Category: Sustainability

  • Scientists Advocate for Human Rights-Centered Environmental Decision-Making

    An interdisciplinary group of researchers is urging a fundamental change in how environmental decisions impacting biodiversity are made, emphasizing the need to incorporate human rights considerations. This call comes in a commentary published in the journal npj Ocean Sustainability, which stresses that human well-being is intrinsically linked to nature for food, climate regulation and cultural…

  • Human-Wildlife Overlap Projected to Surge by 2070, University of Michigan Study Finds

    The world’s landscapes are entering a new ecological era. A groundbreaking study from the University of Michigan reveals that by 2070, more than half of Earth’s land could witness a dramatic rise in human-wildlife overlap, driven primarily by population growth. These findings, published in Science Advances, present significant implications for urban planners, conservationists and global…

  • UCF Scientist Innovates Lotus-Inspired Tech to Transform Carbon Dioxide Into Renewable Fuels

    In a breakthrough blend of nature and technology, Yang Yang, an associate professor at the University of Central Florida’s NanoScience Technology Center, has crafted a novel device capable of capturing carbon dioxide emissions and transforming them into valuable fuels and chemicals. This innovative technology offers a promising solution to lessen industrial carbon footprints and foster…

  • Breakthrough Discovery Reveals Key Biofuel-Producing Alga Is Actually Three Distinct Species

    In a groundbreaking study, a team of researchers led by former doctoral student Devon Boland from Texas A&M AgriLife has discovered that a vital biofuel-producing microalga, long presumed to be a single species with three chemical races, is actually three separate species. This revelation has significant implications for renewable energy and biofuel production. The microalga…

  • Researchers Capture First-Ever Atomic-Level View of Catalyst in Action

    In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists led by the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have captured atomic-level images of a copper catalyst during an electrochemical reaction. This discovery, published in the journal Nature, marks the first time researchers can observe catalysts in real-time, unlocking vital insights for energy production and industrial…

  • Innovative Use of Salt for Thermal Energy Storage by Georgia Tech Mechanical Engineers

    As the world faces the twin challenges of climate change and increasing energy consumption, researchers at Georgia Tech’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering are developing groundbreaking thermal energy storage solutions using common salts. This innovative approach could help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and pave the way for a more sustainable future.…

  • Study Reveals Tactics Used by Energy Companies to Pressure Landowners Into Fracking

    A groundbreaking study led by Binghamton University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has uncovered how energy companies pressure landowners into allowing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on their properties, often resorting to persistent and personalized tactics. Led by Benjamin Farrer, who was a doctoral student at Binghamton University at the time of the study…

  • Breakthrough Wheat Genetics Research Led by KAUST Illuminates Crop Evolution and Future Improvements

    A groundbreaking study led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) researchers has unlocked the genetic secrets of Tausch’s goatgrass (Aegilops tauschii), a wild ancestor of modern bread wheat. This discovery promises to accelerate gene discovery and enhance wheat breeding efforts, potentially transforming global food security. Modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) owes its…

  • Groundbreaking Lens-Free Fluorescence Instrument Revolutionizes Water Safety Detection

    A pioneering lens-free fluorescence detection system has been developed by researchers to provide highly sensitive identification of deadly microorganisms in drinking water. This breakthrough promises a low-cost and user-friendly solution that could transform water quality monitoring in developing countries and disaster-stricken areas. The innovative approach could also offer quick water safety assessments for large-scale events…

  • Wild Tomatoes Hold Key to Unlocking Salt Stress Tolerance in Crops

    As climate change escalates and soil salinity rises in agricultural areas worldwide, the quest to find crops that can thrive under these challenging conditions intensifies. While cultivated tomatoes often falter in salty soils, their wild relatives have naturally adapted to survive in diverse and harsh environments. A recent breakthrough study by researchers at the Boyce…