Colombia mulls future of massive coal mine as water dries up
Colombia's massive El Cerrejon coal mine has landed in the crosshairs of President Gustavo Petro, who has blamed the open-pit operation for plunging the local Indigenous community into a severe water crisis......»»
Water under Threat, Wooden Satellites and a Mud Bath for Baseballs
Droughts in 48 of 50 U.S. states, evidence of microplastics mucking up wastewater recycling and the science of a baseball mud bath in this week’s news roundup......»»
Theoretical model explains the anomalous properties of water in extreme conditions
Water, a molecule essential for life, has unusual properties—known as anomalies—that define its behavior. However, there are still many enigmas about the molecular mechanisms that would explain the anomalies that make the water molecule unique. D.....»»
Scientists compile library for evaluating exoplanet water
By probing chemical processes observed in the Earth's hot mantle, Cornell scientists have started developing a library of basalt-based spectral signatures that not only will help reveal the composition of planets outside of our solar system but could.....»»
New York drought conditions fan flames, spur water saving
New York has urged its 8.5 million residents to save water as America's biggest city endures an unprecedented period without significant rainfall, creating potentially dangerous drought conditions and fanning the flames of deadly wildfires......»»
Digital digs: Technology preserving Europe"s cultural heritage
Technological advancements such as 3D scans based on drone images are helping archaeologists document Europe's heritage before sites and artifacts are lost to future generations......»»
Colorado River basins could face tipping point, drought study warns
Water from Colorado's West Slope basins plays a vital role in supporting the economy and natural environment across seven western U.S. states, but a new study finds that even under modest climate projections, the basins face a potential tipping point.....»»
Scientists identify flaw in astrophysics models of massive stars and supernovae
An international team of researchers has uncovered evidence that astrophysics models of massive stars and supernovae are inconsistent with observational gamma-ray astronomy......»»
Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago
An asteroid struck Mars 11 million years ago and sent pieces of the red planet hurtling through space. One of these chunks of Mars eventually crashed into the Earth somewhere near Purdue University and is one of the few meteorites that can be traced.....»»
Metal-organic framework materials to remove dye contaminants for cleaner water
The future of MOFs, metal-organic framework materials, looks bright. A review in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management has looked at how a specific class of these sponge-like materials might find increasing use in removing dye.....»»
Trump says Elon Musk will lead “DOGE,” a new Department of Government Efficiency
Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to target "massive waste and fraud." President-elect Donald Trump today announced that a new Department of Government Efficiency—or "D.....»»
How Valve made Half-Life 2 and set a new standard for future games
From physics to greyboxing, Half-Life 2 broke a lot of new ground. It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of the release of Hal.....»»
Agrivoltaics for sustainable food, energy and water management in East Africa
Combining solar power production with agriculture can significantly boost crop yields, conserve water and generate low-carbon electricity for areas particularly vulnerable to climate change, a new study has shown......»»
Faster flowing glaciers could help predict nearby volcanic activity
Glaciers that are within three miles of a volcano move nearly 50% quicker than average, a new study has found, which could help create early warning of future eruptions......»»
CISOs in 2025: Balancing security, compliance, and accountability
In this Help Net Security interview, Daniel Schwalbe, CISO at DomainTools, discusses the intensifying regulatory demands that have reshaped CISO accountability and daily decision-making. He outlines the skill sets future CISOs need, their key priorit.....»»
iFixit teardown reveals new Mac mini has a ‘repairable future’ despite compact design
Apple recently announced a new generation of the Mac mini, which introduced a new and much more compact design. We’ve already seen some tidbits about what’s inside this Mac mini, but iFixit has now shared its traditional teardown showing even mor.....»»
This elephant figured out how to use a hose to shower
A younger rival may have learned how to sabotage those showers by disrupting water flow. Mary the elephant shows off her hose-showering skills. Credit: Urban et al./Curren.....»»
Early Black Friday gaming monitor deals: LG, Odyssey, Alienware, more
Gamers, don't miss the chance to buy a new gaming monitor with a massive discount through this year's Black Friday deals......»»
Building a diverse wildland fire workforce to meet future challenges
Every year around this time, California's wildland firefighters hold their breath as hot, dry winds threaten to spread flames across the state. As such conflagrations grow in size and severity throughout the Western U.S., the strain on fire managers.....»»
Low-cost method removes micro- and nanoplastics from water
Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have developed a novel nanotechnology-based solution for the removal of micro- and nanoplastics from water. Their research is published in the journal Micron......»»
Cacti are surprisingly fragile, and five other intriguing facts about these spiky wonders
Few plant families are as iconic as the resilient, spiky cactus, thriving in the driest deserts and as well as decorating our offices and homes. Their success in both environments comes down to extreme adaptations for surviving with little water—wh.....»»