Levels of "forever chemicals" reaching Antarctica have been increasing
New evidence from Antarctica shows that toxic 'fluorinated forever chemicals' have increased markedly in the remote environment in recent decades and scientists believe CFC-replacements could be among likely sources......»»
On the way to light-controlled medicine: Researchers elucidate the structure of specific photoreceptors
Researchers in biology and medicine have long dreamed of controlling the activities of cells without, for example, having to use chemicals. After all, in a structure as complex as an entire organism, unwanted side-effects can often arise......»»
Is "U-shaped happiness" universal? Not for rural subsistence populations, say researchers
A theory that's been around for more than a decade describes a person's subjective well-being—"happiness"—as having a U-shape throughout the course of one's life. If plotted on a graph, the shape would be concave, revealing high happiness levels.....»»
Is America ready for a woman president? Voters" attitudes to women politicians are radically different from a decade ago
If U.S. voters elect Kamala Harris—a Black, Asian American woman—president, it would be historic on multiple levels. This is now a real possibility due to voters' positively evolving stereotypes of women politicians......»»
More states ban PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in more products
Legislative momentum against PFAS has surged this year, as at least 11 states enacted laws to restrict the use of "forever chemicals" in everyday consumer products or professional firefighting foam......»»
Dolphins sense military sonar at much lower levels than regulators predict, study shows
For the first time ever, a team including several UC Santa Cruz scientists have directly measured the behavioral responses of some of the most common marine mammals to military sonar. And the finding that surprised them most was that these animals we.....»»
A growing number of Canadian households contain dangerous levels of radon gas, finds survey
The 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities indicates that radioactive radon exposure in Canada is rising and continues to be a critical public health concern......»»
Polar bears" exposure to pathogens is increasing as their environment changes, blood samples suggest
As the Arctic warms, polar bears now face a greater risk of contracting several pathogens than bears three decades ago. Karyn Rode and Caroline Van Hemert of the U.S. Geological Survey report these findings in a new study published October 23, 2024,.....»»
Drug delivery system overcomes circulatory roadblock that prevents gene therapies from reaching their targets
Exploiting the remarkable capability of viruses to transport gene therapies past what until now has been a circulatory roadblock is at the heart of a University of Alberta-led discovery that promises to re-energize the field of genetic medicine......»»
Future atmospheric rivers could bring catastrophic ocean level rise off the West Coast, simulation study shows
A team of climate specialists from the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, Climate and Global Dynamics Lab, Texas A&M University, and Pennsylvania State University has found evidence for a rise in ocean levels during future atmospheric rive.....»»
ESET HOME Security enhancements strengthen protection against AI-driven threats
ESET announced its upgraded consumer offering, ESET HOME Security, with new features, such as ESET Folder Guard and Multithread Scanning. These enhancements to ESET HOME Security, as an all-in-one solution for consumers, correspond to the increasing.....»»
Risk of cardiovascular disease linked to long-term exposure to arsenic in community water supplies
Long term exposure to arsenic in water may increase cardiovascular disease and especially heart disease risk even at exposure levels below the federal regulatory limit (10µg/L) according to a study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Hea.....»»
Reducing moose numbers could help protect Canadian caribou populations from wolf predation
Woodland caribou populations in Canada are declining because of habitat changes that benefit common prey species of wolves (such as moose and deer), leading to increasing numbers of wolves that kill caribou. To protect caribou, wildlife managers have.....»»
Faulty fuel pump triggers Honda recall of over 700,000 vehicles in U.S.
A cracked core component in the fuel pump can lead to fuel leaks, increasing the risk of fire if an ignition source is present nearby......»»
Anticipating socio-technical tipping points to facilitate positive change
As global climate targets tighten, radical and disruptive changes are becoming inevitable. In this context, the concept of tipping points, by which small changes can trigger rapid systemic transformation, is attracting increasing attention in the soc.....»»
Microplastics and PFAS: Daphnia study finds combined impact results in greater environmental harm
The combined impact of so-called "forever chemicals" is more harmful to the environment than single chemicals in isolation, a new study shows. Researchers at the University of Birmingham investigated the environmental effects of microplastics and PFA.....»»
Q&A: Expert shares opinions on how to depolarize social media
At a time when political polarization is becoming an increasing problem on social media, WashU data scientist Jean Springsteen is working on a way to bring down the temperature and still get buy-in from social media companies......»»
Loop Switch 2 earplugs aid your ears when Bluetooth buds won’t do
Loop has redesigned its Switch earplugs, which allow you to dial in one of three levels of noise reduction to protect your hearing while still being in the moment......»»
Promising triazole molecular catalyst enables efficient electroreduction of carbon dioxide to methane
The efficient conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2)—one of the main compounds contributing to climate change—into useful fuels and chemicals is a long sought-after research goal. Recent studies have introduced various catalysts that could be used to.....»»
Genomic study offers hope for endangered Oriental stork
A new genomic study of the endangered Oriental stork reveals that the population's genetic health is still surprisingly strong, with high genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding. This is an uncommon finding in most endangered species populatio.....»»
Satellite-derived data on artificial light at night indicate rapidly increasing industrial activities in the Arctic
More than 800,000 km2 of the Arctic were affected by human activity in 2013, according to an analysis of satellite-derived data on artificial light at night. On average, 85% of the light-polluted areas are due to industrial activities rather than urb.....»»