ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

Decoding a key part of the cell, atom by atom

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 12:29 PM PDT

A team led by André Hoelz has made two big leaps forward in our understanding of the nuclear pore complex, a vital cellular gateway.

The Earth moves far under our feet: A new study shows the inner core oscillates

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 12:29 PM PDT

Scientists have found evidence that the Earth's inner core oscillates, contradicting previously accepted models that posited it consistently rotates at a faster rate than the planet's surface.

How crops can better survive floods

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT

Researchers show which signaling pathways make plants more resistant to flooding. The molecule ethylene is a warning signal for plants that they are under water and switches on the emergency supply for survival without oxygen. A team shows that plants can survive longer without oxygen when pretreated with ethylene.

Despite dire warnings, monarch butterfly numbers are solid

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 09:02 AM PDT

Scientists have been warning for quite some time that monarch butterflies were slated for extinction due to diminishing winter colonies. But a new study found that warming temperatures and growth in the summer population of monarchs has compensated for losses during the winter. Researchers did preach continued caution, as the study did show continuing declines in other species of butterflies.

Ningaloo corals are ill-equipped to handle future climate change

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 06:13 AM PDT

The relatively pristine coral populations of WA's inshore Kimberley region are better equipped to survive ocean warming than the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park, according to a new study.

New research gives insights into how organelles divide in cells

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 01:03 PM PDT

A pioneering study has shed new light on how subcellular organelles divide and multiply.

Dogs inhale immunotherapy to test lung cancer treatment

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 12:58 PM PDT

An inhaled immunotherapy successfully treated cancer in some companion dogs as part of a clinical trial conducted by oncology and veterinary researchers. Results show potential for fighting cancer in humans as well.

How 'green islands' help forests regenerate after fire

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 12:58 PM PDT

A new study characterizes the role of fire refugia -- the green islands of live trees that remain after forest fires -- in forest regeneration following large and severe fires in the High Cascade mountains of Oregon and Washington. The results of this study can help determine when human intervention in the form of tree replanting is warranted, when it isn't, where replanting efforts should be targeted and what species should be prioritized. This is important to know since overplanting can be needlessly expensive and actually place forests at increased risk of future fires.

Hydrogen peroxide from tea and coffee residue: New pathway to sustainability

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 12:57 PM PDT

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important chemical, with a wide variety of applications. However, the current method used to manufacture H2O2 is expensive and generates a considerable amount of waste, making it an unsustainable approach. In this study, a group of researchers produced H2O2 from waste coffee grounds and tea leaves, and then demonstrated its industrial use. Their novel method proved to be simple, cost-effective, and most importantly, sustainable.

'Good' bacteria to tackle depression

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 12:57 PM PDT

Intestinal flora plays an important role in health -- including mental health. Researchers have shown that probiotics can support the effect of antidepressants and help to alleviate depression.

Climate economics: Policies change people

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 12:57 PM PDT

The makers of climate policy should rethink how people think: Researchers show that abiding by climate-friendly policies actually changes the way people think about what they do. People's preferences are more dynamic than textbook economics often assumes. The researchers' advice to policy makers is to take changing preferences into account when tailoring policies like carbon taxes or building low-carbon infrastructure.

Drought-exposure history improves recovery of grassland communities from subsequent drought

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 12:57 PM PDT

When a plant community is exposed to drought, the different species undergo evolutionary changes. An international study with UZH participation now shows that this leads to improved resilience to future drought stress over time.

Studying grassland from space

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 10:19 AM PDT

Extensively used grassland is host to a high degree of biodiversity, and performs an important climate protection function as a carbon sink and also serves for fodder and food production. However, these ecosystem services are jeopardized if productivity on these lands is maximized and their use therefore intensified. Researchers have now described how satellite data and machine learning methods enable to assess land-use intensity.

Artificial intelligence reveals a never-before described 3D structure in rotavirus spike protein

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 10:18 AM PDT

The tip of rotavirus B spike protein is not only totally different from the corresponding structure in rotavirus A and C, but also no other protein before had been reported to have this structure.

Lack of environmental awareness and preference for variety leading causes of waste in fast-fashion production

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 07:00 AM PDT

Researchers identify why the fast fashion business model creates waste and whether regulators can establish incentives for consumers and manufacturers are steps to reducing waste.

Air pollution gets worse during winter at airports

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 07:00 AM PDT

Researchers found that airports situated in colder climates accumulated more pollutants like PM2.5 in the fall and winter, compared to airports in milder climates.

Targeting mosquito spit to halt Yellow Fever, Dengue and Zika

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:13 PM PDT

A molecule in mosquito spit has been identified as a potential new target for vaccination against a range of diseases for which there is no protection or medicine. Researchers have discovered that the molecule, called sialokinin, makes it easier for a number of viruses to pass from mosquitoes to human, where they can then take hold -- leading to unpleasant and potentially deadly diseases including Yellow Fewer, Dengue and Zika.

Opening of doors on passenger ships increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission, new study finds

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 11:29 AM PDT

A study has revealed that leaving open a cabin door on small passenger ships can increase the spread of COVID-19, contrary to advice for other environments.

Kelp connecting Southern Ocean coasts, genomics reveals

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:24 AM PDT

The DNA of kelp has enabled scientists to show just how interconnected coastal communities of the Southern Ocean are. A new study carried out genomic analyses of bull kelp washed up over decades in Antarctica, New Zealand and Australia.

Higher socioeconomic status linked to increased air pollution exposure in China

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 06:14 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered that people living in China who have a higher socioeconomic status are actually more exposed to outdoor air pollution, also known as ambient air pollution. This finding runs contrary to existing studies conducted throughout North America, which have shown that higher pollution levels tend to be experienced among people with lower socioeconomic status.

Separating tiny bacteria by shape: Simple tech for E. coli sorting

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 06:14 AM PDT

Researchers use a viscoelastic material flowing through a microfluidic chip to sort E. coli bacteria based on their degree of elongation. By using this 'lab-on-a-chip' device, scientists may be able to set up more reproducible experiments, as well monitor the progression of bacterial infections at a patient's bedside.