Feature Channels: Environmental Science

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Researchers used dual-nozzle 3D printing technology to construct plant-based yellow croaker tissue analogs by soy protein isolate–xanthan gum-starch complex (as simulated muscle ink) and nanostarch-carrageenan emulsion gel (as simulated fat ink). Successfully, indicators of testing demonstrated that 3D-printed plant-based yellow croaker flesh with a composite structure had a good simulation quality.

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A newly published study sheds light on the intricate relationship between the 2024 M 7.6 Noto Hanto earthquake and a significant earthquake swarm that began beneath Japan's Noto Peninsula in November 2020. This research, conducted by a team of international experts including Professor Zhigang Peng and his student Phuc Mach at Georgia Tech, Dr. Xinglin Lei at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan, Dr. Qing-Yu Wang at Université Grenoble Alpes, France, and other researchers in China, Japan and France, offers a detailed analysis of the seismic activity leading up to and following the devastating earthquake.

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The ETH spin-off Synhelion has recently inaugurated the world's first industrial plant for the production of solar fuels in Germany. The heart of the plant contains a piece of Empa technology: Together with Synhelion, Empa researchers have developed a material for the high-temperature thermal energy storage system that allows the plant to remain in operation 24/7.

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A pivotal study has revealed the gap-free genome of Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' (CRC), providing new insights into the biosynthetic pathways of flavonoids that contribute to the fruit’s distinct flavor and health benefits. By mapping the metabolic changes of these compounds across various stages of fruit development, the research paves the way for enhancing the nutritional value of citrus fruits.

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A pivotal study has uncovered the dual role of the Solanum lycopersicum Synaptotagmin A (SYTA) SlSYTA protein in regulating tomato plants' immune response. Researchers found that while SlSYTA overexpression heightens vulnerability to pathogens, its suppression through genetic modification enhances resistance. This discovery paves the way for developing disease-resistant crops, potentially revolutionizing sustainable agriculture and food security.

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A recent study has revealed the genetic mechanisms behind transgenerational phenotypic plasticity—a crucial factor in plant adaptation to environmental changes. By investigating Arabidopsis thaliana grown under different light conditions across generations, researchers demonstrated how maternal environments shape offspring traits. These findings could inform new strategies for crop improvement and ecological conservation.

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A recent review offers critical insights into the graft healing process in plants, a key aspect of successful asexual reproduction. By examining the complex interactions between phytohormones, environmental factors, and molecular mechanisms, researchers have unveiled new strategies to strengthen plant unions, potentially boosting crop yields and resilience to environmental stress.

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Some of the most dramatic climatic events in our planet’s history are “Snowball Earth” events that happened hundreds of millions of years ago, when almost the entire planet was encased in ice up to 0.6 miles thick. New research from the University of Washington provides a more complete picture for how the last Snowball Earth event ended, and suggests why it preceded a dramatic expansion of life on Earth, including the emergence of the first animals.

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The strategy group will draw from California’s research and higher education communities to recommend a new, publicly accessible data source to predict future wildfire losses. This effort will support California’s goals of building safer communities and expanding access to insurance coverage.  “We can’t keep our Department and Californians in the dark ages when it comes to the use of technology and climate science.

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Texas A&M AgriLife home to world’s top animal science researchers, according to Research.com

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The WCS Library and Archives, based at the Bronx Zoo, released its newly digitized Department of Tropical Research (DTR) Film Collection. The project was funded by the Council on Library and Information Resources’ (CLIR) Recordings at Risk grant, supported by the Mellon Foundation.

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In a pivotal advancement for environmental conservation, researchers have pioneered piezoelectric techniques to efficiently degrade organic pollutants in water. This green approach converts mechanical stress into catalytic action, offering a sustainable and efficient method for water purification without relying on external energy sources.

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Groundwater serves as a vital resource, yet dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contaminants pose a significant threat to its quality. New research delves into how the 3D microstructures of porous media influence DNAPL migration and the efficacy of surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR), offering promising solutions for subsurface clean-up.

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A team of international scientists alarmed by the loss of biodiversity across the world due to climate change has proposed a new approach to managing vulnerable landscapes, focusing on sites that are least impacted by changing weather.

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A species of semi-aquatic lizard produces a special bubble over its nostrils to breathe underwater and avoid predators, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

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New study challenges previous assertions of Gulf Stream slowdown

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Florida State University researchers at the Coastal and Marine Laboratory and the School of Communication are working to educate the public and help clean up Wakulla Springs, thanks to funding from the Florida Legislature.

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As Utah’s Great Salt Lake shrinks, exposing more of its playa, concerns grow about the dust the dry lakebed emits. University of Utah scientists find sediments in the exposed lakebed show elevated 'oxidative potential,' indicating greater risk to human health.

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A Texas A&M AgriLife Research team is working to find crop varieties, starting with sorghum, that will minimize that escaped nitrogen, thus reducing input costs for farmers and greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

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Research by the University of Pittsburgh shows that state and federal appropriations allowing Pennsylvania to treat abandoned mine drainage works to both successfully and cost effectively clean up acidic water. But their research also shows funding is insufficient for long-term treatment for mine drainage and other abandoned mine hazards