Unlined waste disposal pits endanger groundwater in San Joaquin Valley
A new study by the energy science and policy research institute, Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers (PSE) for Healthy Energy shows that the disposal of over 16 billion barrels of oil and gas wastewater into unlined pits over a 50-year period has i.....»»
Creation of a climate adapted urban oasis through the hyperlocal lens—Palm Springs Downtown Park in California, USA
Palm Springs Downtown Park is an inviting 1.5-acre urban oasis for residents and visitors to Palm Springs, a design-forward desert destination nestled along the base of the San Jacinto Mountains along the southwestern boundary of the Coachella Valley.....»»
NREL research quantifies losses from cardboard, paper waste
Piles of cardboard and paper littering America's landfills represent $4 billion in lost economic value, according to a new analysis by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)......»»
AI predicts the influence of microplastics on soil properties
Plastic waste and its buildup in nature has become a major environmental concern in recent times. While plastic pollution in the oceans is undoubtedly a problem, the presence of plastics in soils around the world is also known to cause severe environ.....»»
Reusing plastic waste to kickstart radical chain reactions, improving process safety and efficiency
Single-use plastics are a major environmental concern, but now, rather than being disposed of as garbage, used plastic bags from the grocery store could be utilized to carry out a reaction that can detoxify hazardous chemicals......»»
Big Tech is spending more than VC firms on AI startups
Microsoft, Google, and Amazon haved crowded out traditional Silicon Valley investors. Enlarge / A string of deals by Microsoft, Google and Amazon amounted to two-thirds of the $27 billion raised by fledgling AI companies in 2023.....»»
Spider-Man vs. Harry Potter: Which one is the best?
It's time for a showdown between the Wallcrawler and the Boy Who Lived, as we determine a winner in a battle of the icons that pits Spider-Man vs. Harry Potter......»»
Idaho board drops wolf-killing proposals submitted by trapper without ranchers" knowledge
Nearly two months ago, John Faulkner and members of the Peavey family, which owns Flat Top Ranch in the Wood River Valley, learned that an application with their names attached for state dollars to kill wolves would move ahead. But they never knew ab.....»»
Extreme heat represents a new threat to trees and plants in the Pacific Northwest
From June 25 to July 2, 2021, the Pacific Northwest experienced a record-breaking heat wave that sent the normally temperate region into Death Valley-like extremes that took a heavy toll on trees as well as people......»»
Vape deals are everywhere this Christmas—here"s how to deal with the horrific waste problem
Vape deals are all over the place in the run-up to Christmas. Vape kits, e-liquids and accessories are being widely promoted as stocking fillers, frequently with upwards of 50% off......»»
Scientists engineer bacteria to make two valuable products from plant fiber
We often look to the smallest lifeforms for help solving the biggest problems: Microbes help make foods and beverages, cure diseases, treat waste and even clean up pollution. Yeast and bacteria can also convert plant sugars into biofuels and chemical.....»»
Using "waste" product from recent NASA research, scientists create transformative nanomaterials
Researchers at the University of Sussex have discovered the transformative potential of Martian nanomaterials, potentially opening the door to sustainable habitation on the red planet......»»
Scientists provide recipe to halve pollution from food production
A major report for the United Nations has put forward solutions to halve nitrogen pollution from agriculture and the food system in Europe, including reducing meat and dairy consumption, fertilizer use and food waste......»»
3D material found to break down antidepressant that contaminates water bodies worldwide
An study published in the Chemical Engineering Journal describes a strategy to produce a material based on zinc oxide (ZnO) capable of degrading sertraline, an antidepressant that has been detected, like other drugs, in groundwater worldwide and is c.....»»
Avoiding food waste over the holidays to save money and the planet
Roni Neff, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, leads the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future's Food Systems and Climate Change team and.....»»
We rely heavily on groundwater—but pumping too much threatens thousands of underground species
Groundwater is the world's largest unfrozen freshwater reserve. Australia's Great Artesian Basin alone holds enough water to fill Sydney Harbour 130,000 times. Worldwide, groundwater provides drinking water for half the world's population. Countries.....»»
Investigating microfiber pollution
The fashion industry is facing several growing social and environmental sustainability issues; from clothing textile waste to the prospect of widespread microfiber pollution (MSF). For the latter, we struggle to even define the problem. While we know.....»»
California wants farms to capture methane from cow manure. Neighbors say it"s killing them
At a massive dairy farm in the San Joaquin Valley, nearly 14,000 Holstein cows crane their necks through feeding stalls and gnaw leisurely on alfalfa......»»
Renault to sell first portion of Nissan stake, booking $1.62 billion loss
Based on the current Nissan stock price, the share disposal is worth $824.29 million, Renault said, and represents the first move by the automaker to reduce its Nissan stake to 15 percent from around 43 percent......»»
Polyethylene waste could be a thing of the past
An international team of experts undertaking fundamental research has developed a way of using polyethylene waste (PE) as a feedstock and converted it into valuable chemicals, via light-driven photocatalysis......»»
Using machine learning to optimize volatile fatty acid production in riboflavin-mediated sludge fermentation
Waste activated sludge (WAS) is the most yielding byproduct in municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs), and its disposal poses secondary pollution that severely threatens the environment. Producing volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from WAS is a prom.....»»