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Should climate change keep you from having kids?
The authors of a new book, 'The Conceivable Future,' discuss how people are thinking about family planning in a time of climate change.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Researchers realize photo-driven nitrogen fixation and ammonia synthesis mediated by lithium hydride
Ammonia is essential for food and future energy supply. In the industry, it is mainly produced by the Haber-Bosch process, which operates at high temperatures and pressures. Due to the high energy consumption and carbon emissions of ammonia industry, it is important to develop alternative materials and approaches for efficient N2 reduction to ammonia driven by renewable energy.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Strategies for enhancing the performance of nickel single-atom catalysts for the electroreduction of CO² to CO
Electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO²) is considered as an effective strategy for mitigating the energy crisis and the greenhouse effect. Among the multiple reduction products, CO is regarded as having the highest market value as it is a crucial feedstock for Fischer-Tropsch process which can synthesize high-value long-chain hydrocarbons.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — January 31st, 2024

Anchoring single Co sites on bipyridine-based covalent triazine frameworks for photocatalytic oxygen evolution
Photocatalytic water splitting using semiconductors is regarded as a promising technique for producing hydrogen fuel from solar energy. The oxygen evolution half reaction has proven to be the bottleneck for photocatalytic overall water splitting owing to the high energy barrier and the sluggish kinetics. It is a big challenge to develop efficient photocatalysts for the advancement of water oxidation.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Assessing endosulfan residues and farmer response post-ban in China's cotton regions
Endosulfan, a broad-spectrum organochlorine pesticide, was widely used in agricultural sectors, including cotton farming, due to its effectiveness against pests. However, due to its environmental persistence and potential health risks, its production and use have been banned in China since March 2019.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Washington, DC
DC is supported by strong solar legislation. Between federal and local programs, DC has a lot of incentives for going solar.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Cerulean empowers ocean pollution watchdogs with orbital observation
The vastness of the ocean allows polluters to evade detection in all but the most egregious violations. SkyTruth aims to change that with Cerulean, an orbital monitoring platform for coastal waters that spots not just oil slicks but also the ships that produce them faster and with more certainty than ever before.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Climate change: University researchers feel powerless to take action, says survey
University researchers in the UK, across all disciplines and at all career stages, are struggling to take action against climate change despite wanting to do so.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Crypto mines will have to start reporting their energy use in the US
A survey of crypto mines' electricity consumption in the US is set to start next week.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Germany's mine-to-motor lithium supply chain takes shape
Once a byword for environmental disaster due to its heavy industry and mining, the city of Bitterfeld-Wolfen is poised to become a key site for Germany's ambitious green transition.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Heat from treated wastewater can warm homes
A Duluth collaboration aims to repurpose warm water discharged from a wastewater plant to heat homes in a low-income neighborhood.
January 31, 2024 — Source

How a 'turn it off' approach to energy conservation could benefit Canada, and the planet
The challenge for climate change communicators a couple of decades ago was conveying what the research was showing: that the burning of fossil fuels was altering the planet's climate. That communication played a vital role in facilitating the current widespread understanding that the climate is changing and it is a crisis.
January 31, 2024 — Source

How YouTube's climate deniers turned into climate doomers
A new report documents a sharp rise in arguments that clean energy and climate policies won't work.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Legume model plant study clarifies underlying mechanism of iron acquisition in response to nitrogen
Leguminous plants have a mechanism (rhizobial symbiosis) to efficiently acquire nitrogen, which is an essential macronutrient for growth, through the nitrogen-fixing bacteria rhizobia. Root nodules are organs on plant roots that facilitate the symbiotic relationship.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Logitech Conference Room Products Transition to Recycled Plastic & Next Life Materials
Logitech has announced that all video collaboration devices that run on the CollabOS operating system will now be manufactured with next-life plastics, helping enterprise customers support their sustainability objectives. Existing products- Rally Bar, Rally Bar Mini, Tap IP, Tap Scheduler, and Scribe- are being refreshed with materials that lower the carbon impact of each product. This provides organizations with a partner that in turn helps position them to better manage their carbon footprint.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Medicinal drugs pollute the St. Lawrence River, presenting possible risk to aquatic organisms: Study
A new study shows troubling levels of pharmaceutical pollution in the St. Lawrence River and its largest tributaries, especially near and downstream of urban areas. Some of the compounds detected even pose a moderate-to-high risk to aquatic organisms when there's chronic exposure.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Method combines artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to map crop-livestock integration systems
Crop-livestock integration (CLI) systems combine the growing of crops in rotation or consortium, especially grain crops such as soybeans, corn and sorghum, and forage plants used to feed cattle and pigs, with the raising of livestock, typically beef cattle. The crops provide most of the cash income, while the livestock has food available during the dry season and facilitates seed management.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Oil firms forced to consider full climate effects of new drilling, following landmark Norwegian court ruling
Norway's district court in Oslo recently made a decision on fossil fuels that deserves the attention of every person concerned about climate change.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Positive associations revealed as key driver in maintaining soil biodiversity and ecological networks
In a study published in PNAS, researchers analyzed 151 ecosystems across six continents, delved into the intricate coexistence network among diverse species including bacteria, fungi, protists, and invertebrates, and for the first time, linked biotic coexistence relationships with global biodiversity maintenance, which offers insights into the understanding of soil biodiversity and its ecological networks.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Research team demonstrates robust light propagation in open systems
Physicists from the University of Rostock, the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, the Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg and the Indiana University Indianapolis (IUPUI) have shown for the first time that light can propagate without any loss in systems that interact with their environment.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Researchers decode key airflow pattern impacting global climate
The Hadley circulation is a key atmospheric circulation pattern in the tropics. It helps even out the temperature between the equator and the poles by moving energy and momentum toward higher latitudes.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Researchers report on recent drought in the eastern Hungarian plains
Intensive agricultural cultivation and the resulting changes in soil structure cause low humidity in the near-surface air during heat waves in really dry years. As a result, summer cold fronts roar across the Great Hungarian Plain without the usual thunderstorms and precipitation.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Scientists take a close look at Australia's soil profiles
Even the most degraded and poor quality soil can be enhanced by improving its smallest components—its fungi, archaea and bacteria microorganisms.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Space lasers have unearthed plethora of climate data over the years
A team of scientists has sifted through two decades' worth of climate data collected by NASA laser pulses, and say it both paints a sobering picture and underscores the need for such missions to continue.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Study finds manure control effective in reducing soil antibiotic-resistant bacteria
In agroecosystems where manure is applied as organic fertilizer, these antibiotic residues exert strong selective pressure on soil microbial communities. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) from animal manure would increase the concentration of ARB in soils.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Study highlights profitability as a key barrier to biodiversity-friendly farming
A study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), focused on an intensive grassland-sunflower system in southwest France in order to quantify the ecological, agronomic, and net economic benefits of biodiversity-friendly farming. Such insight is highly needed in the context of experts increasingly advocating for biodiversity-friendly farming, with very little known about its economic profitability for farmers.
January 31, 2024 — Source

The hottest catalog of the year: the most comprehensive list of slow-building solar flares yet
Solar flares occur when magnetic energy builds up in the sun's atmosphere and is released as electromagnetic radiation. Lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, flares usually reach temperatures around 10 million degrees Kelvin. Because of their intense electromagnetic energy, solar flares can cause disruptions in radio communications, Earth-orbiting satellites and even result in blackouts.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Unprecedented ocean heating shows risks of world 3C warmer
Record-high ocean temperatures observed in 2023 could become the norm if the world moved into a climate that is 3°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, according to a new study.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Using artificial intelligence, better pollution predictions are in the air
Fueled by increasing temperatures and droughts, severe wildfires are on the rise around the world—as are the smoke-borne contaminants that harm the environment and human health. In 2023, Canada recorded its worst wildfire season ever, with fires releasing more than 290 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere. California also experienced record-setting fire seasons in 2020 and 2021.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Why we need to preserve maritime forests
While collecting cores from oak trees on Fire Island National Park, Nicole Davi, a dendrochronologist who works at the Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, explains the critical role maritime forests play in protecting our coastal communities from storms. The tree-ring records she builds will help us understand how these ecosystems are responding to climate change.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Will La Niña return this fall? The tea leaves are unusually strong
There's now higher-than-usual confidence that the current strong El Niño event will segue into La Niña later this year.
January 31, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — January 29th, 2024

2 Broods of Cicadas Are Preparing to Swarm the US Simultaneously
'Cicadapocalypse' is expected to unleash billions of big, noisy insects on the environment.
January 29, 2024 — Source

ADT Closed Its Solar Division. What Happens to Its Customers?
The solar business is getting turbulent. If the company that put your panels up goes out of business, you might be thinking: What's next?
January 29, 2024 — Source

Cosmic building blocks of life discovered through the electron microscope
Meteorites are fragments of asteroids which find their way to Earth as shooting stars and provide information on the origins of our solar system. A team of researchers has examined the so-called Winchcombe meteorite and demonstrated the existence in it of nitrogen compounds such as amino acids and heterocyclic hydrocarbons -- without applying any chemical treatment and by using a new type of detector design.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Education and information can increase the acceptance of climate policies
An important question for policymakers worldwide is how to make climate and environmental policies acceptable among the populations. A new study published in Climate Policy sheds light on the preferences in five East African countries.
January 29, 2024 — Source or Source

El Niño: Malawi's harvest of maize—its staple food—may fall by 22.5% this year
Maize is the preferred staple of most of southern Africa. In Malawi it supplies two-thirds of national calorie intake. Nine out of 10 farming households produce maize and devote over 70% of their land to growing it.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Electric vehicles use half the energy of gas-powered vehicles
They're just much more efficient.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Environments on Apple Vision Pro: What they are and every location announced so far
Vision Pro can transform your living room into a mountain top.
January 29, 2024 — Source

'Everyone can be a naturalist' says the man who preserved more than 150,000 acres
Suburban environs can be dull. Lawns and roads don't offer much biodiversity for curious boys. But Charles Bier, a recently retired senior director of conservation science for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, found a way outside.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Fixing food could produce trillions in annual benefits: Report
The ways food is produced and consumed across the world is racking up hidden costs in health impacts and environmental damage amounting to some 12 percent of world GDP a year, according to a new report Monday.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Green leaf volatiles may work as a less toxic pesticide for farmers
Have you ever wondered about that sharp, green note that hits your nose when you mow the lawn or cut flower stems? Those are green leaf volatiles, or GLVs: easily evaporated oils that plants use to communicate with other plants and defend themselves against herbivores or pathogens like bacteria or fungi.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Growing up during a drought: What it taught about 'nudging' sustainability behaviors
The need to understand how to encourage people to adopt more climate-friendly behaviors is pressing, but "nudging" people to adopt behaviors such as recycling, taking public transport, and reducing their consumption of energy and water, is notoriously difficult.
January 29, 2024 — Source

High schoolers build solar car that can go 70 miles an hour
They raced it from Fort Worth to El Paso, Texas.
January 29, 2024 — Source

High-efficiency carbon dioxide electroreduction system reduces our carbon footprint and progressing carbon neutrality goals
Global warming continues to pose a threat to human society and the ecological systems, and carbon dioxide accounts for the largest proportion of the greenhouse gases that dominate climate warming.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Importance of irrigation water to Lower Rio Grande Valley agriculture highlighted in new report
The economic impact of the complete lack of irrigation water for crop production in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in 2024 would be an estimated $495.8 million in direct revenue loss, according to a recent report by the Center for North American Studies, CNAS.
January 29, 2024 — Source

New analysis highlights geothermal heat pumps as key opportunity in switch to clean energy
A new analysis from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that, coupled with building envelope improvements, installing geothermal heat pumps in around 70% of U.S. buildings could save as much as 593 terawatt-hours of electricity generation annually and avoid seven gigatons of carbon-equivalent emissions by 2050.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Pollen diaries: Polar ice records preserve climate versus human impact following Little Ice Age
Pollen can help scientists track changes in vegetation through time, as they respond to moderations of the climate, be that glaciation or deglaciation with transitions into and out of ice ages. Furthermore, it can help elucidate the interplay between climate and the impact early human settlement exploitation of the natural world had on forests.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Rising sea levels could lead to more methane emitted from wetlands
A low-salinity Bay Area estuary ecosystem is producing higher-than-expected levels of methane
January 29, 2024 — Source

Scientists develop novel method to estimate biodiversity loss in Singapore over the past two centuries
Findings underscore the vulnerability of charismatic species in tropical forest environments
January 29, 2024 — Source

Sediment runoff from the land is killing NZ's seas. It's time to take action, says researcher
The fishers at Separation Point, between Golden Bay and Tasman Bay in New Zealand's northwest South Island, used to be cautious. Something they called "hard coral" would tear their nets. If you dived down about 30 meters, you could see why: Extensive reefs.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Spacing characteristics between vegetation could be a warning sign of degrading dryland ecosystems: Study
Scientists have found that the spatial arrangement of plants in drylands can be a sign of the environment degrading, according to a new study.
January 29, 2024 — Source

SolarWinds slams SEC lawsuit against it as 'unprecedented' victim blaming
18,000 customers, including the Pentagon and Microsoft, may have other thoughts
January 29, 2024 — Source

Understanding nutrient cycling between algae and bacteria could lead to increased biofuel production
The interactions between algae and bacteria are essential to the primary productivity of Earth's oceans and surface waters. Bacteria can increase the productivity of algae by producing key factors, such as vitamins, iron-chelating molecules, and growth hormones. In addition, bacteria remineralize organic matter—a process that provides a steady supply of nutrients to algae.
January 29, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — January 26th, 2024

Addressing the future of Norway's pink salmon
In recent years, the presence of pink salmon in Norwegian rivers has dramatically increased. Fishermen, anglers and researchers alike are concerned that this non-native species could pose a significant threat to native species and ecosystems.
January 26, 2024 — Source

ADT Solar Exits US Residential Solar Panel Market
ADT was CNET's highest-rated overall solar company. Now we've got a new one.
January 26, 2024 — Source

ADT Solar Review
ADT has announced it will be closing its solar operations business. While the information in this review was relevant at the time, it is no longer useful and applicable.
January 26, 2024 — Source

AI Surge Catches US Electric Grid Off Guard, Keeps Coal Plants In Business
Artificial intelligence is taking over the world, not literally, or rather, not yet anyway. However, the use of AI and machine learning is having a butterfly effect. Besides all the standard implications of AI taking jobs and concerns about the responsible use of it, AI is also putting a strain on the power infrastructure around the United States.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Calculate How Much Money Solar Panels Can Save You
Quite a few factors affect how much money solar panels can save you. These formulas will help you determine how much.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Climate crisis prompts Biden to halt new gas export facilities
The United States, which ships more liquefied natural gas (LNG) than any other country, is hitting pause on new export facilities, the Biden administration announced Friday in a step hailed as vital to tackling the climate crisis.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Glacier melting destroys important climate data archive
As part of the Ice Memory initiative, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) researchers, with colleagues from the University of Fribourg and Ca' Foscari University of Venice as well as the Institute of Polar Sciences of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), analyzed ice cores drilled in 2018 and 2020 from the Corbassière glacier at Grand Combin in the canton of Valais.
January 26, 2024 — Source

How the seabed could be a refuge for gorgonian coral forests threatened by marine heat waves
Over the last 20 years, the world's oceans have experienced a significant increase in episodes of high-sea surface temperatures, known as marine heat waves.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Magnetic-biased chiral molecules enable highly oriented perovskite films
In the realm of clean energy, metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a focus, capturing significant attention for their extraordinary advancements. In just over a decade, their certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) has skyrocketed to 26.1%, approaching the upper limits seen in traditional crystalline silicon cells. What sets PSCs apart is their potential to surpass the 30% PCE threshold.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Nexon's Medieval Fantasy Brawler Warhaven Shutting Down 6 Months After Launching in Early Access
"We must bid our sincere farewell."
January 26, 2024 — Source

Our picks for personal climate action in 2024
From getting solar panels to going to therapy, here's how Yale Climate Connections editors are planning to take care of ourselves and the planet this year.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Revolutionizing plastics: Upcycling agricultural waste boosts performance and sustainability
Researchers from Thailand have pioneered the conversion of waste HDPE milk bottles into high-stiffness composites, using PALF reinforcement for a 162% increase in flexural strength and 204% in modulus. This eco-friendly upcycling boosts mechanical properties while sequestering carbon, presenting a promising path for sustainable materials.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Parent--child interaction found to promote pro-environmental behavior through family well-being, nature connectedness
The deterioration of global ecosystems and environmental problems, such as global climate warming, extreme weather events, and severe pollution threaten the human environment. Implementing pro-environmental behaviors is one of the effective ways to solve environmental problems. How to promote behavioral change and implement more pro-environmental behaviors through family education has become a social research focus.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Peach-palm waste and Trichoderma stromaticum: The potential of cost-effective amylase production
Amylases are among the most important biotechnological and industrial enzymes that can be applied in various sectors, such as food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, chemicals, paper, and detergents.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Puppet king teaches Minnesota kids about climate change
The puppet shows can help kids learn tips for sustainable living.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Solar Panels versus Tesla Solar Roof: Here's the Difference
The Tesla Solar Roof might be the best-looking solar solution for your home. It could be one of the most expensive, too.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Spatial model predicts bumblebee exposure to pesticide use
It has long been known that agricultural pesticides are one of the greatest threats to bees and other essential pollinators. What farmers have lacked is an understanding of how different pesticides, applied at various times on a variety of crops, affect the risk of exposure to bees living near the fields.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Study explores the connection between nitrogen oxides control and SNA, ozone reduction
Sulfate-nitrate-ammonium (SNA) and other atmospheric aerosols play a significant role in influencing both atmospheric and environmental conditions. These aerosols impact climate directly through scattering and absorbing solar radiation, thus influencing the Earth's radiative balance.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Study shows coal-based product could replace sand in concrete
The world's reliance on concrete, the second most consumed material after water, is leading to an environmental and resource crisis, with sand mining rates outstripping natural replenishment.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Study tracks how wetland tree stem emissions vary by season, location, and hydrological conditions
The recent rise in atmospheric methane (CH4) has drawn increased attention to the potent greenhouse gas, which is approximately 45 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. About 60% of global methane emissions are anthropogenic, primarily from fossil fuel burning and other activities in the transportation and agriculture sectors. The remainder of the methane budget comes from natural ecosystem processes.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Swimming pools could slash bills by harvesting heat from servers. Here's how to make it work
My teenage son regularly complains about his room being too warm, even during winter. While the rest of the house is at a comfortable temperature, the video game PC he plays emits a significant amount of heat.
January 26, 2024 — Source

The botanical imperialism of weeds and crops: How alien plant species on the First Fleet changed Australia
Locally grown produce fills Australian shops, but almost all of these species were imported, as native as cane toads. Icons of Australian agriculture, like the Big Banana and Big Pineapple, proudly display the regions' crops, but these are newcomers to the continent.
January 26, 2024 — Source

The underground network: Decoding the dynamics of plant-fungal symbiosis
The intricate dance of nature often unfolds in mysterious ways, hidden from the naked eye. At the heart of this enigmatic tango lies a vital partnership: the symbiosis between plants and a type of fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. New groundbreaking research delves into this partnership, revealing key insights that deepen our understanding of plant-AM fungi interactions and could lead to advances in sustainable agriculture.
January 26, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — January 24th, 2024

Balancing the potential and pitfalls of solar-powered groundwater irrigation
In a bid to meet growing food production and energy needs in low- and middle-income countries, solar-powered groundwater irrigation is rapidly gaining ground. More than 500,000 solar pumps have been installed in south Asia over the last few years and a major expansion is planned across sub-Saharan Africa.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Climate disaster movies resonate in ways that news never will
Like many eco-conscious film buffs, I've seen "Don't Look Up" many times, and shown it to my friends and family whenever anyone suggests a movie night. Now I'm looking forward to discussing "The End We Start From," the new 2024 release starring Killing Eve star Jodie Comer. T
January 24, 2024 — Source

Europe's bike industry hits bumps as cycling craze cools
At a bicycle trade fair in Stuttgart, steep discounts on brand-new models hint at the turmoil roiling the industry now that a pandemic-fueled cycling craze has faded.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Global warming found to have a bigger effect on compact, fast-moving typhoons
A research group from Nagoya University in Japan has found that larger, slower-moving typhoons are more likely to be resilient against global warming. However, compact, faster-moving storms are more likely to be sensitive.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Global warming was primary cause of unprecedented Amazon drought, study finds
Human-induced global warming, and not El Niño, was the primary driver of last year's severe drought in the Amazon that sent rivers to record lows, required deliveries of food and drinking water to hundreds of river communities and killed dozens of endangered dolphins, researchers said Wednesday.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Looking to take advantage of IRA rebates? Depending on your state, you might have to wait.
Each state or territory will need to design its own program to offer rebates for energy-efficiency retrofits and climate-friendly appliances.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Researchers: Britain is at bursting point and its flood barriers need to be updated
Flooding is the top environmental hazard identified in the UK's National Risk Register, after a pandemic. Around one in six homes are currently at risk of flooding—a value likely to increase.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Study finds no evidence for fractal scaling in canopy surfaces across a diverse range of forest types
The complexity of forests cannot be explained by simple mathematical rules, a study finds. The way trees grow together do not resemble how branches grow on a single tree, scientists have discovered.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Suppression of deep-level traps for lead-free perovskite solar cells
Tin perovskites have gained tremendous attention in lead-free perovskite solar cells. However, Sn vacancies and undercoordinated Sn ions on the tin perovskite surfaces can create deep-level traps, leading to non-radiative recombination and absorption nucleophilic O2 molecules, impeding further device efficiency and stability.
January 24, 2024 — Source

General — Environment — January 22nd, 2024

A pure water-fed membrane-electrode-assembly system for electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide
The sustainably powered, electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and feedstock could help to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, allowing industries to reuse released CO2 in beneficial ways. Most of the strategies for realizing this introduced so far, however, have notable limitations, including a poor stability over long periods of time.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Congo's blackwater Ruki River is a major transporter of forest carbon, study shows
The Congo Basin of central Africa is well known for its network of rivers that drain a variety of landscapes

, from dense tropical forests to more arid and wooded savannas.
January 22, 2024 — Source

How to design policies that support both aquaculture and small-scale fisheries
Marine aquaculture has expanded dramatically over the last two decades to meet growing demand for aquatic foods, but this growth can sometimes come at a cost. New Stanford-led research published in npj Ocean Sustainability explores how investments in the aquaculture industry can affect small-scale marine fisheries, and how policy changes can support livelihoods, equity, and sustainability.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Investigating the presence of environmental rare earth elements in activated sludge systems
The pandemic has triggered a major increase in the use of medical facilities and drugs, which has exacerbated pollution in wastewater biochemical treatment systems. Pollution from environmental rare earth elements (REE) has increased due to the widespread use of REE in medical applications.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Is linking time in the office to career success the best way to get us back to work?
Working from home introduced in response to the harsh pandemic lockdowns in 2020 was expected to be a short term arrangement with staff returning to the office as soon as restrictions were lifted.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Environmental- Agriculture

Agribuild
offers personal coaching and strategic planning advice to farmers and agricultural contractors.
Provides Information — Source

Brakke Consulting
offers services to the animal health, agricultural, veterinary, pet, and specialty chemical product industries including executive search, market studies, and professional management services.
Provides a Service — Source

Denzil Phillips International Ltd.
introduce, conserve, propagate, cultivate, harvest, process, evaluate, and market useful plants from around the world.
Provides Information — Source

Five-G Consulting
custom design of livestock handling facilities.
Provides a Service — Source

Mason, Bruce & Girard, Inc. Consulting Foresters.
specializing in timberland management, forest inventories, timber harvest planning, appraisals, forest economics and policy analysis, and special studies.
Provides a Service — Source

Middle East Breeders and Technologies Ltd
offers livestock breeding consultancy services to government organisations, private sector, and individual breeders.
Provides Information — Source

Zwicker Consulting
source of information on Illinois agriculture featuring sections on commodities, crop conditions and weather reports.
Provides a Service — Source

Environmental — Miscellaneous

Fujino Spirals
Specializing in the field of pollution control dealing in Fujino spirals, Media based sewage treatment plants, Manufacturers of spirals media, industrial wastewater treatment india.
Provides Information — Source

Ore Systems Consulting
geological consulting firm specializing in VMS deposits.
Provides a Service — Source

Progressive Consulting Engineers, Inc
specializing in the water supply area and providing services to public and private agencies.
Provides a Service — Source

Q&Amp;A: Professor Phil Jones
Phil Jones is director of the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia (UEA), which has been at the centre of the row over hacked e-mails.
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TreeHugger.com
The Future is Green. Find it here.
  — Source

World Natural Hazards Website — Natural Disaster Management — Disaster Agency Hawaii
The Pacific Disaster Center's mission provides information about research and analysis support for the development of effective policies, institutions, programs and the information products for the disaster management and humanitarian assistance communities of the Asia Pacific region.
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Yale Climate Connections
Yale Climate Connections is a news service that aims to help you understand the reality of climate change and what you can do about it. Through our website, YouTube channel, and national radio program, which airs each day on hundreds of stations, we reach millions of people like you each year.
Provides Information — Source