Tag

Environmental Science

All articles tagged with #environmental science

culture16 days ago•2 min saved

UK cinemas to screen 'How Deep Is Your Love' documentary on Pacific deep-sea mining

A new documentary titled 'How Deep Is Your Love' opens in UK cinemas on 2 October, following a Natural History Museum research team to the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific. The film uses an underwater robot named Isis to explore the abyssal plain, highlighting the race to identify new species before industrial mining potentially destroys fragile ecosystems. Director Eleanor Mortimer aims to foster empathy for deep-sea life rather than adopting a traditional activist or nature-documentary style.

via The Guardian|

#culture #deep-sea-mining #documentary

science-and-technology17 days ago•46 min saved

Iron Catalysts Use Hydrogen Bonds to Convert Nitrate Pollution into Ammonia

University of Michigan researchers have developed a bioinspired iron catalyst that uses secondary-sphere hydrogen bonds to bind and reduce nitrate, a persistent groundwater pollutant. By mimicking biological nitrate transport proteins, the catalyst achieves up to seven orders of magnitude higher binding affinity for nitrate compared to non-hydrogen-bonding analogues. This activation allows for the catalytic reduction of nitrate into nitric oxide under thermal conditions or ammonia under photochemical conditions, offering a potential pathway for converting environmental pollutants into useful fertilizers.

via Nature|

#bioinspired-chemistry #catalysis #environmental-science

lifestyle1 month ago•3 min saved

Shower smarter: experts say three minutes is plenty

An environmental scientist says most people don’t need long showers: about three minutes for a body wash, two more for shampoo, and one minute if you skip hair washing; longer showers are often for relaxation rather than cleanliness, affected by factors like soft water, water pressure, and time of day. A practical tip is to shampoo once to save water and money.

via New York Post|

#environmental-science #hygiene #lifestyle

environment5 months ago•18 min saved

Microplastics may be nudging Earth’s climate warmer, new study suggests

A Nature Climate Change study finds microplastics, especially colored pieces, absorb more heat than they reflect, potentially contributing to atmospheric warming; while their impact is not as large as major pollutants, the particles’ near-ubiquitous presence across ecosystems calls for more research into their climate effects.

via The Washington Post|

#climate-change #climate-science #environment

environment6 months ago•2 min saved

Nanoplastics flood U.S. drinking water at levels far higher than previously thought

A new study using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy finds nanoplastics in U.S. drinking water—both tap and bottled—at 10–100x higher concentrations than prior estimates, with bottled water containing about three times more nanoplastics. Health impacts are not well understood, but researchers caution that reducing exposure is prudent.

via Mongabay|

#bottled-water #drinking-water #environment

science6 months ago•4 min saved

Virginia Teen Invents Magnetic Water Filter That Captures Nearly 96% of Microplastics

A Virginia high school student, Mia Heller, built a three‑chamber ferrofluid–based water filter that uses a magnetic field to pull microplastic particles from water and recover the ferrofluid for reuse. In testing, the device removed about 95.5% of microplastics and recovered 87% of the ferrofluid, performing in the same range as some traditional treatment plants. The concept could fit under-sink use, but challenges remain in safely disposing of captured plastics and scaling ferrofluid production for larger applications, with results pending professional testing.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#environmental-science #ferrofluid #high-school-student

environment7 months ago•5 min saved

Leaves Harbor Most Drug Residues in Wastewater-Irrigated Crops

A Johns Hopkins study shows crops irrigated with treated wastewater accumulate psychoactive drug residues mainly in leaves rather than edible parts, with leaf concentrations in tomatoes far higher than in fruit and carrot leaves higher than roots; drug behavior varies by compound, informing risk assessment and future monitoring/regulation.

via SciTechDaily|

#crops #environment #environmental-science

science1 year ago•4 min saved

CT Scans of Giant Hailstones Reveal Clues for Storm Prediction

In August 2022, Catalonia experienced a severe hailstorm with giant hailstones causing injuries and damage. Researchers used CT scanning to study the internal structure of these hailstones without destroying them, revealing surprising insights into their formation. The study, published in Frontiers in Environmental Science, found irregular internal axes and uneven growth processes, challenging previous assumptions about hailstone shapes. Despite challenges like high costs, the findings could improve hail forecasting and help mitigate damage from extreme weather events.

via The Debrief|

#catalonia #ct-scanning #environmental-science

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Plastic-Eating Fungus Discovered in Great Pacific Garbage Patch"

Scientists have discovered a plastic-eating fungus, Parengyodontium album, in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that can break down UV-exposed polyethylene, the most common plastic. While it works slowly, this fungus offers hope for more effective ocean cleanup methods without harming marine life, highlighting the need for continued reduction of single-use plastics.

via BGR|

#environment #environmental-science #fungus

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Giant Viruses Discovered on Greenland Ice Sheet May Impact Ice Melt

Scientists have discovered giant viruses on Greenland's Arctic ice sheet that may help control algal blooms and reduce ice melting. These viruses, larger than most bacteria, were found thriving alongside microalgae in dark ice and red snow. The discovery challenges previous notions of the Arctic as a barren landscape, revealing a complex ecosystem. Further research is expected to uncover more about the ecological roles and interactions of these giant viruses.

via The Debrief|

#algal-blooms #arctic-ecosystem #environmental-science

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Plastic-Eating Fungus Discovered in Great Pacific Garbage Patch"

Scientists have discovered a plastic-eating fungus, Parengyodontium album, in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that can break down UV-exposed polyethylene, a common plastic pollutant. While this finding is promising for reducing ocean plastic, it is not a complete solution, as the degradation rate is slow and the scale of plastic pollution remains vast.

via Futurism|

#environment #environmental-science #fungi

environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Plastic-Eating Fungus Discovered in Pacific Ocean"

Scientists have discovered a fungus, Parengyodontium album, in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that can break down plastic polyethylene after exposure to UV radiation. This finding, made by marine microbiologists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and other institutions, could help address the significant plastic pollution in oceans. The fungus degrades plastic at a rate of 0.05% per day, converting most of it into carbon dioxide.

via The Inertia|

#environment #environmental-science #fungus

science-and-technology2 years ago•4 min saved

"Breakthrough Material MOF-525 Converts CO2 into Useful Chemicals"

Researchers at the University of Virginia have developed a scalable method for fabricating MOF-525, a metal-organic framework material that can capture and convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. This breakthrough, achieved through solution shearing techniques, allows for large-scale applications, offering significant environmental and energy benefits by transforming CO2 into commercially valuable products.

via SciTechDaily|

#carbon-capture #electrocatalysis #environmental-science

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Microbial Mergers: Low Nutrients Change Viral Infection Dynamics"

A study by researchers at The Ohio State University reveals that low-nutrient conditions significantly alter how viruses infect bacteria, resulting in different virocells compared to nutrient-rich environments. This finding highlights the importance of studying microbial interactions under natural conditions to better understand their roles in ocean geochemistry and climate change.

via Phys.org|

#bacteria #environmental-science #microbiology

environmental-science2 years ago•2 min saved

"The Lunar Influence on Coral Reef Sounds"

A new study has found that the sounds emanating from coral reefs change rapidly as the Moon rises and sets, indicating shifts in ecosystem activity. Researchers monitored three reefs off the west coast of Hawaii and discovered that fish sounds increase during moonlight hours while invertebrate sounds decrease. This discovery suggests that the rising and setting of the Moon triggers regular shifts in coral reef ecosystem interactions, which could aid in conservation efforts and tracking long-term ecosystem activity in remote locations.

via ScienceAlert|

#conservation-efforts #coral-reefs #ecosystem-activity