Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Ambitious roadmap for circular carbon plastics economy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have outlined ambitious targets to help deliver a sustainable and net zero plastic economy. The authors argue for a rethinking of the technical, economic, and policy paradigms that have entrenched the status-quo, one of rising carbon emissions and uncontrolled pollution.

Chemistry: General Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Decarbonizing the world's industries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Harmful emissions from the industrial sector could be reduced by up to 85% across the world, according to new research. The sector, which includes iron and steel, chemicals, cement, and food and drink, emits around a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions -- planet-warming gases that result in climate change and extreme weather.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Black summer bushfires in Australia wiped $2.8 billion from tourism supply chain      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

First input-output economic analysis of the 2019-20 Australian fires also found 7300 jobs were lost. The study highlights economic vulnerabilities to extremes of climate change.

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

Geoengineering may slow Greenland ice sheet loss      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Modeling shows that stratospheric aerosol injection has the potential to reduce ice sheet loss due to climate change.

Ecology: General Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

New research shows how pollutants from aerosols and river run-off are changing the marine phosphorus cycle in coastal seas      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research sheds light on how pollutants from aerosols and river run-off are impacting coastal seas. The research identified an 'Anthropogenic Nitrogen Pump' which changes the phosphorus cycle and therefore likely coastal biodiversity and associated ecosystem services.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Using CRISPR technology, researchers succeed in growing tomatoes that consume less water without compromising yield      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have succeeded in cultivating and characterizing tomato varieties with higher water use efficiency without compromising yield. The researchers, employing CRISPR genetic editing technology, were able to grow tomatoes that consume less water while preserving yield, quality, and taste.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing
Published

Small yet mighty: Showcasing precision nanocluster formation with molecular traps      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Nanoclusters (NCs) of transition metals like cobalt or nickel have widespread applications in drug delivery and water purification, with smaller NCs exhibiting improved functionalities. Downsizing NCs is, however, usually challenging. Now, scientists have demonstrated functional NC formation with atomic-scale precision. They successfully grew cobalt NCs on flat copper surfaces using molecular arrays as traps. This breakthrough paves the way for advancements like single-atom catalysis and spintronics miniaturization.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Some plastic straws degrade quicker than others      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Not all plastics are created the same, and some last longer in the ocean than others. Scientists have been working for years to quantify the environmental lifetimes of a wide range of plastic goods to see which have the shortest and longest lifespans in the ocean. To determine what plastics persist in the ocean, the team tests different products in large tanks that recreate the natural ocean environment.

Biology: Botany Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Do tree-planting campaigns follow best practices for successful forest restoration?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research reviewed publicly available information for 99 different organizations that coordinate large-scale tree-planting programs around the globe to see if these organizations seemed to be applying best practices for successful reforestation.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Prenatal air pollution exposure linked to severe newborn respiratory distress      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Prenatal exposure to air pollution increases the risk of severe respiratory distress in newborn babies, according to new research. The risk increases with exposure specifically to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which occur in wildfire and cigarette smoke and vehicle emissions, among other sources.

Ecology: General Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography
Published

Rising sea levels could lead to more methane emitted from wetlands      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A Bay Area wetlands ecosystem that was expected to serve as a carbon sink is emitting surprisingly high levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The study suggests factors governing carbon cycles in these habitats are even more complex than we thought.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

High-efficiency carbon dioxide electroreduction system reduces our carbon footprint and progressing carbon neutrality goals      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Global warming continues to pose a threat to human society and the ecological systems, and carbon dioxide accounts for the largest proportion of the greenhouse gases that dominate climate warming. To combat climate change and move towards the goal of carbon neutrality, researchers have developed a durable, highly selective and energy-efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) electroreduction system that can convert CO2 into ethylene for industrial purposes to provide an effective solution for reducing CO2 emissions.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Education and information can increase the acceptance of climate policies      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An important question for policymakers worldwide is how to make climate and environmental policies acceptable among the populations. A new study sheds light on the preferences in five East African countries. The study shows, among others, that education and information about how revenues from carbon taxes are used are important factors.

Chemistry: General Engineering: Graphene Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Coal-based product could replace sand in concrete      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study found that graphene derived from metallurgical coke, a coal-based product, through flash Joule heating could serve not only as a reinforcing additive in cement but also as a replacement for sand in concrete.

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

Achieving sustainable urban growth on a global scale      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international group of leading scientists call for an urgent change in the governance of urban expansion as the world's cities continue to grow at unprecedented rates.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Permeable pavements could reduce coho-killing tire pollutants      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The pore-like structure of permeable pavements may help protect coho salmon by preventing tire wear particles and related contaminants from entering stormwater runoff, according to a recent study. Researchers demonstrated that four types of permeable pavements can act as giant filters, retaining more than 96% of applied tire particle mass. They also captured several tire-associated chemicals, resulting in a 68% average reduction of 6PPD-quinone, a contaminant shown to kill coho salmon in urban streams.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Women exposed to toxic metals may experience earlier aging of their ovaries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Middle-aged women who are exposed to toxic metals may have fewer eggs in their ovaries as they approach menopause, according to new research.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Less is more: Less greenhouse gas, lower energy consumption, higher wellbeing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new commentary highlights that switching the focus from how energy is supplied to how energy is consumed can be a more effective approach to reducing carbon emissions with the added benefit of improving wellbeing for all.

Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

2020 US rule dramatically deregulated wetlands, streams and drinking water      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research used machine learning to more accurately predict which waterways are protected by the Clean Water Act. The analysis found that a 2020 Trump administration rule removed Clean Water Act protection for one-fourth of US wetlands and one-fifth of US streams, and also deregulated 30% of watersheds that supply drinking water to household taps.