Tag

Environment

All articles tagged with #environment

environment13 hours ago•2 min saved

Dolphins’ brains show stubborn screen chemicals from e-waste, study finds

A 14-year study detects 62 liquid crystal monomers—used in LCD screens—in tissues of endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises in the South China Sea, with the chemicals found in blubber and even brains, capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and altering genes related to DNA repair and cell division; contamination tracking mirrors the rise and fall of LC monomer use as LEDs replaced older screens, underscoring the need for longer-lasting electronics, certified e-waste recycling, and stricter regulation to prevent potential human health impacts via seafood and water.

via The Guardian|

#bioaccumulation #dolphins #e-waste

science-and-environment1 day ago•3 min saved

Falcon 9 reentry leaves upper-atmosphere lithium plume, raising space-pollution concerns

Researchers using ground-based lidar detected a large lithium plume from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper-stage reentry ~62 miles up over Europe, marking the first observed upper-atmosphere pollution from space debris. As satellite constellations grow, such reentries could alter atmospheric composition and potentially impact the ozone layer, though the long-term climate effects remain unknown.

via Futurism|

#aerospace #environment #ozone

environment2 days ago•7 min saved

California’s Heat-Pump Gamble: High Bills Cloud the Clean-Energy Push

California is pushing to electrify home heating with heat pumps (aiming for six million installations by 2030), backed by rebates and easier permitting, but high electricity prices complicate the economics. A Harvard study finds regional differences: savings tend to occur in the South and Pacific Northwest, while the northern Midwest could see higher bills. In California, coastally favorable conditions are tempered by costly rates, larger or colder homes, and required electrical upgrades; solar can help, but upfront costs and rate plans largely determine whether heat pumps save money.

via Lost Coast Outpost|

#california #decarbonization #electricity-prices

environment2 days ago•31 min saved

California's heat-pump push hits price barrier

California aims to install six million heat pumps by 2030 to cut emissions, but high electricity prices and installation costs complicate adoption; a Harvard study shows potential savings in some regions and higher bills in others, with CA's coast and larger homes often facing higher costs, while policy efforts to streamline permitting and rebates continue amid concerns that steep rates could undermine the climate plan.

via CalMatters|

#california-electricity-prices #decarbonization #energy-policy

environment2 days ago•2 min saved

Winter-sports growth faces climate reality

Winter-sports growth is facing a climate reality: warming winters are shrinking natural snow, forcing reliance on artificial snow and expensive facilities, from costly outdoor rinks to indoor training centers, which could limit where people can learn to curl, skate, or ski. Examples include Minnesota’s high daily outdoor-rink maintenance costs and Portland delaying its downtown rink opening due to budget constraints.

via Axios|

#artificial-snow #climate-change #environment

technology2 days ago•3 min saved

Altman argues AI's energy use mirrors human learning, urges rapid move to renewables

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended AI’s power usage by comparing it to the energy needed to raise a human, while urging a swift switch to nuclear and renewable power. The discussion comes amid rising concerns over datacenter electricity and water use, with IEA data showing growing datacenter energy demand and critics warning of climate and water security risks as datacenter expansion continues. Altman's remarks drew online backlash from skeptics who questioned the net societal benefits of the technology.

via The Guardian|

#ai #datacenters #energy

environment2 days ago•18 min saved

Ocean-friendly packaging: plant-based cmcsp plastic dissolves in seawater within hours

Researchers in Japan developed a plant-based plastic called cmcsp, made from cellulose, that stays strong during use but dissolves completely in seawater within hours, leaving no microplastics and offering a potential new packaging option. The material forms a cross-linked network stabilized by salt bridges and a plasticizer; seawater ions disrupt these bonds to trigger dissolution, with a thin barrier coating slowing breakdown during use. While the approach shows promise and can be processed in water-based systems, scaling, recycling dissolved components, and real-world disposal remain challenges, and it is not a universal solution to plastic pollution.

via Earth.com|

#environment #materials-science #oceans

environment2 days ago•16 min saved

Desert Sand to Fertile Soil in Months: Lab-Grown Microbes Build a Stable Crust

Scientists in China used lab-grown cyanobacteria to bind loose desert sand into a thin, stable crust within about 10–16 months, creating a surface that holds moisture and nutrients and supports seedling growth. This speeds desert restoration from decades to years and could reduce wind-driven erosion, but scaling the method beyond test plots faces challenges such as site selection, local microbe suitability, and protection from traffic; long-term monitoring is needed and crusts cannot solve problems like overgrazing or water mismanagement.

via Earth.com|

#cyanobacteria #desert-restoration #desertification

environment3 days ago•4 min saved

Pizza Boxes Are Recyclable: Debunking the Grease Myth

New findings backed by WestRock for the American Forest & Paper Association show greasy pizza boxes are recyclable; grease is typically only 1–2% by weight and does not significantly affect recycled cardboard, with cheese and tape best removed. Local guidelines vary, so check your area and consider advocating for updated rules; to maximize recycling, split the box or use a liner to reduce grease exposure.

via Tasting Table|

#american-forest-and-paper-association #environment #grease

environment3 days ago•33 min saved

Arctic Ice Loss Since 1980 Visualized: 2050 Ice-Free Summers on the Horizon

Since 1980, the Arctic’s minimum sea ice has shrunk by about 1.1 million square miles (roughly the size of Argentina), at a rate of about 12.2% per decade, with projections of ice-free summers by around 2050. The visualization (NASA/World Bank data) maps ice loss against country land areas, highlighting geopolitical and shipping shifts as Arctic routes open up. Global powers, including China with its Polar Silk Road and the Northern Sea Route, are preparing for a more accessible Arctic, while the region also holds significant oil potential (~412 billion barrels) and Greenland’s rare-earth reserves (~1.5 million metric tons).

via Visual Capitalist|

#arctic #climatechange #environment

environment3 days ago•16 min saved

Decades-old toxic waste leaks reshape the deep-sea floor

Decades after the U.S. dumped thousands of barrels of toxic waste into the Pacific, new findings show leaks are still altering the San Pedro Basin’s deep-sea sediment chemistry and microbial life. A 58-square-mile survey identified around 74,000 debris targets, including ~27,000 barrels, with halos of hardened minerals indicating alkaline leakage. The resulting high pH and altered microbial communities could affect deep-sea ecosystems for thousands of years, complicating cleanup and policy decisions; the study appears in PNAS Nexus.

via Earth.com|

#ddt #deep-sea-ecology #environment

environment4 days ago•19 min saved

Iran's Taftan Volcano Uplifts, Hinting at Wake-Up After 700,000 Years

Satellite data show the Taftan volcano in southeastern Iran rising about 9 cm (3.5 inches) over 10 months, signaling pressure building in a shallow hydrothermal system near the summit rather than a magma-driven eruption. Researchers say the uplift, detected by InSAR from Sentinel-1, warrants ongoing monitoring (gas emissions, seismometers, GPS) and hazard planning, since phreatic blasts could occur even without lava flows.

via Earth.com|

#environment #insar #iran

environment5 days ago•3 min saved

Rescued Turtle Bob Moss Dies After Boat Strike, Spotlight on Ocean-Traffic Risk

A juvenile green sea turtle nicknamed Bob Moss was rescued in Vero Beach, Florida, arriving at Coastal Connections covered in red algae. Although initially thought to be cold-stunned, rescuers later found he sustained a fatal boat-strike injury and he died at the center. The case highlights the deadly impact of boat strikes on sea turtles (thousands die yearly) and reflects how more than half of Coastal Connections’ rescues involve strikes, underscoring the need for slower speeds in turtle zones and safer boating practices.

via The Dodo|

#boat-strike #conservation #environment

environment5 days ago•2 min saved

Trump Rollback Reverts Coal Mercury Rules to 2012 Standard, Sparking Health and Grid Debate

Trump rolled back Biden-era tightening of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard, restoring coal plants to the 2012 rule and potentially exempting the industry from stricter limits. EPA estimates the rollback would save about $78 million annually (2028–2037), while the tighter 2024 standard would have cut mercury emissions about 23% by 2035. Environmental groups vow to appeal, warning that plants could ease pollution controls and monitoring to save money, with potential impacts on public health and grid reliability.

via The Allegheny Front|

#coal #energy-policy #environment

environment6 days ago•9 min saved

Launch Ambition Meets Local Stakes on Florida’s Space Coast

Florida’s Space Coast is booming as rockets from Kennedy Space Center and SpaceX push launches higher, but environmentalists and commercial fishers warn the growth could degrade Merritt Island’s ecosystems and hurt local fisheries through noise, pollution, water chemistry changes, and debris, prompting calls for wastewater recycling, mitigation measures, and even a relief fund as regulators balance progress with environmental safeguarding.

via Politico|

#environment #florida #kennedy-space-center