New tests track sources of lead contamination in urban soils and assess its risks
Duke University scientists have developed a suite of isotope-based tests that can be used to identify the origin of lead contamination in urban soils and assess the risk it poses to children who inhale or ingest contaminated dirt or dust......»»
Why have Spain floods killed so many?
Powerful storms turbo-charged by a warming planet, poor urban planning and carelessness combined with catastrophic consequences in Spain's deadliest floods in a generation, experts told AFP......»»
To tackle plastic scourge, Philippines makes companies pay
Long one of the world's top sources of ocean plastic, the Philippines is hoping new legislation requiring big companies to pay for waste solutions will help clean up its act......»»
Laser measurements help track space debris and observe water masses
What do the Earth's gravitational field and the trajectories of satellites and space debris have in common? The Earth's gravitational field influences the orbits of our companions in space, while the changes in the orbits in turn allow conclusions to.....»»
Auditor"s expertise in climate risks affects the quality of the client"s climate risk disclosures
In recent years, climate risk disclosures have become widely shaped on a global scale by several reporting frameworks and recommendations. These include the framework of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), International Fi.....»»
Quantum simulator could help uncover materials for high-performance electronics
Quantum computers hold the promise to emulate complex materials, helping researchers better understand the physical properties that arise from interacting atoms and electrons. This may one day lead to the discovery or design of better semiconductors,.....»»
Australian courts use "body language" to judge witness credibility
Nonverbal behavior in the courtroom can significantly influence how judges assess the credibility of witnesses in their rulings. But is reliance on "body language" based on sound science?.....»»
Recent whale deaths highlight risks from Antarctica"s booming krill fishery
Two humpback whales were found dead and another seriously injured this year in huge nets used to collect krill for fishmeal and omega-3 pills near Antarctica, The Associated Press has learned......»»
Archaeologists suggest the "urban revolution" was slow in Bronze Age Arabia
Settlements in northern Arabia were in a transitional stage of urbanization during the third to second millennium BCE, according to a study published October 30, 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Guillaume Charloux of the French National Ce.....»»
Advanced graphics processing units lead to unprecedented speed for electronic structure calculations
A recent collaboration among researchers from HUN-REN Wigner Research Center for Physics in Hungary and the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, along with industry collaborators SandboxAQ and NVIDIA, has achieved unprecedent.....»»
Changing climate could increase mobility of toxic metals in soils, experimental study shows
The changes scientists expect in the climate could cause toxic metals naturally occurring in soils to become more mobile, destabilize ecosystems and increasingly enter the human food chain via agriculture. Such scenarios are particularly likely to oc.....»»
6 key elements for building a healthcare cybersecurity response plan
Medical practices remain vulnerable to cyberattacks, with over a third unable to cite a cybersecurity incident response plan, according to Software Advice. This gap exposes healthcare providers to risks of patient data breaches, HIPAA violations, fin.....»»
Experimental setup simulates Arctic methane explosions
Russian researchers have developed an experimental setup that will help simulate gas-dynamic processes and predict explosions in Arctic soils......»»
Climate Goal “Will Be Dead Within a Few Years” Unless World Acts, U.N. Warns
The world is well on track to blow past a goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius that many countries have put at the center of their climate efforts.....»»
A candy engineer explains the science behind the Snickers bar
How the airy nougat and chewy caramel is built. It’s Halloween. You’ve just finished trick-or-treating and it’s time to assess the haul. You likely have a favorite, whether.....»»
Analysis of aromas that differentiate beer and wine could lead to better non-alcoholic versions
Today, people increasingly seek non-alcoholic versions of beer or wine. Despite boasting different flavors, these two drinks share many aromas, which makes it difficult to produce alcohol-free versions that mimic the real thing. Researchers in the Jo.....»»
Trust and risk in the AI era
55% of organizations say the security risks for their business have never been higher, according to Vanta. Yet the average company only dedicates 11% of its IT budget to security — far from the ideal allocation of 17%, according to business and IT.....»»
Discovery of critical iron-transport protein in malaria parasites could lead to faster-acting medications
Malaria kills over 600,000 people a year, and as the climate warms, the potential range of the disease is growing. While some drugs can effectively prevent and treat malaria, resistance to those drugs is also on the rise......»»
How Australia is represented in Wikipedia and why it matters
The first study of how Wikipedia represents Australian places has highlighted how aspects of the online encyclopedia and choices made by the volunteer editors who work on it can lead to absences, omissions and sanitized views in articles about Austra.....»»
Public and community engagement key to enhancing urban living conditions, environmental decision making in China
Public and community engagement in decision making is key to enhancing urban living conditions and the environment in China, a new study says......»»
New insights into cancer risks from chemicals in fire smoke
Derek Urwin has a special stake in his work as a cancer control researcher. After undergraduate studies in applied mathematics at UCLA, he became a firefighter. His inspiration to launch a second career as a scientist was the loss of his brother, Isa.....»»