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

Solar industry feeling the heat over disposal of 80 million panels      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Renewable energy experts have come up with an environmentally-friendly plan to dispose of solar panels at the end of their life.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate
Published

3000+ billion tons of ice lost from Antarctic Ice Sheet over 25 years      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have calculated that the fastest changing Antarctic region?-?the Amundsen Sea Embayment?-?has lost more than 3,000 billion tonnes of ice over a 25-year?period.??

Chemistry: Biochemistry Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geology
Published

'Rock stars' solve long-standing diamond conundrum      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Two researchers have used a standard laptop computer and a humble piece of rock -- from the 'waste pile' of a diamond mine -- to solve a long-held geological conundrum about how diamonds formed in the deep roots of the earth's ancient continents.

Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Large survey for exotic pet owners reveals concern for conservation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

When exotic species such as parrots, snakes, monkeys, or aquarium fishes are kept as pets, this may lead to unsustainable trade and impact negatively the conservation of these species globally. Understanding what drives demand among keepers may help inform adequate conservation strategies to address unsustainable trade.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Forest growing season in eastern U.S. has increased by a month      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The growing period of hardwood forests in eastern North America has increased by an average of one month over the past century as temperatures have steadily risen, a new study has found.

Energy: Fossil Fuels Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Public acceptance of fossil fuel subsidy removal could be improved in developing countries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

People might be more positive to the removal of fuel subsidies if told where the money would be spent instead. This has been shown in a study which investigated attitudes towards removing fossil fuel subsidies in five developing countries.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Energy: Nuclear Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Nitrate can release uranium into groundwater      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A team has experimentally confirmed that nitrate, a compound common in fertilizers and animal waste, can help transport naturally occurring uranium from the underground to groundwater. The new research backs a previous study showing that aquifers contaminated with high levels of nitrate -- including the High Plains Aquifer residing beneath Nebraska -- also contain uranium concentrations far exceeding a threshold set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Uranium concentrations above that EPA threshold have been shown to cause kidney damage in humans, especially when regularly consumed via drinking water.

Ecology: General Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Going beyond English is critical for conservation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Research in languages other than English is critically important for biodiversity conservation and is shockingly under-utilized internationally, according to an international research team.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Bushfire safe rooms may save lives      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have built and tested a bushfire safe room that exceeds current Australian standards and could keep people alive or protect valuables when evacuation is no longer an option.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Defunding prevention and climate change drive rebound of malaria in Peru      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Malaria control programs in Amazonian Peru helped reduce the incidence of the deadly parasitic disease by 78 percent. That is, until the programs ceased to operate. Within four years of the programs being de-funded, malaria rates where right back where they started. The rebound was driven not only by the removal of prevention programs, but also by climate change. Average temperatures in Peru have risen a half-degree Centigrade in the last 20 years.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Douglas-fir in Klamath Mountains are in 'decline spiral'      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Increases in mortality among Douglas-fir in the Klamath Mountains are the result of multiple factors that have the iconic tree in a 'decline spiral' in parts of the region.

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

Recycling: Researchers separate cotton from polyester in blended fabric      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers found they could separate blended cotton and polyester fabric using enzymes -- nature's tools for speeding chemical reactions. Ultimately, they hope their findings will lead to a more efficient way to recycle the fabric's component materials, thereby reducing textile waste.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Archaeology: General Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Environmental Issues Paleontology: Climate
Published

Genome research: Origin and evolution of vine      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Cultivation and growth of grapevines have strongly influenced European civilizations, but where the grapevine comes from and how it has spread across the globe has been highly disputed so far. In an extensive genome project, researchers have determined its origin and evolution from the wild vine to today's cultivar by analyzing thousands of vine genomes collected along the Silk Road from China to Western Europe.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

'Green' hydrogen: How photoelectrochemical water splitting may become competitive      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Sunlight can be used to produce green hydrogen directly from water in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells. So far, most systems based on this 'direct approach' have not been energetically competitive. However, the balance changes as soon as some of the hydrogen in such PEC cells is used in-situ for a catalytic hydrogenation reaction, resulting in the co-production of chemicals used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The energy payback time of photoelectrochemical 'green' hydrogen production can be reduced dramatically, the study shows.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

A sowing, pruning, and harvesting robot for SynecocultureTM farming      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Synecoculture, a new farming method, involves growing mixed plant species together in high density. However, it requires complex operation since varying species with different growing seasons and growing speeds are planted on the same land. To address this need, researchers have developed a robot that can sow, prune, and harvest plants in dense vegetation growth. Its small, flexible body will help large-scale Synecoculture. This is an important step towards achieving sustainable farming and carbon neutrality.

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

3D radar scan provides clues about threats to iconic Alaskan glacier      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Mapping a large coastal glacier in Alaska revealed that its bulk sits below sea level and is undercut by channels, making it vulnerable to accelerated melting in an already deteriorating coastal habitat.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Mountain forests are being lost at an accelerating rate, putting biodiversity at risk      (via sciencedaily.com) 

More than 85% of the world's bird, mammal, and amphibian species live in mountains, particularly in forest habitats, but researchers report that these forests are disappearing at an accelerating rate. Globally, we have lost 78.1 million hectares (7.1%) of mountain forest since 2000 -- an area larger than the size of Texas. Much of the loss occurred in tropical biodiversity hotspots, putting increasing pressure on threatened species.