Toxic fluorocarbons to keep our water (and bodies) clean and healthy
The toxic pollutants in your ski wax basically never disappear. A Norwegian lake and the area around several Norwegian airports are full of them, and so is your body. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in ski wax have been receiving a lot of.....»»
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.....»»
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.....»»
Scientists inject bacteria into fungi to study endosymbiosis
Endosymbiosis is a fascinating biological phenomenon in which an organism lives inside another. Such an unusual relationship is often beneficial for both parties. Even in our bodies, we find remnants of such cohabitation: mitochondria evolved from an.....»»
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......»»
Northeastern Europe has only been "stork country" for a few centuries, study reveals
In legends and fables, it brings luck, children and prosperity. Today, its appearance is seen as a sign of a healthy environment. Hardly any other bird in Europe has such positive connotations as the white stork Ciconia ciconia. But how old is this c.....»»
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.....»»
Toxic chemicals from Ohio train derailment lingered in buildings for months
New study offers lessons on how to better protect communities from disasters. Enlarge / This video screenshot released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) shows the site of a derailed freight train in East Pale.....»»
Predicting river flow dynamics using stable isotopes for improved ecosystem health
An international science team has made significant strides in understanding river flow dynamics. The findings leverage isotope hydrology techniques such as measuring stable isotopes in water molecules to elucidate the contributions of various water s.....»»
Southern California study finds high levels of airborne plasticizers
A new study documents how Southern Californians are chronically being exposed to toxic airborne chemicals called plasticizers, including one that's been banned from children's items and beauty products......»»
Here"s how Helene and other storms dumped a whopping 40 trillion gallons of rain on the South
More than 40 trillion gallons of rain drenched the Southeast United States in the last week from Hurricane Helene and a run-of-the-mill rainstorm that sloshed in ahead of it—an unheard of amount of water that has stunned experts......»»
QR Code phishing is advancing to a new level, so be on your guard
New phishing campaigns employ two QR codes - a 'clean' one, and a malicious one......»»
In storms like Hurricane Helene, flooded industrial sites and toxic chemical releases are a silent and growing threat
Hundreds of industrial facilities with toxic pollutants were in Hurricane Helene's path as the powerful storm flooded communities across the Southeast in late September 2024......»»
Researchers witness nanoscale water formation in real time
For the first time ever, researchers have witnessed—in real time and at the molecular-scale—hydrogen and oxygen atoms merge to form tiny, nano-sized bubbles of water......»»
Bioinspired yarn can harvest water from fog
Scientists have developed a bioinspired yarn capable of harvesting water from fog, providing an innovative solution to water scarcity in arid regions. By imitating the alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic patterns seen in desert beetles and the wa.....»»