Nitrogen found to affect soil invertebrates and insects
Higher levels of nitrogen in the environment (coming from fertilizers and livestock, for example) not only affect plants but also soil invertebrates and insects. The diversity of roundworms declines in areas with high input of nitrogen, and numbers o.....»»
Scientists discover one of the Earth"s earliest animals in Australian outback
In the shadow of South Australia's largest mountain range beneath the outback soil lies a fossil record that reveals a rich history of life on Earth. Fossils found at Nilpena Ediacara National Park preserve a pivotal moment in the history of evolutio.....»»
A brown ale or hoppy lager? Even fruit flies have a preference
It's no secret fruit flies are attracted to beer. Setting aside a glass of beer is a common practice to lure pesky insects away from a summer barbeque. Research by Belgian and German scientists now shows that not all fruit fly species like the same b.....»»
Compound drought–heat wave events under-recognized in global soils, finds study
Soil is essential for life and plays a crucial role in the Earth's ecosystem, providing support for plant roots and hosting countless microorganisms. In a warming world, it is important to understand how soil hydrothermal conditions, particularly the.....»»
What colors do bees see? And how do we know?
I was reading a children's book about insects to my daughter, and it said that bees see colors differently than humans do. My daughter immediately asked, in short succession: "What colors do they see? Why? How do we know?" I did some homework to find.....»»
New plant-based glitter shows no harm to soil organisms
Plastic pollution is everywhere. Each year, over 368 million metric tons of plastics are produced with over 13 million metric tons of it ending up in the soil where it can be toxic to wildlife......»»
Study of young African American men in US cities finds negative perspectives of community, few opportunities
Research has documented the many ways individuals' environments (e.g., community, neighborhood) affect their health. In a new study on gun ownership, researchers surveyed young African American men who lived in high-crime, high-violence cities to bet.....»»
How personal care products affect indoor air quality
The personal care products we use on a daily basis significantly affect indoor air quality, according to new research by a team at EPFL. When used indoors, these products release a cocktail of more than 200 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the.....»»
European forest plants are migrating westwards: Research suggests nitrogen is the main cause
New research reveals nitrogen pollution, and to a lesser extent climate change, unexpectedly as the key driver behind surprising westward shifts in the distribution of plants......»»
Spectroscopy study determines how catalysts remove dangerous nitrogen oxides
Catalysts belonging to the zeolite family help to remove toxic nitrogen oxides from industrial emissions. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have now discovered that their complex nano porous structure is crucial. Specifically, individual.....»»
Increasing plant diversity in agriculture can promote soil carbon sequestration
A study carried out at the University of Helsinki demonstrates that boosting plant diversity in agriculture can increase plant biomass and improve plant–microbe interactions, both of which promote the storage of carbon in the soil......»»
Cosmic-ray neutron rover assists in estimating mesoscale soil moisture on eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau
Soil water resources are crucial for hydrological processes and ecosystem functions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, accurately measuring soil moisture distribution in this region is challenging due to diverse ecosystems, complex terrain, and.....»»
Insects from the bodies of illegally hunted rhinoceroses may provide valuable forensic information
New research in Medical and Veterinary Entomology reveals that when rhinoceroses are found dead after being illegally killed by poachers, analyzing insects on the decomposing body aids in estimating the time since death. This information has been use.....»»
The transition to a circular bioeconomy requires getting prices right, study says
Conventional food and agricultural production systems employ a linear "take, make, waste" approach: taking natural resources from the Earth to make food and fuel, generating waste that contaminates the soil and water, and emitting harmful pollutants......»»
Study reveals relationship between nitrogen-cycling microbial communities and nitrogen removal
Excess nitrogen (N) input to the inland water bodies and marine ecosystem has contributed to a cascade of environmental issues, so N removal pathways are critical in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems for maintaining homeostasis. Associated functiona.....»»
Residual impurities affect the stability of hydrogen atoms in irradiated gibbsite: Study
During Cold War-era plutonium production at what is now the Department of Energy's Hanford Site in Washington State, aluminum was used extensively as fuel cladding material. The waste products generated by fuel processing are currently stored in unde.....»»
Efficient way to hydrogenate nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds developed
Successful reduction of the chemical manufacturing industry's environmental impact relies on finding a greener way to make the chemical building blocks for common and massively consumed compounds......»»
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.....»»
Low stream diatom biodiversity potentially decreases stream oxygen production in remote islands
Benthic diatoms are the most important and biodiverse primary producers in streams and comprise the basis for the food webs, fueling animals such as insects and stream fishes including trout......»»
New research uncovers how climate and soil shape tree and shrub wood density across ecosystems
An article published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences has provided new insights into how wood density in trees and shrubs adapts to different climate and soil conditions. Led by Dr. Song Xiang from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chine.....»»
Ants learned to farm fungi during a mass extinction
Ants learned to work with fungi back in a world where only fungi could thrive. We tend to think of agriculture as a human innovation. But insects beat us to it by millions of year.....»»