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Environment
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Environment

Tiny iron minerals hold the key to breaking down plastic additives

A team of scientists has discovered that the crystal structure of naturally occurring iron minerals plays a crucial role in breaking down harmful chemical additives released from plastics. The findings could improve predictions of how these pollutants behave in the environment and guide strategies for reducing their long-term risks. The study, published in Environmental and Biogeochemical Processes, examined how three types of iron oxyhydroxide nanominerals, goethite, akaganeite, and lepidocrocite, catalyze the breakdown of organophosphate esters (OPEs). OPEs are ...

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Environment

New study reveals source of rain is major factor behind drought risks for farmers

A new University of California San Diego study uncovers a hidden driver of global crop vulnerability: the origin of rainfall itself. Published in Nature Sustainability, the research traces atmospheric moisture back to its source—whether it evaporated from the ocean or from land surfaces such as soil, lakes and forests. When the sun heats these surfaces, water turns into vapor, rises into the atmosphere, and later falls again as rain. Ocean-sourced moisture travels long distances on global winds, often through large-scale weather systems such as atmospheric ...

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Environment

Fermentation waste used to make natural fabric

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A fermentation byproduct might help to solve two major global challenges: world hunger and the environmental impact of fast fashion. The leftover yeast from brewing beer, wine or even to make some pharmaceuticals can be repurposed to produce high-performance fibers stronger than natural fibers with significantly less environmental impact, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State and published today (Nov 3) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The yeast biomass — ...

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Environment

Antarctic glacier retreated faster than any other in modern history

A glacier on Antarctica’s Eastern Peninsula experienced the fastest retreat recorded in modern history—in just two months, nearly 50 percent of the glacier disintegrated. A new CU Boulder-led study, published today in Nature Geoscience, details how and why Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier retreated at an unprecedented rate in 2023, losing a total of eight kilometers of ice in two months. The main driver was the glacier's underlying flat bedrock that enabled the glacier to go afloat after it substantially thinned, causing a rare calving process. The new findings may help researchers identify other glaciers to monitor for rapid ...

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Environment

Potential of new materials for absorbing 99.5% of light on solar towers demonstrated at the EHU

Renewable energy of the future is concentrated solar power because it can be easily used to store thermal energy. Despite the fact that, historically, it is more expensive and complex than photovoltaic power, in recent years huge advances have taken place in this technology, and concentrated solar power plants are spreading across more and more countries as a source for a sustainable future. As Iñigo González de Arrieta, a researcher in the Thermophysical Properties of Materials group of the University of the Basque ...

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Environment

Biochar reimagined: Scientists unlock record-breaking strength in wood-derived carbon

Researchers from the University of Toronto have uncovered how the hidden architecture of wood can give rise to biochar materials as strong as mild steel. Their new study reveals that the direction in which biochar is measured can make its hardness vary by more than twenty-eight times, opening the door to a new generation of sustainable carbon materials for use in energy devices, filters, and structural applications. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by heating biomass in the absence of oxygen, has long been valued for its environmental ...

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Environment

Lisbon to host world’s largest conference on ecosystem restoration in 2027, led by researcher from the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon

The announcement was made in early October in Denver, USA, during the 11th edition of the conference, and marks the first time Portugal will host this prestigious international event. The proposal, coordinated by Dr. Nunes, was selected by an international panel of experts and received enthusiastic support from global institutions, including several regional chapters of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER). “Ecosystem restoration lies at the heart of tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, ...

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Environment

Nanotyrannus confirmed: Dueling dinosaurs fossil rewrites the story of T. rex

What if everything we know about T. rex growth is wrong? A complete tyrannosaur skeleton has just ended one of paleontology’s longest-running debates – whether Nanotyrannus is a distinct species, or just a teenage version of Tyrannosaurus rex. The fossil, part of the legendary “Dueling Dinosaurs” specimen unearthed in Montana, contains two dinosaurs locked in prehistoric combat: a Triceratops and a small-bodied tyrannosaur. That tyrannosaur is now confirmed to be a fully grown ...

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Environment

Africa acacias ‘go for broke’ to grow, use up water to survive drought

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Young umbrella acacia trees in Africa survive severe drought by putting their natural processes into overdrive when water is in short supply, prioritizing continued growth over water conservation, new research shows. The study is the first genome-scale analysis of any African acacias and focuses on the umbrella acacia, an iconic feature of the African savanna. Researchers compared the genetic response to drought stress of the umbrella acacia (Vachellia tortilis) and one of its hundreds of relatives, the splendid thorn acacia (Vachellia robusta) more commonly found in wetter regions of East Africa. Results showed that ...

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Environment

How climate-damaging nitrous oxide forms in the ocean

To many people, nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, is only known as a party drug or from the dentist. However, the nitrogenous substance also contributes significantly to global warming. As a greenhouse gas, its effect in the atmosphere is almost three hundred times more powerful than that of CO2, and it also attacks the ozone layer. “The emission of this almost forgotten greenhouse gas is decisive for the global climate,” says Dr. Claudia Frey from the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Basel. The biogeochemist ...

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Environment

Distributor-type membrane reactor for carbon dioxide methanation

Climate change, expedited by anthropogenic activities, has become a major environmental concern in this century. Governments and organizations worldwide are gradually making substantial efforts to mitigate this challenge. A concrete step in this direction is to develop novel technologies that capture and convert low-concentration carbon dioxide into useful products. Recently, scientists have proposed carbon dioxide methanation in a membrane reactor as a promising approach. Specifically, distribution-type membrane reactors are appealing owing to high catalyst activity through hotspot formation mitigation. Although the effectiveness ...

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Environment

Soil ‘memory’ can help plants respond to drought

New research has found that microbial communities in soil have the capacity to remember and adapt to past environmental events, helping plants to withstand drought stress. Experts from the University of Nottingham's School of Biosciences in collaboration with scientists from the University of Kansas found that soil microbes carry a long-term memory of past climate, and that this memory can shape how some plants respond to new droughts. The findings have been published today in Nature Microbiology. Droughts ...

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Environment

Illinois researchers convert food waste into jet fuel, boosting circular economy

URBANA, Ill. — Airplane travel is more popular than ever, and our desire for fast transportation means jet fuel has become a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Now, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have discovered a novel way to address that problem—by converting food waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that meets industry standards without relying on fossil fuel blends. Their process, described in a new Nature Communications study, could help the aviation industry meet its ambitious ...

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Environment

Tricky treats: Why pumpkins accumulate pollutants

Pumpkins, squash, zucchini and their relatives accumulate soil pollutants in their edible parts. A Kobe University team has now identified the cause, making it possible to both make the produce safer and create plants that clean contaminated soil. The gourd family of plants comprising pumpkins, zucchini, melons, cucumbers and more are known to accumulate high levels of pollutants in their edible parts. Kobe University agricultural scientist INUI Hideyuki says: “The pollutants don’t easily break down and thus pose a health risk to people who eat the fruit. Interestingly, other plants don’t ...

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Environment

Biochar’s hidden helper: Dissolved organic matter boosts lead removal from polluted water

A new study reveals that a small but powerful component of biochar, known as dissolved organic matter, plays a surprisingly large role in capturing toxic lead from contaminated water. The research, published in Biochar, uncovers how this dissolved material enhances the metal-binding power of biochar and offers molecular-level insights that could guide safer and more effective cleanup strategies. Biochar, a carbon-rich substance produced by heating crop residues or other organic waste in limited oxygen, has been widely used to immobilize heavy metals in soils and water. However, scientists have long puzzled over why biochar made at lower temperatures ...

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Environment

Sunlight turns everyday fabrics into ocean microfibers, new study finds

A new study has revealed that sunlight can transform common synthetic fabrics into tiny plastic fibers that pollute coastal oceans. The findings shed light on how clothing and household textiles contribute to the growing problem of microplastic pollution in marine environments. Scientists from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences and Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology examined how different colored polyester fabrics break down when exposed to sunlight in seawater. They discovered that long-term exposure to ultraviolet light can convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a ...

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Environment

Amid renewable-energy boom, study explores options for electricity market

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Renewable energy sources like wind and solar generation now account for over 20% of electricity in the U.S. — and keep growing after large-scale production more than doubled since 2000. Still, high-profile power failures illustrate persistent challenges from the lack of available capacity to provide enough energy at times of need, said Chiara Lo Prete, an associate professor of energy economics in the John and Willie Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State. The issue isn’t ...

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Environment

Kilimanjaro has lost 75 percent of its natural plant species over the last century

A new study suggests that, between 1911 and 2022, land-use change was the primary direct cause of the loss of 75% of natural plant species on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Andreas Hemp of the University of Bayreuth, Germany, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One on October 29, 2025. Kilimanjaro is a dormant tropical volcano in Tanzania and Africa’s tallest mountain. Millions of people living in the area rely on Kilimanjaro’s diverse ecosystems for such benefits as timber, food, and water regulation. But the variety of species found in these ecosystems—their biodiversity—is declining ...

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Environment

“State of the climate” 2025: Earth’s vital signs worsen, science shows options for livable future

22 of the planet’s 34 vital signs are at record levels, with many of them continuing to trend sharply in the wrong direction. This is the message of the sixth issue of the annual “State of the climate” report. The report was prepared by an international coalition with contribution from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and led by Oregon State University scientists. Published today in BioScience, it cites global data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in proposing “high-impact” strategies. “The last few years have seen vital signs breaking their records by extraordinary margins, like surface ...

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Environment

Climate report: Earth on dangerous path but rapid action can avert the worst outcomes

CORVALLIS, Ore. – 2024 was the hottest year on record and likely the hottest in at least 125,000 years, according to an annual report issued by an international coalition led by Oregon State University scientists. “Without effective strategies, we will rapidly encounter escalating risks that threaten to overwhelm systems of peace, governance, and public and ecosystem health,” said co-lead author William Ripple. “In short, we’ll be on the fast track to climate-driven chaos, a dangerous trajectory for humanity.” Despite the sixth annual ...

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Environment

Global call to “Help the Kelp” with US $14 billion conservation target

[EMBARGOED|00:01 31/10/2025] An international team is calling for a US $14 billion investment to protect and restore one of the planet’s most valuable and overlooked marine ecosystems, kelp forests. Published by UNSW researchers and the Kelp Forest Alliance, the research establishes a clear financial benchmark for global kelp conservation. The funding is needed to achieve the Kelp Forest Challenge, a global mission to protect three million hectares and restore one million hectares of kelp forests by 2040. Kelp forests fringe nearly a third ...

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Environment

The biggest threats to maintaining fat bike trails: climate change and volunteer burnout

Outdoor recreation voluntary associations (ORVAs) play a crucial role in creating, maintaining and managing trail systems across North America. New research conducted by researchers from the University of Eastern Finland (Finland) and Lakehead University (Canada) highlights how climate disruption and volunteer burnout threaten the long-term sustainability of winter trail-based recreation, particularly fat biking. Fat bikes are off-road bicycles with extra-wide tyres built for soft terrain like snow and sand. Fat biking lets riders enjoy trails year-round and is fast becoming a popular ...

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Environment

Arctic town Kiruna is colder after the move

When mining forced Kiruna to relocate, the city planners took the opportunity to modernise. But with a large square, city streets and tall buildings located in a depression, residents have already begun to complain about the “new” city, according to a study from the University of Gothenburg. Kiruna has become colder. What is important to consider when building a city in an Arctic climate? Building in a location with elongated hours of sunshine and protected from cold winds when placing buildings and streets. These principles have given way to other considerations, it seems, when designing the new ...

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Environment

The Lancet: Climate change inaction being paid for in millions of lives every year

New global findings in the 9th annual indicator report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change reveal that the continued over reliance on fossil fuels and failure to adapt to climate change is being paid in people’s lives, health, and livelihoods, with 12 of 20 indicators tracking health threats reaching unprecedented levels. The report says failure to curb the warming effects of climate change has seen the rate of heat-related deaths surge 23% since the 1990s, to 546,000 a year. In 2024 alone, air pollution from wildfire smoke was linked to a record 154,000 deaths, ...

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Environment

Turning waste into clean water: Magnetic carbon materials remove toxic pollutants from wastewater

As global water resources face increasing pressure from industrial and agricultural activities, scientists are looking for innovative ways to clean and reuse wastewater sustainably. Researchers from Dalhousie University have now developed a simple and eco-friendly method to turn agricultural and forestry waste into powerful magnetic materials that can effectively remove toxic chemicals from water. The study, published in Sustainable Carbon Materials, introduces magnetic carbon adsorbents made from two common waste ...

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