Feature Channels: Environmental Health

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Released: 10-May-2024 10:05 AM EDT
Making batteries takes lots of lithium. Almost half of it could come from Pennsylvania wastewater.
University of Pittsburgh

A new analysis using compliance data from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection suggests that if it could be extracted with complete efficiency, lithium from the wastewater of Marcellus shale gas wells could supply up to 40% of the country’s demand. The research is by University of Pittsburgh and National Energy Technology Laboratory scientists.

Newswise: Turning trash into treasure: breakthrough innovations in PET plastic upcycling
Released: 9-May-2024 11:05 AM EDT
Turning trash into treasure: breakthrough innovations in PET plastic upcycling
Chinese Academy of Sciences

A recent review has unveiled revolutionary methods to recycle and transform everyday polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into valuable materials. By harnessing cutting-edge enzymes and catalysts, the review dramatically improves how we break down and reuse PET, slashing energy use and emissions.

Released: 8-May-2024 2:05 PM EDT
Argonne to launch new project to decarbonize iron production
Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory will be receiving $3 million over three years to lead a project on developing a technology for ironmaking with zero carbon emissions and lower required energy.

Released: 7-May-2024 4:05 PM EDT
The Expansion of Offshore Drilling by Oil Companies
Newswise

In a bold move, oil companies are significantly ramping up their offshore drilling operations, reflecting a global surge in demand for energy.

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Released: 6-May-2024 9:05 AM EDT
Expert says fireflies aren’t going extinct, but their numbers are dwindling
Virginia Tech

For many people, fireflies lighting up backyards is a sign of summertime. The thrill of catching them in a jar and releasing them back into the wild is a childhood pastime. But if you have noticed a decline in fireflies over the years, you’re not alone. Virginia Tech entomologist Eric Day explains why climate and urban development are playing a big role in the decreasing numbers.

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VIDEO
Released: 2-May-2024 9:05 AM EDT
New process tackles pollution on two fronts: plastic waste and fuel emissions
Ames National Laboratory

A team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory recently developed a chemical conversion process that makes diesel out of plastic waste.

Newswise: Researchers offer US roadmap to close the carbon cycle
Released: 1-May-2024 3:05 PM EDT
Researchers offer US roadmap to close the carbon cycle
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and six other Department of Energy national laboratories have developed a United States-based perspective for achieving net-zero carbon emissions. The roadmap was recently published in the journal Nature Reviews Chemistry.

Newswise: Roadmap to Close the Carbon Cycle
Released: 1-May-2024 11:05 AM EDT
Roadmap to Close the Carbon Cycle
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Reaching net-zero carbon emissions goals requires finding transformative paths to manage carbon in difficult-to-electrify economic sectors.

Newswise: Discovery of uranium-contaminated soil purification material without secondary environmental pollution
Released: 30-Apr-2024 8:00 AM EDT
Discovery of uranium-contaminated soil purification material without secondary environmental pollution
National Research Council of Science and Technology

The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) has conducted research on a nano-material-based adsorption process to efficiently remove uranium wastewater extracted from actual radioactive-contaminated soil. They have also proposed its applicability to prevent secondary environmental pollutions.

Newswise: Penn Medicine marks Earth Day by signing national Health Sector Climate Pledge
Released: 22-Apr-2024 3:05 PM EDT
Penn Medicine marks Earth Day by signing national Health Sector Climate Pledge
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

In a public commitment to become the most environmentally friendly health care organization in the nation and lead the industry to reduce its outsized impact on climate change, Penn Medicine has signed the ambitious Health Sector Climate Pledge, promising to significantly cut and, eventually, eliminate its carbon emissions by 2042.

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VIDEO
11-Apr-2024 5:05 PM EDT
VIDEO AND TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE: Florida Climate Report: Expert Panel Live Event Reporter Q&A
Newswise

Climate experts from Florida Atlantic University, Archbold Biological Station, and Live Wildly Foundation will speak and answer questions from the media on the Florida Wildlife Corridor (FLWC) and Climate Change managing Florida’s Natural and Human Landscapes for Prosperity and Resilience

   
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VIDEO
11-Apr-2024 12:00 PM EDT
Florida Wildlife Corridor Eases Worst Impacts of Climate Change
Florida Atlantic University

Florida is projected to lose 3.5 million acres of land to development by 2070. A new study highlights how Florida can buffer itself against both climate change and population pressures by conserving the remaining 8 million acres of “opportunity areas” within the Florida Wildlife Corridor (FLWC), the only designated statewide corridor in the U.S.

Newswise: New report ‘braids’ Indigenous and Western knowledge for forest adaptation strategies against climate change
Released: 10-Apr-2024 10:00 AM EDT
New report ‘braids’ Indigenous and Western knowledge for forest adaptation strategies against climate change
University of Washington

Severe droughts and wildfires, invasive species, and large insect outbreaks are straining national forests and surrounding lands. A new report outlines a new approach to forest stewardship that “braids together” Indigenous knowledge and Western science to conserve and restore more resilient forestlands in the U.S.

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Released: 10-Apr-2024 8:30 AM EDT
FAU Lands $1.3 Million Grant to ‘Clean Up’ Stinky Seaweed in Florida
Florida Atlantic University

Once Sargassum deluges beaches, removing, disposing and repurposing the seaweed presents many logistical and economic challenges. Cleaning up these huge piles of annoying seaweed while protecting these critical habitats at the same time is a precarious struggle.

Released: 8-Apr-2024 7:05 PM EDT
Climate, environment and sustainability experts from CU Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder scientists explore ways to help people and communities around the world become more resilient to a changing climate.

Newswise: Illinois study identifies atmospheric and economic drivers of global air pollution
Released: 8-Apr-2024 4:05 PM EDT
Illinois study identifies atmospheric and economic drivers of global air pollution
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Carbon monoxide emissions from industrial production have serious consequences for human health and are a strong indicator of overall air pollution levels. Many countries aim to reduce their emissions, but they cannot control air flows originating in other regions.

Newswise: UNC Wilmington Among Universities Receiving Instruments for PFAS Research
Released: 28-Mar-2024 11:05 AM EDT
UNC Wilmington Among Universities Receiving Instruments for PFAS Research
University of North Carolina Wilmington

UNC Wilmington faculty have been equipped with a cutting-edge instrument from the North Carolina Collaboratory and Thermo Fisher Scientific to advance research on the impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination on the environment and public health.

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VIDEO
Released: 28-Mar-2024 8:30 AM EDT
Going ‘Back to the Future’ to Forecast the Fate of a Dead Florida Coral Reef
Florida Atlantic University

How coral populations expand into new areas and sustain themselves over time is limited by the scope of modern observations. Going back thousands of years, a study provides geological insights into coral range expansions by reconstructing the composition of a Late Holocene-aged subfossil coral death assemblage in S.E. Florida and comparing it to modern reefs throughout the region.

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VIDEO
Released: 27-Mar-2024 10:00 PM EDT
Open waste burning linked to air pollution in Northwestern Greenland
Hokkaido University

A case study on the effects of open waste burning on air quality in Northwestern Greenland calls attention to the importance of no-one-left-behind sustainable air quality monitoring in the Arctic region.

Newswise: Twist of groundwater contaminants
Released: 27-Mar-2024 12:00 AM EDT
Twist of groundwater contaminants
National Research Council of Science and Technology

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that a team of Dr. Seunghak Lee, Jaeshik Chung, and Sang Hyun Kim from the Water Resources Cycle Research Center has discovered that the natural purification of groundwater is enhanced by nitrate, a known pollutant.

Newswise: ORNL, University of Kentucky focus on clean energy in Appalachia
Released: 26-Mar-2024 3:05 PM EDT
ORNL, University of Kentucky focus on clean energy in Appalachia
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosted the second annual Appalachian Carbon Forum in Lexington March 7-8, 2024, where ORNL and University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research scientists led discussions with representatives from industry, government and academia to discuss ways to transition to clean energy.

Released: 26-Mar-2024 3:05 PM EDT
Curbside collection improves organic waste composting, reduces methane emissions
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Composting food and garden waste instead of sending it to landfills can significantly reduce methane emissions and help mitigate global warming. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores the effects of curbside compost collection programs in New South Wales, Australia.

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Released: 22-Mar-2024 4:05 PM EDT
Science Is the Best (Local, Regional, National, Global) Policy
Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI)

Mercury studies in Indonesia. Climate change studies in Tanzania. Biodiversity studies in South Dakota. Marine mammal surveys in the Atlantic Ocean.

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Released: 22-Mar-2024 3:05 PM EDT
Science Outside the Box
Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI)

The ocean covers approximately 70 percent of Earth’s surface and is the largest livable space on our planet. Deep below there exists a realm inhabited by a wide variety of marine mammals—whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and manatees—that embody a mysterious and profound connection to cultures worldwide.

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Released: 22-Mar-2024 3:05 PM EDT
Heroes in the Wild
Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI)

Dynamic Duo Brave High Seas for High Stakes

Newswise: Say Hello to Biodegradable Microplastics
Released: 21-Mar-2024 5:00 AM EDT
Say Hello to Biodegradable Microplastics
University of California San Diego

Finding viable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics and microplastics has never been more important. New research from scientists at UC San Diego and Algenesis shows that their plant-based polymers biodegrade — even at the microplastic level — in under seven months.

Newswise:Video Embedded crawfish-could-transfer-ionic-lithium-from-their-environment-into-food-chain
VIDEO
11-Mar-2024 11:45 PM EDT
Crawfish could transfer ionic lithium from their environment into food chain
American Chemical Society (ACS)

The increasing use of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries likely means more environmental contamination. Researchers have explored how lithium accumulates in crawfish, with implications for the environment and public health. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

   
Newswise: Conservation Value of Field Research Stations Greatly Misunderstood and Underfunded According to 173 Conservation Scientists in New Study
Released: 19-Mar-2024 10:05 AM EDT
Conservation Value of Field Research Stations Greatly Misunderstood and Underfunded According to 173 Conservation Scientists in New Study
Wildlife Conservation Society

Funding of field conservation research stations worldwide has been drastically reduced since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising the alarm for more than 170 conservation researchers representing 157 field stations in 56 countries in a new paper published in Conservation Letters.

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VIDEO
11-Mar-2024 11:45 PM EDT
Is food waste the key to sustainable, plastic-free diapers and sanitary pads?
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Many disposable diapers and sanitary pads contain plastic and need centuries to decompose. Now, researchers are replacing the plastic with parts made from food waste. That could lead to biodegradable diapers and pads that could be used as fertilizer. They’ll present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

Released: 18-Mar-2024 2:05 PM EDT
New research finds boreal arctic wetlands are producing more methane over time
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Researchers — including the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Min Chen and Fa Li — have developed a new model that combines several data sources and uses physics-guided machine learning to more accurately understand methane emissions in the boreal arctic region.

Newswise: Unlocking the Climate Secrets of North China with Ancient Tree Rings
Released: 15-Mar-2024 9:15 AM EDT
Unlocking the Climate Secrets of North China with Ancient Tree Rings
Chinese Academy of Sciences

A recent study published in the Journal of Geographical Sciences in December 2023 reveals a novel method for reconstructing historical warm season temperatures in North China. Utilizing the blue intensity (BI) of tree rings of Picea meyeri, researchers have developed a 281-year chronology, offering unprecedented insights into the region’s climatic past.

Newswise: Revealing Nature's Secrets from Space: Satellite Data Unlocks Drought's Impact on Southwest China's Carbon Cycle
Released: 15-Mar-2024 9:05 AM EDT
Revealing Nature's Secrets from Space: Satellite Data Unlocks Drought's Impact on Southwest China's Carbon Cycle
Chinese Academy of Sciences

A new study reveals a significant increase in aboveground carbon (AGC) in Southwest China from 2013 to 2021, defying the adverse effects of extreme droughts. This achievement underscores the region's pivotal role as a carbon sink, attributed to extensive ecological projects and innovative remote sensing techniques.

Newswise: China's Urban Jungles: How City Parks are Winning the Battle Against Concrete
Released: 15-Mar-2024 9:05 AM EDT
China's Urban Jungles: How City Parks are Winning the Battle Against Concrete
Chinese Academy of Sciences

Recent studies highlight a significant transformation in China’s urban landscape, where the greening of city cores is compensating for vegetation loss in expanding urban areas.

Newswise: A Green Revolution: How Our Forests are Changing and What It Means for the Planet
Released: 15-Mar-2024 7:10 AM EDT
A Green Revolution: How Our Forests are Changing and What It Means for the Planet
Chinese Academy of Sciences

A recent study reveals significant shifts in the composition of global forests and their carbon stocks from 2001 to 2020.

Newswise:  Smart Water: How AI is Clearing the Waters in Urban Rivers
Released: 14-Mar-2024 9:00 AM EDT
Smart Water: How AI is Clearing the Waters in Urban Rivers
Chinese Academy of Sciences

Researchers have developed a new machine learning system to improve the accuracy and efficiency of sewer-river system models. This innovative approach, detailed in their latest publication, promises to significantly reduce parameter calibration time and enhance model precision in predicting urban water pollution.

Newswise: Asian Aerosols’ Impact on Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Released: 13-Mar-2024 2:05 PM EDT
Asian Aerosols’ Impact on Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Published in Nature Communications, Increased Asian Aerosols Drive a Slowdown of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, identifies the role aerosols over Asia is having on the AMOC, a complex system of currents in the Atlantic Ocean.

Newswise: Drought, Soil Desiccation Cracking, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: An Overlooked Feedback Loop Exacerbating Climate Change
Released: 13-Mar-2024 12:05 AM EDT
Drought, Soil Desiccation Cracking, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: An Overlooked Feedback Loop Exacerbating Climate Change
Tufts University

Soil stores 80 percent of carbon on earth, yet with increasing cycles of drought, that crucial reservoir is cracking and breaking down, releasing even more greenhouse gases creating an amplified feedback loop that could accelerate climate change.

Newswise: How Much Dam Water is Needed for Fish and Energy?
Released: 12-Mar-2024 4:05 PM EDT
How Much Dam Water is Needed for Fish and Energy?
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

New research identifies the most important factors in successful fish passage, pointing toward new options for flexible dam operations.

Released: 12-Mar-2024 10:50 AM EDT
Researchers Connect Declining Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide Levels to Rise in Legionnaires’ Disease
University at Albany, State University of New York

Declining atmospheric sulfur dioxide levels might be related to the global rise in Legionnaires’ disease, according to a new UAlbany study which examined trends in atmospheric sulfur dioxide, Legionnaires’ disease incidence, and the role of cooling towers in harboring Legionella.

Newswise: Eco-labeling: self or certification?
Released: 12-Mar-2024 8:05 AM EDT
Eco-labeling: self or certification?
Chinese Academy of Sciences

Researchers use game theory to analyze the eco-label strategy selection of the manufacturer in green supply chain.

Newswise: Breathing Easy: New Study Declares Waste-to-Energy Plants a Low Health Risk
Released: 12-Mar-2024 8:05 AM EDT
Breathing Easy: New Study Declares Waste-to-Energy Plants a Low Health Risk
Chinese Academy of Sciences

A recent study has highlighted the insignificant health hazards posed by the emissions from waste-to-energy (WtE) facilities in China's Bohai Rim. This investigation brings to light the negligible impact of WtE plant emissions on public health, grounded in sophisticated regression analysis techniques.

   
Released: 8-Mar-2024 5:05 PM EST
SMART Global Congress Set to Meet in Namibia, March 10-14
Wildlife Conservation Society

The SMART Partnership is pleased to announce the inaugural SMART Global Congress in Windhoek, Namibia from 10-14 March 2024.

Newswise: ECHO Project Uncovers How the Environment Shapes Kids’ Health
Released: 8-Mar-2024 4:05 PM EST
ECHO Project Uncovers How the Environment Shapes Kids’ Health
University of Utah Health

The study has led to more than a hundred scientific papers and recently received $14M in grant funding.

Newswise: An ecosystem roadmap: Apalachicola Bay System Initiative Community Advisory Board’s recommendations provide guide to sustainable fishery
Released: 7-Mar-2024 4:05 PM EST
An ecosystem roadmap: Apalachicola Bay System Initiative Community Advisory Board’s recommendations provide guide to sustainable fishery
Florida State University

Through the work of Florida State University’s Coastal & Marine Laboratory and the Apalachicola Bay System Initiative, there is a plan to help restore one of the country’s great fisheries.

   
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Released: 1-Mar-2024 9:05 AM EST
The environmental cost of Hollywood
University of Colorado Boulder

The environmental cost of Hollywood

Released: 28-Feb-2024 12:05 PM EST
Study finds drought fuels invasive species after wildfires
University of California, Irvine

Irvine, Calif., Feb. 28, 2024 — In a study recently published in the journal Ecology, University of California, Irvine scientists uncover the intricate dance between drought, wildfires and invasive species in Southern California’s coastal sage scrub ecosystems. Titled “Long-term drought promotes invasive species by reducing wildfire severity,” the research, led by Sarah Kimball, Ph.

Newswise: Want fewer microplastics in your tap water? Try boiling it first
23-Feb-2024 9:15 AM EST
Want fewer microplastics in your tap water? Try boiling it first
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Want to remove microplastics from water? Try brewing it for a cup of tea or coffee! Research reported in Environmental Science & Technology Letters shows that by boiling then filtering tap water, up to 90% of the nano- and microplastics present could be removed.



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