Feature Channels: Environmental Health

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A new study paves the way to understanding biotic recovery after an ecological crisis in the Mediterranean Sea about 5.5 million years ago.

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Nearly half of the world’s land surface is now classified as drylands and these areas are accelerating their own proliferation, according to new research.

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Researchers have received a $650,000 NSF grant to investigate the cultural dimensions of ecological instability by studying the experiences of vulnerable communities in South Florida and Puerto Rico. Using ethnography, they will capture the nuanced ways in which communities are responding to ecological disruptions. Understanding how cultures adapt to ecological instability can provide valuable insights for communities worldwide, including those in the Caribbean. By documenting and analyzing these responses, researchers can develop and refine strategies to enhance collective survival.

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From R&D to national lab/corporate partnerships, commercialization, and community engagement, Georgia Tech is at the forefront of developing and deploying negative emissions technologies, such as direct air capture.

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An internationally collaborative study delves into how fluctuating rainfall impacts the development of sea turtle hatchlings, revealing that it has a more profound effect than changes in air temperature. Regional weather influences incubation and hatchling development and the impact of rainfall varies between species. For loggerhead turtles, heavier rainfall results in hatchlings with smaller carapaces (shell) but greater weight, while green turtle hatchlings grow smaller carapaces without a change in body mass.

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Not all communities in the United States face the same risks for environmental problems such as air pollution, noise and wastewater. But how can federal agencies fairly identify which areas deserve the most help?

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A new, biomass-based material developed by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers can be used to repeatedly capture and release carbon dioxide. The material is primarily made from lignin, an organic molecule that is a main component of wood and other plants, and it can take up carbon dioxide (CO2) from concentrated sources or directly from the air.

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Parents who recently experienced intimate partner violence reported more parenting stress and higher potential for child maltreatment, and were less likely to use positive parenting strategies, according to UTHealth Houston research published Aug. 26, 2024, in JAMA Pediatrics.

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For children and teens these days, going back to school doesn’t only mean new, color-coded notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils. It also means increased academic pressures, heightened social anxiety and less free time as extracurricular activities fill up the calendar.

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Leaders from the Department of Energy (DOE) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory celebrated the construction of the foundations for the lab’s newest facility on August 21, 2024. The Seismic Safety and Modernization (SSM) project is replacing the previous cafeteria building, which served the lab for 70 years. (The previous facility could not meet today’s standards for resilience in case of an earthquake, among other issues.) In contrast, the new facility has a 47,000-square-foot state-of-the-art design. It will encompass food service and conference facilities. The building will also be a home for operations services such as security, human resources, and the Health Services Clinic.

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The College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has established the Centre for Environment and Ageing Well (ENgAGE) to take the lead in enhancing living environments that foster the physical, psychological and social well-being of individuals across all age groups, particularly in response to the challenges brought about by demographic shifts and climate change.

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Three years ago, Jessica Sheth Bhutada, MD, was researching rates of metastatic cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) when she noticed a disturbing trend.

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A study out of Michigan State University found that nondeceptive placebos, or placebos given with people fully knowing they are placebos, effectively manage stress — even when the placebos are administered remotely.

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What populates Alabama's William Bankhead National Forest? Trees might be the first thing that come to mind -- or maybe deer. But a lot of sophisticated scientific instruments are joining the natural forest occupants thanks to a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) research facility being set up there to study connections between the forest and atmosphere.

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A study led by the University of Minnesota and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory sheds light on the origins and ultimate fate of organic carbon by resolving distinct components that cycle at different rates.

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Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, signed an MOU with Yunus Centre, the world’s leading organization in social development. This MOU aims to pave the way for further collaboration and foster the “power of change” to drive Thai society toward a sustainable future. This collaboration will focus on combining the knowledge, experience, and resources of both organizations in projects and activities.

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A crucial study reveals significant alterations in growth, photosynthetic activity, and gene expression of freshwater algae due to cerium oxide nanoparticles. This research highlights the complex interactions between these microscopic pollutants and key aquatic producers, providing essential insights into the ecological impacts of nanomaterial pollution.

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Researchers from Empa, the University of Bristol and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) have investigated the emissions of the potent greenhouse gas HFC-23 from the production of Teflon and coolants. Their study shows: Abatement measures work – but are not being implemented everywhere.