Birch trees remove microplastics from the soil
With the help of trees, microplastic-polluted soils could be remediated. For the first time, researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) have shown that birch trees absorb microplastics through their roots du.....»»
Human urine could be used as eco-friendly crop fertilizer: Study
Bacterial communities in soil are as resilient to human urine as synthetic fertilizers—making recycling the bodily fluid as a fertilizer for agricultural crops a viable proposition, according to a new study......»»
Scientists reviewed 7,000 studies on microplastics. Their alarming conclusion puts humanity on notice
It's been 20 years since a paper in the journal Science showed the environmental accumulation of tiny plastic fragments and fibers. It named the particles "microplastics.".....»»
Scientists say there is enough evidence to agree to global action on microplastics
Science has provided more than sufficient evidence to inform a collective and global approach to tackle the continued spread of plastic pollution, according to a new report......»»
Microplastics: Meant to last, just not forever and not in our bodies
Megan Hill is an assistant professor of chemistry and leader of the Hill Lab in Colorado State University's College of Natural Sciences. Her research leverages organic chemistry to design advanced polymeric materials for applications in sustainabilit.....»»
Could you find what a lunar crater is made of by shooting it?
Americans are famously fond of their guns. So it should come as no surprise that a team of NASA scientists has devised a way to "shoot" a modified type of sensor into the soil of an otherworldly body and determine what it is made out of. That is prec.....»»
Walking the trees: Researchers trace how First Nations groups moved bunya pine and black bean trees
For millennia, Indigenous knowledge holders have passed down lore to the next generation. Much lore describes the relationships between people and Country, including custodial responsibilities to care for other species as kin......»»
Divers remove 31,773 venomous fish from Florida"s reefs in record-breaking challenge
Divers remove 31,773 venomous fish from Florida"s reefs in record-breaking challenge.....»»
Tiny robots and AI algorithms could help to craft material solutions for cleaner environments
Many human activities release pollutants into the air, water and soil. These harmful chemicals threaten the health of both people and the ecosystem. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes an estimated 4.2 million deaths annu.....»»
Fungi to the rescue: South African scientists use innovative approach to protect apple trees
Gardeners the world over dread the appearance of aphids on their plants. There are around 4,000 species of these sap-sucking insects and about 250 are pests that can wreak havoc on crops in a garden or orchard......»»
Google backs privately funded satellite constellation for wildfire detection
"Authorities will have high-resolution imagery that is updated globally every 20 minutes." Enlarge / The Windy Fire blazes through the Long Meadow Grove of giant sequoia trees near The Trail of 100 Giants overnight in Sequoia Nat.....»»
Unveiling soil moisture patterns with advanced navigation tech
A pioneering method for soil moisture retrieval using satellite navigation systems has been introduced, significantly boosting the accuracy and efficiency of global data collection. The research, published in the journal Satellite Navigation, tackles.....»»
Researchers use training model to map planted and natural forests via satellite image
While planting trees may seem like an easy win to combat climate change, planted forests often encroach on natural forests, wetlands, and grasslands. This can reduce biodiversity, disturb the natural environment, and disrupt carbon and water cycling......»»
Strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai since 1949 shuts down megacity
Tens of millions of people in Shanghai and across China's densely populated east coast hunkered indoors Monday as the strongest typhoon to hit since 1949 swept in, downing trees and disrupting transport across the region......»»
Soil pH drives microbial community composition: Study shows how bacteria work together to thrive in difficult conditions
Though a founding concept of ecology suggests that the physical environment determines where organisms can survive, modern scientists have suspected there is more to the story of how microbial communities form in the soil......»»
Trees in tropical logged forests release carbon at greater rate despite faster growth, study finds
Tree stems in tropical forests recovering from logging produce carbon dioxide at a greater rate than those in unlogged forests, according to a new study from the University of Leicester......»»
Study shows microbial diversity differences in volcanic cones and craters
Volcanic activity alters the Earth's surface and promotes the development of new ecosystems, providing valuable models for studying soil formation processes such as microbial composition and vegetation succession. Increasing evidence suggests that so.....»»
Researchers identify novel approach to minimize nitrogen loss in crops
While agriculture producers apply nitrogen fertilizer to supply nutrients to their crops, they can't always keep those nutrients in the soil for maximum efficiency, often losing them into the atmosphere or water supply as nitrates and nitrous oxide......»»
Soil nutrient levels associated with suppression of banana Fusarium wilt disease
Fusarium wilt poses a significant threat to global agriculture, particularly affecting the banana industry, where it is commonly known as banana Panama disease. As a result, enhancing soil-related resistance has emerged as a crucial, environmentally.....»»
Researchers reveal presence of microplastics in large pelagic fish in the Mediterranean
A research study co-led by the University of Barcelona and the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM, CSIC), together with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC), has revealed the worrying presence of microplastics in the stomachs of swordfish.....»»
The legacy of corn nitrogen fertilizer: Study shows lengthy impact in tile drained systems
Midwestern soils are among the most productive in the world, thanks in part to extensive tile drainage systems that remove excess water from crop fields. But water isn't the only thing flowing through tile drains. Nitrogen moves along with soil water.....»»