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

Water, water everywhere and now we may have drops to drink      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have achieved a major breakthrough in Redox Flow Desalination (RFD), an emerging electrochemical technique that can turn seawater into potable drinking water and also store affordable renewable energy.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Environmental: General Environmental: Water Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Environmental Issues Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology
Published

Discovering the physics behind 300-year-old firefighting methods      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Inspired by a 1725 fire engine that pumped water at larger distances and higher speeds than previously possible, authors analyzed the pressure chamber's Windkessel effect to capture the physics behind this widely used, enduring technology. They compared the initial state of the chamber, the rate at which bucket brigades could pour water in (volumetric inflow), the length of time pressure builds, and the effects on output flow rate. Next, the authors plan to examine the physiological Windkessel involved in the heart-aorta system.

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

Innovative tech shows promise to boost rubber production in US      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

With disease and high demand posing threats to the world's primary natural rubber supply in Southeast Asia, scientists are working to ramp up the U.S. rubber market by advancing methods to extract latex from two sustainable North American plant sources: a dandelion species and a desert shrub.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Gulls swap natural for urban habitats, machine-learning study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The study is the first of its kind to compile a three-year dataset using a citizen science-based, opportunistic research method to include a large sample of gulls and other sub-Arctic birds in urban Alaska. The study provides a current snapshot of the habitat shift to an urban landscape.

Biology: General Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Ecology: Trees Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

A new perspective on the temperature inside tropical forests      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New worldwide maps of temperatures inside tropical forests show that global warming affect different way in different parts of the forests. Undergrowth level temperature of the tropical forests can be even 4 degrees less than average temperature of the area.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Links discovered between weather patterns and power outages could help UK protect itself from disruptive weather      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The behavior of specific weather patterns and their impact on power faults could be used to develop a weather pattern - conditioned fault forecasting system for power system operators.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Chemistry: Biochemistry Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

Uncovering the secrets behind the silent flight of owls      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Owls produce negligible noise while flying. While many studies have linked the micro-fringes in owl wings to their silent flight, the exact mechanisms have been unclear. Now, a team of researchers has uncovered the effects of these micro-fringes on the sound and aerodynamic performance of owl wings through computational fluid dynamic simulations. Their findings can inspire biomimetic designs for the development of low-noise fluid machinery.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Delhi smog: India's cities must look beyond their limits to clean up air pollution      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Delhi needs the help of its rural neighbors to finally beat its killer smog problem, concludes a recent review.

Chemistry: General Energy: Batteries Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Major climate benefits with electric aircraft      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have performed the world's first life cycle assessment (LCA) of an existing, two-seater, all-electric aircraft, with a direct comparison to an equivalent fossil fuel-powered one. According to the study, after just one quarter of the expected lifespan of the electric aircraft, the climate impact is lower than that of the fossil fuel-based aircraft, provided that green electricity is used. The downside, however, is increased mineral resource scarcity.

Biology: Biochemistry Ecology: Nature Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Geology
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Planetary Commons: Fostering global cooperation to safeguard critical Earth system functions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Tipping elements of the Earth system should be considered global commons, researchers argue. Global commons cannot -- as they currently do -- only include the parts of the planet outside of national borders, like the high seas or Antarctica. They must also include all the environmental systems that regulate the functioning and state of the planet, namely all systems on Earth we all depend on, irrespective on where in the world we live. This calls for a new level of transnational cooperation, leading experts in legal, social and Earth system sciences say. To limit risks for human societies and secure critical Earth system functions they propose a new framework of planetary commons to guide governance of the planet.

Environmental: General Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Office air conditioning can reduce the risk of harm from wildfire smoke      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Air conditioning doesn't just cool the air -- it can also reduce the risk of harm from wildfire smoke, new research suggests.

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

Deepwater Horizon oil spill study could lead to overhaul of cleanup processes worldwide      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research could lead to major improvements in marine oil spill cleanup processes. The innovative study assessed the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on microscopic seawater bacteria that perform a significant role in ecosystem functioning.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Food from urban agriculture has carbon footprint 6 times larger than conventional produce, study shows      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study finds that fruits and vegetables grown in urban farms and gardens have a carbon footprint that is, on average, six times greater than conventionally grown produce.

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

Ice age could help predict oceans' response to global warming      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new way to measure the ocean oxygen level and its connections with carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere during the last ice age could help explain the role oceans played in past glacial melting cycles and improve predictions of how ocean carbon cycles will respond to global warming.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Wobbling particles in the sky      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Tiny particles such as ice crystals or ash particles tend to oscillate as they settle through the atmosphere. In their experiments, the scientists were able to track non-spherical particles of size smaller than 1 millimeter with unprecedented accuracy. Their observations gave rise to a model which can help to refine prediction on air pollutants or weather forecasts.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Climate change linked to spread of diarrheal illness      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Temperature, day length and humidity have been found to be linked to the increased spread of a diarrheal illness a new study reveals. The findings could help predict further outbreaks of the illness, potentially leading to better preparedness within health services.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Earthquakes Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geology
Published

Key factors in human-made earthquakes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers report that the roughness of pre-existing faults and associated stress heterogeneity in geological reservoirs play a key role for causing human-made earthquakes, so-called runaway events. The study combines novel fluid injection experiments under acoustic monitoring performed in GFZ's geomechanical laboratory with numerical modelling results.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Ecology: General Ecology: Research Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Translating nuclear waste site data into microbial ecosystem insights      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A flagship seven-year study that explores how environmental stresses influence different ecological processes shaping the composition and structure of microbial communities in groundwater has now been published.