Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Thermodynamics Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Severe Weather Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General
Published

Hot summer air turns into drinking water with new gel device      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have focused on the moisture present in the air as a potential source of drinking water for drought-stressed populations. They reached a significant breakthrough in their efforts to create drinkable water out of thin air: a molecularly engineered hydrogel that can create clean water using just the energy from sunlight.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Atmospheric scientists reveal much of Houston's ozone exceedance due to air flows from the north      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Atmospheric science researchers published findings on Houston's ozone. They found that while local emissions play a role in the rise of Houston's ozone levels, most of the pollutants are carried in from other parts of the country.

Chemistry: General Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Urban parks built on former waste incineration sites could be lead hotspots      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study finds that surface soil in parks and playgrounds built on former waste incineration and ash disposal sites may contain levels of lead exceeding EPA safety standards for areas where children play. The contamination, which can persist long after an incinerator is closed, stems from burning paint, pipes and other products that contained lead. Sites in hundreds of U.S. and Canadian cities could be contaminated. Increased monitoring is needed to pinpoint hotspots.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

High levels of particulate air pollution associated with increased breast cancer incidence      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers found that living in an area with high levels of particulate air pollution was associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer. The study is one of the largest studies to date looking at the relationship between outdoor air pollution, specifically fine particulate matter, and breast cancer incidence.

Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

New methodology reveals health, climate impacts of reducing buildings' energy use      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Increasing energy efficiency in buildings can save money -- and it can also decrease the carbon emissions and air pollution that lead to climate change and health harms. But the climate and health benefits of reducing buildings' energy consumption are rarely quantified. Now, researchers have developed a new method for calculating the health and climate impacts of these energy savings.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Studies highlight new approaches to addressing climate change      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Failing to achieve climate mitigation goals puts increasing pressure on climate adaptation strategies. In two new studies, researchers address novel approaches to these issues.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

New ionic materials boost hydrogen fuel cell efficiency!      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has made a groundbreaking advancement in improving the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells, which are gaining significant attention as eco-friendly next-generation energy sources.

Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Helicopter-based observations uncover warm ocean water flows toward Totten Ice Shelf in Southeast Antarctica      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of scientists has successfully conducted large-scale helicopter-based observations along the coast of East Antarctica and has identified pathways through which warm ocean water flows from the open ocean into ice shelf cavities for the first time.

Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Lions on the brink -- New analysis reveals the differing threats to African lion populations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New results reveal that many of Africa's remaining lions live within small, fragmented populations at risk of disappearing. The researchers developed a new framework which integrates ecological and socio-political risk factors to better understand the fragility of these populations.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography
Published

Researchers charting a sustainable course in oceanic carbon capture      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

As researchers around the world race against time to develop new strategies and technologies to fight climate change, a team of scientists is exploring one possible way to directly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment: Negative emissions technologies (NETs).

Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Hybrid catalyst produces critical fertilizer and cleans wastewater      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Synthetically produced fertilizer urea supports half of global population. Using pure metals, researchers develop hybrid catalyst with capacity to convert waste nitrogen and carbon dioxide to urea. The process could denitrify wastewater and runoff while creating a new revenue stream for water treatment facilities.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Floating sea farms: A solution to feed the world and ensure fresh water by 2050      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The sun and the sea -- both abundant and free -- are being harnessed in a unique project to create vertical sea farms floating on the ocean that can produce fresh water for drinking and agriculture.

Biology: Evolutionary Biology: Marine Ecology: Animals Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Scientists find evidence of sea star species hybridization      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study presents genomic evidence of hybridization between two closely related species of sea stars -- Asterias rubens, the common starfish, and Asterias forbesi, known as Forbes' sea star.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Table salt could be the secret ingredient for better chemical recycling      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have shown that table salt outperforms other expensive catalysts being explored for the chemical recycling of polyolefin polymers, which account for 60% of plastic waste. The research shows that sodium chloride could provide a safe, inexpensive and reusable way to make plastics more recyclable. The team also showed that table salt and other catalysts could be used in the recycling of metallized plastic films -- like those used in potato chip bags -- which are currently not recyclable.

Chemistry: General Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

New study highlights feasibility and optimization of ammonia-based power generation for carbon neutrality      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has evaluated the feasibility of ammonia-based power generation through techno-economic and carbon footprint analyses.

Biology: Botany Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Artificial intelligence could help build pollen jigsaw of present and ancient flora      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An emerging system which combines rapid imaging with artificial intelligence could help scientists build a comprehensive picture of present and historic environmental change -- by swiftly and accurately analyzing pollen.

Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Beaver activity in the Arctic increases emission of methane greenhouse gas      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The climate-driven advance of beavers into the Arctic tundra is causing the release of more methane -- a greenhouse gas -- into the atmosphere. Beavers, as everyone knows, like to make dams. Those dams cause flooding, which inundates vegetation and turns Arctic streams and creeks into a series of ponds. Those beaver ponds and surrounding inundated vegetation can be devoid of oxygen and rich with organic sediment, which releases methane as the material decays.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Mums exposed to air pollution give birth to smaller babies, but living in a greener area may mitigate the risks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Women exposed to air pollution give birth to smaller babies, according to new research. The research also shows that women living in greener areas give birth to bigger babies and this may help counteract the effects of pollution.