Category: Sustainability

A new study led by Princeton University adds depth to the ongoing discussion about cropland abandonment’s effects on biodiversity, suggesting that its conservation potential is significant but compromised by frequent land recultivation and continuing habitat loss. For decades, the expansion of agricultural land has been one of the most pervasive threats to terrestrial biodiversity, leading…

In a world where more than 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, scientists at Ohio State University have developed a breakthrough prototype water harvester that promises to be simpler and more efficient than traditional systems. The innovative device, crafted with temperature-sensitive nickel titanium materials, can extract more water from the air in…

New research from the University of Otago has unveiled a striking example of rapid animal evolution driven by human activities. The study, published in the journal Science, demonstrates that New Zealand’s native stoneflies have altered their coloration as a result of deforestation caused by human activity. The study provides compelling evidence of how human-driven environmental…

A recent study led by the University of Exeter reveals that a minute cooler layer at the ocean surface plays a significant role in carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorption, a finding that has profound implications for our understanding of climate change mitigation. The research highlights the pivotal role of the “ocean skin” — a layer less…

In an extraordinary discovery decades in the making, a new species of crustacean boasting panda-like black-and-white coloring has been confirmed on the Japanese coast. The species, named Melita panda, was initially found in the 1990s but has now been officially classified as new to science. Credit: Ko Tomikawa/Hiroshima University Melita panda is a member of…

Climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of storms, leading to rising sea levels and more severe coastal erosion. In the United States, coastal storms caused approximately $165 billion in damages in 2022 alone. However, new research from MIT suggests a potential solution that harnesses the power of nature. A recent study, published in…

Facing an increasingly unpredictable climate, a team of researchers led by Nagoya University’s Institute of Transformative Biomolecules (WPI-ITbM) have identified a chemical compound, named Stomidazolone, that effectively reduces stomatal density in plants. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, present a potent solution to help crops conserve water during droughts. Stomata are tiny pores…

In a new study published in the journal of Hazardous Materials, researchers from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have discovered that combining woodchip bioreactors with a specialized form of biochar can significantly reduce both nutrient pollutants and common pharmaceuticals like ibuprofen in wastewater. “Even at low concentrations, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) can degrade water…

The full moon has often been mythologized as a catalyst for strange behavior, but new research suggests such lunar influences may have a basis in reality — at least among tropical mammals. A groundbreaking study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals that half of the mammal species in tropical forests adjust…