Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

A natural experiment provides evidence of link between air pollution and childhood obesity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Moving to more polluted areas was associated with an increase in body mass index, according to an analysis of more than 46,000 children and adolescents living in Catalonia.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Nature-based solutions can help tackle climate change and food security, but communities outside Europe are missing out      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Nature-based solutions (NBS) can help grand challenges, such as climate change and food security, but, as things stand, communities outside of Europe do not stand to benefit from these innovations. New research has found that more than 60% of NBS are located in Europe, with other regions showing poor use of the technologies.

Biology: Evolutionary Ecology: Invasive Species Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

When cheating pays -- survival strategy of insect uncovered      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have revealed the unique 'cheating' strategy a New Zealand insect has developed to avoid being eaten -- mimicking a highly toxic species.

Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Plans to plant billions of trees threatened by massive undersupply of seedlings      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Major government and private funding is being invested in planting trees as a powerful tool to fight climate change. But new research shows a troubling bottleneck that could threaten these efforts: U.S. tree nurseries don't grow close to enough trees--nor have the species diversity needed--to meet ambitious planting and restoration goals.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Secondary forests more sensitive to drought than primary forests      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The dry summer of 2018 hit Swedish forests hard -- and hardest affected were the managed secondary forests.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Paleontology: Climate
Published

Insolation affected ice age climate dynamics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In past ice ages, the intensity of summer insolation affected the emergence of warm and cold periods and played an important role in triggering abrupt climate changes, a study by climate researchers, geoscientists, and environmental physicists suggests. Using stalagmites in the European Alps, they were able to demonstrate that warm phases appeared primarily when the summer insolation reached maxima in the Northern Hemisphere.

Biology: Marine Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Billions in conservation spending fail to improve wild fish stocks in Columbia Basin      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Four decades of conservation spending totaling more than $9 billion in inflation-adjusted tax dollars has failed to improve stocks of wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Batteries Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Solar batteries: New material makes it possible to simultaneously absorb light and store energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers are making progress on the design of a solar battery made from an abundant, non-toxic and easily synthesized material composed of 2D carbon nitride.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Invasive Species Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Scientists vacuum animal DNA from air in a Danish forest      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Over 60 animal species in three days. That is how many mammals, birds and amphibians researchers found DNA traces from in the air in a Danish forest. The results can pave the way for a new and innovative way of mapping biodiversity.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Self-healing plastic becomes biodegradable      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chemists develop mineral plastics with numerous positive properties from sustainable basic building blocks and, together with biologists, demonstrate the material's excellent microbiological degradability.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

How to move communities away from flooding risks with minimal harm      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

As sea levels rise and flooding becomes more frequent, many countries are considering a controversial strategy: relocation of communities. A Stanford analysis of planned relocations around the world reveals a blueprint for positive outcomes.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Making renewable, infinitely recyclable plastics using bacteria      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists engineered microbes to make the ingredients for recyclable plastics -- replacing finite, polluting petrochemicals with sustainable alternatives. The new approach shows that renewable, recyclable plastics are not only possible, but also outperform those from petrochemicals.

Ecology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Research Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

New study reveals that tree species diversity increases spider density      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The link between tree diversity and spider populations can help homeowners and other land managers better plan tree plantings to naturally mitigate the effects of climate change.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Paleontology: Fossils
Published

New insights into the origin of the Indo-European languages      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of linguists and geneticists has achieved a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the origins of Indo-European, a family of languages spoken by nearly half of the world's population.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

New research method determines health impacts of heat and air quality      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The planet experienced the hottest day on record earlier this month and climate projections estimate the intensity of heat waves and poor air quality will increase and continue to cause severe impacts. Researchers have refined and expanded a method of data collection to assess their health impacts.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Climate change threatens 771 endangered plant and lichen species      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

All plants and lichens listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act are sensitive to climate change but there are few plans in place to address this threat directly, according to new research.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Delaying methane mitigation increases risk of breaching Paris Agreement climate goal, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study shows that efforts to reduce methane emissions are needed immediately if we are to meet global climate change goals. A key element of the 2015 Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change, is the commitment to limit average global temperatures increases to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This requires reaching net-zero CO2 emissions by or around 2050 -- and deep reductions in methane and other emissions.

Ecology: General Ecology: Research Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Earlier and earlier high-Arctic spring replaced by 'extreme year-to-year variation'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

About 15 years ago, researchers reported that the timing of spring in high-Arctic Greenland had advanced at some of the fastest rates of change ever seen anywhere in the world. But, according to new evidence, that earlier pattern has since been completely erased. Instead of coming earlier and earlier, it seems the timing of Arctic spring is now driven by tremendous climate variability with drastic differences from one year to the next.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Arctic terns may navigate climate dangers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Arctic terns -- which fly on the longest migrations of any animal on Earth -- may be able to navigate the dangers posed by climate change, new research suggests.