Feature Channels: Pollution

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Methane, a greenhouse gas over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, continues to seep into the atmosphere from landfills, fossil fuel operations, and agricultural sources. Tackling these diffuse emissions has been a persistent challenge—until now. A new scientific review highlights biofiltration, a nature-based solution that enlists methane-eating microbes, as a promising tool for mitigating this invisible threat. The review offers a deep dive into the biological and engineering principles behind biofiltration, evaluates its real-world effectiveness, and outlines targeted strategies to enhance system performance. From microbial metabolism to pollutant synergy, this study builds a scientific roadmap for integrating methane biofilters into broader climate action.

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A recent study presents a practical approach to addressing both industrial waste and carbon emissions through material innovation. Researchers have developed a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) by repurposing waste proteins and heavy metals from industrial wastewater. These components are transformed into nickel single-atom catalysts (Ni SACs), which demonstrate high efficiency in converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbon monoxide (CO). The electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (ECO₂RR) achieved a Faradaic efficiency of up to 96% and maintained stability under high current conditions. This approach not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also provides a resource-efficient use for industrial byproducts, supporting carbon neutrality and circular economy goals.

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A sweeping new analysis unpacks the complex role of iron-based nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) in agriculture, revealing a delicate balance between benefit and risk. Synthesizing findings from 57 peer-reviewed studies, researchers examined how Fe-NPs influence plant growth and soil health, especially under polluted conditions. The results are striking: these particles can enhance plant biomass and limit pollutant absorption, offering new tools for remediation. Yet, at higher concentrations, they may hinder plant pigment production and disrupt soil microbiomes. As scientists race to unlock the potential of nanotechnology in farming, this study provides a critical roadmap for using Fe-NPs safely and effectively.

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according to research published in ACS ES&T Air, efforts to limit mercury emissions may be working. Researchers found that atmospheric mercury levels have decreased by almost 70% in the last 20 years, mainly because human-caused emissions have been reduced.

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In a sweeping new study of more than 13,000 urban areas worldwide, researchers have mapped air pollution levels and carbon dioxide emissions, providing comprehensive global analysis of urban environmental quality.

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Parasites are crucial indicators of ecosystem health, and their absence can signal trouble. Once pristine, Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL) now faces pollution and algal blooms that have damaged essential habitats like seagrass beds. New research finds parasite levels in the IRL are significantly lower than in comparable ecosystems worldwide – 11% lower overall and 17% lower for larval parasites requiring multiple hosts. This sharp decline suggests a disrupted food web likely caused by pollution and habitat degradation, and a less resilient and more vulnerable ecosystem.

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The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer. Previously, researchers proposed using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water.

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Two teams of campus-affiliated entrepreneurs, in partnership with programs such as the ISU Startup Factory, are turning their ideas into startup companies producing energy.

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An international team of scientists has moved beyond just “scratching the surface,” to understand how microplastics move through and impact the global ocean. For the first time, scientists have mapped microplastic distribution from the surface to the deep sea at a global scale – revealing not only where plastics accumulate, but how they infiltrate critical ocean systems.

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A new thermal treatment technique being developed by researchers at the University of Miami College of Engineering could help destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil, leading to the potential demise of “forever chemicals.”

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Those who climb indoors are doing something for their health. But climbing shoes contain chemicals of concern that can enter the lungs of climbers through the abrasion of the soles. In a recent study, researchers from the University of Vienna and EPFL Lausanne have shown for the first time that high concentrations of potentially harmful chemicals from climbing shoe soles can be found in the air of bouldering gyms, in some cases higher than on a busy street. The results have been published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Air.

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University of South Australia scientists have developed a highly sensitive method to detect illegal opioids and a veterinary sedative in Australia’s wastewater system, providi...

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Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Traditional methods for measuring these emissions are often limited by their focus on individual compounds, leading to incomplete emission profiles.

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A new study published by researchers at the University at Albany has presented the first documented evidence that Adirondack surface waters made a near full recovery from metal pollution since the enactment of the Clean Air Act.

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Do you know what's in your water? Yuxin Wang from Binghamton University, State University of New York studies contaminants in water called PFAS, more commonly known as "forever chemicals."