Cutting boards are an essential tool found in most homes and restaurant kitchens. However, according to a small-scale study conducted by researchers from Environmental Science & Technology, they are also an overlooked source of micrometer-sized particles. The study claims that chopping up carrots on wood and plastic boards could produce tens of millions of microparticles
Earth
A recent study conducted by the University of Maryland (UMD), Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona, Conservation International, and more has uncovered that protected forests across the globe store an additional 9.65 billion metric tons of carbon in their aboveground biomass in comparison to similar unprotected areas. The study highlights the significance of protected
Plants derive their carbon from the atmosphere and use it to synthesize organic compounds through photosynthesis and water. Terrestrial ecosystems have been absorbing about 32% of CO2 emissions produced by human activities for the past 60 years. However, the question of whether terrestrial vegetation can continue to function as a carbon sink in a changing
Underwater volcanoes located on the Earth’s crust contribute to the oceanic environment by providing different elements and playing a crucial role in biogeochemical and chemosynthetic cycles. While high-temperature hydrothermal systems in the mid-ocean ridge have been studied extensively, there is not much information available on low-temperature hydrothermal systems in other volcanoes, such as “petit-spot” volcanoes.
A recent study by UC San Francisco (UCSF) researchers has found that the chemical industry suppressed information related to the health harms caused by exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in a manner similar to how the tobacco industry concealed the harmful effects of smoking. Published in Annals of Global Health on May 31,
A rare triple-whammy of cyclones drove the deadly flooding that devastated much of northern Italy this month. Scientists have stated that climate change does not seem to be the cause of the intense rainfall. A team of researchers used computer simulations and past observations to look for evidence of human-caused warming behind the drenching. The
Coral islands are at risk of sinking due to rising sea levels. Recent research conducted by the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) has found that environmental factors other than sea level could also play a significant role in the fate of threatened islands. Tropical coral islands form when sediments, consisting of calcareous skeletons
The primary cause of climate change is excess greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. Combating climate change in the coming years will require both decarbonization and carbon dioxide removal. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Yale University have proposed a novel pathway through which coastal ecosystem restoration can permanently capture
Researchers have long been puzzled by the question of when the Dry Valleys of Antarctica were last wet. Dr. Marjolaine Verret, an adjunct lecturer at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, may have finally found the answer. Previous data has shown that the mountains around the McMurdo Valleys held life until 14 million years ago,
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is undergoing a rapid retreat, with numerous glaciers across the region melting at an alarming rate. However, the situation was not always this way, according to new research published last month in The Cryosphere. A team of scientists from the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC), including two researchers from British
Vehicle emissions have long been a concern for environmentalists and policymakers. While most people associate vehicle emissions with exhaust fumes, a recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology reveals that there is another source of pollutants that is often overlooked – windshield washer fluid. According to the study, the alcohols present in windshield washer
Hadley cells play a significant role in global climate regions, affecting the distribution of heat and humidity across low latitudes. The stream of warm, moist air propelled far upward above the equatorial rainforests and oceans moves toward the poles, descends in the subtropical regions, and contributes to the creation of massive deserts like Sahara in
A study conducted on 120 major cities across the globe has revealed that climate-friendly transport can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 22% in 15 years. The study was conducted by the Berlin-based climate research institute MCC and published in the journal Nature Sustainability. The Study The researchers used the NEDUM calculation model, which is well
A recent study published in Nature has shown that microorganisms are instrumental in soil carbon storage, revealing that microbial carbon use efficiency is at least four times more influential than other biological or environmental factors when it comes to global soil carbon storage and distribution. The study, conducted by an international team of scientists including
New York City has yet another problem to worry about, in addition to rising oceans, as it is slowly sinking under the weight of its skyscrapers, homes, asphalt, and humanity. New research has found that the city’s landmass is sinking at an average rate of 1 to 2 millimeters per year, which is referred to