South Africa: Gold mine pollution is poisoning Soweto"s water and soil—study finds food gardens are at risk
For 140 years, gold mines in Johannesburg, South Africa have been leaking wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. The acid mine drainage from Johannesburg's estimated 278 abandoned mines and 200 mine dumps includes uranium (a radioactive metal), t.....»»
New study unveils formation secrets of tiny rare earth elements
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin's School of Natural Sciences have revealed a novel route to the formation of bastnäsite, a crucial mineral for the extraction of rare earth elements (REEs). Their work offers promise in one day making the extr.....»»
Detecting intelligent life that"s light years away: Greenhouse gases could signal alien activity
If aliens modified a planet in their solar system to make it warmer, we'd be able to tell. A new UC Riverside study identifies the artificial greenhouse gases that would be giveaways of a terraformed planet......»»
In a world-first, researchers map a 4,200 km transatlantic flight of the painted lady butterfly
In October 2013, Gerard Talavera, a researcher from the Botanical Institute of Barcelona at CSIC, made a surprising discovery of painted lady butterflies on the Atlantic beaches of French Guiana—a species not typically found in South America. This.....»»
Geological archives may predict our climate future
By analyzing 56-million-year-old sediments, a UNIGE team has measured the increase in soil erosion caused by global warming, synonymous with major flooding......»»
NASA-led mission to map air pollution over both US coasts
This summer between June 17 and July 2, NASA is flying aircraft over Baltimore, Philadelphia, parts of Virginia, and California to collect data on air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions......»»
Global South health care practices contribute to spread of antimicrobial resistance across the world, study suggests
Many bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics originate in Pakistan and other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Infections caused by these bacteria are challenging to treat; longer treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics is required and despite t.....»»
Hidden mechanisms behind hermaphroditic plant self-incompatibility revealed
A new study presents an evolutionary-biophysical model that sheds new light on the evolution of the collaborative non-self recognition self-incompatibility, a genetic mechanism in plants that prevents self-fertilization and promotes cross-fertilizati.....»»
Beyond work: Study finds employment affects identity in late 20-somethings
For people in their late 20s, "Your job doesn't define you" is likely an unconvincing cliché......»»
Researchers identify potential hazards in biosolid fertilizers
Fertilizers manufactured from the sludgy leftovers of wastewater treatment processes can contain traces of potentially hazardous organic chemicals, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins University researchers......»»
Researchers use gold membrane to coax secrets out of surfaces
Using a special wafer-thin gold membrane, ETH researchers have made it significantly easier to study surfaces. The membrane makes it possible to measure properties of surfaces that are inaccessible to conventional methods......»»
Sediments reveal the ancient ocean during a mass extinction event
About 183 million years ago, volcanic activity in modern South Africa unleashed an estimated 20,500 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the ocean–atmosphere system over a period of 300 to 500 thousand years. Known as the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic E.....»»
Nanoconfined materials developed for efficient fluoride removal from water
A research team led by Prof. Kong Lingtao from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed an innovative material for the efficient removal of fluoride ions from water. This newly-developed material, a La.....»»
Squeezing more flavor: Genetic study optimizes citric acid in tomatoes
Citric acid (CA) is a flavor-enhancing compound in tomatoes that also serves as a metabolic pathway mediator. Despite its importance, the genetic and environmental interplay affecting its levels has been a puzzle, difficult to decipher and control......»»
Harvesting microbes for growth: A soybean success story in acidic soils
Acidic soils, characterized by low pH and poor phosphorus availability, pose significant challenges to leguminous plant growth and productivity. Traditional methods to improve soil phosphorus involve chemical fertilization, which can have environment.....»»
Study finds strong path dependence in Plio-Pleistocene glaciations through climate model simulations
The climate modeling community has been particularly vexed by the glacial/interglacial cycles of the past three million years, when the Northern Hemisphere oscillated between times with and without large ice sheets......»»
Astronomers study evolution of a giant outburst in X-ray binary EXO 2030+375
An international team of astronomers has observed an X-ray binary system known as EXO 2030+375. Results of the observation campaign, presented in a research paper published June 18 on the pre-print server arXiv, provide more insights into the evoluti.....»»
Study: Teacher perceptions of chronically absent young students may add to the challenges of missing school
A new study finds that early elementary school teachers report feeling less close to chronically absent students and view them less positively, even when those students do not cause trouble in the classroom. This "cooling down" in the relationship be.....»»
European airport pollution threatens health of 52 mn people: NGO
High concentrations of tiny particles released when aviation jet fuel is burnt pose a health risk to 52 million people living around Europe's busiest airports, NGO Transport & Environment warned Tuesday......»»
NASA calls off spacewalk after spacesuit water leak
NASA on Monday canceled a spacewalk at the International Space Station after water leaked from an astronaut's spacesuit......»»
New research shows why you don"t need to be perfect to get the job done
When neuroscientists think about the strategy an animal might use to carry out a task—like finding food, hunting prey, or navigating a maze—they often propose a single model that lays out the best way for the animal to accomplish the job......»»