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Categories: Environmental: General, Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
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.
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.
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.
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.
Published Sound-powered sensors stand to save millions of batteries
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers are developing a new type of sensor that reacts to certain sound waves, causing it to vibrate. The sensor is a metamaterial that acquires its special properties through the structuring of the material. Passive sound-sensitive sensors could be used to monitor buildings, earthquakes or certain medical devices and save millions of batteries.
Published Scientists develop novel method to estimate biodiversity loss in Singapore over the past two centuries
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have employed novel statistical methods to reveal the extent of biodiversity loss in Singapore over the past two centuries. The study paints the most accurate picture to date of the ecological impact of deforestation and urban development in the tropical city-state. From a comprehensive dataset, the study estimated that Singapore has lost 37 per cent of its species.
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.
Published How waves and mixing drive coastal upwelling systems
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Large coastal upwelling systems along the eastern margins of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are among the most biologically productive and biodiverse regions of the world's oceans. Typically, the strength and timing of upwelling in such systems are linked to the prevailing winds. Interestingly, in some tropical regions, high levels of productivity occur even when the upwelling favorable winds are weak.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Published Virtual noise assessment for passenger jet of the future
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Instead of tubular commercial aircraft, other designs could be used in the future: Jets with a blended wing body would fly more efficiently and make less noise -- but how would the noise emissions from these new types of aircraft affect people?
Published Teaching nature to break human-made chemical bonds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A newly evolved enzyme could one day make silicone compounds biodegradable.
Published Diverse forests are best at standing up to storms
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source European forests with a greater diversity of tree species are more resilient to storms, according to new research.
Published Microplastics may be accumulating rapidly in endangered Galápagos penguins' food web
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Model predictions showed a rapid increase in microplastic accumulation and contamination across the penguins' prey organisms resulting in Galapagos penguin showing the highest level of microplastics per biomass, followed by barracuda, anchovy, sardine, herring, and predatory zooplankton.
Published Humpback whales move daytime singing offshore
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New research revealed a daily pattern wherein humpback whales move their singing away from shore throughout the day and return to the nearshore in the evening.
Published Self-powered movable seawall for tsunami protection and emergency power generation
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A movable seawall system, capable of generating sufficient electricity to raise gates and protect ports against tsunamis, has been proposed by researchers. The system has been found feasible in areas prone to Nankai Trough earthquake tsunamis. Additionally, it can generate surplus energy to supply emergency power to ports during power outages that commonly occur in natural disasters. This innovative system integrates disaster prevention with the use of renewable energy.
Published Global warming has a bigger effect on compact, fast-moving typhoons
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A group has found that larger, slow-moving typhoons are more likely to be resilient to the effects of global warming. However, more compact, fast-moving storms are more likely to be sensitive. These findings suggest an improved method for projecting the strength of typhoons under global warming conditions.