If more houses had water barrels, it could help with drought, flooding and water pollution
Earlier this year, southern England experienced its driest July on record. The drought affected many parts of the UK and grew so acute that Thames Water's hosepipe ban will remain in force into 2023......»»
Air pollution inside Philadelphia"s subway is much worse than on the streets, study finds
The air quality in the City Hall subway station in downtown Philadelphia is much worse than on the sidewalks directly above the station. That is a key finding of our new study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology......»»
Report on global water resources: Conditions in 2023 were either too dry or too wet
Not only was 2023 characterized by unprecedentedly high temperatures but also by excessive droughts in many parts of the world as well as floods in other areas. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has now presented its third report on the sta.....»»
Curiosity rover provides new insights into how Mars became uninhabitable
NASA's Curiosity rover, currently exploring Gale crater on Mars, is providing new details about how the ancient Martian climate went from potentially suitable for life—with evidence for widespread liquid water on the surface—to a surface that is.....»»
Hurricane Helene"s reach was shocking, another example of how climate change "is here and now," scientists say
Many people were stunned to see the intense flooding and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina communities, located inland and tucked thousands of feet above sea level in the Blue Ridge Mountains......»»
Drowned by hurricane, remote N.Carolina towns now struggle for water
Nicole Crane, exhausted, tearful and unwashed after a week of searching for a neighbor swept away by the raging waters of Hurricane Helene, dreams of taking a shower......»»
Flash flooding kills three in northern Thailand
Flash flooding in popular Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai has killed three people, a health official said Sunday, as visitors evacuated hotels through knee-high muddy water and shops closed in the city center......»»
Two elephants die in flash flooding in northern Thailand
Two elephants drowned during flash flooding in popular Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai, their sanctuary said Sunday, as local authorities evacuated visitors from their hotels and shops closed in the city center......»»
Helene ravaged the NC plant that makes 60% of the country’s IV fluid supply
There is currently no timeline for when the plant will be able to reopen. Hurricane Helene's catastrophic damage and flooding to the Southeastern states may affect the country's m.....»»
The Secret Alchemy of Making Ice Cream
Ice cream is deceptively simple, but that sweet burst of flavor and soft melt on the tongue is a finicky, frozen science of water, fat, and air delicately held together......»»
Electricity-driven catalyst offers climate-neutral methane production
Researchers at the University of Bonn and University of Montreal have developed a new type of catalyst and used it in their study to produce methane out of carbon dioxide and water in a highly efficient way using electricity. Methane can be used, for.....»»
Qualitative study examines how ordinary people "sense" water quality
Seeing—and tasting—is believing: A qualitative study of communities living along the Philippines' bustling Marikina River underscores the importance of taking into account local peoples' everyday experiences, practices, and perceptions in establi.....»»
Study sheds light on limitations of zooplankton for inactivating pathogen contaminated water
Scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso and Stanford University were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton—tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria—present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean w.....»»
More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: Why urban mining"s time has come
Pollution and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss are creating a triple planetary crisis. In response, UN Environment Program executive director Inger Andersen has called for waste to be redefined as a valuable resource instead of a problem......»»
Mathematicians and climate researchers build new models for understanding polar sea ice
Polar sea ice is ever-changing. It shrinks, expands, moves, breaks apart, reforms in response to changing seasons, and rapid climate change. It is far from a homogenous layer of frozen water on the ocean's surface, but rather a dynamic mix of water a.....»»
Mexico leader worried about drinking water after Hurricane John
Mexico's new President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday expressed concern about supplies of drinking water in the country's west after Hurricane John hit the Pacific coast, killing at least 16 people......»»
Why PFAS-enriched foam is forming on some of the cleanest lakes in the country
A curious phenomenon springs up occasionally on New York's Finger Lakes: white foam, sometimes in miles-long swathes, almost as if a massive washing machine emptied out into the water......»»
As temperatures rise, researchers identify mechanisms behind plant response to warming
Microscopic pores on the surface of leaves called stomata help plants "breathe" by controlling how much water they lose due to evaporation. These stomatal pores also enable and control carbon dioxide intake for photosynthesis and growth......»»
Report: Global drought threatens food supplies and energy production
In July 2024, global temperatures reached unprecedented levels, breaking historical records with an average of 17.16°C. This extreme heat has led soil water to evaporate, leaving the vegetation and biodiversity more fragile and under stress in many.....»»
Why are so many historically rare storms hitting the Carolinas?
Hurricane Helene caused deadly and destructive flooding when it swept through the Southeast on Sept. 26–29, 2024. Across a broad swath of western North Carolina, where the worst flooding occurred, the amount of rainfall exceeded levels that would b.....»»
Researchers develop Biodiversity Digital Twins to model our planet"s life
Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth. It provides critical resources such as food and energy, and supports ecosystem health. However, climate change, deforestation, and pollution are destroying habitats, altering.....»»