ScienceDaily: Environment - March 31, 2025
Top environment research news
Chewing gum can shed microplastics into saliva, pilot study finds
Plastic is everywhere in our daily lives. And much of what we use, such as cutting boards, clothes and cleaning sponges, can expose us to tiny, micrometer-wide plastic particles called microplastics. Now, chewing gum could be added to the list. In a pilot study, researchers found that chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece into saliva and potentially be ingested.
Drone experiment reveals how Greenland ice sheet is changing
A new study measured water vapor in Greenland's air, collecting data crucial for improving climate models and forecasting Arctic changes.
How a critical enzyme keeps potentially dangerous genes in check
The new study reveals a remarkable way that cells keep us safe from transposable elements (TEs) gone wild. The researchers found that cells have taken advantage of an entire protein network to repress TE activity and keep themselves healthy.
Why scientists are worried about weasels
Weasels are often difficult to capture on camera, making it hard for conservationists to track their population numbers. This study aimed to determine the best material to use as bait for camera traps when studying the weasels. Researchers found that red meat worked better than other options, especially when supplemented with scent oils.
New approach could treat anthrax beyond the 'point of no return'
Researchers show that a cocktail of growth factors reversed would-be lethal cell damage in mice with anthrax, suggesting that this approach could be adapted for use in patients.
New approach makes one type of clean fuel production 66% more efficient
Researchers have uncovered a more efficient way to turn carbon dioxide into methanol, a type of alcohol that can serve as a cleaner alternative fuel.
Understanding the immune response to a persistent pathogen
Researchers show that the immune system can recognize and control the latent stage of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a finding that can inform the study of latency in other infections of the nervous system.
Global patterns in seed plant distribution over millions of years
Why do some plants thrive in specific regions but not in others? A study explores the factors shaping plant distributions and how these patterns have changed over millions of years. Analyzing nearly 270,000 seed plant species worldwide, the research highlights the roles of environmental conditions and dispersal barriers in influencing global plant diversity.
A genetic tree as a movie: Moving beyond the still portrait of ancestry
Researchers have created a way to see your family tree as a movie rather than a still portrait by tracing where your ancestors moved across the globe over time. The statistical method can also be used to model disease spread and studying how animals move through geographic regions.
Melting ice, more rain drive Southern Ocean cooling
Researchers found increased meltwater and rain explain 60% of a decades-long mismatch between predicted and observed temperatures in the ocean around Antarctica.
Nature's viny vampire: Discovering what drives parasitic Cuscuta campestris
Researchers have discovered the mechanism that drives the parasitic vine Cuscuta campestris to insert organs into plants after making contact with the hosts.
Microbial cell factories for sustainable chemical production
In silico analysis of five industrial microorganisms identifies optimal strains and metabolic engineering strategies for producing 235 valuable chemicals.
Polymer-like worms wriggle their way through mazes
In a crowded room, we naturally move slower than in an empty space. Surprisingly, worms can show the exact opposite behavior: in an environment with randomly scattered obstacles, they tend to move faster when there are more obstructions. Viewing the worms as 'active, polymer-like matter', researchers have now explained this surprising fact.
Damaging cluster of UK winter storms driven by swirling polar vortex miles above Earth
Powerful winter storms which led to deaths and power outages in the UK and Ireland were made more likely by an intense swirling vortex of winds miles above the Arctic, say scientists.
Losing forest carbon stocks could put climate goals out of reach
In the past, intact forests absorbed 7.8 billion tons of CO2 annually -- about a fifth of all human emissions -- but their carbon storage is increasingly at risk from climate change and human activities such as deforestation. A new study shows that failing to account for the potentially decreasing ability of forests to absorb CO2 could make reaching the Paris agreement targets significantly harder, if not impossible, and much more costly.
Human urine, a valuable resource as fertilizer for sustainable urban agriculture, study concludes
The reuse of human urine would allow for the production of sustainable fertilizers for urban agriculture, with significant environmental benefits, a new study concludes. The research evaluates the environmental impact of nitrogen recovery from the yellow waters of buildings. In addition to promoting sustainable agriculture, it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and water consumption.
Renting clothes for sustainable fashion -- niche markets work best
Renting clothes can reduce the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, but so far, the business models have not worked very well. The best chance of success is for a rental company to provide clothing within a niche market, such as specific sportswear, and to work closely with the suppliers and clothing manufacturers.
Research highlights urgent need for national strategy to combat rising eating disorders
The increasing number of people with eating disorders and a lack of national guidance for support teams has led to researchers calling for a new national strategy that includes specific guidance to support the remote delivery of eating disorder services.
Cartilage and bone development: Three paths to skeleton formation
In vertebrates, the skeleton of different regions of the body arises from different precursor cells. Researchers have now discovered that these skeletal cells do not just differ in their developmental origin, but also in their gene regulation -- which may be a key to the vertebrates' evolutionary success story.
New pathways discovered for drugs to act on cells
Previously unknown access points in cell membrane proteins have been discovered, enabling laboratory-developed drugs to modify cell function. The discovery was made possible through computer simulations with an unprecedented level of detail. The results are available online to support the development of new, targeted drugs for a wide range of diseases.
We must not ignore eugenics in our genetics curriculum, says professor
To encourage scientists to speak up when people misuse science to serve political agendas, biology professor Mark Peifer of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill argues that eugenics should be included in college genetics curriculums.
Park entrances may be hotspots for infective dog roundworm eggs
In an analysis of soil samples from twelve parks in Dublin, Ireland, park entrances were more heavily contaminated with infective roundworm eggs than any other tested park location.
Scientists uncover key mechanism in evolution: Whole-genome duplication drives long-term adaptation
Scientists uncovered how whole-genome duplication emerges and remains stable over thousands of generations of evolution in the lab.
Coral diseases and water quality play a key role for coral restoration and survival efforts
Coral diseases, particularly in the Caribbean, have caused major declines in coral populations, especially affecting staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) and Elkhorn (A. palmata) corals, which play a crucial role in reef ecosystems. Despite efforts to identify the pathogens that cause diseases like White Band Disease (WBD), and Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), the specific agents remain largely unknown. Coral restoration programs aim to restore these once abundant coral species, but the effectiveness is threatened by multiple stressors, including increases in disease frequency and nutrient pollution caused from runoff from land-based activities.
A new species of fossil is 444 million years-old with soft insides perfectly preserved. Research 'ultramarathon' saw palaeontologist puzzled by bizarre fossil for 25 years.
Earliest days of Earth's formation
New research sheds light on the earliest days of the earth's formation and potentially calls into question some earlier assumptions in planetary science about the early years of rocky planets. Establishing a direct link between the Earth's interior dynamics occurring within the first 100 million years of its history and its present-day structure, the work is one of the first in the field to combine fluid mechanics with chemistry to better understand the Earth's early evolution.
A cleaner future for tires: Scientists pioneer chemical process to repurpose rubber waste
Every year, millions of tires end up in landfills, creating an environmental crisis with far-reaching consequences. In the United States alone, over 274 million tires were scrapped in 2021, with nearly a fifth of them being discarded into landfills. A study has now pioneered a technique for breaking down this rubber waste and transforming it into valuable precursors for epoxy resins. This technique offers an innovative and sustainable alternative to traditional recycling methods while significantly reducing rubber waste in landfills.
How did the large brain evolve?
Two specific genes that evolve exclusively in humans jointly influence the development of the cerebrum. Researchers have provided evidence that these genes contribute together to the evolutionary enlargement of the brain.
Rare disease drug nitisinone makes human blood deadly to mosquitoes
A study found when patients take the drug nitisinone, their blood becomes deadly to mosquitoes.
Cuttlefish 'mesmerize' their prey with a moving skin pattern, study finds
While sneaking up on prey, cuttlefish employ a dynamic skin display to avoid detection in last moments of approach, researchers have found.
Proof-of-concept work uses unique, safe particles to remove microplastics in a single cycle.
Unlocking the potential of whey to reduce food waste
New research suggests converting the Australian dairy industry's whey waste into a valuable food product is more feasible than many realize, with significant potential for industry-wide change.
Making sturdy, semi-transparent wood with cheap, natural materials
Can you imagine having a smartphone with a wooden touchscreen? Or a house with wooden windows? Probably not -- unless you've heard of transparent wood. Made by modifying wood's natural structure, this material has been proposed as a sturdy, eco-friendly alternative for plastic. Researchers have created proof-of-concept transparent woods using almost entirely natural materials, and have explored making them electrically conductive, too.
Cuneiforms: New digital tool for translating ancient texts
Major milestone reached in digital Cuneiform studies: Researchers present an innovative tool that offers many new possibilities.
Developing software for easy estimation of 3D gene expression distribution
Researchers have developed 'tomoseqr' -- a new software tool that enables easy estimation of the three-dimensional (3D) spatial distribution of gene expression. Tomoseqr is free to use and has been integrated into Bioconductor -- a widely used international platform for life science software. This innovative tool will potentially help researchers identify key genes involved in organism development, disease mechanisms, and regenerative biology.
Tropical marine low clouds play a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate. However, whether they mitigate or exacerbate global warming has long remained a mystery. Now, researchers have developed a groundbreaking method that significantly improves accuracy in climate predictions. This led to a major discovery -- that tropical cloud feedback may have amplified the greenhouse effect by a staggering 71% more than previously known to scientists.
Effects of multifunctional facility on daily walking time
A researcher examined the impact of opening a multifunctional facility on residents' daily walking time. The results indicate that the facility significantly increased the average walking time of visitors compared to non-visitors.
How elephants plan their journeys: New study reveals energy-saving strategies
A new study has revealed that African Elephants have an extraordinary ability to meet their colossal food requirements as efficiently as possible. Data from over 150 elephants demonstrated that these giants plan their journeys based on energy costs and resource availability.
Virtual reality videos increase environmental awareness
Nature documentaries presented as 360 virtual reality videos have a stronger positive effect than other forms of media, including an indirect effect on donation intentions.
Six years before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, an Ebola outbreak in West Africa had people fearing the possibility of a global outbreak. This was the first time many had ever heard of the virus, but since it was first identified in 1976, there have actually been more than 20 serious Ebola incidents. Thankfully, none of them had the global reach of the coronavirus. Ebola has not been eradicated, however. This deadly virus, which causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and has a fatality rate of about 50%, is still at large and could thus still cause a major outbreak, unless further research finds an effective solution.
Many native plants in the U.S. cannot possibly move themselves fast enough to avoid climate-change driven extinction. If these native plants are going to have any chance of surviving into the future, they'll need human help to move into adjacent areas, a process known as 'managed relocation.' And yet, there's no guarantee that a plant will thrive in a new area. Furthermore, movement of introduced plants, albeit over much larger distances, is exactly how the problem of invasive species began -- think of kudzu-choked forests, wetlands taken over by purple loosestrife or fields ringed by Japanese honeysuckle. Thanks to new research from a pair of ecologists, we now have a detailed sense of which plant characteristics will help ensure successful relocation while minimizing the risk that the plant causes unwanted ecological harm.
Blurring the line between rain and snow: Limits of meteorological classification
A new study uncovers a critical challenge in accurately classifying precipitation as rain or snow using surface weather data. Accurately identifying precipitation phase is critical for weather forecasting, hydrologic modeling, and climate research, with significant implications for transportation. At temperatures near freezing, however, all traditional methods struggle to accurately predict rain and snow due to the meteorological similarity of the two phases. Leveraging multi-source data integration rather than relying on surface weather data alone may offer improvements.
Getting hit by lightning is good for some tropical trees
Getting zapped with millions of volts of electricity may not sound like a healthy activity, but for some trees, it is. A new study reports that some tropical tree species are not only able to tolerate lightning strikes, but benefit from them. The trees may have even evolved to act as lightning rods.
How changing L.A.'s tree rules could cool more neighborhoods
Los Angeles has some of the strictest tree planting rules in the nation. These policies limit tree growth, worsen shade disparities and don't improve safety, researchers found. When researchers modeled looser planting restrictions in a lower-income neighborhood, potential tree space increased by nearly 26%. But narrow sidewalks and dense infrastructure still limited where larger, shade trees could thrive. Many of L.A.'s strict tree-spacing rules are internal guidelines -- not laws -- meaning they could be updated more easily to allow for more trees. Closing L.A.'s shade gap, however, will require more than policy tweaks; infrastructure investments are also needed.
New study shines a light on the mechanics of bioluminescence in the rare fish Vinciguerria mabahiss
Evolving roughly 27 different times in the long history of fish, bioluminescence -- the biological production of light -- is one of the flashier survival tools used for luring prey, communication, and recognizing potential mates among various species. In a new study a team of researchers studied the organs that produce light in Vinciguerria mabahiss, a rare species of fish from the Red Sea. This paper marks the first-ever close examination of these organs, providing key information on their structure and how V. mabahiss uses bioluminescence to make its way through the water -- and laying the foundational groundwork for future scientists studying fish bioluminescence.
Scientists discover why obesity takes away the pleasure of eating
Many obese people report losing pleasure in eating rich foods -- something also seen in obese mice. Scientists have now discovered the reason. Long-term high-fat diets lower levels of neurotensin in the brain, disrupting the dopamine pleasure network and decreasing the desire to eat high-fat foods. Raising neurotensin levels in mice brings back the pleasure and aids weight loss. Bringing back the pleasure could help people break the habit of overeating.
The devastating human impact on biodiversity
Humans are having a highly detrimental impact on biodiversity worldwide. Not only is the number of species declining, but the composition of species communities is also changing. This is one of the largest studies ever conducted on this topic.
Lasso-shaped antibiotic evades standard drug resistance
A small molecule shaped like a lasso may be a powerful tool in the fight against infectious diseases.
Ecologists document Utah's bee species and say beehive state is rich in bee diversity
Understanding bee distributions is essential to protecting these vital pollinators. Since conservation efforts and policies are often made at the state level, maintaining state-specific bee species lists can aid conservationists and policy makers. Ecologists have documented 1,167 bee species in the state of Utah.
A hit of dopamine tells baby birds when their song practice is paying off
By watching the ebb and flow of the brain's chemical signals, researchers are beginning to disentangle the molecular mechanisms underlying the intrinsic motivation to learn. In a new study of zebra finches, researchers show that a hit a dopamine tells baby birds when their song practice is paying off. The findings suggest that dopamine acts like an internal 'compass' to steer their learning when external incentives are absent.
Engineering antibodies with a novel fusion protein
Even with significant expansion in the global market for antibodies used in clinical care and research, scientists recognize that there is still untapped potential for finding new antibodies. Many proteins group together in what are called protein complexes to carry out biological functions. The traditional method of generating antibodies by immunizing animals struggles to make antibodies related to these protein complexes. Scientists have now demonstrated that fusing protein complexes together adds stability during immunization and enables antibody generation.
Antibiotic exposure in infancy may boost Type 1 diabetes risk
Exposure to antibiotics during a key developmental window in infancy can stunt growth of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and may boost risk of diabetes later in life, new research in mice suggests. The study also pinpoints specific microorganisms that may help those critical cells proliferate.
Study documents impacts of large-scale entry of rooftop solar panels on competition
Fossil-fuel plants are increasingly being forced to stop and start production in response to changes in output from renewables. In a new study, researchers developed a dynamic competitive benchmark that accounts for start-up costs and other unit-level operating constraints. They apply their framework to Western Australia, a setting where rooftop solar capacity more than doubled between 2014 to 2018 to world-leading rooftop solar penetration rates. The study found that the large-scale expansion of rooftop solar capacity can lead to increases in the collective profitability of fossil fuel plants because competition softens at sunset--- plants displaced by solar during the day must incur start-up costs to compete in the evening.
New software finds aging cells that contribute to disease and health risks
For human health, prematurely aging cells are a big problem. When a cell ages and stops growing, its function changes, which can cause or worsen cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and other chronic diseases. But these cells are also like needles in a haystack, difficult to identify by traditional scientific measures.
Ocean eddies -- the food trucks of the sea
How is organic matter transported from productive coastal areas to the open ocean? Researchers have now shown that eddies play a crucial role in this process. The swirling currents contain large amounts of energy-rich and essential fat molecules (essential lipids), which play a key role in marine food webs and the carbon cycle.
How Zika virus knocks out our immune defenses
This research comes as many mosquito-borne viruses are spreading rapidly.
'Low-sugar' vaccine can provide broad immunity against coronavirus variants
Early animal studies show that a single vaccine could protect the recipient from different variants of the coronaviruses that cause COVID-19, the flu and the common cold. In addition to creating antibodies that target a specific region of the spike protein that doesn't mutate, the vaccine removes the sugar coat from the virus that allows it to hide in the body.
Fluorescent caves could explain how life persists in extraterrestrial environments
Deep below the Earth's surface, rock and mineral formations lay hidden with a secret brilliance. Under a black light, the chemicals fossilized within shine in brilliant hues of pink, blue and green. Scientists are using these fluorescent features to understand how the caves formed and the conditions for supporting life in extreme, and even extraterrestrial, environments.
New Evidence Links Microplastics with Chronic Disease
Tiny fragments of plastic have become ubiquitous in our environment and our bodies. Higher exposure to these microplastics, which can be inadvertently consumed or inhaled, is associated with a heightened prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases, according to new research.
Growing body of evidence links HPV with heart disease
In addition to causing several types of cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) appears to bring a significantly increased risk of heart disease and coronary artery disease, according to a new study.