environment on localnews page 174

environment

How Sludge Biochar Boosts Alkaline Soil Health

December 15, 2024

Ever thought about what happens when you mix sludge from anaerobic digestion with biochar and apply it to slightly alkaline soil? A recent study explored this exact idea. Researchers ran a field test for 180 days, focusing on how anaerobic digested sludge biochar (ADBC) affects alkaline soil. They c

environment

Russian Cargo Ships in Trouble: Storm Hits Crimea Waters

December 15, 2024

In the Kerch Strait, where Russia links with annexed Crimea, two cargo ships found themselves in distress thanks to some harsh weather. The vessels, filled with oil products, ran into trouble when heavy waves struck. One ship, named Volgoneft 212, had to be evacuated after running aground, sadly ear

environment

Christmas Trees in Peril: North Carolina Farms Battle Back After Hurricane

December 15, 2024

Imagine driving through the misty mountains of North Carolina, and suddenly, rows of lush, green Christmas trees come into view. This is the scene in Newland, a town nestled about 90 minutes from Asheville. Here, farmers have dedicated themselves to nurturing the iconic Fraser fir, a favorite Americ

environment

Cleaning Up Idaho's Waters: A Journey Through TMDLs

December 15, 2024

Idaho's waters are vital for life and leisure, but many face pollution problems from farming, city runoff, and old mine waste. The Clean Water Act steps in with a tool called Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to fix this. TMDLs set the limit on pollutants a water body can handle while still being sa

environment

Revitalizing Rural Sewage Sludge: A New Path to Green Fertilizer

December 15, 2024

In a fascinating study, scientists modified sewage sludge from an enhanced membrane coagulation process. They tried out different alkaline conditions, temperatures, and time durations to see what worked best. The ideal mix turned out to be a high pH level, a warm temperature of 55°C, and a full day

environment

Unseen Threats: COVID Meds in City Rivers

December 15, 2024

Imagine a hidden battle playing out in the rivers of Curitiba, Brazil. The culprits? Three drugs—azithromycin, ivermectin, and hydroxychloroquine—used widely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists dove into this issue, finding alarming levels of these medicines in both water and sediment from urba

environment

Ethylene Oxide: Balancing Risks and Justice in the US

December 15, 2024

In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency reclassified ethylene oxide (EtO) as a hazardous substance. After 2018, when pollution from EtO started causing concerns, both federal and state regulators listened to the public but followed a cost-benefit approach that slowed down risk reduction. This a

environment

Micro Heroes: Tiny Beads Fight Water Pollution

December 14, 2024

Ever imagined using something as tiny as a grain of sand to clean our water? Scientists have found a fascinating solution with D301 beads. These tiny beads were tested with a common water pollutant called humic acid. Using advanced tools like 3D fluorescence spectroscopy, researchers discovered that

environment

Transforming Fruit and Veg Waste into Energy: A Sonic Solution

December 14, 2024

Imagine turning your leftover fruits and vegetables into a clean energy source. That's what scientists are exploring with ultrasonic pretreated waste. They're mixing fruit and veg waste with sewage sludge and using anaerobic digestion to produce biomethane. This isn't just about reducing waste; it's

environment

The Carbon Dance: How Cities Change River Water

December 14, 2024

You know how rivers are like veins, carrying water from one place to another? Well, dissolved inorganic carbon, or DIC, is a crucial part of this watery journey. DIC is basically carbon that's dissolved in water, and it plays a big role in the carbon cycle. Scientists studied two rivers in a big cit