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Categories: Biology: Botany, Environmental: General

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Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Prenatal exposure to air pollution associated with increased mental health risks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A baby's exposure to air pollution while in the womb is associated with the development of certain mental health problems once the infant reaches adolescence, new research has found. The study examined the long-term mental health impact of early-life exposure to air and noise pollution.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earthquakes
Published

Understanding the mechanisms for local amplification of 2024 tsunamis in Iida Bay      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers uncover the unique mechanisms that resulted in severe tsunamis in Iida Bay caused by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The recent tsunamis in Iida Bay were locally amplified due to various factors, including ocean floor topology, the shape of the coastline, the location of coastal facilities, and seismic mechanisms associated with earthquakes, report scientists.

Biology: Biochemistry Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Study suggests 'biodegradable' teabags don't readily deteriorate in the environment and can adversely affect terrestrial species      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research looked at commonly available teabags made using three different compositions of polylactic acid (PLA), which is derived from sources such as corn starch or sugar cane. The teabags were buried in soil for seven months, and a range of techniques were then used to assess whether -- and to what extent -- they had deteriorated. The results showed that teabags made solely from PLA remained completely intact. However, the two types of teabags made from a combination of cellulose and PLA broke down into smaller pieces, losing between 60% and 80% of their overall mass and with the PLA component remaining.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Inexpensive microplastic monitoring through porous materials and machine learning      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Optical analysis and machine learning techniques can now readily detect microplastics in marine and freshwater environments using inexpensive porous metal substrates.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Chemistry: Biochemistry Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature Energy: Technology
Published

Harnessing green energy from plants depends on their circadian rhythms      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Plant hydraulics drive the biological process that moves fluids from roots to plant stems and leaves, creating streaming electric potential, or voltage, in the process. A study closely examined the differences in voltage caused by the concentrations of ions, types of ions, and pH of the fluid plants transport, tying the voltage changes to the plant's circadian rhythm that causes adjustments day and night. According to the authors, this consistent, cyclic voltage creation could be harnessed as an energy source.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Simple food swaps could cut greenhouse gas emissions from household groceries by a quarter      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Switching food and drink purchases to very similar but more environmentally friendly alternatives could reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from household groceries by more than a quarter (26%), according to a new study.

Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature
Published

Transgenic expression of rubisco factors increases photosynthesis and chilling tolerance in maize      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Maize is one of the world's most widely grown crops and is essential to global food security. But like other plants, its growth and productivity can be limited by the slow activity of Rubisco, the enzyme responsible for carbon assimilation during photosynthesis. Scientists have now demonstrated a promising approach to enhancing Rubisco production, thus improving photosynthesis and overall plant growth.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Combating carbon footprint: Novel reactor system converts carbon dioxide into usable fuel      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Boilers are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. In a recent study, researchers developed a method to convert CO2 emissions from small boilers into methane, which makes use of an optimized reactor design that evenly distributes the CO2 feed. This, in turn, results in significantly lower temperature increments and a boost in methane production. This innovative technique could pave the way for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Marine Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Investigating the origin of circatidal rhythms in freshwater snails      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While most organisms have biological clocks synchronized with the day-night cycle (circadian rhythms), marine animals in tidal areas have also developed circatidal rhythms to align with the tidal cycle. Comparing the activity and genetic expression of snails from tidal and non-tidal areas, researchers demonstrate that circatidal rhythms develop as snails adapt to tidal environments. These findings highlight the flexibility of biological clocks, enabling organisms to adjust their rhythms according to the environment.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geology Geoscience: Volcanoes
Published

Earth scientists describe a new kind of volcanic eruption      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By analyzing the dynamics of 12 back-to-back explosions that happened in 2018, researchers describe a new type of volcanic eruption mechanism. The explosions were driven by sudden pressure increases as the ground collapsed, which blasted plumes of rock fragments and hot gas into the air, much like a classic stomp-rocket toy.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Entomologist sheds light on 250-year-old mystery of the German cockroach      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Entomologists have solved the 250-year-old origin puzzle of the most prevalent indoor urban pest insect on the planet: the German cockroach. The team's research findings, representing the genomic analyses of over 280 specimens from 17 countries and six continents, show that this species evolved some 2,100 years ago from an outdoor-living species in Asia.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Controlling water, transforming greenhouse gases      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have outlined a way to manipulate water molecules to make CO2R more efficient, with the ultimate goal of creating a clean energy loop. Through their new method, the team was able to perform CO2R with nearly 100% efficiency under mildly acidic conditions, using either gold or zinc as catalysts.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Nuclear Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Breakthrough discovery uses engineered surfaces to shed heat      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Splash a few drops of water on a hot pan and if the pan is hot enough, the water will sizzle and the droplets of water seem to roll and float, hovering above the surface. The temperature at which this phenomenon, called the Leidenfrost effect, occurs is predictable, usually happening above 230 degrees Celsius. A team has now discovered a method to create the aquatic levitation at a much lower temperature.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: Optics
Published

Innovative material for sustainable building      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers introduce a polymer-based material with unique properties. This material allows sunlight to enter, maintains a more comfortable indoor climate without additional energy, and cleans itself like a lotus leaf. The new development could replace glass components in walls and roofs in the future.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Renewable grid: Recovering electricity from heat storage hits 44% efficiency      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Closing in on the theoretical maximum efficiency, devices for turning heat into electricity are edging closer to being practical for use on the grid, according to new research.

Biology: Microbiology Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Developing novel methods to detect antibiotics in vegetables and earthworms      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have managed to analyze, simultaneously, several families of antibiotics in vegetables and earthworms. Sampling carried out in various locations has yielded data on the existence of antimicrobial agents and their derivatives in vegetables. In this respect, Vergara stresses the need for further research to address the problem of contamination by this type of medication in the environment.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Endangered Species Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Key role of plant-bacteria communication for the assembly of a healthy plant microbiome supporting sustainable plant nutrition      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In an interdisciplinary study, researchers discovered that symbiotic bacteria communicate with legume plants through specific molecules and that this communication influences which bacteria grow near the plant roots. The findings provide insights into how plants and soil bacteria form beneficial partnerships for nutrient uptake and resilience. These results are a step towards understanding how communication between plants and soil bacteria can lead to specific beneficial associations providing plants with nutrients.

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

Charting a pathway to next-gen biofuels      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

From soil to sequestration, researchers have modeled what a supply chain for second-generation biofuels might look like in the midwestern United States.