environment on localnews page 139

environment

Ozone Levels: What's in the Air and Why It Matters

December 25, 2024

Ever wondered what affects ozone levels in the air we breathe? Let's dive into a study done in the Upper Silesian region. Back in 2019, ozone was linked to a shocking 365, 000 premature deaths worldwide, and 16, 800 in the European Union alone. So, what's causing these dangerous ozone spikes? Resea

environment

Surviving Desert Drought: How Plant Strategies Change with Rainfall Shifts

December 25, 2024

In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, annual plants face a tough challenge: they need to time their germination just right to survive. This task is even harder with changing rainfall patterns due to climate change. Scientists studied 10 annual plant species in this desert to understand how they cope w

environment

Sage-Grouse Winter Survival: Weather Matters!

December 24, 2024

Greater sage-grouse, native to Colorado and Wyoming, face harsh winters. For these birds, finding the right place to hang out becomes crucial. Researchers found that sage-grouse don't just hibernate or reduce their activity in winter. Instead, they actively seek out cozy spots with plenty of sagebru

environment

India's Coastal Families: Life After the 2004 Tsunami

December 23, 2024

Imagine playing cricket on the beach with your friends. The sun is shining, the sand is warm, and everything seems normal. That’s what Yusuf, now a motor rickshaw driver, was doing when a huge earthquake under the ocean caused a massive tsunami to strike the coast of India. It was December 26, 2004,

environment

Predicting Heat Stress: Using THI to Protect Dairy Cows in Mexico's Desert

December 23, 2024

Ever wondered how the weather affects the health of dairy cows? Scientists in Mexico's northern desert are using a tool called the temperature-humidity index (THI) to figure that out. The THI helps us understand how hot and humid conditions stress out cows. Researchers looked at four years of daily

environment

Climate Change: The Unseen Driver Behind Canada's 2023 Wildfires

December 23, 2024

In 2023, Canada faced its most devastating wildfire season ever, with over 15 million hectares burned. This was more than double any previous record. The fires led to massive evacuations and terrible air quality all the way to the northeastern United States. Using climate models, scientists found th

environment

Transforming CO2: Cu's Role in Bimetallic Catalysts

December 23, 2024

Ever wondered how we can turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into something useful, like fuel? This is where copper (Cu) comes in. As a unique element in the periodic table, Cu can convert CO2 into valuable products such as ethylene (C2H4) and ethanol (C2H5OH). But Cu isn't perfect—it has low activity and poo

environment

Reflecting on the Impact of Antibiotic Water Pollution and Innovative Photocatalysts

December 23, 2024

Antibiotics in our water bodies are a big problem. They harm aquatic life and can make us sick. Scientists have been looking into how to break down these drugs in water. One way is by using a special material called a photocatalyst. This material can use light to break down pollutants like antibioti

environment

Boosting Plastic Degradation with Biochar and Iron

December 23, 2024

Have you ever wondered how to make composting more efficient? A recent study found that combining special bacteria with iron can speed up the breakdown of plastics and keep more nitrogen in the soil. These scientists used a mix of biochar (which is like charcoal made from plants) and specific bacter

environment

How Dirt Affects Nitrogen in Water

December 23, 2024

You know how water can go from having lots of oxygen to none at all? This is called the aerobic-anoxic transition. During this switch, tiny pieces of dirt, called suspended sediment (SPS), can play a big role in how much nitrogen, specifically nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), stays in the water. NO3-N chan