Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Study finds pesticide use linked to Parkinson's in rocky mountain, great plains region      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Pesticides and herbicides used in farming have been linked to Parkinson's disease in the Rocky Mountain and Great Plains region of the country, according to a preliminary study.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General
Published

The West is best to spot UFOs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers identified environmental factors that explain why reports of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) are more common in certain regions of the country. Most sightings occur in the American West where proximity to public lands, dark skies and military installations afford more opportunities to see strange objects in the air. Understanding the environmental context of these sightings will make it easier to find explanations for their occurrence and help identify truly anomalous objects that may be a legitimate threat.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Oceanography
Published

Climate change shrinking fish      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Fish weight in the western North Pacific Ocean dipped in the 2010s due to warmer water limiting food supplies, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed the individual weight and overall biomass of 13 species of fish. In the 1980s and 2010s, the fish were lighter. They attributed the first period of weight loss to greater numbers of Japanese sardine, which increased competition with other species for food. During the 2010s, while the number of Japanese sardine and chub mackerel moderately increased, the effect of climate change warming the ocean appears to have resulted in more competition for food, as cooler, nutrient-dense water could not easily rise to the surface. These results have implications for fisheries and policymakers trying to manage ocean resources under future climate change scenarios.

Ecology: Animals Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography
Published

Chemistry in the ground affects how many offspring wild animals have      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chemistry in the ground affect how many kids wild animals have Areas with more copper and selenium in the ground lead to higher reproductive success in wild musk oxen in Greenland.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Researchers develop novel method to photosynthesize hydrogen peroxide using water and air      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a microporous covalent organic framework with dense donor-acceptor lattices and engineered linkages for the efficient and clean production of hydrogen peroxide through the photosynthesis process with water and air.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Want fewer microplastics in your tap water? Try boiling it first      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Nano- and microplastics are seemingly everywhere -- water, soil and the air. While many creative strategies have been attempted to get rid of these plastic bits, one unexpectedly effective solution for cleaning up drinking water, specifically, might be as simple as brewing a cup of tea or coffee. Boiling and filtering calcium-containing tap water could help remove nearly 90% of the nano- and microplastics present.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

How air pollution can harm team performance      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

High levels of air pollution can affect teams doing complex tasks, which holds implications for emerging economies.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Walleye struggle with changes to timing of spring thaw      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Walleye are one of the most sought-after species in freshwater sportfishing, a delicacy on Midwestern menus and a critically important part of the culture of many Indigenous communities. They are also struggling to survive in the warming waters of the Midwestern United States and Canada. According to a new study, part of the problem is that walleye are creatures of habit, and the seasons -- especially winter -- are changing so fast that this iconic species of freshwater fish can't keep up.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

First DNA study of ancient Eastern Arabians reveals malaria adaptation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

People living in ancient Eastern Arabia appear to have developed resistance to malaria following the appearance of agriculture in the region around five thousand years ago.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

You may be breathing in more tiny nanoparticles from your gas stove than from car exhaust      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Cooking on your gas stove can emit more nano-sized particles into the air than vehicles that run on gas or diesel, possibly increasing your risk of developing asthma or other respiratory illnesses, a new study has found.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Low-Temperature Plasma used to remove E. coli from hydroponically grown crops      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a new study, a team sterilized a hydroponic nutrient solution using low-temperature plasma generated from electricity and the oxygen in the atmosphere. This new sterilization technique may allow farmers to grow crops without the use of chemical pesticides, representing an important advance in agricultural technology for sustainable crop production.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography
Published

Scientists propose new method for tracking elusive origins of CO2 emissions from streams      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers that specializes in accounting for the carbon dioxide release by streams, rivers and lakes recently demonstrated that the chemical process known as 'carbonate buffering' can account for the majority of emissions in highly alkaline waters. Furthermore, carbonate buffering distorts the most commonly used method of tracking the origins of CO2 in streams. The research proposes a better method for tracking the origin of riverine CO2 emissions.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Latest science shows endocrine disrupting chemicals in plastics, pesticides, and other sources pose health threats globally      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A report from the world's leading scientific and medical experts on hormone-related health conditions raises new concerns about the profound threats to human health from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are ubiquitous in our surroundings and everyday lives. Everyday exposures to EDCs in the environment may be linked to increasing rates of infertility, diabetes, immune deficiencies, and other serious conditions; Highly Hazardous Pesticides pose ongoing threats.

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

Black carbon sensor could fill massive monitoring gaps      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Black carbon is up to 25 times more hazardous to human health than other airborne particles of a similar size. Standard sensors are expensive and burdensome, resulting in sparse coverage in regions infamous for poor air quality, such as the greater Salt Lake City area. A University of Utah-led study found that a portable, more affordable sensor recorded black carbon concentrations as accurately as the most widely used instrument for monitoring black carbon in real time. The portable sensor could help expand an accurate observation network to establish disease risk and create effective public health policies.

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

Significant glacial retreat in West Antarctica began in 1940s      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Among the vast expanse of Antarctica lies the Thwaites Glacier, the world's widest glacier measuring about 80 miles on the western edge of the continent. Despite its size, the massive landform is losing about 50 billion tons of ice more than it is receiving in snowfall, which places it in a precarious position in respect to its stability. Accelerating ice loss has been observed since the 1970s, but it is unclear when this significant melting initiated -- until now. A new study suggests that the significant glacial retreat of two glaciers on the west coast of Antarctica began in the 1940's, likely spurred by climate change.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Ecology: Animals Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Butterflies mimic each other's flight behavior to avoid predators      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have shown that inedible species of butterfly that mimic each others' color patterns have also evolved similar flight behaviors to warn predators and avoid being eaten.