Showing 20 articles starting at article 2341
< Previous 20 articles Next 20 articles >
Categories: Ecology: Endangered Species, Environmental: General
Published Counting the cost of sunshine: Finding a better metric to measure human ecological footprints
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The human food-energy-water system is wickedly interconnected, but most of the links in the network are neither global nor local -- the action lies in everyday trade between counties and states that rely on each other's ecosystems. To capture a better picture of human impacts in this system, you need a measurement that starts at the source -- the sun.
Published Coastal species persist on high seas on floating plastic debris
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The high seas have been colonized by a surprising number of coastal marine invertebrate species, which can now survive and reproduce in the open ocean, contributing strongly to the floating community composition. Researchers found coastal species, representing diverse taxonomic groups and life history traits, in the eastern North Pacific Subtropical Gyre on over 70 percent of the plastic debris they examined. Further, the debris carried more coastal species than open ocean species.
Published Filtering pollution: A microfluidic device for collecting microplastics via acoustic focusing
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Microplastics (MPs), plastic debris smaller than 5 mm, indirectly harm the environment. They are traditionally collected and removed from water by filtering through meshes, which is inefficient. Researchers have now developed a high-enrichment microfluidic device that utilizes acoustic focusing to collect and remove 10--200 ?m MPs from wastewater without recirculation. Its collection rates and enrichment ratios ranged approximately from 70--90% and 50--100, respectively on test samples.
Published Environmental toxin PCB found in deep sea trench
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers on a deep-sea expedition have found PCB in sediment samples from the more than 8,000-meter-deep Atacama Trench in the Pacific Ocean.
Published Methane from megafires: More spew than we knew
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Using a new detection method, scientists found a massive amount of methane, a super-potent greenhouse gas, coming from wildfires -- a source not currently being accounted for by California state air quality managers.
Published Less ice, fewer calling seals
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source For several years, a team of researchers used underwater microphones to listen for seals at the edge of the Antarctic. Their initial findings indicate that sea-ice retreat has had significant effects on the animals' behavior: when the ice disappears, areas normally full of vocalizations become very quiet.
Published A novel platinum nanocluster for improved oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Hydrogen, derived from polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), is an excellent source of clean energy. However, PEFCs require platinum (Pt), which is a limited resource. Some studies have shown that Pt nanoclusters (NCs) have higher activity than conventionally used Pt nanoparticles, however the origin of their higher activity is unclear. Now, researchers have synthesized a novel Pt NC catalyst with unprecedented activity and identified the reason for its high performance.
Published New approach estimates long-term coastal cliff loss
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new method for estimating cliff loss over thousands of years in Del Mar, California, may help reveal some of the long-term drivers of coastal cliff loss in the state.
Published A solar hydrogen system that co-generates heat and oxygen
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have built a pilot-scale solar reactor that produces usable heat and oxygen, in addition to generating hydrogen with unprecedented efficiency for its size.
Published How can a pollinating insect be recognized in the fossil record?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Insect pollination is a decisive process for the survival and evolution of angiosperm (flowering) plants and, to a lesser extent, gymnosperms (without visible flower or fruit). There is a growing interest in studies on the origins of the relationship between insects and plants, especially in the current context of the progressive decline of pollinating insects on a global scale and its impact on food production. Pollinating insects can be recognized in the fossil record, although to date, there has been no protocol for their differentiation. Fossil pollinators have been found in both rock and amber deposits, and it is in rock deposits that the first evidence of plant pollination by insects is being studied across the globe. But how can we determine which was a true insect pollinator in the past?
Published Temperature, drought influencing movement of Plains bison
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Temperature and severe drought can drive movement among herds of Plains bison, says a recent study. The team's GPS-backed data suggests that conserving the once-endangered species could depend on accounting for the climate extremes that Plains bison will likely encounter moving forward.
Published New discovery stops bacterial virus contamination
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new discovery could help stop bacteria being contaminated with viruses, reducing disruption and decreasing costs in industry and research.
Published Scientists develop new way to measure wind
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Atmospheric scientists have developed an algorithm that uses data from water vapor movements to measure wind. This could help predict extreme events like hurricanes.
Published Microwaves advance solar-cell production and recycling
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New technology advances solar-cell production and recycling. New microwave technology will improve the manufacture of solar cells and make them easier to recycle.
Published Nature-based management is making rivers more resilient
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Nature-based management is making rivers more resilient. New research shows progress in Australia towards United Nations goals, making rivers more able to recover from flood, drought and other impacts. In July 2022, the 120-kilometre Wollombi Brook, which flows north into the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, suffered one of its biggest floods on record. And it held up remarkably well, says Professor Kirstie Fryirs of the School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University. 'Yes, there was widespread inundation, but the flood waters were slower and the vegetation prevented large scale erosion and sediment movement. 'All the hard work that a very active community put into nature-based rehabilitation for more than 20 years, such as continuous streamside revegetation, played a role in this outcome.' It is one of the best examples in Australia of sustainable environmental restoration in the management of rivers, she says
Published Air pollution is not just a human problem -- it's also changing the gut of British bumblebees
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Human activity is contributing to pollution that is affecting our health. According to WHO estimates, atmospheric air pollution is estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year. Scientists and the public alike are well aware of how human activity and pollution is affecting our heath, but new research has identified how bumblebees may be caught in the crossfire.
Published Gentle method allows for eco-friendly recycling of solar cells
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source By using a new method, precious metals can be efficiently recovered from thin-film solar cells. The method is also more environmentally friendly than previous methods of recycling and paves the way for more flexible and highly efficient solar cells.
Published Scientists create high-efficiency sustainable solar cells for IoT devices with AI-powered energy management
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have created environmentally-friendly, high-efficiency photovoltaic cells that harness ambient light to power internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Published New look at climate data shows substantially wetter rain and snow days ahead
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new look at climate data shows that, by the end of the century, the heaviest days of rain and snowfall across much of North America will likely release 20 to 30 percent more moisture than they do now. Much of the increased precipitation will occur in winter, potentially exacerbating flooding in regions such as the upper Midwest and the west coast. Researchers also found that heavy precipitation days historically experienced once in a century will become more frequent -- as often as once every 30 or 40 years in the Pacific Northwest and southeastern United States.
Published Chemists redesign biological PHAs, 'dream' biodegradable plastics
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source They've been called 'dream' plastics: polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHAs. Already the basis of a fledgling industry, they're a class of polymers naturally created by living microorganisms, or synthetically produced from biorenewable feedstocks. They're biodegradable in the ambient environment, including oceans and soil.