Researchers developed a new model to assess the risks and benefits of fish consumption during pregnancy. The model considers average mercury content in consumed fish, indicating that low-mercury fish intake is beneficial for neurodevelopment, while high-mercury fish consumption is detrimental.
A new study from George Mason University found that trace amounts of non-essential elements, such as lead and mercury, in ovarian follicular fluid may impact IVF success rates. Higher concentrations of cobalt and copper were associated with a stronger ovarian response, while higher levels of lead were linked to reduced fertility.
Researchers have discovered high mercury levels in dolphins in the U.S. Southeast, particularly in Florida's St. Joseph and Choctawhatchee Bays. Elevated mercury levels in dolphins may have implications for human health due to their position at the top of the food chain.
Volcanic-sourced Hg exhibits near-zero ∆ <sup> 199 </sup> Hg values, while non-volcanic origins have varying ∆ <sup> 199 </sup> Hg values driven by ocean redox changes and terrestrial runoff. The use of mercury stable isotopes improves understanding of the relationship between LIP eruptions, biotic crises, and environmental changes.
A new study found that massive flood basalt volcanism drove mass-extinction and disturbance, while extreme climate change and Hg-pollution continued to stress plants long after volcanic activity had ceased. The results show that ferns were robust enough to continue thriving despite mercury poisoning.
A team of researchers has developed a signal-switching mechanism using non-toxic liquid metal droplets, enabling precise activation of integrated sensors without visual confirmation. This innovation streamlines device architecture and introduces a mercury-free alternative for medical and environmental applications.
Researchers have experimentally verified the parity anomaly in a topological insulator, which leads to spectral asymmetry and an unusual change in electrical resistance. This finding is generic for any topological insulator and opens up new avenues for exploring topological insulator physics.
Scientists estimate carbon emissions from ancient volcanic events using a new technique that analyzes excess mercury left behind in rock records. The study suggests that these large igneous provinces may have triggered positive Earth system feedbacks, exacerbating the effects of carbon emissions.
Researchers analyzed tissue and fecal samples from 90 stranded marine mammals to study the distribution of toxic elements. The study found that Risso's dolphins and short-finned pilot whales had high concentrations of mercury, cadmium, and lead, while dwarf sperm whales had low levels.
Researchers found stable tuna mercury concentrations worldwide from 1971 to 2022, except for a slight increase in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The team suggests upward mixing of 'legacy' mercury as a possible cause, which could take up to 25 years to influence oceanic levels.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that global deforestation is a previously overlooked driver of human-made mercury emissions, with the Amazon rainforest playing a crucial role in mitigating this issue. The study estimates that curbing Amazon deforestation could reduce mercury pollution by 30%, highlighting the need for worldwide ...
Parents who received nutritional epigenetics education reduced ultra-processed food consumption and increased whole organic foods intake, leading to improved behavior and cognition in their children. The education intervention also reduced heavy metal exposures and dietary deficits that disrupt gene function.
Shengqian Ma, Ph.D., receives the 2024 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Physical Sciences for his groundbreaking research on nanoporous materials-based nanotraps. These nanotraps can effectively clean up environmental pollutants like oil, mercury, and nuclear waste.
Researchers have discovered a Jupiter-sized planet, WASP-69b, with a comet-like tail that trails the planet for at least 350,000 miles. The tail is shaped and pushed in the direction of Earth by radiation and an outflow of gas from its host star, providing a rare opportunity to study planetary mass-loss in real time.
The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has developed the world's first CRM capable of accurately measuring nutritional and harmful elements in coffee beans. The new CRM enables accurate measurement of five nutrients and three toxic elements, meeting domestic and European regulations.
A study suggests that increasing beaver populations in the Western U.S. could lead to higher levels of methylmercury in rivers and surrounding habitats. Beavers' dam-building activities can create wetland habitats, but also generate bacteria that produce toxic neurotoxins.
Researchers developed a high-efficiency mercury removal photocatalyst by constructing a Z-scheme heterojunction of g-C3N5 and Bi5O7I. The unique structure enhances the separation and migration of electrons and holes, improving photocatalytic activity.
Researchers are working to better understand and reduce the health risks associated with mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. A new approach has been piloted, which can help reduce mercury emissions in these mines.
A new study from Northwestern University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that reducing sodium intake by just one teaspoon a day can lower systolic blood pressure by about 6 millimeters of mercury, comparable to the effect produced by commonly used first-line medication for high blood pressure. The study involved middle-a...
A study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that reducing sodium intake by just one teaspoon a day can lower systolic blood pressure by about 6 millimeters of mercury. Most people, regardless of whether they are already on blood pressure medications or not, can see a reduction in their blood pressure if they lower the sodiu...
A new study reveals that methylmercury uptake in phytoplankton is influenced by the presence of thiols in water. Thiols bind mercury strongly, limiting its availability to organisms. This process can result in dramatic enrichment of methylmercury levels in aquatic environments.
Research from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences estimates that humans have increased atmospheric mercury levels sevenfold, with a pre-anthropogenic baseline of around 580 megagrams. Human emissions from coal-fired power plants and waste-incineration are responsible for the majority of this increase.
A large USGS study assesses methylmercury in adult amphibians, finding it to be a toxic compound that bioaccumulates in animals as they feed. The study's results provide new methods and baseline data for assessing mercury risk in endangered species, including those listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Researchers detected local generation of chorus waves in Mercury's dawn sector, indicating a physical mechanism for their formation. The study reveals energy transfer along magnetic field lines, creating conditions favorable to chorus wave generation.
Operation Mercury successfully halted most illegal gold mining activity in La Pampa, Peru, reducing deforestation and water quality issues. However, spillover effects led to increased mining in legal areas, highlighting the need for stronger regulations to mitigate environmental harm.
Researchers found that shoreline spiders can move mercury pollution up the food chain to land animals like birds and bats. The study suggests these spiders can serve as a potential link between aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, informing management decisions.
A research team found that more than 52% of atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury in the Arctic Ocean comes from oceanic evasion, with the Marginal Ice Zone being a key source. The study proposes a mechanism for the summer peak of GEM, driven by sea ice changes and organic compounds.
A team of researchers has developed a new screening method to identify defective sensors, enabling the mass production of reliable graphene sensors for detecting toxins in water. The sensors can detect multiple contaminants simultaneously and provide early warning for contamination.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory discovered that some phytoplankton can degrade methylmercury even without sunlight. This finding enhances the prediction and accuracy of mercury-cycling models, reducing risks to human health and the environment.
The BepiColombo mission has successfully observed how electrons raining down on Mercury's surface can trigger high-energy auroras. The observations confirm that the mechanism generating aurorae is the same throughout the Solar System.
A recent study from the University of Helsinki found that fish mercury concentrations are highest in winter and near spring spawning, but lowest in autumn after the growing season. This seasonal pattern is linked to changes in fish metabolism and food availability during colder months.
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have created a new method for removing mercury from concentrated sulphuric acid, reducing levels by more than 90%. This innovation could lead to reduced mercury emissions and the production of high-purity, non-toxic products in industries such as mining and metal refining.
Researchers discovered a probiotic that can convert toxic mercury into less harmful forms, reducing neurological damage and improving iron absorption. The probiotic uses genes from a resistant bacteria to detoxify methylmercury, a neurotoxin found in fish-based diets.
Researchers found rock-forming elements in the atmosphere of WASP-76 b, which suggests it might have accreted a smaller Mercury-like planet. The discovery provides unprecedented insight into the presence and abundance of rock-forming elements in giant planets.
Astronomers using the Gemini North telescope have detected 11 rock-forming elements in the atmosphere of WASP-76b, a Jupiter-like exoplanet. The presence and relative amounts of these elements provide key insights into giant gas planet formation and may challenge our understanding of how planets like Mercury and Earth formed.
A new study from Harvard University reveals that despite the national reduction of mercury emissions by 90% since the implementation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in 2011, two regions - Texas and North Dakota - continue to be major sources of toxic air pollution. The research highlights significant sociodemographic disparitie...
The global biogeochemical mercury cycle is closely tied to international trade routes, with emissions primarily linked to artisanal gold mining and smelting. Strategies to mitigate mercury exposure include production-side controls and consumption taxes to influence consumer behavior.
A new study reveals that mercury levels in the Arctic tripled at the beginning of the Holocene, with sea ice reduction being the main cause. Climate warming has led to a decrease in perennial sea ice, allowing for increased mercury transfer and deposition in the Arctic environment.
Researchers used mercury isotope data to push back the timeline of vascular plant colonization, finding extensive land colonization by early Silurian (~444 Ma). This discovery links terrestrial organism expansion to co-evolution of earth systems, particularly atmosphere-ocean-weathering processes.
Ancient Mayans used an 819-day calendar that covered a much larger timeframe than previously thought. By increasing the calendar length to 20 cycles of 819 days, researchers found a pattern emerges in which the synodic periods of all visible planets align with station points in the larger calendar.
A study analyzed 25 countries' baseline mercury emission estimates and found that they rarely provide enough information to determine whether changes are due to actual change or data uncertainty. This lack of transparency hinders efforts to draft meaningful mercury reduction targets in national action plans.
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has selected six papers for the 2022 Cozzarelli Prize, recognizing outstanding contributions to scientific disciplines. The awardees include researchers who studied ancient chemistry, Sox8's role in ear development, and soft intelligent autonomous robots.
Recent planetary missions have revealed significant advances in our understanding of Mercury's metal composition and magnetic field, as well as Venus' dense atmosphere and geological activity. On Mars, the InSight mission has detected marsquakes, suggesting a similar internal structure to Earth.
Researchers have developed a self-powered nanosensor that can detect small amounts of mercury ions by tapping it into a sample solution. The sensor uses the triboelectric effect to generate electricity and signal the presence of mercury ions in real-time.
A recent study by University at Buffalo researchers found toxic elements like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium in many commercial baby foods. The study highlights the need for stricter regulations to protect infants from these harmful substances.
A team of researchers has found a definitive link between mercury isotopes and the Latest Permian Mass Extinction, the largest extinction event in Earth's history. The study suggests that massive volcanic eruptions in Siberia led to rapid warming and climate change, which contributed to the extinction event.
New measurement technologies will support the global effort to reduce airborne mercury levels. The study improves accuracy and efficiency in quantifying ambient reactive mercury.
A new study found a clear increase in sulfur fertilizer use in the Midwest as atmospheric sulfur deposition declined. The study, which analyzed decades of data, suggests that farmers replaced lost airborne nutrient with fertilizer.
Researchers propose using space atomic clocks to detect ultralight dark matter oscillations near the Sun. The experiment aims to probe a region with minimal constraints on dark matter density, potentially leading to world-leading limits on dark matter searches.
Researchers have developed a metal-free photon upconversion system that transforms readily available visible light into UVB photons, enabling sustainable photochemical processes. The breakthrough enables efficient generation of high-energy UV photons without relying on mercury lamps or other inefficient alternatives.
A study by Hiroshima University researchers detected illegal international mercury trade using discrepancies in mirrored trade data from the United Nations Comtrade. The method, which analyzed export and import statistics, can help assess the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Researchers genetically engineered the fungus Metarhizium robertsii to amplify its mercury detoxifying effects, finding it can quickly clear mercury from fresh and saltwater. The discovery suggests a potential cost-effective method for protecting crops grown in polluted areas and remediating mercury-laden waterways.
Researchers analyzed three intervention strategies to mitigate mercury use and emissions in artisanal gold mining, finding that while some methods reduce emissions, others create new environmental problems. The study suggests a need for more comprehensive approaches to address the complex issues surrounding mercury use.
Researchers at Flinders University have created a new multi-functional material that can be used to purify water, as a recyclable construction material, and as a lightweight machine component for possible use in soft robotics. The material combines magnetic iron particles with a sulfur-rich polymer and can be moved remotely by a magnet.
Researchers discovered that ancient Maya cities in Mesoamerica were heavily polluted with mercury, contaminating the soil and water. The pollution was caused by the frequent use of mercury and cinnabar paints, powders, and other products, which leached into the environment and pose a potential health hazard today.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters found that natural gas transported by interstate pipelines contains hazardous air pollutants and known human carcinogens. The study analyzed industry-reported data and found surprising levels of harmful air pollutants, including benzene, mercury, radon, and hydrogen sulfide.
A study analyzing over 4,131 pregnant mothers found that the essential nutrients in fish can protect against mercury content and that frequency of fish consumption is a more important factor than type. The researchers argue for revising current advice warning pregnant women not to eat certain types of fish.
Researchers found a 33% drop in total mercury concentrations in the Barents Sea during the polar night, attributed to a scavenging process involving manganese particles. This decrease in surface levels may lead to increased toxic mercury formation in sediments and potentially more methylmercury in Arctic food webs.
A new study found that 72% of methylmercury concentration variance in largemouth bass can be explained by land cover types. Monitoring efforts should focus on ecoregions with increased sensitivity to atmospheric mercury deposition.
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a new MXene material that can efficiently remove mercury from contaminated water. The carboxylated titanium carbide MXene has shown superior performance in removing mercury ions compared to existing adsorbents, with the ability to capture 95% of mercury ions within one minute.