Environmental Science Archives - Page 8 of 20 - Scitke

Previously Unknown Chemical Discovered in Drinking Water

Drinking water in developed countries is generally clean, yet invisible contaminants can still pose risks. For decades, scientists have puzzled over a mysterious “phantom chemical” in treated water. Now, researchers have identified this elusive compound, revealing it as entirely new to science. The Mystery of Chloramine By-Products Chlorination is a common method for disinfecting drinking […]

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Scientists Alarmed by Unprecedented Coral Death in the Great Barrier Reef

Australian research revealed on Tuesday that certain areas of the Great Barrier Reef have experienced the highest recorded coral mortality, with scientists concerned that other parts of the reef may have been affected in the same way. Coral Mortality and Environmental Stressors on the Great Barrier Reef However, the Australian Institute of Marine Science reported

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Solar Still Made of Old Tires Purifies Water at Less Than 1c/Liter

Earth Science, Environmental Science / Eduardo Paulo

Canadian scientists have developed an innovative device that can purify a gallon of water per day for just a few cents. Even better, this sustainable purifier is made from recycled tires and can also generate small amounts of electricity. Innovative Solar Still Turns Undrinkable Water into Safe Drinking Water While Earth has abundant water, much

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Dark Oxygen Discovered in the Ocean: What Does It Mean?

Earth Science, Environmental Science / Valeriano Ndeyi

Plants, 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 marine

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Greenhouse Gas Concentrations Reach Record Levels as Scientists Raise Concerns

Earth Science, Environmental Science / Ngoma Manuel

In 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 UN’s

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Miracle Powder Removes CO2 from the Air More Effectively than Any Other Solution

Earth Science, Environmental Science / Valeriano Ndeyi

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a powdery material that adsorbs carbon dioxide with remarkable efficiency. Just 200 grams (about 0.5 pounds) can capture 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of CO2, equivalent to what a tree absorbs in a year. It’s known as COF-999, short for Covalent Organic Frameworks. This term describes a

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A New Type of Plastic Breaks Down in the Ocean More Quickly than Paper

Earth Science, Environmental Science / cumbonguala

Researchers 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 that a common bioplastic, which has been in use for over a century, biodegrades quickly, and they have figured out ways to speed up this process.

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Hurricane Milton is Set to Hit Florida, with More Storms Predicted

Climatology, Earth Science, Environmental Science / Marcílio Santos

Following 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 consecutive

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Storm Clouds Produce Unusual Gamma Radiation

Earth Science, Environmental Science / Leandro Conceição

Thor 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 stranger. Although lightning strikes are highly energetic, they’re not the most powerful part of a storm. Gamma radiation

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As Temperatures Rise, Researchers Reveal How Plants Respond

Climatology, Earth Science, Environmental Science / Ana Manuel

Tiny 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 transpiration,

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