Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Life in the smoke of underwater volcanoes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Disconnected from the energy of the sun, the permanently ice-covered Arctic deep sea receives miniscule amounts of organic matter that sustains life. Bacteria which can harvest the energy released from submarine hydrothermal sources could thus have an advantage. Scientists found bacteria uniquely adapted to this geo-energy floating in deep-sea waters. They describe the role of these bacteria for biogeochemical cycling in the ocean.

Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Paleontology: Climate
Published

Short-distance migration critical for climate change adaptation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Short-distance migration, which accounts for the vast majority of migratory movements in the world, is crucial for climate change adaptation, according to new research. Contrary to common assumptions, most migratory movements are people moving short distances, largely due to economic, social and environmental factors, such as climate change.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Earth Science Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Paleontologists flip the script on anemone fossils      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Billions of sea anemones adorn the bottom of the Earth's oceans -- yet they are among the rarest of fossils because their squishy bodies lack easily fossilized hard parts. Now a team of paleontologists has discovered that countless sea anemone fossils have been hiding in plain sight for nearly 50 years. It turns out that fossils long-interpreted as jellyfish were anemones. To do so, a team of scientists has simply turned the ancient animals upside down.

Biology: Botany Biology: Zoology Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Plant roots fuel tropical soil animal communities      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has shed new light on the importance of plant roots for below-ground life, particularly in the tropics. Millions of small creatures toiling in a single hectare of soil including earthworms, springtails, mites, insects, and other arthropods are crucial for decomposition and soil health. For a long time, it was believed that leaf litter is the primary resource for these animals. However, this recent study is the first to provide proof that resources derived from plant roots drive soil animal communities in the tropics.

Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geology
Published

Gas monitoring at volcanic fields outside Naples, Italy, exposes multiple sources of carbon dioxide emissions      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The Phlegraean volcanic fields just west of Naples, Italy, are among the top eight emitters of volcanic carbon dioxide in the world. Since 2005, the Solfatara crater -- one of many circular depressions in the landscape left by a long history of eruptions --has been emitting increased volumes of gas. Today it emits 4,000-5,000 tons of carbon dioxide each day, equivalent to the emissions from burning ~500,000 gallons of gasoline. Researchers estimate that as much as 20%--40% of the current carbon dioxide emissions are from the dissolution of calcite in the rocks, while 60%--80% is from underground magma.

Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Oceanography Paleontology: Climate
Published

Elegantly modeling Earth's abrupt glacial transitions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Milutin Milankovitch hypothesized that the timing of glacial transitions has been controlled by the orbital parameters of the Earth, which suggests that there may be some predictability in the climate, a notoriously complex system. Now researchers propose a new paradigm to simplify the verification of the Milankovitch hypothesis. The new 'deterministic excitation paradigm' combines the physics concepts of relaxation oscillation and excitability to link Earth's orbital parameters and the glacial cycles in a more generic way.

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

Study into global daily air pollution shows almost nowhere on Earth is safe      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a new study of daily ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) across the globe, a new study has found that only 0.18% of the global land area and 0.001% of the global population are exposed to levels of PM2.5 -- the world's leading environmental health risk factor -- below levels of safety recommended by Word Health Organization (WHO). Importantly while daily levels have reduced in Europe and North America in the two decades to 2019, levels have increased Southern Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 70% of days globally seeing levels above what is safe.

Biology: Botany Biology: Marine Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geology
Published

Mineral particles and their role in oxygenating the Earth's atmosphere      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Mineral particles played a key role in raising oxygen levels in the Earth's atmosphere billions of years ago, with major implications for the way intelligent life later evolved, according to new research.

Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Landslides
Published

Mississippi River Delta study reveals which human actions contribute to land loss      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists reveal new information about the role humans have played in large-scale land loss in the Mississippi River Delta -- crucial information in determining solutions to the crisis.

Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Cheap charcoal air filters offer improvements to in-vehicle air quality      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A cheap charcoal air filter can reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) inside vehicles by as much as 90%, compared to levels outside the vehicle.

Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

The future of touch      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Haptic holography promises to bring virtual reality to life, but a new study reveals a surprising physical obstacle that will need to be overcome.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Ultrasound device may offer new treatment option for hypertension      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new device that calms overactive kidney nerves with ultrasound consistently lowered blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, researchers have found.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound Physics: Optics
Published

Faster and sharper whole-body imaging of small animals with deep learning      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team presents technology that enhances photoacoustic computed tomography using a deep-learning approach.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Technology Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Study offers details on using electric fields to tune thermal properties of ferroelectric materials      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research sheds light on how electric fields can be used to alter the thermal properties of ferroelectric materials, allowing engineers to manipulate the flow of heat through the materials. Ferroelectric materials are used in a wide variety of applications, from ultrasound devices to memory storage technologies.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

First wearable device for vocal fatigue senses when your voice needs a break      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed the first smart wearable device to continuously track how much people use their voices, alerting them to overuse before vocal fatigue and potential injury set in. The soft, flexible, postage-stamp-sized device comfortably adheres to the upper chest to sense the subtle vibrations associated with talking and singing. From there, the captured data is instantaneously streamed via Bluetooth to the users' smartphone or tablet, so they can monitor their vocal activities in real time throughout the day and measure cumulative total vocal usage. Custom machine-learning algorithms distinguish the difference between speaking and singing, enabling singers to separately track each activity.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound Space: Exploration
Published

The roar and crackle of Artemis 1      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

When the Artemis 1 mission was launched in November, it became the world's most powerful rocket, and with liftoff came a loud roar heard miles away. Researchers report noise measurements during the launch at different locations around Kennedy Space Center. The data collected can be used to validate existing noise prediction models, which are needed to protect equipment as well as the surrounding environment and community.

Biology: Developmental Offbeat: Plants and Animals Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Creating 3D objects with sound      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have created a new technology to assemble matter in 3D. Their concept uses multiple acoustic holograms to generate pressure fields with which solid particles, gel beads and even biological cells can be printed. These results pave the way for novel 3D cell culture techniques with applications in biomedical engineering.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Focused ultrasound technique leads to release of neurodegenerative disorders biomarkers      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research found that using focused-ultrasound-mediated liquid biopsy in a mouse model released more tau proteins and another biomarker into the blood than without the intervention. This noninvasive method could facilitate diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, the researchers said.

Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Wearable sensor uses ultrasound to provide cardiac imaging on the go      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Engineers and physicians have developed a wearable ultrasound device that can assess both the structure and function of the human heart. The portable device, which is roughly the size of a postage stamp, can be worn for up to 24 hours and works even during strenuous exercise.