ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

Scientists use NASA satellite data to track ocean microplastics from space

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 12:56 PM PDT

Scientists have developed an innovative way to use NASA satellite data to track the movement of tiny pieces of plastic in the ocean.

More intense predation in the tropics can limit marine invasions

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 12:56 PM PDT

Marine biologists tested predictions about biological invasions, first in Panama and then in an experiment of unprecedented geographic scale.

Engineered yeast could expand biofuels' reach

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 12:56 PM PDT

Researchers found a way to reduce cellulosic feedstocks' toxicity to yeast, making it feasible to use these abundant feedstocks to produce ethanol, biodiesel, or bioplastics.

Emissions cause delay in rainfall

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 09:04 AM PDT

Rising greenhouse gases and declining aerosols have triggered an approximate four-day delay in rainfall over tropical land and the Sahel.

Scientists discover how dengue vaccine fails to protect against disease

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 09:04 AM PDT

Researchers discovered that a small subpopulation of antibodies binding to unique sites on each serotype are linked to protection. The research provides important information for vaccine developers to consider when creating a dengue vaccine, which has long eluded scientists.

Putting functional proteins in their place

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 09:03 AM PDT

Using DNA, scientists organized bioactive proteins in desired 2D and 3D ordered arrays -- promising for structural biology, biomedicine, and more.

Bigger may not always be better: Density governs receptor activation on immune cells

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 09:03 AM PDT

Scientists have gained novel insights into how an important class of immune receptors called tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFR) are activated.

AI used to predict unknown links between viruses and mammals

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 07:05 AM PDT

A new study could help scientists mitigate the future spread of zoonotic and livestock diseases caused by existing viruses. Researchers have used a form or artificial intelligence (AI) called machine-learning to predict more than 20,000 unknown associations between known viruses and susceptible mammalian species.

Small-scale engineering could bring big progress in medical care

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 07:05 AM PDT

Researchers are using bioengineering to trigger and control cell differentiation and transition is expand possibilities for diagnostics, vaccine development and therapeutic treatments.

Scientists develop CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drive in plants

Posted: 25 Jun 2021 07:05 AM PDT

Researchers have created a CRISPR-Cas9-based gene drive designed for plants. The new technology, which allows scientists to cut and copy key genetic elements, helps scientists breed plants that defend against crop diseases and withstand the impacts of climate change.

Artificial intelligence breakthrough gives longer advance warning of ozone issues

Posted: 24 Jun 2021 02:08 PM PDT

Ozone levels in the earth's troposphere (the lowest level of our atmosphere) can now be forecasted with accuracy up to two weeks in advance, a remarkable improvement over current systems that can accurately predict ozone levels only three days ahead. The new artificial intelligence system could lead to improved ways to control high ozone problems and even contribute to solutions for climate change issues.

Recycling next-generation solar panels fosters green planet

Posted: 24 Jun 2021 02:08 PM PDT

Designing a recycling strategy for a new, forthcoming generation of photovoltaic solar cells - made from metal halide perovskites, a family of crystalline materials with structures like the natural mineral calcium titanate - will add a stronger dose of environmental friendliness to a green industry, according to new research.

Herbivore gut fungi found to produce unique building blocks of antibiotics

Posted: 24 Jun 2021 01:17 PM PDT

Chemical engineers have been researching the anaerobic fungi found in the guts of herbivores, which make it possible for those animals to fuel themselves with sugars and starches extracted from fibrous plants. Recent work has centered on how these powerful fungi might be used to extract value-added products from the nonedible parts of plants -- roots, stems and leaves -- that are generally considered waste products.

Alaska infrastructure at risk of earlier failure

Posted: 24 Jun 2021 01:16 PM PDT

Roads, bridges, pipelines and other types of infrastructure in Alaska and elsewhere in the Arctic will deteriorate faster than expected due to a failure by planners to account for the structures' impact on adjacent permafrost, according to new research.

How immune cells can be trained to fight infections

Posted: 24 Jun 2021 01:16 PM PDT

The body's immune cells fight off microbes and other invaders, and can also be reprogrammed or 'trained' to respond even more aggressively to such threats, report scientists who have discovered the fundamental rule underlying this process in a particular class of cells. Their findings could help pave the way for targeted strategies to enhance the immune system.

Light-harvesting nanoparticle catalysts show promise in quest for renewable carbon-based fuels

Posted: 24 Jun 2021 01:16 PM PDT

Researchers report that small quantities of useful molecules such as hydrocarbons are produced when carbon dioxide and water react in the presence of light and a silver nanoparticle catalyst. Their validation study - made possible through the use of a high-resolution analytical technique - could pave the way for CO2-reduction technologies that allow industrial-scale production of renewable carbon-based fuels.

Vegetation growth in Northern Hemisphere stunted by water constraints in warming climate

Posted: 24 Jun 2021 12:26 PM PDT

A new study of vegetation growth in the Northern Hemisphere over the past 30 years has found that vegetation is becoming increasingly water-limited as global temperatures increase, which has the potential to reduce plants' ability to absorb atmospheric CO2, increasing greenhouse gasses.