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Categories: Geoscience: Environmental Issues, Geoscience: Landslides
Published Most people feel 'psychologically close' to climate change



When spurring action against climate change, NGOs and governmental agencies frequently operate on the assumption that people are unmotivated to act because they view climate change as a problem that affects distant regions far in the future. While this concept, known as psychological distance, seems intuitive, researchers report that most people see climate change as an important and timely issue even if its impacts are not immediately noticeable.
Published Arctic ice algae heavily contaminated with microplastics



The alga Melosira arctica, which grows under Arctic sea ice, contains ten times as many microplastic particles as the surrounding seawater. This concentration at the base of the food web poses a threat to creatures that feed on the algae at the sea surface. Clumps of dead algae also transport the plastic with its pollutants particularly quickly into the deep sea -- and can thus explain the high microplastic concentrations in the sediment there.
Published Puerto Rico tsunami deposit could have come from pre-Columbian megathrust earthquake



Tsunami deposits identified in a coastal mangrove pond in Northwest Puerto Rico could have come from a megathrust earthquake at the Puerto Rico Trench that occurred between 1470 and 1530, according to new research.
Published The climate crisis and biodiversity crisis can't be approached as two separate things



Anthropogenic climate change has, together with the intensive use and destruction of natural ecosystems through agriculture, fishing and industry, sparked an unprecedented loss of biodiversity that continues to worsen. In this regard, the climate crisis and biodiversity crisis are often viewed as two separate catastrophes. An international team of researchers calls for adopting a new perspective.
Published Greenhouse gas release from permafrost is influenced by mineral binding processes



New insights into the binding of carbon to mineral particles in permafrost can improve the prediction of greenhouse gas release.
Published Fungal genetics could help develop novel biotechnologies



An essential pillar of Earth's ecological system, fungi have long been used to better the lives of humans. While these organisms are still vastly understudied, a new review paper suggests that their unique genomes could be used to make progress in the biotech industry.
Published Water arsenic including in public water is linked to higher urinary arsenic totals among the U.S. population



A new study shows that water arsenic levels are linked to higher urinary arsenic among the U.S. population for users of both private wells and public water systems.
Published Research collaboration aims to improve nationwide water quality, restore wetlands



The new classification system demonstrates the effects wetlands have on water quality at a continental scale -- invaluable data that can be used to better define whether wetlands are federally regulated under the U.S. Clean Water Act.
Published Recycling lake sediments for crop production: A sustainable solution for closing the phosphorus cycle



A four-year field experiment conducted on the shores of restored Lake Mustijärv in Viljandi, Estonia, has revealed that recycling phosphorus-rich lake sediments back to agriculture could have positive impacts on crop production.
Published Polar ice sheet melting records have toppled during the past decade



The seven worst years for polar ice sheets melting and losing ice have occurred during the past decade, according to new research, with 2019 being the worst year on record. The seven worst years for polar ice sheets melting and losing ice have occurred during the past decade, according to new research, with 2019 being the worst year on record. The melting ice sheets now account for a quarter of all sea level rise -- a fivefold increase since the 1990's -- according to researchers who have combined 50 satellite surveys of Antarctica and Greenland taken between 1992 and 2020, funded by NASA and the European Space Agency.
Published Immediate carbon cuts, common marine heatwave terminology urged



Oceanographers provide a reality check on the limitations of carbon dioxide removal and a warning that marine heatwaves need clear definitions so communities can adapt.
Published Companies' zero-deforestation commitments have potential to halve cattle-driven deforestation in Brazilian Amazon



Study shows better adoption and implementation of company supply chain policies for Brazilian beef and leather could significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Published Scientists identify 2022 sea urchin killer



A team of researchers has identified a single-celled organism called a ciliate as the cause of a massive die-off event to a marine animal vital to coral reef health.
Published A once-stable glacier in Greenland is now rapidly disappearing



As climate change causes ocean temperatures to rise, one of Greenland's previously most stable glaciers is now retreating at an unprecedented rate, according to a new study.
Published Organic beekeeping rivals conventional methods for bee health, productivity



Honey bee colonies managed using organic methods were as healthy and productive as those managed in conventional systems, while avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides to control pests and pathogens inside the hive, according to entomologists.
Published Stronger paper bags, reused repeatedly then recycled for biofuel could be future



As the world searches for ways to reduce the use of plastics such as single-use plastic bags, a novel study demonstrates a process to make paper bags stronger -- especially when they get wet -- to make them a more viable alternative.
Published World's climate plans make for a worrying read



CLIMATE According to the climate plans submitted to the UN by 50 countries, 12 gigatons of CO2 per year will continue to be emitted by 2050 -- and need to be removed from the atmosphere. Among other things, countries are betting on technology and nature restoration to solve the problem of residual emissions. Researchers describe this as worrying. The researchers recommend rapid reductions here and now.
Published Next decade decisive for PV growth on the path to 2050



Global experts on solar power strongly urge a commitment to the continued growth of photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing and deployment to power the planet, arguing that lowballing projections for PV growth while waiting for a consensus on other energy pathways or the emergence of technological last-minute miracles 'is no longer an option.'
Published Chemists propose ultrathin material for doubling solar cell efficiency



Researchers are studying radical new ways to improve solar power and provide more options for the industry to explore. Chemists are proposing to make solar cells using not silicon, but an abundantly available natural material called molybdenum disulfide. Using a creative combination of photoelectrochemical and spectroscopic techniques, the researchers conducted a series of experiments showing that extremely thin films of molybdenum disulfide display unprecedented charge carrier properties that could someday drastically improve solar technologies.
Published The diversity of present tree species is shaped by climate change in the last 21,000 years



A new global survey of 1000 forest areas shows how climate change since the peak of the last ice age has had a major impact on the diversity and distribution of tree species we see today. The results can help us predict how ecosystems will react to future changes, thus having an impact on conservation management around the globe.