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Geochemists Provide an Overview of Microplastics Mass Distribution in the North Sea

Shipping traffic can be a major source of tiny plastic particles floating in the sea, especially out in the open ocean. In a paper published in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology, a team of German environmental geochemists based at the University of Oldenburg's Institute of Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment and led by Dr Barbara Scholz-Boettcher for the first time provides an overview of microplastics mass distribution in the North Sea.

24 Feb 2021

"Eco-Friendly" Foam Plastic Building Insulation may be Harmful to Human Health

( Green Science Policy Institute ) The use of the polymeric flame retardant PolyFR in 'eco-friendly' foam plastic building insulation may be harmful to human health and the environment, according to a new commentary in Environmental Science & Technology. The authors' analysis identifies several points during the lifecycle of foam insulation that may expose workers, communities, and ecosystems to PolyFR and its potentially toxic breakdown products.

24 Feb 2021

Key Frameworks to Help Urban Systems Meet Sustainability Goals

Urban areas are on the rise and changing rapidly in form and function, with spillover effects on virtually all areas of the Earth. The UN estimates that by 2050, 68% of the world's population will reside in urban areas. In the inaugural issue of npj Urban Sustainability, a new Nature Partner Journal out today, a team of leading urban ecologists outlines a practical checklist to guide interventions, strategies, and research that better position urban systems to meet urgent sustainability goals.

24 Feb 2021

Probiotic Symbiotic Bacteria Could Improve Coral Resilience

The use of a blend of beneficial bacteria is a simple yet robust concept to enhance the health of corals.

24 Feb 2021

Study Shows How Air Pollution Affects Human Health and Climate

For the first time, scientists from the University of Helsinki have resolved how the ultrafine particles in the air have an impact on health and the climate.

24 Feb 2021

Glaciers in West Antarctica are Moving Faster from Land into Ocean

A new study reports that glaciers in West Antarctica are moving into the ocean from land faster than ever, leading to increasing global sea levels.

24 Feb 2021

Dingo Effects on Ecosystem Visible from Space

The environmental impacts of removing dingoes from the landscape are visible from space, a new UNSW Sydney study shows.

24 Feb 2021

Model Study Shows Unfortunate Timing and Rate of Change may Tip a Climate System

Imagine abrupt shifts of the tropical monsoons, reductions in Northern Hemisphere rainfall, and strengthening of North Atlantic storm tracks within decades.

23 Feb 2021

Researchers Provide a Comprehensive Portrait of Americans' Opinions on Climate Change

In mid-2020, amid public health crises, natural disasters, and protests calling for social justice, researchers at Stanford University, Resources for the Future, and ReconMR interviewed a random sample of 999 American adults to learn about climate opinions in the United States. With so many things to worry about in 2020, the researchers wondered, would concern about environmental issues drop?

23 Feb 2021

Study Unravels Mechanisms that Link Future Ocean Warming to Extreme Tropical Rainfall

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the most energetic naturally occurring year-to-year variation of ocean temperature and rainfall on our planet. The irregular swings between warm and wet "El Niño" conditions in the equatorial Pacific and the cold and dry "La Niña" state influence weather conditions worldwide, with impacts on ecosystems, agriculture and economies.

23 Feb 2021

Researchers Call for New Approaches to Creating a Sustainable Future for "Patchwork Earth"

In a world as diverse as our own, the journey towards a sustainable future will look different depending on where in the world we live, according to a recent paper published in One Earth and led by McGill University, with researchers from the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

23 Feb 2021

Plants' Response to Climate Stress may Become Visible Only Years Later

Plant responses to climate drivers such as temperature and precipitation may become visible only years after the actual climate event.

23 Feb 2021

Freshwater Fish are Facing a Catastrophic Decline

Biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems is under severe threat, with up to one-third of freshwater fish species facing extinction, suggests a WWF report.

By Robert Lea 23 Feb 2021

Quick Evolutionary Change Could Help Species Deal with Stressful Climate

Biodiversity loss caused by climate change is an ever-increasing concern globally. Another significant factor inducing biodiversity loss is the establishment of invasive species, which usually dislodge native species.

23 Feb 2021

RP Global to Develop 1GW Solar PV and Wind Project Pipeline in Poland

Renewable energy developer and investor RP Global is investing in the development of Solar PV and wind power projects across the country. Wojciech Glocko, former EPA Wind and utility manager, has been hired to head up project development together with a team of senior local experts from Poland’s leading public and private renewable energy organisations.

23 Feb 2021