Two UK start-ups, AdFerTech and Straw Fuels, have won €20K Climate-KIC prizes for their innovative solutions to mitigate climate change. AdFerTech's technology converts waste liquor into organic fertiliser, while Straw Fuels produces eco-friendly fire logs made from straw.
A new fossil specimen of the ancient Mesozoic marine reptile Chaohusaurus has revealed evidence of a live birth, suggesting that live births in land reptiles may have appeared much earlier than previously thought. The discovery provides the oldest vertebrate fossil to capture the moment of live-birth.
Researchers have discovered a new Burgess Shale fossil site in Kootenay National Park, which may be the world's most important animal fossil discovery in decades. The site has yielded over 50 animal species in just 15 days of field collecting, contributing to our understanding of early animal evolution during the Cambrian Period.
Researchers at UC Davis have invented a technique to produce gasoline-like fuels from cellulosic materials like farm and forestry waste. This breakthrough could lead to a larger market for renewable fuels beyond existing diesel substitutes.
Three new extinct fossil species of big-headed flies were discovered in Eocene epoch fossil beds, dating back 49-52 million years. These finds show early evolution parallels a significant ecological revolution, which formed modern natural communities.
A team of researchers, including a scientist from Case Western Reserve University, have announced the discovery of a new species of fossil horse from 4.4 million-year-old deposits in Ethiopia. The newly named Eurygnathohippus woldegabrieli had three-toed hooves and grazed grasslands and shrubby woods.
A new study highlights the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and bioenergy in reaching ambitious climate targets. Without policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuels will remain the major energy source by 2100, with resulting increases in emissions.
A new fossil species, Niassodon mfumukasi, has been discovered in Mozambique, providing new data on the evolution of ancient mammal relatives. The fossil, dated to approximately 256 million years ago, belongs to a group of synapsids that dominated land communities during the Late Permian period.
A 115- to 125-million-year-old flowering plant fossil, named Potomacapnos apeleutheron, has been discovered in a Virginia canal bank where freed slaves were forced to dig a canal. The find raises questions about the evolution of flowering plants and pollen.
Using CT scans, researchers created a non-destructive method to separate fossilized bones from surrounding sediment. They then printed the bones using a 3-D printer, producing an accurate replica that could be shared with other research facilities.
Global carbon emissions are set to reach a record 36 billion tonnes in 2013, with the US and EU also major contributors. The growth in coal is driving most of the increase, and cumulative CO2 emissions since 1870 are expected to exceed 200 trillion tonnes.
The Alternative Fueling Station Locator App allows iPhone users to select an alternative fuel and find the closest stations within a 30-mile radius. The app draws information from the Clean Cities' Alternative Fuels Data Center, containing over 15,000 alternative fueling stations nationwide.
A new study finds that emissions pricing revenues could be at least twice as high as the estimated profit losses for fossil fuel owners. Climate policies would reduce demand and lower prices, generating strong incentives to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
A high school student's discovery of a baby Parasaurolophus skeleton has revealed new insights into the growth and development of this unique herbivorous dinosaur. The nearly complete fossil measures six feet long and is estimated to be only a year old when it died, growing to an adult measuring nearly 25 feet in length.
The discovery of two new fossil jaws in Vellberg, Germany, provides evidence that the ancestors of lizards, snakes, and tuatara were alive during the Middle Triassic period. The findings suggest that lepidosaurs first appeared after the end-Permian mass extinction event, around 240 million years ago.
The study finds that high levels of wind and solar power reduce fossil fuel costs by $7 billion per year, while incurring cycling costs of $35 million to $157 million. Cycling increases operations and maintenance costs by $0.47 to $1.28 per megawatt-hour of generation.
A new study published in Bioresource Technology found that algae biofuel reduces life cycle CO2 emissions by 50-70% compared to petroleum fuels. The study also reveals that algae-based fuels have a similar Energy Return on Investment (EROI) as conventional petroleum, making them a promising long-term source of sustainable energy.
Researchers investigate toxicology of alternate fuels, finding emissions from biodiesel vehicles are less mutagenic than petroleum-based diesel. The symposium also discusses human health effects of biofuels and engine changes with changing fuels.
Researchers aim to turn CO2 from fossil fuels back into a renewable energy source by capturing and processing the gas with catalysts. A symposium at the American Chemical Society meeting features studies on the activation of CO2 for catalytic transformation.
A team of scientists has announced a new juvenile fossil cranium of the ancient ape species Lufengpithecus from Shuitangba, China. The discovery provides significant insights into the evolution and extinction of apes during the Miocene epoch.
A newly discovered species, Rugosodon eurasiaticus, has provided critical insights into the evolution of multituberculates, which dominated Earth's landscapes for over 100 million years. The fossil's well-preserved anatomy reveals adaptations for gnawing plants and animals alike, as well as highly mobile ankle joints.
The discovery of Megaconus mammaliaformis sheds light on the evolution of modern mammals, revealing a 165-million-year-old proto-mammal with hair and fur. The fossil, found in Inner Mongolia, China, provides evidence that key biological functions related to skin and integument evolved before the rise of modern mammals.
Scientists have unexpectedly created two differently colored crystals from one chemical, revealing new insights into agostic bonds crucial for industrial catalytic reactions. The discovery provides valuable information for making plastics and fuels.
A 700,000-year-old horse fossil found in the Yukon permafrost has provided new insight into equine evolution, revealing a genome that falls within a line of modern horses and Przewalski's Horses. The study also showed episodes of severe demographic fluctuations in horse populations linked to major climatic changes.
Scientists have discovered miraculously preserved musculature in 380 million-year-old fossil fishes from north-west Australia. This finding helps understand the evolution of neck and abdominal muscles in ancient vertebrates.
The discovery of Archicebus achilles represents a significant milestone in the field of paleoanthropology. Found to be approximately 7 million years old, this ancient primate fossil sheds light on the evolutionary divergence between the lineage leading to modern monkeys, apes and humans, and that leading to living tarsiers.
The oldest known fossil primate skeleton, Archicebus achilles, was discovered in central China's Hubei Province. The 7-million-year-old skeleton is crucial in understanding the evolutionary divergence that led to modern monkeys, apes, and humans.
A study by Griffith University Climate Change Response Program finds that planting trees does not offset fossil fuel CO2 emissions, highlighting the urgent need to rethink land management practices. Protecting natural forests and restoring degraded ecosystems are crucial components of the solution.
A Canadian research project is testing the use of low-carbon fuels from construction and demolition waste, railway ties, and asphalt shingles to power cement plants. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions, with the potential to decrease Canada's carbon footprint by up to 3%.
Universal access to modern energy could be achieved with an estimated investment of $65-86 billion per year up until 2030. The proposed investments equate to just 3-4% of current global energy system investments. Improved access to clean-cooking fuels and stoves could avert between 0.6 and 1.8 million premature deaths in 2030.
Researchers discover nearly complete skeleton of ancient bird, Eocypselus rowei, which lived 50 million years ago. The fossil's well-preserved feathers reveal key characteristics of the bird's wing shape, providing insights into the evolution of swift and hummingbird flight.
Fossil records from Tanzania and Zambia reveal a lineage of animals thought to have led to dinosaurs, contradicting previous assumptions about their predecessors' fate. The discovery provides new insights into the recovery of animal communities after the mass extinction.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a new chemical process that transforms waste sulfur into a lightweight plastic, which may improve batteries for electric cars and other applications. The new plastic has great promise as something that can be produced easily and inexpensively on an industrial scale.
Researchers at UGA have created a microorganism that can absorb CO2 and generate useful industrial products, including fuel. This discovery could lead to the creation of carbon-neutral fuels from atmospheric CO2, a cleaner alternative to gasoline, coal, and oil.
A new fossil discovery in southern California challenges earlier claims of a 'killer walrus' existing. The ancient creature was found to have a diet rich in fish, contrary to initial estimates that it preyed on marine mammals.
A new study suggests introducing shareholder liability could reduce lock-in in the energy economy and spur a shift towards sustainable energy. The study argues that fossil fuel companies' profits are not tied to environmental damage, leading to a lack of incentive for change.
Researchers engineered blue-green algae to grow chemical precursors for fuels and plastics, a step towards replacing fossil fuels. The U.S. Department of Energy aims to obtain a quarter of industrial chemicals from biological processes by 2025.
A new fossil discovery reveals a bird with specialized teeth for eating hard prey, greatly expanding the known diversity of tooth shape in early birds. The find suggests that dietary differences may have contributed to the decline of enantiornithine birds during the Cretaceous period.
Researchers have identified previously unseen anatomy preserved in fossils using synchrotron-based imaging techniques. The study reveals that a 50 million-year-old lizard skin contains teeth, changing the understanding of this fossil animal.
Researchers developed nanofiber mats of metal oxide that scrub sulfur from fuels, improving performance for catalysis, energy applications, and toxic gas removal. The material stays stable and active after several cycles, with a fibrous structure granting immunity to sintering.
A team of Princeton researchers found that using synthetic fuel made from coal, natural gas, and non-food crops could cut US vehicle greenhouse emissions by up to 50% in the next several decades. The process is competitive with crude oil production and has potential environmental advantages.
Paleontologists find varying evolutionary modes among morphological traits within fossil species, validating mosaic evolution. The study analyzes hundreds of sequences of fossil samples using model selection methods, revealing conflicting patterns of change.
After 121 years, researchers have correctly identified the 'grave robber' fossil as a unique branch in the evolutionary tree. The discovery pushes back the endpoint for the fossil's lineage by 45 million years and shows that this family of mammals survived the extinction event that marked the end of the Age of Dinosaurs.
A Korean research team uses systems metabolic engineering to improve butanol production in Clostridium acetobutylicum. The optimized process yields over 585g of butanol from 1.8Kg of glucose, making biofuel production cost-competitive.
Researchers have successfully developed a bio-oil gasifier that can efficiently break down plant cellulose, producing synthesis gas for transportation fuels and boiler fuel. The technology aims to move towards cellulosic biofuels, reducing dependence on corn grain.
Researchers at Brown University have been awarded a $1.75 million grant to develop new catalysts for producing chemicals from carbon dioxide instead of fossil fuels. The goal is to reduce the chemical industry's carbon footprint and stabilize production costs.
Researchers found a 100 million-year-old fossil of an ancient spider attacking its prey caught in its web. The discovery provides the oldest evidence of social behavior in spiders and offers a unique glimpse into the distant past.
A new fossil discovery provides evidence that simpler worm-like mollusks evolved from more complex shelled brethren, rather than the other way around. The find clarifies evolutionary relationships among mollusks, including oysters and mussels.
Researchers have uncovered historic letters written by Edward Drinker Cope to geologist Robert T. Hill, shedding new light on the Texas connection to the Bone Wars. A newly translated German ode to a fossil also provides insight into the era's intense fossil collecting frenzy.
Researchers developed a new model to analyze 'well-to-wheel' greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands and conventional crude oils. They found that lifecycle emissions vary widely depending on project conditions and technology used.
A new fossil discovery solves the mystery of flatfish evolution, revealing a 50-million-year-old fossil fish named Heteronectes that shows an intermediate stage between most fish and specialized flatfish. The study provides evidence for the gradual evolution of flatfish anatomy.
The airline industry is poised to adopt biobased jet fuel, derived from waste cooking oil and algae, due to rising costs for conventional fuels. Biobased fuels are blended with traditional Jet A-1 fuel and have shown promising results in test flights.
A new study finds that preserving forests can curb climate change more effectively than harvesting wood as fuel. The research suggests that managing forests for maximal carbon storage can yield significant, predictable benefits within the coming century.
A recent report synthesizes published studies on the impact of bark beetles on wildfires, revealing that tree mortality can indeed affect fuels and fire behavior. However, the extent of these effects depends on various factors, including the time since the outbreak and the type of fuel or fire characteristic being studied.
A team of researchers has discovered that the Taung fossil's persistent metopic suture may have evolved as an adaptation for giving birth to babies with larger brains, allowing for rapid brain growth after birth. This finding suggests a complex interplay between childbirth and upright walking in the evolution of human brain size.
Recent research suggests that plant-derived biofuels could meet 30% of the global demand for liquid transportation fuels without affecting food production. Scientists have identified non-edible plants as a promising area of research to produce biofuels sustainably.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led team developed a new monitoring system to analyze atmospheric gas emissions, separating CO2 from fossil fuels from biological sources. The method uses carbon-14 to estimate emission rates of gases impacting climate change, air quality, and ozone recovery.
A new study proposes that purchasing extraction rights for dirty fossil fuels in non-participating countries is a more effective way to combat climate change. By conserving these deposits, coalitions can reduce emissions and mitigate carbon leakage, allowing them to implement their ideal policy without fear of non-participating countri...
Researchers develop a new technique to dynamically regulate metabolic pathways in microbes, boosting the production of biodiesel by threefold. The dynamic sensor-regulator system (DSRS) can detect metabolic changes and control gene expression to optimize productivity.
A new study by University of Oregon sociologist Richard York finds that it takes more than 10 units of alternative energy to displace a single unit of fossil fuel-generated power. The research highlights the need for a shift in political and economic policies to address human behavior, rather than just technological solutions.