Environment
press releases.

Environment1 Jul 2025

Nature-friendly farming boosts biodiversity and yields but may require new subsidies

Farming methods that support nature improve both biodiversity and crop yields but more extensive measures may require increased government subsidies to become as profitable as conventional intensive agriculture. That is the finding of the first comprehensive on-farm trials of their kind in the UK, which were led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and Rothamsted Research. This four-year study across 17 conventional, commercial farms in southern England not only trialled various agroecological methods but also – for the first time – the financial viability for businesses. It showed that incorporating nature-friendly practices within farming – agroecology ...

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Environment1 Jul 2025

Microplastics discovered in human reproductive fluids, new study reveals

(Paris, France, Wednesday, 2 July 2025) New research presented today at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) reveals the presence of microplastics in human reproductive fluids, raising important questions about their potential risks to fertility and reproductive health.[1] Researchers examined follicular fluid from 29 women and seminal fluid from 22 men, both of which play critical roles in natural conception and assisted reproduction. A range of commonly used microplastic polymers, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polystyrene ...

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Environment1 Jul 2025

Extending classical CNOP method for deep-learning atmospheric and oceanic forecasting

In recent years, deep learning methods have been increasingly applied in atmospheric and oceanic forecasting, showing superior forecast skills. Unlike time-stepping numerical models, deep learning forecasting models (DLMs) typically adopt a “multi-time-slice input” structure. This structure breaks the deterministic causality in the time dimension that exists in the numerical models. In this case, the forecast errors in DLMs should be attributed to all input slices, rather than any single one. This fundamental difference limits the applicability of the classical conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation (CNOP) method, ...

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Environment1 Jul 2025

New 3D glacier visualizations provide insights into a hotter Earth

COLUMBUS, Ohio – As glaciers retreat due to a rise in global temperatures, one study shows detailed 3D elevation models could drastically improve predictions about how they react to Earth’s warming climate. While only 10% of Earth is covered in glacial ice, these masses have far-reaching impacts on all the world’s ecosystems. Rapid melting can trigger natural disasters, and glaciers help to regulate the planet’s temperature and sea level and are sources of pristine fresh drinking water. To better differentiate between seasonal ice loss and that caused by long-term climate trends, ...

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Environment1 Jul 2025

Consequences of low Antarctic sea ice

Antarctic sea ice is more than just a platform for penguins. The sea ice’s high reflectivity influences the whole Earth’s climate, and the ice is a key habitat for underwater as well as above-water ecosystems. Antarctic sea ice cover is becoming much more variable as the climate changes; there has been a string of record high years followed by years with record low areas of ice. Edward Doddridge and colleagues studied these record-low years, which they expect will become more common as the climate warms. Using observations ...

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Environment1 Jul 2025

A unique method of rare-earth recycling can strengthen the raw material independence of Europe and America

The scientific team of Dr. Miloslav Polášek at IOCB Prague has developed a new method of separating the rare earth elements, or lanthanides, which are widely used in the electronic, medical, automotive, and defense industries. The unique method allows metals such as neodymium or dysprosium to be purified from used neodymium magnets. The environmentally friendly process precipitates the rare earths from water without organic solvents or toxic substances. The results were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) at the end of June. Global demand for rare ...

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Environment1 Jul 2025

Novel modelling links sea ice loss to Antarctic ice shelf calving events

New research has for the first time tracked ice shelf, sea ice and ocean swell wave conditions over multiple years in the lead-ups to three large-scale iceberg ‘calving’ events in Antarctica, revealing common patterns. Published in Nature Geoscience, the study, led by the Universities of Melbourne and Adelaide, found long periods of sea ice loss surrounding the ice shelves in the six to 18 months prior to calving, as well as the collapse of the ‘landfast’ sea ice attached to the ice shelves only weeks prior to the calving events. University of Melbourne Professor Luke Bennetts explained that the researchers ...

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Environment30 Jun 2025

Southern Ocean saltier, hotter and losing ice fast as decades-long trend unexpectedly reverses

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 20:00 UK TIME (15:00 U.S. EASTERN TIME) ON MONDAY JUNE 30, 2025 Southern Ocean saltier, hotter and losing ice fast as decades-long trend unexpectedly reverses Researchers have discovered a dramatic and unexpected shift in the Southern Ocean, with surface water salinity rising and sea ice in steep decline. Since 2015, Antarctica has lost sea ice equal to the size of Greenland — the largest environmental shift seen anywhere on Earth in the last decades. The Southern Ocean is also getting saltier, and this unexpected change is making the problem worse. For decades, the ocean’s surface freshened (becoming less salty), helping sea ice grow. Now, scientists ...

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Environment30 Jun 2025

Human fishing reshaped Caribbean reef food webs, 7000-year old exposed fossilized reefs reveal

When we think of fossils, giant prehistoric creatures like dinosaurs may come to mind. But the fossil record also holds the remains of smaller organisms, such as fish and corals, that tell us about our oceans’ past. Scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) recently studied exposed fossilized coral reefs from Panama's Bocas del Toro Province and the Dominican Republic, comparing them with nearby modern reefs. These exceptionally well-preserved reefs date back 7,000 ...

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Environment30 Jun 2025

Hurricane ecology research reveals critical vulnerabilities of coastal ecosystems

A recently published article in the journal BioScience reveals that endangered longleaf pine ecosystems—among North America's most biodiverse habitats—face mounting threats from intensifying hurricane regimes driven by climate change. An interdisciplinary team of authors headed by Nicole Zampieri (Tall Timbers and The Jones Center at Ichauway) describe the urgent situation: The North American Coastal Plain was once characterized by extensive longleaf pine savannas covering approximately 36 million hectares. Today, these ecosystems "now occupy ...

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Environment30 Jun 2025

Montana State geologist’s Antarctic research focuses on accumulations of rare earth elements

BOZEMAN – They’re in the headlines every week – critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and the rare earth elements essential for high-technology and national security applications. While nations and businesses around the globe strategize to secure supplies of the coveted resources, Montana State University geologist Zachary Burton studies how rare earth elements are moved by geochemical and aqueous forces, such as freeze-thaw cycles and snowmelt, to concentrate in different environments. “Rare earth elements aren’t technically rare – they ...

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Environment27 Jun 2025

Study reveals uneven land sinking across New Orleans, raising flood-risk concerns

Parts of New Orleans and its surrounding wetlands are gradually sinking, and while most of the city remains stable, a new study from Tulane University researchers suggests that sections of the region’s $15 billion post-Katrina flood protection system may need regular upgrades to outpace long-term land subsidence. The study, published in Science Advances, used satellite radar data to track subtle shifts in ground elevation across Greater New Orleans between 2002 and 2020. The study found that some neighborhoods, wetlands and even sections of floodwalls are sinking by more than an inch per year — with some ...

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Environment27 Jun 2025

Manufacturing chemicals via orthogonal strategy, making full use of waste plastic resources in real life

Peking University, June 27, 2025: Addressing the challenge of waste plastics treatments, the scientific community has been pursuing innovative solutions. Recently, Peking University researchers led by Ma Ding from College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, in collaboration with Xu Shutao from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, uncovered how complex plastic mixtures can be utilized based on the differences in the physical and chemical properties of the components with the aids of NMR technique and catalytic approaches. This work provides a new treatment ...

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Environment27 Jun 2025

Old termite mounds help support high insect biodiversity in tropical rainforests

A new study by Dr Tom M. Fayle of Queen Mary University of London, Dr Kalsum M. Yusah of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Dr Jiri Tuma of the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, published today in the journal Soil Ecology Letters, shows the importance of old termite mounds as habitats for a wide range of insects and other invertebrates in Bornean tropical rainforest. Termites play a critical ecological role in many ecosystems. By building and maintaining their nests and mounds, they influence soil turnover, chemical soil properties, and nutrient distribution. Once these mounds are abandoned by their original ...

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Environment27 Jun 2025

KIST develops high-performance memory devices that dissolve in water, addressing the E-waste problem

The use of electronics in various forms is on the rise, from wearable devices like smartwatches to implantable devices like body-implanted sensors, skin-worn smart patches, and disposable monitoring devices. These devices, which are inevitably discarded after use, contribute to the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste), a significant environmental concern. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has announced that a joint research team, led by Dr. Sangho Cho of the Center for Extreme Materials Research and Dr. Yongho Joo of the Center for Functional Composite Materials Research, has developed a polymeric material ...

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Environment27 Jun 2025

Tiny ocean migrants play a massive role in Southern Ocean carbon storage

A groundbreaking study has revealed that small but mighty zooplankton—including copepods, krill, and salps—are key players in the Southern Ocean’s ability to absorb and store carbon. Led by an international team of researchers, and published in Limnology and Oceanography, the study quantifies for the first time how these tiny creatures collectively enhance carbon sequestration through their seasonal, vertical migrations. The Southern Ocean is a key region for carbon storage. Traditional thinking is that the carbon storage in the Southern Ocean is dominated by gravitational ...

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Environment27 Jun 2025

Cascading impacts of groundwater input to coral reefs

Groundwater input to coral reefs directly affects water chemistry and triggers a cascade of changes in the coastal ecosystem, according to a new study led by University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa oceanographers. Freshwater from land that flows into the ocean beneath the sea surface, termed submarine groundwater discharge, was found to increase nutrient availability, change acidity of the seawater, and impact the process by which corals build their skeletons. This research, published recently in Ecological Monographs, provides critical insights into the complex interactions between the land and ocean. “Submarine groundwater discharge is a widespread and ...

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Environment27 Jun 2025

In-line NMR guides orthogonal transformation of real-life plastics

The accumulation of plastic waste worldwide poses a serious threat to wildlife and ecosystems. Catalytic processes that convert plastic waste into valuable chemicals and fuels offer a promising solution. However, real-life plastic waste mixtures have highly diverse composition and structural complexity, and accurate identification of the components within the mixtures is a prerequisite for their effective separation and recycling. In a study published in Nature, Prof. XU Shutao from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the team of Prof. WANG Meng and Prof. MA Ding from Peking University, developed ...

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Environment26 Jun 2025

Hadean-age rocks preserved in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, Canada

The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt (NGB) – a complex geological sequence in northeastern Canada – harbors surviving fragments of Earth’s oldest crust, dating back to ~4.16 billion years old, according to a new study. The preservation of Hadean rocks on Earth’s surface could provide valuable insights into the planet’s earliest times. Much about Earth’s earliest geologic history remains poorly understood due to the rarity of Hadean-age (>4.03 billion-year-old) rocks and minerals. These ancient materials are typically ...

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Environment26 Jun 2025

Ancient squids dominated the ocean 100 million years ago

Squids first appeared about 100 million years ago and quickly rose to become dominant predators in the ancient oceans, according to a new study published in the journal Science. A team of researchers from Hokkaido University developed an advanced fossil discovery technique that completely digitizes rocks with all embedded fossils in complete 3D form. It allowed them to identify one thousand fossilized cephalopod beaks hidden inside Late Cretaceous rocks from Japan. Among these small and fragile beaks were 263 squid specimens including about 40 different species that had never been seen before. Squids are rarely preserved as fossils because they don’t have hard shells. ...

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Environment26 Jun 2025

Public attitudes around solar geoengineering become less politically partisan with more familiarity

Public attitudes around solar geoengineering become less politically partisan with more familiarity, suggesting that increasing public awareness of the technology could foster bipartisan engagement. ### Article URL: https://plos.io/4elOWIw Article Title: Political ideology and views toward solar geoengineering in the United States Author Countries: United Kingdom, United States Funding: RMA and BM's work is supported by Caltech’s Resnick Sustainability Institute. DE's work on this ...

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Environment26 Jun 2025

Extreme droughts in LMICs are associated with increased sexual violence against girls and young women

Extreme droughts in LMICs are associated with increased sexual violence against girls and young women, emphasizing how climate change can indirectly exacerbate social vulnerabilities. ### Article URL: https://plos.io/4liX0Me Article Title: Extreme drought and sexual violence against adolescent girls and young women: A multi-country population-based study Author Countries: Australia, France, Indonesia, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, United States Funding: Funding from the Healthy Environments and ...

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Environment26 Jun 2025

IEEE study reveal the physics of laser emission from Mamyshev oscillator

The Mamyshev oscillator (MO) is a type of fiber laser capable of producing high-energy laser pulses at a tunable repetition rate. It is a mode-locked laser which uses light travelling within a closed-loop cavity to produce laser emission. Harmonic mode-locking (HML) is an advanced form of mode-locking process where multiple laser pulses are produced within one round trip of light. MOs employing HML are used for several advanced applications such as optical communication, frequency metrology, and micromachining. Despite increasing applications of HML MOs, understanding the light buildup dynamics of HML within these lasers ...

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Environment26 Jun 2025

Study challenges climate change's link to our wild winter jet stream

A new study challenges the idea that climate change is behind the recent erratic behavior of the polar jet stream, the massive current of Arctic air that regulates weather for much of the Northern Hemisphere. Large waves in the jet stream observed since the 1990s have, in recent years, driven abnormally frigid temperatures and devastating winter storms deep into regions such as the southern United States. Scientists fear that a warming atmosphere brought on by climate change is fueling these wild undulations, causing long troughs of bitter-cold air to drop down from the Arctic. But Dartmouth researchers report in AGU Advances ...

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Environment26 Jun 2025

Study shows controlled burns can reduce wildfire intensity and smoke pollution

As wildfires increasingly threaten lives, landscapes, and air quality across the U.S., a Stanford-led study published in AGU Advances June 26 finds that prescribed burns can help reduce risks. The research reveals that prescribed burns can reduce the severity of subsequent wildfires by an average of 16% and net smoke pollution by an average of 14%. “Prescribed fire is often promoted as a promising tool in theory to dampen wildfire impacts, but we show clear empirical evidence that prescribed burning works in practice,” ...

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