Credit: PixabayPlants, whether in the ocean or on land, largely produce the oxygen essential for intelligent life as we know it through photosynthesis of carbon dioxide. However, new research suggests that depths with no light might generate oxygen without relying on living organisms.The authors of the study, published in Nature Geoscience, collected samples of...
Credit: PixabayIn 2023, greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere hit new record highs, ensuring future temperature rises for years ahead, the United Nations cautioned on Monday.The levels of the three primary greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which contribute to climate warming—have all risen once more over the past year, according to the...
COF-999, shown here in its form of a yellow powder, adsorbs a huge quantity of CO2 at room temperature, and can be reused at least 100 timesZihui Zhou / UC BerkeleyResearchers at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a powdery material that adsorbs carbon dioxide with remarkable efficiency. Just 200 grams (about 0.5...
A prototype straw (who would ever have thought those two words would be used together?) developed by Eastman made of foam CDA for testing its biodegradability WHOIResearchers have spent recent years investigating which type of plastic biodegrades most rapidly in marine environments, as millions of tons of plastic enter our oceans each year. They discovered...
Credit: PixabayFollowing an unusually calm August, the Atlantic hurricane season is intensifying. Hurricane Milton, now a Category 4 storm, is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday night, while the state is still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene just under two weeks ago.According to experts speaking to Business Insider, these...
An artist's impression of the NASA research plane flying over thunderstorm systems to detect gamma ray emissionsNASA/ALOFT teamThor and the Hulk might share more in common than previously believed. While it's known that thunderstorms generate gamma rays in the atmosphere, a new study reveals they occur far more frequently than expected and are even...
Credit: PixabayTiny openings on the surface of leaves, known as stomata, allow plants to "breathe" by regulating water loss through evaporation. These pores also manage the intake of carbon dioxide necessary for photosynthesis and growth.Since the 19th century, scientists have known that plants widen their stomatal pores to release water vapor, or "sweat," through...
Credit: PixabayResearchers at the University of California, Davis, discovered that prolonged smoke exposure from large wildfires depletes orchard trees' energy reserves and can slash nut production by 50%. The smoke impacts trees for months following a megafire, reducing their bloom and next season's yield. This highlights a new wildfire-related threat to plant health in...
Credit: PixabayA recent report from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) warns that the world's oceans are nearing a level of acidity that could jeopardize marine life and climate stability. The report outlines nine key factors essential for maintaining the planet's capacity to support life.Recent years have seen human activity push the...
Cows that were fed a modified form of halloysite clay had up to 30% less methane in their burps. Credit: PixabayIf you’re not aware, methane from cow burps significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. However, a recent study suggests a potential solution: feeding cows clay can cut their methane emissions by more than 30%.Yes,...
