Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

New Japanese lily species identified, 1st addition to sukashiyuri group in 110 years      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For the first time since 1914, a new species of the Japanese lily known as sukashiyuri has been identified. A research team analyzed the morphology and DNA of these lilies and has revised the conventional classification from four taxonomic groups to eight.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Novel genetic plant regeneration approach without the application of phytohormones      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Conventional plant regeneration approaches by cell culture require the external application of plant growth regulators, including hormones. However, optimizing culture conditions can be laborious. Now, researchers have developed a novel plant regeneration system that omits the need for hormone application by genetically regulating the expression of genes that control plant cell differentiation. Their work holds significant potential in the development of genetically modified plants in a simpler and cost-effective manner.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Engineering: Robotics Research Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Activity in a room stirs up nanoparticles left over from consumer sprays      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Common household products containing nanoparticles -- grains of engineered material so miniscule they are invisible to the eye -- could be contributing to a new form of indoor air pollution, according to a new study.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Astronomers share climate-friendly meeting solutions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Carbon emissions associated with air travel to professional conferences make up a sizable fraction of the emissions produced by researchers in academia.

Anthropology: Cultures Anthropology: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Paleontology: Climate
Published

Scientists show ancient village adapted to drought, rising seas      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have unveiled evidence for ancient human resilience to climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Chemistry: General Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Nature Geoscience: Geochemistry
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Missing link in species conservation: Pharmacists, chemists could turn tide on plant, animal extinction      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

As the world faces the loss of a staggering number of species of animals and plants to endangerment and extinction, one scientist has an urgent message: Chemists and pharmacists should be key players in species conservation efforts.

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

Researchers develop an AI model to reduce uncertainty in evapotranspiration prediction      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Evapotranspiration (ET) includes evaporation from soil and open water pools such as lakes, rivers, and ponds, as well as transpiration from plant leaves. The difference between precipitation and ET indicates the water balance available for societal needs, including agricultural and industrial production. However, measuring ET is challenging. A new study presents a computer model that uses artificial intelligence (AI) for ET prediction based on remote sensing estimates.

Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Paleontology: Climate
Published

Climate change and mercury pollution stressed plants for millions of years      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The link between massive flood basalt volcanism and the end-Triassic (201 million years ago) mass-extinction is commonly accepted. However, exactly how volcanism led to the collapse of ecosystems and the extinction of entire families of organisms is difficult to establish. Extreme climate change from the release of carbon dioxide, degradation of the ozone layer due to the injection of damaging chemicals, and the emissions of toxic pollutants, are all seen as contributing factors. One toxic element stands out: mercury.

Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
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Low-intensity grazing is locally better for biodiversity but challenging for land users, a new study shows      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers has investigated the motivation and potential incentives for and challenges of low-intensity grazing among farmers and land users in Europe.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Energy: Fossil Fuels Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Methane emissions from landfill could be turned into sustainable jet fuel in plasma chemistry leap      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a chemical process using plasma that could create sustainable jet fuel from methane gas emitted from landfills, potentially creating a low-carbon aviation industry.

Ecology: General Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Big data reveals true climate impact of worldwide air travel      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study that looked at nearly 40 million flights in 2019 calculated the greenhouse gas emissions from air travel for essentially every country on the planet. At 911 million tons, the total emissions from aviation are 50 per cent higher than the 604 million tons reported to the United Nations for that year.

Ecology: Animals Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature
Published

Protecting endangered monkeys from poachers, habitat loss      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The 17 species of red colobus monkey living across Africa, including in the Tai Project field station region, have been singled out by scientists as a priority conservation target. Protection of these monkeys, they assert, can be expected to produce benefits throughout tropical African forests where hunting and climate change have led to dramatic wildlife and habitat loss.

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

A virus could help save billions of gallons of wastewater produced by fracking      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An estimated 168 billion gallons of wastewater -- or produced water -- is generated annually by the Permian Basin fracking industry, according to a 2022 report. The major waste stream has proved both difficult and costly to treat because of the chemical complexity of the water.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Ecology: Endangered Species Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Discovery of mechanism plants use to change seed oil could impact industrial, food oils      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism of oil biosynthesis and found a way to genetically engineer a type of test plant to more efficiently produce different kinds of seed oil that it otherwise wouldn't make. While the engineering is proof-of-concept, this discovery could lead to improved production of valuable oils used in food and by a range of industries. The modified plant overcame metabolic bottlenecks and produced significant amounts of an oil similar to castor oil that it doesn't naturally produce.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
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E-bike incentives prove to be worth the investment      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Electric bicycle rebates have exploded in popularity in North America as transportation planners try to get people out of their cars and into healthier, more climate-friendly alternatives. However, questions remain: Are new cycling habits sustainable? Who benefits most from these incentives? And are they worth the cost? Researchers now have some answers.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Nature Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Fading lights: Multiple threats to North America's firefly populations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have applied a data-driven approach to understanding firefly population dynamics on a continental scale. Key findings from this new study indicate that fireflies, part of the beetle order, are sensitive to various environmental factors, from short-term weather conditions to longer climatic trends, including the number of growing-degree days related to temperature accumulations.

Ecology: General Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

How can forests be reforested in a climate-friendly way?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Europe's forests have already been severely affected by climate change. Thousands of hectares of trees have already died due to drought and bark beetles. Scientists have now investigated which trees can be used for reforestation. Their findings: only a few tree species are fit for the future, such as English oak in the UK. However, mixed forests are important for the survival of forests, otherwise the forest ecosystem as a whole could be weakened.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Fixin' to be flexitarian: Scrap fish and invasive species can liven up vegetables      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Greening the way we eat needn't mean going vegetarian. A healthy, more realistic solution is to adopt a flexitarian diet where seafoods add umami to 'boring' vegetables. A gastrophysicist puts mathematical equations to work in calculating the umami potential of everything from seaweed and shrimp paste to mussels and mackerel.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Mobile device location data is already used by private companies, so why not for studying human-wildlife interactions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

When did you last go anywhere without your cell phone? From maps and weather apps to social media platforms, we give consent for our phones to trace our footsteps and behavior. These curated mobility data are often used for personalized advertisements. Scientists now argue mobility data can offer so much more -- it is key to understanding human-wildlife interactions for guiding policy decisions on sustainability-related issues and should be free and accessible for research.