ScienceDaily: Environment - November 03, 2023
Top environment research news
Two million European households could abandon the electrical grid by 2050
Researchers report that 53% of European freestanding homes could have supplied all their own energy needs in 2020 using only local rooftop solar radiation, and this technical feasibility could increase to 75% in 2050. The study shows that there is no economic advantage for individual households to be fully self-sufficient under current or future conditions, though in some cases the costs are on par with remaining on-grid. The researchers estimate that self-sufficiency will be economically feasible for 5% (two million) of Europe's 41 million freestanding single-family homes in 2050, if households are willing to pay up to 50% more than the cost of remaining fully grid dependent.
Diyana Dimitrova/shutterstock.com
Practicing mindfulness can help people make heart-healthy eating choices
A study found that participants in a mindfulness-based blood pressure reduction program improved health behaviors that lower blood pressure. When people who had elevated blood pressure participated in an eight-week mindfulness-based blood pressure reduction program, they significantly improved their scores on measures of self-awareness and adherence to a heart-healthy diet compared to a control group.
'Jurassic worlds' might be easier to spot than modern Earth
An analysis finds telescopes could better detect potential chemical signatures of life in an Earth-like exoplanet that more closely resembles the age the dinosaurs inhabited than the one we know today.
Study links changes in global water cycle to higher temperatures
A new study takes an important step toward reconstructing a global history of water over the past 2,000 years. Using geologic and biologic evidence preserved in natural archives -- including 759 different paleoclimate records from globally distributed corals, trees, ice, cave formations and sediments -- the researchers showed that the global water cycle has changed during periods of higher and lower temperatures in the recent past.
Hebrew prayer book fills gap in Italian earthquake history
The chance discovery of a note written in a 15th century Hebrew prayer book fills an important gap in the historical Italian earthquake record, offering a brief glimpse of a previously unknown earthquake affecting the Marche region in the central Apennines. Â
Strawberry consumption may reduce dementia risk for middle-aged individuals
New research found that daily strawberry consumption could help reduce the risk of dementia for certain middle-aged populations. Â
Giant dinosaur carcasses might have been important food sources for Jurassic predators
Carnivorous dinosaurs might have evolved to take advantage of giant carcasses, according to a new study.
What happens when cats get fat? Scientists weigh in
Cat owners want Kitty to be happy, but providing an abundance of food and snacks can have unintended consequences. Feline obesity is on the rise, impacting the health, longevity, and wellbeing of cats. A new study looks at what happens in the digestive system and gut microbiota when cats eat too much.
First mice engineered to survive COVID-19 like young, healthy humans
Researchers have genetically engineered the first mice that get a human-like form of COVID-19, according to a new study.
Where is a sea star's head? Maybe just about everywhere
A new study that combines genetic and molecular techniques helps solve the riddle of sea star (commonly called starfish) body plans, and how sea stars start life with bilateral body symmetry -- just like humans -- but grow up to be adults with fivefold 'pentaradial' symmetry.
A new analysis of the bones and muscles in ancient fish gives new clues about how the shoulder evolved in animals -- including us.
The remains of an ancient planet lie deep within Earth
The remnants of an ancient planet that collided with Earth to form the Moon lie deep within the earth, according to a new model.
Ocean warming is accelerating, and hotspots reveal which areas are absorbing the most heat
A new study reveals increasing warming rates in the world's oceans in recent decades and the locations with the greatest heat uptake.
Mobile phone use may affect semen quality, study shows
Does electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones affect semen quality? While various environmental and lifestyle factors have been proposed to explain the decline in semen quality observed over the last fifty years, the role of mobile phones has yet to be demonstrated. A team has now published a major cross-sectional study on the subject. It shows that frequent use of mobile phones is associated with a lower sperm concentration and total sperm count.
Risk of serious infection even in low-active IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an independent risk factor for serious infection, even at very low levels of gastrointestinal inflammation.
Circular take-back programs: popular and environmentally responsible
Consumers exhibit a higher willingness to pay for products that are part of a circular take-back program.
Plastic-eating bacteria turn waste into useful starting materials for other products
Mountains of used plastic bottles get thrown away every day, but microbes could potentially tackle this problem. Now, researchers report that they've developed a plastic-eating E. coli that can efficiently turn polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste into adipic acid, which is used to make nylon materials, drugs and fragrances.
New research links high salt consumption to risk of Type 2 diabetes
The study surveyed more than 400,000 adults and found that participants who 'sometimes,' 'usually,' or 'always' added salt had a respective 13%, 20%, and 39% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Human emissions increased mercury in the atmosphere sevenfold
Researchers estimated that before humans started pumping mercury into the atmosphere, it contained on average about 580 megagrams of mercury. However, in 2015, independent research that looked at all available atmospheric measurements estimated the atmospheric mercury reservoir was about 4,000 Mg -- nearly 7 times larger than the natural condition estimated in this study. Â
Shifting nesting timing not enough to prevent fewer sea turtle hatchlings
New research shows that potential adaptive responses by sea turtles, such as shifting the timing of when they nest, may not be enough to counteract the projected impacts from climate change on hatchling production.
Sunflowers famously turn their faces to follow the sun as it crosses the sky. But how do sunflowers 'see' the sun to follow it? Plant biologists show that they use a different, novel mechanism from that previously thought.
Antibiotics for common childhood infections no longer effective
Alarmingly high rates of bacterial resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics used to treat children and babies has been found in the Asia-Pacific.
Risk of viral airborne transmission peaks within 5 seconds of face-to-face encounters
Researchers visualized and measured the flow field of aerosol particles derived from exhaled air and examined the risk of viral exposure during face-to-face encounters, such as while walking, jogging, running, or sprinting. The results showed that the number of aerosol particles during face-to-face encounters peaked within 5 seconds after the encounter and rapidly declined thereafter.
Advanced assisted reproduction in white rhinos is safe and reliable, shows evaluation of procedures
The BioRescue project develops and pioneers advanced assisted reproduction technologies (aART) for conservation in the face of the imminent extinction of most rhino species and subspecies. In a new scientific analysis, the team evaluated 65 aART procedures conducted from 2015 to 2022. The evaluation showed that aART is safe for the donor females with no detrimental health effects, and successful in that it yielded 51 embryos.
Formic acid, which can be produced electrochemically from carbon dioxide, is a promising energy carrier. A research team has now developed a fast-charging hybrid battery system that combines the electrochemical generation of formic acid as an energy carrier with a microbial fuel cell. This novel, fast-charging biohybrid battery system can be used to monitor the toxicity of drinking water, just one of many potential future applications.
Humans are disrupting natural 'salt cycle' on a global scale, new study shows
Researchers observe wolves hunting and killing sea otters and harbor seals on Alaska's Katmai coast
Firsthand observations of a wolf hunting and killing a harbor seal and a group of wolves hunting and consuming a sea otter on Alaska's Katmai coast have led scientists to reconsider assumptions about wolf hunting behavior.
How cruise ships can steer clear of viral spread
Researchers examine how ventilation can affect transmission of airborne viruses in a typical cruise ship cabin based on guidelines developed before and after the pandemic. They conducted simulations for virus droplets from a cough in a typical cabin that accommodates two or more people, with different ventilation rates and different positions of the person emitting the cough. Computational fluid dynamics testing ranged from 1.5 to 15 air changes per hour to capture all possible scenarios, from minimal ventilation to rates exceeding the most recent recommendations.
Microplastics' shape determines how far they travel in the atmosphere
Micron-size microplastic debris can be carried by the jet stream across oceans and continents, and their shape plays a crucial role in how far they travel.
How common desert shrub efficiently harvests water from the air
A team of scientists has revealed the mechanism a desert plant native to the United Arab Emirates uses to capture moisture from the desert air in order to survive.
Cultural adaptation to climate change
Examining how human culture evolves in response to a changing environment may help with creating more effective climate change adaptation efforts. Using farming data from across the U.S., a team of researchers conducted a new study of cultural adaptation to climate change. They found that in many places in the U.S. farmers are already adapting to climate change by selecting crops that grow better in new conditions. Focusing on the process of cultural adaptation can improve research and policy to help adapt to a warming world.
Soy expansion in Brazil linked to increase in childhood leukemia deaths
Brazil's rapid expansion of soy production has meant an associated rise in pesticide use. Researchers found a statistically significant correlation between soy expansion and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) deaths in children between 2008 and 2019, representing the first population-wide analysis of the association between indirect exposure to agricultural pesticides and cancer.
Amazon deforestation linked to long distance climate warming
Deforestation in the Amazon causes land surfaces up to 100 kilometers away to get warmer, suggests a new study.  The research suggests that tropical forests play a critical role in cooling the land surface -- and that effect can play out over considerable distances.Â
Study uncovers hundred-year lifespans for three freshwater fish species in the Arizona desert
New study finds some of the oldest animals in the world living in a place you wouldn't expect: fishes in the Arizona desert.
Amphibians have one more thing to worry about--mercury
The first widescale assessment of methylmercury in adult amphibians in the U.S. to date shows that, in amphibians, this toxic compound is common, widespread and, at least for some, can reach very high levels.
Offset markets: New approach could help save tropical forests by restoring faith in carbon credits
A new approach to valuing the carbon storage potential of natural habitats aims to help restore faith in offset schemes, by enabling investors to directly compare carbon credit pricing across a wide range of projects.
Gaming strategy helps plan for and prevent attacks on infrastructure
As technology continues to advance, the likelihood of malevolent attacks and subsequent failures on society's critical infrastructures increases. Blackouts, water shortages, transport collapses -- these potential threats to cities not only come with a hefty price tag but are likely to cause chaos and affect the health and safety of communities. UBC Okanagan Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Amin Ahmadi Digehsara, along with Assistant Professor Dr. Amir Ardestani-Jaafari, both with the Faculty of Management, recently published a study that will enhance the resilience of vital infrastructures against malevolent attacks.
The nutrients available from seafood could drop by 30 per cent for low-income countries by the end of the century due to climate change, suggests new research. That's in a high carbon emissions and low mitigation scenario, according to the study. This could be reduced to a roughly 10 per cent decline if the world were to meet the Paris Agreement targets of limiting global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius -- which recent reports have shown we're not on track to achieve.
Canine cuddles can comfort equally across all genders
While there are a number of studies demonstrating that dog therapy programs can improve a person's social and emotional wellbeing, many typically have a disproportionate number of female participants. Recent research evaluated if there are gender differences in wellbeing by setting up separate dog therapy sessions for those who identified as female, male and gender diverse participants.
Engineers develop an efficient process to make fuel from carbon dioxide
Researchers developed an efficient process that can convert carbon dioxide into formate, a nonflammable liquid or solid material that can be used like hydrogen or methanol to power a fuel cell and generate electricity.
Specific gut bacteria increase risk of severe malaria
Researchers have identified multiple species of bacteria that, when present in the gut, are linked to an increased risk of developing severe malaria in humans and mice.
Window to avoid 1.5°C of warming will close before 2030 if emissions are not reduced
Without rapid carbon dioxide emission reductions, the world has a 50% chance of locking in 1.5°C of warming before 2030.
A sustainable alternative to air conditioning
As the planet gets hotter, the need for cool living environments is becoming more urgent. But air conditioning is a major contributor to global warming since units use potent greenhouse gases and lots of energy. Now, researchers have found in a new study an inexpensive, sustainable alternative to mechanical cooling with refrigerants in hot and arid climates, and a way to mitigate dangerous heat waves during electricity blackouts.
New species of mosasaur named for Norse sea serpent
Scientists have discovered a new species of mosasaur, large, carnivorous aquatic lizards that lived during the late Cretaceous. With 'transitional' traits that place it between two well-known mosasaurs, the new species is named after a sea serpent in Norse mythology, Jormungandr, and the small North Dakota city Walhalla near to where the fossil was found.
Scientists create special 'telomouse' with human-like telomeres
Researchers introduce the 'Telomouse'. By making a subtle genetic alteration in standard lab mice, they've made the mouse telomeres, which protect the chromosome ends, more closely resemble those in humans. The Telomouse model, developed by incorporating a genetic variation from a mouse species with naturally shorter telomeres, provides a valuable resource for in-depth aging and cancer research. This discovery promises to reveal new insights into the genetics of aging and may contribute to enhanced longevity and well-being.
Two bee species become one as researchers solve identity puzzle
A new study has found that what were thought to be two different species of native Australian bee are in fact one.
How robots can help find the solar energy of the future
To quickly and accurately characterize prospective materials for use in solar energy, researchers built an automated system to perform laboratory experiments and used machine learning to help analyze the data they recorded. Their goal is to identify semiconductor materials for use in photovoltaic solar energy, which are highly efficient and have low toxicity.
How to protect biocatalysts from oxygen
There are high hopes for hydrogen as the key to the energy transition. A specific enzyme group found in algae and in bacteria can produce molecular hydrogen simply by catalyzing protons and electrons. However, the enzyme group is so sensitive to oxygen that commercial use of the hydrogen produced by this process as a green energy source is not yet possible. Researchers have now increased the oxygen stability of a hydrogen-producing enzyme by genetically generated channel blockages.
Heat-related cardiovascular deaths in the U.S. may more than double within decades
In nationwide projections, elderly and Black adults are most at risk for cardiovascular death due to extreme heat, finds a new study.
Large geomagnetic storms disrupt radio signals and GPS. Now, researchers have identified the previous underestimated role of the ionosphere, a region of Earth's upper atmosphere that contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons, in determining how such storms develop. Understanding the interactions that cause large geomagnetic storms is important because they can disrupt radio signals and GPS. Their findings may help predict storms with the greatest potential consequences.
Selenium reduces mixtures of environmental pollutants' harmful effects on health
A study in mice demonstrates that exposure to contaminating mixtures of metals and drug residue increases damage to health, and evaluates the positive effects of a diet enriched in selenium to reduce this harm.
Cat-ching criminals with DNA from pet hairs
Cat hair could be the purr-fect way to catch criminals, according to researchers.
Intestinal bacteria metabolite promotes capture of antigens by dendritic cells
Dendritic cells are immune cells that capture and present antigens to T cells, activating an immune response. Researchers have discovered that short-chain fatty acids produced by intestinal bacteria regulate a crucial step in this process, the extension of dendritic 'arms.' This breakthrough finding could potentially lead to the development of disease prevention strategies involving beneficial bacteria and new drugs targeting the regulation of dendritic cell function.
Controlling organoids with light
Organoids help researchers understand biological processes in health and in disease. It is, however, difficult to influence the way in which they organize themselves into complex tissues. Now a group has found a new way to do so.
Drawing a tube of blood could assess ALS risk from environmental toxin exposure
Investigators have developed a new risk score that assesses a person's risk for developing ALS, as well as for survival after diagnosis, using a blood sample based on exposure to toxins in the environment, a new study shows.
The genetic heritage of the Denisovans may have left its mark on our mental health
A research team has identified the most widespread genetic contribution by Denisovans to date. The study reveals that the genetic variant observed, which affects zinc regulation, could have signified an evolutionary advantage in our ancestors' adaptation to the cold. The study also reveals that this genetic adaptation may have predisposed modern humans to neuropsychiatric disorders.
AI can alert urban planners and policymakers to cities' decay
As urbanization advances around the globe, the quality of the urban physical environment will become increasingly critical to human well-being and to sustainable development initiatives. However, measuring and tracking the quality of an urban environment, its evolution and its spatial disparities is difficult due to the amount of on-the-ground data needed to capture these patterns.
New battery technology could lead to safer, high-energy electric vehicles
Researchers studying how lithium batteries fail have developed a new technology that could enable next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) and other devices that are less prone to battery fires while increasing energy storage.
Meltwater flowing beneath Antarctic glaciers may be accelerating their retreat
A new Antarctic ice sheet modeling study suggests that meltwater flowing out to sea from beneath Antarctic glaciers is making them lose ice faster. Â
Cold War spy satellite imagery reveals Ancient Roman forts
A new study analyzing declassified Cold War satellite imagery reveals 396 previously undocumented Roman forts and reports that these forts were constructed from east to west, spanning from what is now western Syria to northwestern Iraq. The analysis refutes Father Antoine Poidebard's claim that the forts were located along a north-south axis.