Chicago-area water pollution may be stalling the spread of invasive carp
In a name-your-poison twist, a new study from the University of Illinois adds to the evidence that Chicago-area waterway pollution is slowing the relentless advance of the invasive silver carp......»»
Beaver survey aims to show the urban benefits of Chicago"s "ecosystem engineers"
As the boat zipped down the Chicago River on a nippy November morning, Sammie Clark stood up and pointed at a creature swimming in the water, its brown fur slick and its head bobbing just above the surface. It kept close to the edge, a sheet metal wa.....»»
Copenhagen takes on its biggest climate threat—water
In low-lying Copenhagen where rising sea levels, groundwater and rainfall pose a risk to infrastructure, the Danish capital is trying to adapt and protect urban areas from climate change......»»
Cold storage and CO₂ extend life of Asian hornet baits for battling invasive species
A research group has found the key to solving one of the main problems in the fight against the Asian hornet: the limited time the baits can be used. This work, published in the Microchemical Journal, established that when stored under cold condition.....»»
Developing a cyclic molecule that captures phosphate in harmony with water molecules
Researchers at University of Tsukuba, Osaka University, and Kitasato University developed a novel amide cyclodextrin (cyclic oligosaccharide) that can selectively capture phosphate ions in water. In addition, the researchers revealed the mechanism by.....»»
UN report: Invest in nature to cut billion-dollar costs of droughts
As droughts fueled by human destruction of the environment are projected to affect 3 in 4 people by 2050, investing in sustainable land and water management is essential to reduce their costs, which already exceed $307 billion per year globally, acco.....»»
What can bees tell us about nearby pollution? The answer lies in their honey, a new study finds
Inside every jar of honey is a taste of the local environment, its sticky sweet flavor enhanced by whichever nearby flowers bees have decided to sample. But a new study from Tulane University has found that honey can also offer a glimpse of nearby po.....»»
Experiments show coating rice seedling with nanoscale carbon dots from durian helps rice plants thrive in salty soil
Extreme weather and pollution have increased the salt content in some soil, making growing conditions harsh for salt-sensitive crops like rice. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano detail a possible solution that doesn't require genetic modificatio.....»»
Scientists identify mutation that could facilitate H5N1 bird flu virus infection and potential transmission in humans
Avian influenza viruses typically require several mutations to adapt and spread among humans, but what happens when just one change can increase the risk of becoming a pandemic virus?.....»»
Plantain power: Reducing nitrate leaching in pasture systems
Nitrate leaching into water is a challenge globally and practical tools to reduce it are needed to aid in water quality improvement. Researchers from Teagasc investigated the effect of including ribwort plantain with grass-clover for reducing nitrate.....»»
"Exceptional" wildfires across Americas in 2024: EU monitor
Severe drought stoked rampant wildfires across North and South America this year and churned up record carbon pollution in Bolivia, Nicaragua and the Pantanal wetlands, according to new data from Europe's climate monitor......»»
"Scary" drought empties one of Bosnia"s largest lakes
Staring across what was once one of Bosnia's largest expanses of water, all that Saliha Kuljanin can see is boats left high and dry after months of drought emptied Lake Jablanicko......»»
Novel covalent organic framework can remove a dangerous "forever chemical" from drinking water
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have developed an innovative cationic covalent organic framework (COF) that efficiently detects and removes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a harmful and persistent pollutant, from drinking water. This breakthrough.....»»
Unique microbial communities discovered beneath frozen surface of Antarctica"s Lake Enigma
An international team of polar researchers has found several types of microbiota living in the water below the frozen surface of Antarctica's Lake Enigma. In their study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, group members vent.....»»
Delhi"s annual air pollution has become a human-made calamity
Delhi's air pollution is so bad that it's sometimes hard to discern anything more than a few meters in front of you. And it is affecting people's health. Breathing is uncomfortable, and one of us (Komali) developed rashes and red eyes on a recent tri.....»»
A third of people from Chicago carry concealed handguns in public before they reach middle age, 25-year study finds
Around a third (32%) of people who grew up in Chicago have carried a concealed firearm on the city streets at least once by the time they turn 40 years old, according to a major study of gun usage taking in a quarter of a century of data......»»
Recycling sewage is a sensible way to improve water security, but would you swallow it?
Our water supply is far from infinite. According to the UN, nearly 1.8 billion people are projected to live in areas with absolute water scarcity by 2025, and two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water-stressed conditions......»»
Liquid water molecules are inherently asymmetric: New insight into the bonds between water molecules
Icebergs float on water because the underlying liquid water has a higher density than the iceberg. Liquid water itself has its highest density at 4°C—one of the so-called anomalies of water, i.e. properties of liquids that are rarely observed for.....»»
Splash pads really are fountains of fecal material; CDC reports 10K illnesses
A big problem is leaky swim diapers and kids sucking up recirculated water. There's nothing quite like a deep dive into the shallow, vomitous puddles of children's splash pads. Ev.....»»
Can plastic-eating insects help with our microplastic problem?
Plastic pollution occurs in every ecosystem on the planet and lingers for decades. Could insects be part of the solution?.....»»
Model reveals supply chain risks pose major threat to financial stability
The recent Volkswagen crisis underscores how supply chain disruptions can magnify financial risks. A new model, developed by the Complexity Science Hub (CSH), shows how risks spread from the real economy to the financial sector......»»