environment on localnews page 144

environment

Beijing's Road Dust: A Size and Source Saga

December 18, 2024

In the bustling city of Beijing, China, scientists have been investigating the buildup of pollutants in road-deposited sediments (RDS) of various sizes. They collected samples from four different roads to compare how pollutants are distributed. Interestingly, the more dry days there are, the more RD

environment

The Uneven Impact of Cooling the Planet: Solar Geoengineering and Mortality

December 18, 2024

Let's talk about solar geoengineering (SG), a method that tries to cool down the Earth by reflecting sunlight back into space. Scientists have been wondering how effective this could be in saving lives from heat-related deaths. They used two climate models and a look into how temperature affects mor

environment

The True Price of CO2: What Experts Say

December 18, 2024

Estimating how much a ton of CO2 costs society, called the social cost of carbon (SCC), is tough. It needs to consider the whole climate and economic system, and how changes spread in time and space. Scientists have looked at the models used to calculate SCC but in bits and pieces. No one has put it

environment

Mayotte's Storm: Helping Hands in Desperate Times

December 17, 2024

Tropical Cyclone Chido brought devastation to Mayotte, an island territory off Africa’s eastern coast. The deadly storm, which struck over the weekend, has left at least 22 people dead and many more feared lost. Mayotte's authorities have declared a curfew as they rush to provide essentials like foo

environment

Revolutionizing Car Exhaust: The Power of Cu-SAPO-34

December 17, 2024

Imagine a world where your car's exhaust doesn't harm the environment. That's what scientists are working towards with a material called Cu-SAPO-34. This clever substance turns nasty nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. But how did they create such a wonder material? They started

environment

President Biden's Climate Legacy: Challenge of LNG Exports

December 17, 2024

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face today. President Biden has been working hard to address this issue. He brought the U. S. back into the Paris Agreement and invested a lot in clean energy. Now, with a new president-elect coming in, it's more important than ever to do something

environment

Saving the Siberian Crane: Genetics to the Rescue

December 17, 2024

The Siberian crane, a beautiful yet critically endangered waterbird, is facing a tough time. Its population has been declining due to changes in climate over time, which has led to a loss of genetic diversity and an increase in inbreeding. This means the birds are more likely to have harmful genetic

environment

Tiny Marine Plants: Friends or Foes?

December 17, 2024

Have you ever heard of phytoplankton? They're tiny plants that float in the ocean and play a big role in the lives of other sea creatures. Recently, scientists in Chile asked a tough question: How do these tiny plants interact with each other and with some special ones called Pseudo-nitzschia? To an

environment

A Quick-Check Tool: Using DGT to Monitor Trace Metals in Aquaculture Waters

December 17, 2024

Have you ever thought about how to quickly and efficiently check for harmful metals in the water where seafood grows? Scientists are exploring a method called Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films, or DGT for short. They tested it in coastal aquaculture waters by using scallops named Argopecten irradian

environment

Governor Perry's Green Push: Good but Needs Fixing

December 17, 2024

Governor Rick Perry deserves praise for leading Texas in renewable energy. However, his recent statements on whales and renewable energy projects are off the mark. He's worried about whales, but so far, no U. S. whale has died due to wind turbines. There just aren’t that many offshore wind projects