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| For disaster debris arriving from Japan, radiation least of the concerns Wednesday, 22 February 2012 06:37 Later this year debris from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan should begin to wash up on US shores -- and one question many have asked is whether that will pose a radiation risk. The simple answer is, no. |
| Low levels of fallout from Fukushima Wednesday, 22 February 2012 06:37 Fallout from the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power facility in Japan was measured in minimal amounts in precipitation in the United States in about 20 percent of 167 sites sampled in a nationwide study. |
| From Bass Strait to the Indian Ocean: Tracking a current Wednesday, 22 February 2012 02:42 Deep-diving ocean "gliders" have revealed the journey of Bass Strait water from the Tasman Sea to the Indian Ocean. |
| Superbugs from space offer new source of power Tuesday, 21 February 2012 14:26 Scientists have created a "designer slime" that can double the electrical output of existing microbial fuel cells. Bacillus stratosphericus -- a microbe commonly found in high concentrations in the stratosphere orbiting Earth with the satellites -- is a key component of a new 'super' biofilm. |
| Plant toughness: Key to cracking biofuels? Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:52 Along with photosynthesis, the plant cell wall is one of the features that most set plants apart from animals. A structural molecule called cellulose is necessary for the manufacture of these walls. Cellulose is synthesized in a semi-crystalline state that is essential for its function in the cell wall function, but the mechanisms controlling its crystallinity are poorly understood. New research reveals key information about this process. |
| Gases drawn into smog particles stay there Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:48 Airborne gases get sucked into stubborn smog particles from which they cannot escape, according to new findings. These finding could explain why air pollution models underestimate organic aerosols. |
| Tadpoles adjust buoyancy to adapt to different environments Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:47 Survival and reproduction of many aquatic and semi-aquatic animals can depend upon how well they float. Tadpoles use various strategies to attain buoyancy, depending upon their stage of development and location in still or turbulent waters. Researchers have taken a closer look at the developing frog's strategies to achieve buoyancy. |
| Iconic marine mammals are 'swimming in sick seas' of terrestrial pathogens Tuesday, 21 February 2012 03:41 Parasites and pathogens infecting humans, pets and farm animals are increasingly being detected in marine mammals such as sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals and killer whales along the Pacific coast of the US and Canada, and better surveillance is required to monitor public health implications, according to a panel of scientific experts from Canada and the United States. |
| Environmental pollutant level during pregnancy linked with grown daughters who are overweight Tuesday, 21 February 2012 03:37 The levels of the environmental pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that mothers had in their blood during pregnancy increased the risk of obesity in their daughters at 20 years of age. |
| 300-million-year-old forest discovered preserved in volanic ash Monday, 20 February 2012 09:13 Pompeii-like, a 300-million-year-old tropical forest was preserved in ash when a volcano erupted in what is today northern China. Paleobotanists have reconstructed this fossilized forest, lending insight into the ecology and climate of its time. |
| Global permafrost zones in high-resolution images on Google Earth Monday, 20 February 2012 01:58 Thawing permafrost will have far-reaching ramifications for populated areas, infrastructure and ecosystems. A geographer in Switzerland reveals where it is important to confront the issue based on new permafrost maps – the most precise global maps around. They depict the global distribution of permafrost in high-resolution images and are available on Google Earth. |
| Taking Earth's pulse: Scientists unveil a new economic and environmental index Monday, 20 February 2012 07:26 A growing world population, mixed with the threat of climate change and mounting financial problems, has prompted researchers to measure the overall "health" of 152 countries around the world. |
| Building blocks of early Earth survived collision that created moon Saturday, 18 February 2012 06:45 Unexpected new findings by geochemists show that some portions of the Earth's mantle (the rocky layer between Earth's metallic core and crust) formed when the planet was much smaller than it is now, and that some of this early-formed mantle survived Earth's turbulent formation, including a collision with another planet-sized body that many scientists believe led to the creation of the moon. |
| Glaciers: A window into human impact on the global carbon cycle Sunday, 19 February 2012 07:33 New clues as to how the Earth's remote ecosystems have been influenced by the industrial revolution are locked, frozen in the ice of glaciers. |
| Staghorn coral transplanted to threatened reef Friday, 17 February 2012 15:11 In a delicate operation at sea, healthy staghorn coral were transplanted to a threatened reef off the Broward County coast. |
| NASA map sees Earth's trees in a new light Friday, 17 February 2012 10:12 A NASA-led science team has created an accurate, high-resolution map of the height of Earth's forests. The map will help scientists better understand the role forests play in climate change and how their heights influence wildlife habitats within them, while also helping them quantify the carbon stored in Earth's vegetation. |
| Linking human evolution and climate change Friday, 17 February 2012 07:57 It's not a take on climate change we often hear about. But a professor of archaeology, will talk about how climate change impacts human evolution at the world’s largest science fair. |
| Human-made photosynthesis to revolutionize food and energy production Friday, 17 February 2012 07:57 Improving natural photosynthesis to make new fuels and boost crop production is the focus of new research. It could see us one step closer to bottling the sun's energy or turbocharging plants to produce bumper crops. |
| Models underestimate future temperature variability: Food security at risk Friday, 17 February 2012 07:53 Climate warming caused by greenhouse gases is very likely to increase summer temperature variability around the world by the end of this century, new research shows. The findings have major implications for food production. |
| 'Honeycombs' and hexacopters help tell story of Mars Thursday, 16 February 2012 09:57 In a rough-and-tumble wonderland of plunging canyons and towering buttes, some of the still-raw bluffs are lined with soaring, six-sided stone columns so orderly and trim, they could almost pass as relics of a colossal temple. The secret of how these columns, packed in edge to edge, formed en masse from a sea of molten rock is encrypted in details as tiny as the cracks running across their faces. To add to this mystery's allure, decoding it might do more than reveal the life story of some local lava: it might help explain the history of Mars. |
| 'Mini-cellulose' molecule unlocks biofuel chemistry Thursday, 16 February 2012 09:57 Chemical engineers have discovered a small molecule that behaves the same as cellulose when it is converted to biofuel. Studying this "mini-cellulose" molecule reveals for the first time the chemical reactions that take place in wood and prairie grasses during high-temperature conversion to biofuel. |
| Why do dinosaur skeletons look so weird? Thursday, 16 February 2012 04:12 Many fossilized dinosaurs have been found in a twisted posture. Scientists have long interpreted this as a sign of death spasms. Researchers have now come to the conclusion that these bizarre deformations occurred only during decomposition of dead dinosaurs. |
| Microbial oasis discovered beneath the Atacama Desert Thursday, 16 February 2012 04:04 Two meters below the surface of the Atacama Desert there is an 'oasis' of microorganisms. Researchers have found it in hypersaline substrates thanks to SOLID, a detector for signs of life which could be used in environments similar to subsoil on Mars. |
| Climate change threatens tropical birds Thursday, 16 February 2012 02:47 Climate change spells trouble for many tropical birds – especially those living in mountains, coastal forests and relatively small areas – and the damage will be compounded by other threats like habitat loss, disease and competition among species. |
| Low-carbon technologies 'no quick-fix' Thursday, 16 February 2012 02:48 A drastic switch to low carbon-emitting technologies, such as wind and hydroelectric power, may not yield a reduction in global warming until the latter part of this century, new research suggests. Furthermore, it states that technologies that offer only modest reductions in greenhouse gases, such as the use of natural gas and perhaps carbon capture and storage, cannot substantially reduce climate risk in the next 100 years. |
| Only the lowest carbon dioxide emitting technologies can avoid a hot end-of-century Thursday, 16 February 2012 02:50 Could replacing coal-fired electricity plants with generators fueled by natural gas bring global warming to a halt in this century? What about rapid construction of massive numbers of solar or wind farms, hydroelectric dams, or nuclear reactors -- or the invention of new technology for capturing the carbon dioxide produced by fossil-fueled power plants and storing it permanently underground? A research team calculated the expected climate effects of replacing the world's supply of electricity from coal plants with any of eight cleaner options. |
| Climate change may increase risk of water shortages in hundreds of US counties by 2050 Wednesday, 15 February 2012 07:30 More than one in three counties in the US could face a "high" or "extreme" risk of water shortages due to climate change by the middle of the 21st century, according to a new study. The report concluded seven in 10 of the more than 3,100 counties could face "some" risk of shortages of fresh water. |
| Lava formations in Western U. S. linked to rip in giant slab of Earth Wednesday, 15 February 2012 07:28 Scientists have proposed mass melting as a new force behind volcanic activity in the Columbia River region. |
| NASA Landsat's thermal infrared sensor arrives at Orbital Wednesday, 15 February 2012 03:02 A new NASA satellite instrument that makes a quantum leap forward in detector technology has arrived at Orbital Sciences Corp. in Gilbert, Ariz. There it will be integrated into the next Landsat satellite, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). |
| NASA science aircraft to travel the globe in 2012 Wednesday, 15 February 2012 02:58 With missions scheduled throughout the year, 2012 is shaping up to be an extraordinary time for NASA's Airborne Science Program and Earth system science research. Multiple aircraft and specialized instruments will operate in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America this year in support of studies conducted by NASA and the Earth science community, improving scientists' understanding of our planet. |
| Short-term exposure to most major air pollutants associated with increased risk of heart attack Tuesday, 14 February 2012 10:10 Short-term exposure (for up to 7 days) to all major air pollutants, with the exception of ozone, is significantly associated with an increased risk of heart attack, according to a new review article. |
| Proteins in Yellowstone bacteria considered for biofuel inspiration Tuesday, 14 February 2012 07:53 Studies of bacteria first found in Yellowstone's hot springs are furthering efforts toward commercially viable ethanol production from crops such as switchgrass. |
| A look back suggests a sobering future of wildfire dangers in US west Tuesday, 14 February 2012 06:49 The American West has seen a recent increase in large wildfires due to droughts, the build-up of combustible fuel, or biomass, in forests, a spread of fire-prone species and increased tree mortality from insects and heat. A research team warns that these conditions may be "a perfect storm" for more fires. |
| Super high-resolution carbon estimates for endangered Madagascar Tuesday, 14 February 2012 05:18 By combining airborne laser technology, satellite mapping, and ground-based plot surveys, a team of researchers has produced the first large-scale, high-resolution estimates of carbon stocks in remote and fragile Madagascar. The group has shown that it is possible to map carbon stocks in rugged geographic regions and that this type of carbon monitoring can be successfully employed to support conservation and climate-change mitigation under the United Nations initiative on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. |
| Research reveals the true cost of a burger Tuesday, 14 February 2012 03:08 Society could considerably reduce its carbon footprint if more of us switched to a vegetarian diet, according to new research. |
| Air pollution linked to cognitive decline in women Monday, 13 February 2012 11:51 A large, prospective study indicates that chronic exposure to particulate air pollution may accelerate cognitive decline in older adults. |
| Even moderate air pollution can raise stroke risks Monday, 13 February 2012 11:51 Air pollution, even at levels generally considered safe by federal regulations, increases the risk of stroke by 34 percent, researchers have found. |
| Making better seasonal climate forecasts Monday, 13 February 2012 06:30 In the research project “Seasonal Predictability over the Arctic Region” (SPAR), scientists have made some discoveries that may lead to more reliable seasonal forecasts. |
| Grass to gas: Genome map speeds biofuel development Friday, 10 February 2012 06:33 Researchers have taken a major step in the ongoing effort to find sources of cleaner, renewable energy by mapping the genomes of two originator cells of Miscanthus x giganteus, a large perennial grass with promise as a source of ethanol and bioenergy. |
| Domestic consumption main contributor to Africa's growing E-waste problem Friday, 10 February 2012 04:00 new report sheds light on current recycling practices and on socio-economic characteristics of the E-waste sector in West Africa. In the five countries studied, between 650,000 and 1,000,000 tons of domestic E-waste are generated each year, which need to be managed to protect human health and the environment in the region. |
| An economic analysis of emerald ash borer management options Thursday, 09 February 2012 10:29 A new study examines several options for managing the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that is destroying US ash trees. |
| New integrated building model may improve fish farming operations Thursday, 09 February 2012 10:29 Those who have ventured to turn a vacant barn or garage into an aquaculture business have too often been defeated by high energy and feed costs, building-related woes and serious environmental problems. Now researchers are melding building design, fish ecology and aquaculture engineering techniques into a first-of-its-kind "building-integrated aquaculture" (BIAq) model to offer an affordable, more holistic and sustainable approach to indoor fish production located close to markets and able to succeed even in cold climates. |
| Deconstructing a mystery: What caused Snowmaggedon? Thursday, 09 February 2012 08:28 Scientists are using computer models to help unravel the mystery of a record-setting snowfall in the Washington, DC area in early 2010. |
| New battery could lead to cheaper, more efficient solar energy Thursday, 09 February 2012 06:58 Scientists have found that a new type of battery has the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power. |
| Seismic resistance: Model analyzes shape-memory alloys for use in earthquake-resistant structures Thursday, 09 February 2012 06:58 Recent earthquake damage has exposed the vulnerability of existing structures to strong ground movement. Researchers are now analyzing shape-memory alloys for their potential use in constructing seismic-resistant structures. |
| Hydrogen from acidic water Thursday, 09 February 2012 08:28 A technique for creating a new molecule that structurally and chemically replicates the active part of the molybdenite catalyst paves the way for developing catalytic materials that can serve as effective low-cost alternatives to platinum for generating hydrogen gas from water. |
| Chemists harvest light to create 'green' tool for pharmaceuticals Thursday, 09 February 2012 07:39 Researchers have created a new, “green” method for developing medicines. The researchers used energy from a light bulb to create an organic molecule that may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. |
| Fuel from market waste Thursday, 09 February 2012 06:58 Mushy tomatoes, brown bananas and overripe cherries -- to date, waste from wholesale markets has ended up on the compost heap at best. In future it will be put to better use: Researchers have developed a new facility that ferments this waste to make methane, which can be used to power vehicles. |
| Octagonal window of opportunity for carbon capture Wednesday, 08 February 2012 06:28 Scientists have gathered new insight into the performance of a material called a zeolite that may filter carbon dioxide far more efficiently than current industrial "scrubbers" do. |
| Report on Texas fire urges firefighters to consider wind effects Wednesday, 08 February 2012 06:28 Wind conditions at a fire scene can make a critical difference on the behavior of the blaze and the safety of firefighters, even indoors, according to a new report. |
| Lull in ship noise after Sept. 11 attacks eased stress on right whales Wednesday, 08 February 2012 06:27 Exposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic stress in whales, according to a new study. The study, conducted in Canada's Bay of Fundy, has implications for all baleen whales in areas with heavy ship traffic, and for the recovery of the endangered North Atlantic right whale population. |
| Carbonized coffee grounds remove foul smells Wednesday, 08 February 2012 03:27 In research to develop a novel, eco-friendly filter to remove toxic gases from the air, scientists found that a material made from used coffee grounds can sop up hydrogen sulfide gas, the chemical that makes raw sewage stinky. |
| Ancient seagrass holds secrets of the oldest living organism on Earth Tuesday, 07 February 2012 08:25 It's big, it's old and it lives under the sea -- and now an international research collaboration has confirmed an ancient seagrass to hold the secrets of the oldest living organism on Earth. Because ancient giant Posidonia oceanica reproduces asexually generating clones of itself, a single organism has been found to span up to 15 kilometers wide, reaching more than 6,000 metric tonnes in mass and may well be more than 100,000 years old. |
| New tool for analyzing solar-cell materials Tuesday, 07 February 2012 06:36 An online tool called "Impurities to Efficiency" (known as I2E) allows companies or researchers exploring alternative manufacturing strategies to plug in descriptions of their planned materials and processing steps. After about one minute of simulation, I2E gives an indication of exactly how efficient the resulting solar cell would be in converting sunlight to electricity. |
| An electronic green thumb Tuesday, 07 February 2012 03:01 If sensors are supposed to communicate with each other to compare the measured data and to secure them, then, in the future, a network of distributed sensor nodes will aid in that: the network ensures problem-free communication between the sensors. For example, they can be used to reliably monitor the watering of plants. |
| Why common tree is toxic to snowshoe hares Monday, 06 February 2012 10:42 Biologists have uncovered why the chemical defenses in birch, a common type of tree found in North America, are toxic to snowshoe hares. |
| Redder ladybirds more deadly, say scientists Monday, 06 February 2012 14:42 A ladybird's color indicates how well-fed and how toxic it is, according to scientists. This research directly shows that differences between animals' warning signals reveal how poisonous individuals are to predators. The study shows that redder ladybirds are more poisonous than their paler peers and reveals that this variation is directly linked to diet in early life, with better-fed ladybirds being more visible and more deadly. |
| A bug's (sex) life: Diving beetles offer unexpected clues about sexual selection Monday, 06 February 2012 08:41 Studies of diving beetles suggest sperm evolution may be driven by changes in female reproductive organs, challenging the paradigm of post-mating sexual selection being driven mostly by competition among sperm. In the process, the researchers discovered an unexpected and stunning variety of sperm form and behavior. |
| More environmental rules needed for shale gas, says geophysicist Monday, 06 February 2012 07:41 In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama praised the potential of the country's tremendous supply of natural gas buried in shale. But the "Halliburton exclusion" passed by Congress says gas companies don't have to disclose the chemicals used in fracturing fluids. That was a real mistake because it makes the public needlessly paranoid, says a geophysicist. |
| New species of bamboo-feeding plant lice found in Costa Rica Monday, 06 February 2012 05:26 Several periods of field work during 2008 have led to the discovery of a new species of bamboo-feeding plant lice in Costa Rica's high-altitude region Cerro de la Muerte. The discovery was made thanks to molecular data analysis of mitochondrial DNA. The collected records have also increased the overall knowledge of plant lice (one of the most dangerous agricultural pests worldwide) from the region with more that 20 percent. |
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