New Zealand to ban "forever chemicals" in make-up
New Zealand is set to become one of the first countries to ban harmful "forever chemicals" from cosmetic products, environment watchdogs said Wednesday......»»
Scientists discover plant hormone that boosts growth by 30%
Scientists from NUS and the Singapore Center for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) have uncovered one of nature's most potent tools in an arsenal to combat today's agricultural challenges: agro-microbials—or agro-chemicals of natural.....»»
"Forever chemicals" in thousands of private wells near military sites, study finds
Water tests show nearly 3,000 private wells located near 63 active and former U.S. military bases are contaminated with "forever chemicals" at levels higher than what federal regulators consider safe for drinking......»»
Wellington welcomes first wild-born kiwi chicks in a century
Conservationists in New Zealand celebrated on Tuesday after discovering that kiwi chicks had been born in the wilds around Wellington for the first time in more than a century......»»
PFAS forever chemicals found in English drinking water. Why are they everywhere and what are the risks?
PFAS chemicals (per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances), also known as forever chemicals, are rarely out of the news at the moment. The latest concern about this chemical group is their presence in drinking water in England......»»
Toxic chemicals in UK whales and dolphins are exceeding safe limits
Almost half of marine mammals around the UK are being poisoned by banned chemicals......»»
COP28: The climate summit"s first Health Day points to what needs to change in New Zealand
Climate change has many effects, but one of the most significant will feature for the first time at COP28—its impact on human health......»»
Vertically farmed greens taste as good as organic ones
Consumer skepticism about the taste of vertically farmed greens is widespread. But the first scientific taste test from the University of Copenhagen and Plant Food & Research, New Zealand, shows that respondents rate greens grown vertically and witho.....»»
Antarctic ozone hole getting deeper in mid-spring, research suggests
The hole in the Antarctic ozone layer has been getting deeper in mid-spring over the last two decades, despite a global ban on chemicals that deplete Earth's shield from deadly solar radiation, new research suggested Tuesday......»»
Plastic waste in the water might be stopping, or interrupting, some shrimp-like creatures from reproducing
In a unique study, published in the journal Environmental Pollution,the ability of "shrimp-like" creatures to reproduce successfully was found to be compromised by chemicals found in everyday plastics......»»
Researchers: Health and education are closely linked—NZ needs to integrate them more in primary schools
Given the health and education challenges many New Zealand children face, it is surprising (and even depressing) how little crossover and collaboration there is between these two vital sectors......»»
Study examines how massive 2022 eruption changed stratosphere chemistry and dynamics
When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted on January 15, 2022 in the South Pacific, it produced a shock wave felt around the world and triggered tsunamis in Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Peru and the United States......»»
Life might be easiest to find on planets that match an earlier Earth
We're inching closer and closer to reliably detecting biosignatures on distant planets. Much of the focus is on determining which chemicals indicate life's presence......»»
Protecting native fauna from housecats
Fans of the musical "Cats" will know that the naming of cats is a difficult matter, and that cats have three different names. The same is true of cats in New Zealand—there are three types: companion or pet cats that live with people and rely on the.....»»
"Weird puking bird" tops New Zealand"s avian beauty contest
A "weird puking bird" with a bizarre mating dance has won New Zealand's annual avian beauty contest, triumphing after British comedian John Oliver launched an unlikely global campaign......»»
Pacific rainbow+ communities face discrimination, conversion therapy
The need to increase Pacific and Rainbow+ leadership was a major finding in the Manalagi project, the first and largest research of its kind addressing the health and well-being of Aotearoa, New Zealand's Pacific Rainbow+ community......»»
"Forever chemicals" blood tests in Belgium over polluted water
Belgium's southern Wallonia region pledged Tuesday to offer free blood tests for residents to measure their possible exposure to PFAS "forever chemicals" amid a scandal over polluted drinking water......»»
Restoring ecosystems to boost biodiversity is an urgent priority—an "Eco-index" can guide the way
Biodiversity continues to decline globally, but nowhere is the loss more pronounced than in Aotearoa New Zealand, which has the highest proportion of threatened indigenous species in the world......»»
Researchers extend shelf life of electrolyzers that can convert carbon dioxide to green chemicals
An international research team at DTU has increased the shelf life of electrolyzers that convert CO2 from half a day to 100 hours. This is good news for companies working with the process. The findings were published in Nature Catalysis under the tit.....»»
Converting PFAS "forever chemicals" into valuable compounds
Commonly known as "forever chemicals," PFAS are notorious for persisting in the environment and in our bodies. Osaka Metropolitan University chemists may put an end to the "forever" life of PFAS with their simple yet innovative technique that convert.....»»
Researchers realize highly selective CO hydrogenation to higher alcohols
Selective hydrogenation of carbon monoxide (CO) to higher alcohols (C2+OH) is a promising non-petroleum route for producing high-value chemicals, in which precise regulations of both C-O cleavage and C-C coupling are essential......»»