Retired wind turbine blades can be hard to repurpose because of their typically non-recyclable composite materials - which can include fiberglassEstormiz / Wikimedia CommonsWind turbines provide an excellent source of clean energy, but disposing of them when they are decommissioned presents a major challenge. Researchers in China have discovered a practical method to recycle...
Credit: PixabayUsing scented products indoors alters the air chemistry, generating as much pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers warn that breathing in these tiny particles could have serious health consequences.Indoor Air Pollution from Common Household ItemsWhen you hear or think about "air pollution," you likely associate it...
Octopus Spring, a thermal spring at Yellowstone National Park's Lower Geyser Basin, contains higher levels of oxygen than the neighbouring Conch Spring. (Bill Wight CA/Getty Images)Recent research from Montana State University suggests that microbial life in Yellowstone’s Lower Geyser Basin could provide insight into the evolution of how life adapted to use oxygen.The microorganisms living...
Scientists have discovered a bacterium that can break down toxic "forever chemicals" DepositphotosThe so-called "forever chemicals" (PFAS) are increasingly present in the environment, food, drinking water, and even our bodies. However, researchers may have found a new solution to this problem: a bacterium capable of consuming these compounds and their toxic byproducts.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances...
Blue rings visible in one of the tree samples. (Pawel Matulewski/Liliana Siekacz)A simple blue stain may unlock trees’ memories of cold summers and volcanic winters, offering scientists a precise new tool to reconstruct ancient climates through timber anatomy.By combining the biological stains safranin and astra blue, researchers can highlight areas with low lignin, a compound...
Credit: PixabayKeeping global warming under 2°C—the fallback goal of the Paris Agreement—is now "impossible," according to a controversial new study by prominent climatologist James Hansen and his team. Published in Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, the paper argues that Earth's climate is more sensitive to greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought.Adding to...
Sea surface temperature anomalies for 27 January 2025. The deeper the warm colors, the more anomalously high the sea temperature is. (NOAA)The sharp rise in global temperatures since 2023 has fueled relentless disasters worldwide, from the still-burning LA fires to the deadly Valencia floods, leaving scientists scrambling for answers.New ocean data suggests a key culprit:...
Credit: PixabaySince 1979, the Arctic has warmed almost four times faster than the global average. Svalbard, an archipelago off Greenland's northeast coast, is experiencing climate change at an even faster rate, warming up to seven times quicker than the rest of the planet.More than half of Svalbard is covered by glaciers, and if they...
Credit: PixabayFirefighters tackling the devastating wildfires that swept through the Los Angeles area in January 2025 faced challenges due to limited freshwater supplies.When conditions allow, experienced pilots operating aircraft known as Super Scoopers collect 1,500 gallons of seawater at a time, delivering it with pinpoint accuracy to combat the flames.Using seawater to fight fires...
Credit: DepositphotosWaves rippling from Earth's core provide valuable clues about its composition and the distribution of its materials.Researchers from ETH Zurich and Caltech have used seismic waves to uncover unexpected chunks of Earth's plates in surprising locations. For over a century, geologists have mapped Earth's interior by analyzing how seismic signals travel at different...
