Chemistry: Biochemistry Environmental: Wildfires
Published

Wildfires increasingly threaten oil and gas drill sites, compounding potential health risks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

More than 100,000 oil and gas wells across the western U.S. are in areas burned by wildfires in recent decades, a new study has found, and some 3 million people live next to wells that in the future could be in the path of fires worsened by climate change.

Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Team aims to improve safety of fertilizers made from wastewater sludge      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Fertilizers manufactured from the sludgy leftovers of wastewater treatment processes can contain traces of potentially hazardous organic chemicals, according to a new study. The research provides one of the most comprehensive looks at the chemical composition of so-called biosolids across the country and is the first step toward identifying common chemical contaminants that may need government regulation.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Robots face the future      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have found a way to bind engineered skin tissue to the complex forms of humanoid robots. This brings with it potential benefits to robotic platforms such as increased mobility, self-healing abilities, embedded sensing capabilities and an increasingly lifelike appearance. Taking inspiration from human skin ligaments, the team included special perforations in a robot face, which helped a layer of skin take hold.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry
Published

3D-printed chip sensor detects foodborne pathogens for safer products      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a new method for detecting foodborne pathogens that is faster, cheaper, and more effective than existing methods. Their microfluidic chip uses light to detect multiple types of pathogens simultaneously and is created using 3D printing, making it easy to fabricate in large amounts and modify to target specific pathogens. The researchers hope their technique can improve screening processes and keep contaminated food out of the hands of consumers.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

Researchers develop RNA-targeting technology for precisely manipulating parts of human genes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have harnessed a bacterial immune defense system, known as CRISPR, to efficiently and precisely control the process of RNA splicing. The technology opens the door to new applications, including systematically interrogating the functions of parts of genes and correcting splicing deficiencies that underlie numerous diseases and disorders.

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

Mashed up purple marine bacteria makes an excellent eco-friendly fertilizer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research reports that biomass made from the purple photosynthetic marine bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum is an excellent nitrogen fertilizer. The biomass fertilizer proved to be just as effective as common inorganic synthetic fertilizers but avoids several side effects that harm the environment, making it an eco-friendly alternative.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: General Energy: Technology
Published

Researchers engineer AI path to prevent power outages      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that could help electrical grids prevent power outages by automatically rerouting electricity in milliseconds. The approach is an early example of 'self-healing grid' technology, which uses AI to detect and repair problems such as outages autonomously and without human intervention when issues occur, such as storm-damaged power lines.

Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography Paleontology: Climate
Published

Carbon dioxide's heavy stamp on temperature: Doubling CO2 may mean 7 to 14 degree increase      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A doubling of the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere could cause an increase in the average temperature on earth from 7 to even a maximum of 14 degrees. That is shown in the analysis of sediments from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Biodiversity Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Boosting biodiversity without hurting local economies      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Protected areas, like nature reserves, can conserve biodiversity without harming local economic growth, countering a common belief that conservation restricts development. A new study outlines what is needed for conservation to benefit both nature and people.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Mathematics: Modeling Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Prying open the AI black box      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Meet SQUID, a new computational tool. Compared with other genomic AI models, SQUID is more consistent, reduces background noise, and can yield better predictions regarding critical mutations. The new system aims to bring scientists closer to their findings' true medical implications.

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

Up to 30 percent more time: Climate change makes it harder for women to collect water, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By 2050, climate change could increase the amount of time women in households without running water spend collecting water by up to 30 percent on global average, according to a new study. In regions of South America and Southeast Asia, the time spent collecting water could double due to higher temperatures. Scientists estimate the large welfare losses that could result from climate impacts and highlights how women are particularly vulnerable to changing future climate conditions.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Controlling electronics with light: The magnetite breakthrough      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that by shining different wavelengths (colors) of light on a material called magnetite, they can change its state, e.g. making it more or less conducive to electricity. The discovery could lead to new ways of designing new materials for electronics such as memory storage, sensors, and other devices that rely on fast and efficient material responses.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

Membrane protein analogues could accelerate drug discovery      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have created a deep learning pipeline for designing soluble analogues of key protein structures used in pharmaceutical development, sidestepping the prohibitive cost of extracting these proteins from cell membranes.

Chemistry: Biochemistry
Published

Lab-grown muscles reveal mysteries of rare muscle diseases      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Biomedical engineers have grown muscles in a lab to better understand and test treatments for a group of extremely rare muscle disorders called dysferlinopathy or limb girdle muscular dystrophies 2B (LGMD2B). The research revealed the biological mechanisms underlying the disease and showed that a combination of existing treatments could alleviate its symptoms.

Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Restoring the Great Salt Lake would have environmental justice as well as ecological benefits      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Inland seas around the world are drying up due to increasing human water use and accelerating climate change, and their desiccation is releasing harmful dust that pollutes the surrounding areas during acute dust storms. Using the Great Salt Lake in Utah as a case study, researchers show that dust exposure was highest among Pacific Islanders and Hispanic people and lower in white people compared to all other racial/ethnic groups, and higher for individuals without a high school diploma. Restoring the lake would benefit everyone in the vicinity by reducing dust exposure, and it would also decrease the disparities in exposure between different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Chemistry: Biochemistry
Published

Scientists discover new behavior of membranes that could lead to unprecedented separations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Argonne scientists have used isoporous membranes -- membranes with pores of equal size and shape -- and recirculation to create separations at the nanoscale that overcome previous limitations.

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

Changing climate will make home feel like somewhere else      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The impacts of climate change are being felt all over the world, but how will it impact how your hometown feels? An interactive web application allows users to search 40,581 places and 5,323 metro areas around the globe to match the expected future climate in each city with the current climate of another location, providing a relatable picture of what is likely in store.