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Categories: Environmental: General, Space: Structures and Features
Published Some spiders can transfer mercury contamination to land animals
(via sciencedaily.com) Sitting calmly in their webs, many spiders wait for prey to come to them. Arachnids along lakes and rivers eat aquatic insects, such as dragonflies. But, when these insects live in mercury-contaminated waterways, they can pass the metal along to the spiders that feed on them. Now, researchers have demonstrated how some shoreline spiders can move mercury contamination from riverbeds up the food chain to land animals.
Published Matter comprises of 31% of the total amount of matter and energy in the universe
(via sciencedaily.com) One of the most interesting and important questions in cosmology is, 'How much matter exists in the universe?' An international team has now succeeded in measuring the total amount of matter for the second time. The team determined that matter makes up 31% of the total amount of matter and energy in the universe, with the remainder consisting of dark energy.
Published New research reveals why and when the Sahara Desert was green
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A pioneering study has shed new light on North African humid periods that have occurred over the past 800,000 years and explains why the Sahara Desert was periodically green.
Published Roadside hedges can reduce harmful ultrafine particle pollution around schools
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study confirms that planting hedges between roadsides and school playgrounds can dramatically reduce children's exposure to traffic-related particle pollution.
Published Pixel-by-pixel analysis yields insights into lithium-ion batteries
(via sciencedaily.com) By mining X-ray images, researchers have made significant new discoveries about the reactivity of lithium iron phosphate, a material used in batteries for electric cars and in other rechargeable batteries.
Published Discovery of two potential Polar Ring galaxies suggests these stunning rare clusters might be more common than previously believed
(via sciencedaily.com) These new detections suggest polar ring galaxies might be more common than previously believed.
Published New rivers in the North? Scientists identify how the dissection of Arctic landscapes is changing with accelerating climate change
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New research shows that amplified global warming in the Canadian High Arctic drove a profound shift in the structure of a river network carved into a permafrost landscape in only 60 years.
Published Plant-based food alternatives could support a shift to global sustainability
(via sciencedaily.com) Replacing 50% of meat and milk products with plant-based alternatives by 2050 can reduce agriculture and land use related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 31% and halt the degradation of forest and natural land, according to new research.
Published Exposure to air pollution while in the womb is linked to adverse changes in cell processes in new-born babies
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Exposure to air pollution while in the womb is linked to alterations in proteins that can be detected after a baby is born, and which affect cell processes such as autophagy, the 'self-eating' of damaged cells that occurs in response to stress.
Published Dark matter halos measured around ancient quasars
(via sciencedaily.com) At the center of every galaxy is a supermassive black hole. Beyond a certain size, these become active, emitting huge amounts of radiation, and are then called quasars. It is thought these are activated by the presence of massive dark matter halos (DMH) surrounding the galaxy, directing matter towards the center, feeding the black hole. A team has now surveyed hundreds of ancient quasars and found this behavior is very consistent throughout history. This is surprising, as many large-scale processes show variation throughout the life of the universe, so the mechanism of quasar activation could have implications for the evolution of the entire universe.
Published Surfactants can cause toxic chemicals in aerosols to last longer in the air
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Research has found that hazardous chemicals commonly encountered in aerosols, such as those produced by cooking and cleaning, can be 'protected' in 3D structures formed by surfactants, causing them to last longer in the air.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Published The universe caught suppressing cosmic structure growth
(via sciencedaily.com) As the universe evolves, scientists expect large cosmic structures to grow at a certain rate: dense regions such as galaxy clusters would grow denser, while the void of space would grow emptier.
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).
Published Water world? Methane, carbon dioxide in atmosphere of massive exoplanet
(via sciencedaily.com) A new investigation with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. Webb's discovery adds to recent studies suggesting that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface.
Published New insights into neutrino interactions
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Elusive fundamental particles called neutrinos are predicted to interact unexpectedly with photons under extreme conditions.