Minnesota tries new technologies to remove "forever chemicals" from water
The bright blue shipping container stood out in the snow-covered landscape of Tablyn Park in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Inside, contractors calibrated a machine that state officials hope could help solve a decades-long pollution problem in the east metro.....»»
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.....»»
Hexagonal magnetic defects could lead to energy-efficient neuromorphic computing
Artificial intelligence applications are experiencing a boom and expected to be mainstream technologies in the near future. However, these applications run on classic computing hardware and are extremely power-hungry......»»
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.....»»
The medicines we take to stay healthy are harming nature. Here"s what needs to change
Evidence is mounting that modern medicines present a growing threat to ecosystems around the world. The chemicals humans ingest to stay healthy are harming fish and other animals......»»
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.....»»
Chemist challenges traditional views on crystal growth
Remember that old high school chemistry experiment where salt crystals precipitate out of a saltwater solution—or maybe the one where rock candy crystals form from sugar water? It turns out that your understanding of how crystals formed in those so.....»»
New materials and techniques show promise for microelectronics and quantum technologies
As phones and computers shrink in size, our need for data storage and transfer is growing. Electronic devices have been powered by semiconductors for decades, but as the push to miniaturize continues, there's a limit to how small semiconductors can b.....»»
Quantum research paves the way toward efficient, ultra-high-density optical memory storage
As our digital world generates massive amounts of data—more than 2 quintillion bytes of new content each day—yesterday's storage technologies are quickly reaching their limits. Optical memory devices, which use light to read and write data, offer.....»»
Demonstrating how Great Barrier Reef water quality targets can be achieved through gully remediation
A new study conducted at Bonnie Doon Creek on the lower Burdekin River in Queensland has demonstrated a significant reduction in sediment yield through large-scale remediation of alluvial gullies. The findings are published in the journal Internation.....»»
Unraveling the mystery of dormancy in food pathogens for more effective elimination
Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes listeriosis, a serious disease, can go into dormancy when confronted with environmental stress, for example in the presence of detergents or in water devoid of nutrients. It then becomes undetectable by.....»»
Beyond "one pore at a time": New method of generating multiple, tunable nanopores
Nanoporous membranes with atomic-scale holes smaller than one-billionth of a meter have powerful potential for decontaminating polluted water, pulling valuable metal ions from the water, or for osmotic power generators......»»
Developing novel chiral capsule tools for advanced optical technologies
Chirality is an essential property in biology; the molecular building blocks of some of the most important biological structures, including DNA and proteins, are chiral. When a molecule is said to be chiral, it means that it is distinguishable from i.....»»
eBay listings for banned chemicals shielded by Section 230, judge rules
DOJ can’t force eBay to remove environmentally harmful product listings. eBay has defeated a lawsuit that the US Department of Justice raised last fall, which alleged that eBay.....»»
Toxic chemicals from Ohio train derailment lingered in buildings for months
New study offers lessons on how to better protect communities from disasters. On February 3, 2023, a train carrying chemicals jumped the tracks in East Palestine, Ohio, rupturing.....»»