Toxic "forever chemicals" accumulate above the water table
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are water-, stain-, and heat-resistant chemicals added to products like nonstick pans, nail polish, food wrappers, and firefighting foam. They have been linked to health problems, including thyroid disease,.....»»
Study finds it could take over 40 years to flush PFAS out of groundwater
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, known commonly as PFAS, could take over 40 years to flush out of contaminated groundwater in North Carolina's Cumberland and Bladen counties, according to a new study from North Carolina State University. The study.....»»
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.....»»
Barnacle-inspired polymers could present new way to design antibiotics, researchers say
Scientific literature has shown that barnacles that cling to rocks at the seashore use naturally occurring chemicals to clear rock surfaces of bacteria in preparation for laying down their sticky "glue." Since bioengineering professor Abraham Joy's l.....»»
Nissan dealership sues after toxic chemical fire forced 3-day closure
Conyers Nissan, located less than 3 miles from a fire that released dangerous levels of chlorine, is seeking class-action status to represent thousands of affected businesses......»»
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.....»»
Low-temperature synthesis technique uses upcycled textile waste to create green, safe waterproof coating
A new technique could create waterproof coatings for clothes from discarded textiles—far safer for humans and the environment than current coatings, which are typically made with harsh chemicals and carcinogens......»»
Novel detection technology alerts health risks from TNT metabolites
Recently, a research group from the Hefei lnstitutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed an approach that can facilitate rapid detection of both positive and negative ions of four toxic metabolites derived from 2,.....»»
James Webb discovers a new type of exoplanet: an exotic ‘steam world’
Researchers using James Webb have identified a new and exotic type of planet called a steam world, with an atmosphere almost entirely composed of water vapor......»»
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.....»»
New global database of dams and reservoirs could transform water management
A database developed by the Global Dam Watch (GDW) consortium is set to transform the global understanding of dams and reservoirs......»»
US finalizes rule to remove lead pipes within a decade
President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday finalized a rule mandating the removal of the nation's remaining lead pipes within a decade, a move aimed at preventing millions of people from being exposed to the toxic metal linked with childhood dev.....»»
American Water shuts down systems after cyberattack
American Water, the largest water and wastewater utility company in the US, has shut down some of its systems following a cyberattack. While the company confirmed that none of its water or wastewater facilities or operations have been negatively affe.....»»
Meet the microbes that transform toxic carbon monoxide into valuable biofuel
Microbes are hungry, all the time. They live everywhere, in enormous numbers. We might not see them with the naked eye, but they are in soils, lakes, oceans, hydrothermal vents, our homes, and even in and on our own bodies. And they don't just hang o.....»»
Report on global water resources: Conditions in 2023 were either too dry or too wet
Not only was 2023 characterized by unprecedentedly high temperatures but also by excessive droughts in many parts of the world as well as floods in other areas. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has now presented its third report on the sta.....»»
Curiosity rover provides new insights into how Mars became uninhabitable
NASA's Curiosity rover, currently exploring Gale crater on Mars, is providing new details about how the ancient Martian climate went from potentially suitable for life—with evidence for widespread liquid water on the surface—to a surface that is.....»»
Drowned by hurricane, remote N.Carolina towns now struggle for water
Nicole Crane, exhausted, tearful and unwashed after a week of searching for a neighbor swept away by the raging waters of Hurricane Helene, dreams of taking a shower......»»
Flash flooding kills three in northern Thailand
Flash flooding in popular Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai has killed three people, a health official said Sunday, as visitors evacuated hotels through knee-high muddy water and shops closed in the city center......»»
The Secret Alchemy of Making Ice Cream
Ice cream is deceptively simple, but that sweet burst of flavor and soft melt on the tongue is a finicky, frozen science of water, fat, and air delicately held together......»»
Electricity-driven catalyst offers climate-neutral methane production
Researchers at the University of Bonn and University of Montreal have developed a new type of catalyst and used it in their study to produce methane out of carbon dioxide and water in a highly efficient way using electricity. Methane can be used, for.....»»