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Environmental Science

All articles tagged with #environmental science

science1 year ago•4 min saved

CT Scans of Giant Hailstones Reveal Clues for Storm Prediction

In August 2022, Catalonia experienced a severe hailstorm with giant hailstones causing injuries and damage. Researchers used CT scanning to study the internal structure of these hailstones without destroying them, revealing surprising insights into their formation. The study, published in Frontiers in Environmental Science, found irregular internal axes and uneven growth processes, challenging previous assumptions about hailstone shapes. Despite challenges like high costs, the findings could improve hail forecasting and help mitigate damage from extreme weather events.

via The Debrief|

#catalonia #ct-scanning #environmental-science

environment1 year ago•2 min saved

"Plastic-Eating Fungus Discovered in Great Pacific Garbage Patch"

Scientists have discovered a plastic-eating fungus, Parengyodontium album, in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that can break down UV-exposed polyethylene, the most common plastic. While it works slowly, this fungus offers hope for more effective ocean cleanup methods without harming marine life, highlighting the need for continued reduction of single-use plastics.

via BGR|

#environment #environmental-science #fungus

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Giant Viruses Discovered on Greenland Ice Sheet May Impact Ice Melt

Scientists have discovered giant viruses on Greenland's Arctic ice sheet that may help control algal blooms and reduce ice melting. These viruses, larger than most bacteria, were found thriving alongside microalgae in dark ice and red snow. The discovery challenges previous notions of the Arctic as a barren landscape, revealing a complex ecosystem. Further research is expected to uncover more about the ecological roles and interactions of these giant viruses.

via The Debrief|

#algal-blooms #arctic-ecosystem #environmental-science

environment1 year ago•2 min saved

"Plastic-Eating Fungus Discovered in Great Pacific Garbage Patch"

Scientists have discovered a plastic-eating fungus, Parengyodontium album, in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that can break down UV-exposed polyethylene, a common plastic pollutant. While this finding is promising for reducing ocean plastic, it is not a complete solution, as the degradation rate is slow and the scale of plastic pollution remains vast.

via Futurism|

#environment #environmental-science #fungi

environment1 year ago•2 min saved

"Plastic-Eating Fungus Discovered in Pacific Ocean"

Scientists have discovered a fungus, Parengyodontium album, in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that can break down plastic polyethylene after exposure to UV radiation. This finding, made by marine microbiologists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and other institutions, could help address the significant plastic pollution in oceans. The fungus degrades plastic at a rate of 0.05% per day, converting most of it into carbon dioxide.

via The Inertia|

#environment #environmental-science #fungus

science-and-technology1 year ago•4 min saved

"Breakthrough Material MOF-525 Converts CO2 into Useful Chemicals"

Researchers at the University of Virginia have developed a scalable method for fabricating MOF-525, a metal-organic framework material that can capture and convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. This breakthrough, achieved through solution shearing techniques, allows for large-scale applications, offering significant environmental and energy benefits by transforming CO2 into commercially valuable products.

via SciTechDaily|

#carbon-capture #electrocatalysis #environmental-science

science1 year ago•4 min saved

"Microbial Mergers: Low Nutrients Change Viral Infection Dynamics"

A study by researchers at The Ohio State University reveals that low-nutrient conditions significantly alter how viruses infect bacteria, resulting in different virocells compared to nutrient-rich environments. This finding highlights the importance of studying microbial interactions under natural conditions to better understand their roles in ocean geochemistry and climate change.

via Phys.org|

#bacteria #environmental-science #microbiology

environmental-science1 year ago•2 min saved

"The Lunar Influence on Coral Reef Sounds"

A new study has found that the sounds emanating from coral reefs change rapidly as the Moon rises and sets, indicating shifts in ecosystem activity. Researchers monitored three reefs off the west coast of Hawaii and discovered that fish sounds increase during moonlight hours while invertebrate sounds decrease. This discovery suggests that the rising and setting of the Moon triggers regular shifts in coral reef ecosystem interactions, which could aid in conservation efforts and tracking long-term ecosystem activity in remote locations.

via ScienceAlert|

#conservation-efforts #coral-reefs #ecosystem-activity

environment1 year ago•3 min saved

"Easy Tricks to Remove Microplastics from Your Drinking Water"

Researchers have found that boiling tap water for five minutes can remove over 80 percent of plastic contaminants, offering a simple and cost-effective solution to limit the concentrations of microplastics in drinking water. The study suggests that boiling water causes the plastic particles to become attached to limescale, particularly in hard water with higher calcium levels. While this method may help reduce human exposure to microplastics, some experts advocate for more proactive measures, such as modifying drinking water treatment plants, to limit the spread of microplastics in the first instance.

via IFLScience|

#boiling-water #drinking-water #environment

science-and-environment1 year ago•1 min saved

"Two Simple Steps to Remove Microplastics from Tap Water"

A new study suggests that boiling tap water for five minutes and then pouring it through a coffee filter can remove nearly 90% of microplastics and nanoplastics, which have been found in tap water worldwide. The process involves the formation of crystalline structures that encase the plastic particles during boiling, which can then be removed with a basic filter. While this method is effective for hard water, it is less so for soft water. Researchers believe this strategy could significantly reduce human exposure to microplastics and pave the way for further investigations.

via Newser|

#environmental-science #microplastics #plastic-pollution

environment1 year ago•2 min saved

"Boiling Tap Water: An Effective Method to Remove Microplastics"

New research suggests that boiling and filtering water could reduce microplastics in drinking water by up to nearly 90 percent, as reported in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters. The study found that boiling water, especially "hard" water with high mineral concentrations, can solidify and encapsulate the plastic particles, making them easier to remove through simple filtration. While more research is needed to understand the health risks of consuming microplastics, boiling water also offers benefits in killing harmful microbes. However, the effectiveness of this method may vary depending on water quality and regional differences.

via The Washington Post|

#boiling-water #environment #environmental-science

science-and-technology1 year ago•0 min saved

"Chinese Researchers Achieve 93% Efficiency in Converting CO2 to Useful Chemicals"

Researchers at HUST in China have developed a method to efficiently convert carbon dioxide into useful chemical products, marking a significant breakthrough in addressing the issue of atmospheric CO2. While various approaches to CO2 conversion exist, they are limited by their short operational lifespans, making them unsuitable for large-scale use.

via Interesting Engineering|

#chemical-products #co2-conversion #environmental-science

environmental-science1 year ago•2 min saved

"Future Impact: Louisiana's Coastal Wetlands Facing Ecosystem Collapse and Sea Level Rise"

A new study from Tulane University has used a unique "time travel" opportunity to project the future impact of climate change on coastal wetlands. By monitoring the accelerated sea-level rise along the U.S. Gulf Coast, researchers found that almost 90% of the monitoring sites were in deficit, indicating potential wetland loss. If current climate scenarios persist, it is projected that approximately 75% of wetland sites will be in deficit by 2070, leading to increased wetland loss. However, the study suggests that immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement could lead to a more sustainable climate trajectory and reduce the rate of wetland loss.

via Phys.org|

#climate-change #coastal-marshes #environmental-science

environmental-science1 year ago•6 min saved

"Arctic Rivers and the Carbon Contained in Permafrost"

New research from Dartmouth College shows that permafrost, the frozen soil in the Arctic, is the dominant force shaping Earth's northernmost rivers, confining them to smaller areas and shallower valleys. However, permafrost is also a fragile reservoir of vast amounts of carbon, and as climate change weakens it, every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit of global warming could release as much carbon as 35 million cars emit in a year. The study suggests that the Arctic's warming could lead to a release of between 22 billion and 550 billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2100, with significant implications for the environment.

via Phys.org|

#arctic-rivers #carbon #climate-change

environmental-science1 year ago•2 min saved

Ants' Impact on Lions' Prey Selection in Kenya

In Laikipia county, Kenya, an invasion of big-headed ants has disrupted the ecosystem, leading to a chain of consequences that has caused lions to switch from hunting zebras to hunting buffalo. The invasion has affected the relationship between whistling-thorn trees, native acacia ants, elephants, lions, zebras, and buffalo, illustrating a phenomenon called "trophic cascade." As a result, elephants are browsing and breaking trees more frequently in invaded areas, leading to a decrease in zebra kills and an increase in buffalo kills by lions.

via The Economist|

#ecosystem #environmental-science #invasive-species