Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Upstream and downstream: River study highlights cross-country inequities      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research highlights inequities between downstream and upstream countries that share the same watershed. The study outlines how international agreements can better address shared resource problems and call for greater collaboration and coordination between these international neighbors.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Planetary Health Diet associated with lower risk of premature death, lower environmental impact      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

People who eat a healthy, sustainable diet may substantially lower their risk of premature death in addition to their environmental impact, according to a new study. This large study directly evaluates the impacts of adherence to recommendations in the landmark 2019 EAT-Lancet report. The researchers have named the dietary pattern outlined in the report -- which emphasizes a variety of minimally processed plant foods but allows for modest consumption of meat and dairy foods -- the Planetary Health Diet (PHD).

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Marine Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Novel Genetic Clock discovers oldest known marine plant      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international research team has discovered the oldest known marine plant using a novel genetic clock. This 1400-year-old seagrass clone from the Baltic Sea dates back to the Migration Period. The research project is a significant step towards better understanding and protecting marine ecosystems.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Sky's the limit for biofuels      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The United States has enough biomass potential to produce 35 billion gallons per year of aviation biofuel by 2050, a new report confirms.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology
Published

A protein that enables smell--and stops cell death      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While smell plays a considerable role in the social interactions of humans -- for instance, signaling fear or generating closeness -- for ants, it is vitally important. Researchers have found that a key protein named Orco, essential for the function of olfactory cells, is also critical for the cells' survival in ants.

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

Changes Upstream: RIPE team uses CRISPR/Cas9 to alter photosynthesis for the first time      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists used CRISPR/Cas9 to increase gene expression in rice by changing its upstream regulatory DNA. While other studies have used the technology to knock out or decrease the expression of genes, this study, is an unbiased gene-editing approach to increase gene expression and downstream photosynthetic activity. The approach is more difficult than transgenic breeding, but could potentially preempt regulatory issues by changing DNA already within the plant, allowing the plants to get in the hands of farmers sooner.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Basic income can double global GDP while reducing carbon emissions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Giving a regular cash payment to the entire world population has the potential to increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by 130%, according to a new analysis. Researchers suggest that charging carbon emitters with an emission tax could help fund such basic income program while reducing environmental degradation.

Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Mushroom stump waste could be inexpensive, healthy chicken feed supplement      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Feed costs for producing broiler chickens accounts for 60% to 70% of total production costs, and stump waste from the production of button mushrooms comprises nearly 30% of total mushroom weight. Marrying the two has the potential to reduce both cost and waste, especially in Pennsylvania, which is a national leader in the production of broiler chickens and button mushrooms.

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

Frozen? Let it melt with efficient new de-icer friendly to the environment      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has found a de-icing mixture with high effectiveness and low environmental impact after using machine learning to analyze ice melting mechanisms of aqueous solutions of 21 salts and 16 organic solvents.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Earth and space share the same turbulence      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that the turbulence found in the thermosphere -- known as the gateway to space -- and turbulence in the troposphere, here closer to sea level, follow the same physical laws despite having drastically different atmospheric compositions and dynamics.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular
Published

Silkworms help grow better organ-like tissues in labs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Biomedical engineers have developed a silk-based, ultrathin membrane that can be used in organ-on-a-chip models to better mimic the natural environment of cells and tissues within the body. When used in a kidney organ-on-a-chip platform, the membrane helped tissues grow to recreate the functionality of both healthy and diseased kidneys.

Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Space: General
Published

Diagnosing damaged infrastructure from space      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing systems allow researchers to inspect and characterize pavements, retaining walls, and embankments from space and can help determine if there are flaws that should be further inspected for repair.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Climate crisis puts Australia's ski industry on slippery slope, but not all hope is lost      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Australia's ski industry is at risk of major disruptions and shorter seasons if the current level of climate pollution continues, according to new modelling. The report found the average ski season across all resorts in Australia will be 44 days shorter by 2050 under a mid-greenhouse gas emissions scenario and 55 days shorter under a high-emissions scenario.

Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Fish out of water: How killifish embryos adapted their development      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The annual killifish lives in regions with extreme drought. A research group now reports that the early embryogenesis of killifish diverges from that of other species. Unlike other fish, their body structure is not predetermined from the outset. This could enable the species to survive dry periods unscathed.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Climate policy: competing crises      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Current crises are distracting from the climate crisis and weakening support for climate action, a Europe-wide survey reveals.

Biology: Marine Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Scientists question effectiveness of nature-based CO2 removal using the ocean      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Limited understanding of basic ocean processes is hindering progress in marine carbon dioxide removal, with the on-going commercialization of some approaches 'premature and misguided'. Scientists now review the climatic effectiveness of four 'nature-based' techniques using marine biological processes. These involve shellfish cultivation, seaweed farming, coastal blue carbon -- using the restoration of seagrass, saltmarsh and mangrove forests -- and increasing whale populations through 're-wilding'.

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

'Painting with light' illuminates photo evidence of air pollution      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Photographs making invisible air pollution visible have sparked discussion around the impact of air pollution on communities ascross the globe.

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

Uptake of tire wear additives by vegetables grown for human consumption      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Car tires contain hundreds of chemical additives that can leach out of them. This is how they end up in crops and subsequently in the food chain. Researchers have now detected these chemical residues in leafy vegetables for the first time. Although the concentrations were low, the evidence was clear, a finding that is also known for drug residues in plant-based foods.