Newswise Feature Channel: Environmental Health

UA Little Rock Economist Awarded Nearly $750K NSF Grant to Study Water Use in Agriculture

University of Arkansas at Little Rock — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:45:33 EST

Dr. Kent Kovacs, an associate professor of accounting, economics, and finance at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has received a nearly $750,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Research, Innovation, Synergies, and Education (RISE) to study how farmers' risk preferences impact water use during droughts.

Bringing Expansion Microscopy to Plants

Washington University in St. Louis — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:30:49 EST

Biologists have discovered a low-cost way to more easily study the detailed makeup of plant cells. The ultimate goal is to help grow better crops, improving food security.

The Two Faces of Liquid Water

University of California San Diego — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 05:00:49 EST

Scientists from UC San Diego have uncovered a key finding to one of water's unique properties: at high pressure and low temperature, liquid water separates into two distinct liquid phases -- one high-density and one low-density.

An Emissions Tale of Two Cities: Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles

University of Utah — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:00:03 EST

Researchers from the University of Utah and University of California set out to compare how freeway emissions trends differed in their states' largest metropolitan areas, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

Study Raises the Possibility of a Country Without Butterflies

Michigan State University — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:35:22 EST

Butterflies are disappearing in the United States. All kinds of them. With a speed scientists call alarming.

Recycling Products From the Inside Out

Sandia National Laboratories — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 18:00:48 EST

What if plastics could self-destruct when their time as a useful product ends? Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories are exploring this concept in one of their latest projects.

Researcher Discusses Decline in Butterfly Populations

Newswise — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:00:00 EST

Butterfly populations have been declining at an alarming rate, raising concerns about the broader implications for the environment. Experts from Binghamton University are available in this live virtual event to discuss the causes of this decline and what it may signal for the health of ecosystems.

20% of Butterflies in the U.S. Have Disappeared Since 2000

Binghamton University, State University of New York — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:00:00 EST

According to new research featuring faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York, butterflies are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Small and Nutritious Fish: A Healthy and Sustainable Alternative for the Amazon Region

Wildlife Conservation Society — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:45:45 EST

A study conducted by Cornell University and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), both members of the Amazon Waters Alliance, reveals that small, abundant, and nutritious fish species in the Amazon can be a solution for both public health and biodiversity conservation.

New Study Challenges Circular Fashion's Economic and Environmental Claims

Loughborough University — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:40:33 EST

A new study reveals that circular fashion (CF) - the practice of recycling, reselling, and renting clothing to reduce waste - might not be the green solution it claims to be.

Sand Topdressing in Turfgrass Management: Insights Into Organic Matter Control and Soil Health

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:20:33 EST

A research team sheds light on the longstanding debate regarding sand topdressing and its role in managing organic matter in turfgrass systems.

Climate Risks: A Double-Edged Sword for Digital and Low-Carbon Economies

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 09:20:45 EST

A recent study explores the intricate relationship between climate physical risks and the merging of digital and low-carbon economies in China. By examining the disruptive effects of extreme weather events such as severe cold spells and droughts, the research reveals how these climate challenges obstruct the seamless development of both sectors. Utilizing cutting-edge models, the study identifies regional disparities and outlines the mechanisms through which climate risks hinder technological innovation and economic integration, calling for urgent adaptive strategies to ensure sustainable economic growth.

Arsenic Detoxification: How Bacteria and Minerals Work Together

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:15:26 EST

A pioneering study has uncovered a novel approach to detoxifying toxic arsenic in contaminated soils, offering hope for tackling one of the world's most pressing environmental health challenges.

U of I-Led Underwater Forest Research Provides Rare Glimpse to Past Climate Conditions

University of Idaho — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 19:00:35 EST

Cypress trees found on the ocean floor 5 miles south of coastal Alabama are helping scientists from University of Idaho build climate models based on conditions 75,000 years ago.

Secret Lives of Ancient Antarctic Penguins and Seals Uncovered

University of Adelaide — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 05:00:00 EST

Analysis of sedimentary ancient DNA has illuminated 6000 years of the lives of Adelie penguin colonies on Antarctica's Ross Sea coast, showing how animals in the region responded to climate and environmental change events over millennia.

Efficient Hydrogen Production using Non-Noble Metal CoFe-Based Ammonia Decomposition catalyst

National Research Council of Science and Technology — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:18 EST

The research team led by Dr. Su-Un Lee and Dr. Ho-Jeong Chae from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) has successfully developed a high-performance ammonia decomposition catalyst by incorporating cerium oxide (CeO₂) into a cobalt-iron-based layered double oxide (LDO) structure.

Amphibians Bounce-Back From Earth's Greatest Mass Extinction

University of Bristol — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 19:05:00 EST

Ancient frog relatives survived the aftermath of the largest mass extinction of species by feeding on freshwater prey that evaded terrestrial predators, University of Bristol academics have found.

Older Trees Remember Their Past Water Conditions

Cal Poly Humboldt — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 18:10:45 EST

Older Trees Remember Their Past Water Conditions

Study Details Method for Recycling Platinum Catalysts From Industrial Streams

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 09:05:11 EST

University of Illinois researchers have developed a method to recycle platinum catalysts used in the production of valuable silicone materials. A team led by chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Xiao Su details a method to recover these catalysts using specially designed molecular attachments and advanced electrochemical separation technologies.

Innovative Forest Phenology Monitoring Technology: A New Perspective for Ecology

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 07:25:39 EST

A new method for forest phenology detection, called the Change Point Estimation of Forest Photosynthetic Phenology based on the Maximum Perpendicular Distance (CBPD), has been developed to accurately extract the start and end of the growing season in forests. Using Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) data, this innovative approach provides a powerful tool for understanding how forests respond to climate change and offers crucial insights into forest ecosystem dynamics.