A new tool developed by Stanford University and Morgan Stanley assesses the nature-related impacts of over 2000 global companies, providing a new framework for evaluating and acting on corporate impacts on nature. The tool provides ecosystem services footprinting metrics with greater transparency than existing ESG approaches.
A new study by Thomas Jefferson University neuroscientist Jay Schneider suggests that high-quality maternal care and an enriched environment can reduce the toxic effects of lead exposure in rats. The findings provide hope for families with lead-poisoned children, particularly those from lower socioeconomic status.
A major international study involving 56,968 adults found that levels of nature connectedness are associated with socioeconomic factors such as financial security, education, and racial majority status. The UK scored higher on the Nature Exposure Scale, while Bosnia and Herzegovina led in this aspect.
Researchers are combining large datasets to understand the impact of environmental factors on mental health and develop new ways to reduce the burden. A 4-step approach is being used to integrate complex data across many studies, resulting in a detailed perspective of individuals within their environment.
Researchers discovered that when combined, microplastics and PFAS cause more severe toxic effects on aquatic life, including developmental failures and stunted growth. The study highlights the urgent need for regulatory frameworks addressing the unintended combinations of pollutants in the environment.
A Yale University team developed a method to assess the impact of biodegradable microplastics on the environment. The study found that while biodegradable plastics may be more sustainable, they can still release greenhouse gases and have toxic effects.
A Kobe University research team analyzed conditions for access to nature across generations, finding that availability of green spaces, nature-relatedness, and childhood experiences drive visits. The study highlights the importance of effective environmental education and urban planning policies to address inequalities in nature access.
Research suggests that plants can be used as an eco-friendly tool to collect and degrade plastic particles in natural ecosystems. Various plants have been found to absorb or adsorb micro- and nanoparticles through their roots or leaves, making them suitable for use as filters in wetlands or along highways.
A new Penn Nursing study found a strong association between the quality of the nurse work environment and COVID-19 mortality rates among socially vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries. Hospitals with high-quality nurse work environments were associated with reduced COVID-19 mortality among these patients.
The unique polar light environment creates conditions for circumpolar hybrid zones, increasing reproductive synchrony among species. Microbes play a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity by adapting to light-sensitive environmental cues.
Researchers discovered that urban and desert fruit flies use distinct visual navigation strategies to maintain balance and orient towards interesting objects. The study suggests that the visual environment plays a crucial role in shaping these navigation tactics, with implications for human vision and autonomous vehicle development.
A new NIH study finds that West African genetic ancestry is linked to increased prostate cancer risk among men living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, possibly due to chronic stress. The study suggests that neighborhood environment may play a role in determining how genetic ancestry influences prostate cancer risk.
A new study reveals that soil pH sets the stage for microbial interactions and community composition, with bacteria cooperating to survive in acidic environments. The research sheds light on global nitrogen cycling and provides insights into reducing potent greenhouse gas emissions.
The study developed three types of nanostructures that combine L-phenylalanine with metal ions, reshaping the tumor's immune-suppressive environment and enhancing ICB immunotherapy effectiveness. The nanostructures activate DC maturation, triggering pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and promoting the innate immune response.
Researchers have found a new brain mechanism that detects prediction errors between expected and actual sensory inputs, boosting responses to unexpected information. This discovery could offer insights into the neural circuits underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs).
A new study by Lund University found that socioeconomic status plays a crucial role in determining children's relationships with nature, rather than their location. The research also showed that direct access to nature near home is linked to improved well-being and positive attitudes towards wildlife.
Researchers discovered that wheat and lettuce plants actively grab, transport, and utilize solid mineral particles from their roots to shoots. This study provides crucial insights into the direct uptake routes of plants in their soil environment, potentially altering how we manage crop nutrition and soil health.
A new perspective paper highlights the importance of understanding migration dynamics in rural areas, which are often driven by slow changes related to climate and environment. The researchers propose integrating land system science into migration studies to develop effective sustainability policies.
A new model developed by Penn State researchers more accurately predicts the causal relationship between genetic and environmental factors in disease development. The study found that lifestyle and environmental factors play a larger role than previously believed, offering new opportunities to mitigate disease risk.
Researchers explored ancient interactions between life and the environment during the Phanerozoic Eon, a period of significant habitability improvements. They found that ocean algae played a crucial role in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and increasing oxygen levels, allowing for the evolution of more complex life forms.
A meta-analysis of existing research found that spending time in nature, even as little as 10 minutes, can yield short-term benefits for adults with mental illness. The analysis examined 30 years of published research on the social, mental, and physical health effects of exposure to nature.
A meta-analysis published in Ecopsychology found that even brief nature exposure can have a positive effect on symptomology, including affect, anxiety, and depression. The study suggests using nature exposure as an intervention to improve health and wellbeing for adults with mental illness.
Researchers analyzed blood samples from six astronauts before and after a 120-day mission on the ISS to identify changes in their bodies. The study found that extracellular DNA and RNA can be used to monitor responses to the space environment, including muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and fluid distribution fluctuations.
A team of researchers, including OHIO's Nate Szewczyk and students, published a comprehensive package of papers in Nature journals that transform our understanding of human space biology. The studies reveal how molecular biology and precision medicine can guide humanity into more challenging missions beyond Earth.
Researchers have discovered that the immune system evolves faster than other genes in the genome, particularly in mammals and birds. The study, published in Nature, used a unique model of genetically different mice to measure variation in immune cell types and identified key genes controlling their abundance.
Researchers at Harvard University discovered that giant deep-sea vent tubeworms possess two functional carbon fixation pathways, the Calvin-Benson–Bassham (CBB) and reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycles. These pathways are coordinated to enable symbionts to thrive in dynamic and harsh environments.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a theory to extract information from waves, allowing for precise measurements of objects in space. The theory reveals that the information content of a wave depends on its interaction with the object's properties, enabling customised waves to be generated for optimal information transfer.
Researchers developed a novel methodology utilizing digital twins to establish the usefulness of built environment design guidelines for robots. Digital twins allow for real-time monitoring, hazard identification, and training a robot's algorithm before deployment.
International agreements like Sustainable Development Goals represent wide support for a sustainable future. However, disagreements on how to achieve this lead to marginalization and inaction. Researchers found that competing approaches prioritize different values of nature, making compromise difficult.
Researchers characterized the microbial composition of oral fluid, feces, and environment of nursery piglets on commercial farms in Brazil. The study found distinct oral fluid bacterial profiles differing from those in feces and environment, with potential implications for swine health and production.
Researchers propose expanding research on nature's scents and olfactory cues to better understand their impacts on human health. The study aims to investigate the complex links between smell, nature, and human well-being, including the potential for unconscious biochemical processes.
Researchers unveil a theoretical framework that could revolutionize network systems, addressing the limitations of traditional unimorphic networks. The polymorphic network environment (PNE) enables the creation of a versatile 'network of networks' capable of accommodating diverse service requirements.
Researchers uncover evolutionary history of secreted iron uptake molecules in yeasts, revealing complex dynamics between cooperation and competition for this essential nutrient. Yeast species have developed alternative mechanisms to utilize siderophores without producing them, offering insights into the evolution of microbial strategies.
A study published by Cornell University researchers found that more frequent positive contact with nature is associated with reduced inflammation levels. The study, which analyzed data from the Midlife in the U.S. survey, suggests that enjoying nature can help prevent or manage diseases linked to chronic inflammation.
The study suggests that graphitisation could provide simplicity and a clean environment required for life, theorising that an object roughly the size of the moon hit early Earth around 4.3 billion years ago, depositing iron and other metals that reacted with water to form useful nitrogen-containing compounds.
A study published in Cell Reports found that environmental factors play a significant role in shaping metacognitive abilities, including mentalizing. The researchers used twin studies to investigate the interplay between genetics and environment on cognitive processing.
A study explores multi-objective nitrogen management in the food system, focusing on Quzhou County in China. The researchers found significant N losses to the environment, mainly from crop and animal production, and developed a framework for reducing these losses while promoting food security and economic sustainability. The study sugg...
Researchers analyzed over 5,000 metagenomic samples from 60 cities worldwide to understand the landscape of global urban environmental resistome. The study found significant regional specificity in antibiotic resistance and a positive correlation with antibiotic consumption.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have discovered how pancreatic cancer cells exploit an acidic environment to their advantage, finding ways to survive and grow. This knowledge is crucial for developing new therapeutic approaches to target the cancer.
A recent study has found that the age of a galaxy is the primary driver of the random motion of its stars. By analyzing data from the SAMI Galaxy Survey, researchers discovered that older galaxies tend to have more chaotic star motions, regardless of their environment or mass.
A long-term study found that coronary heart patients who live in greener areas have a significantly lower risk of mortality after undergoing bypass surgery. The study, which followed over 3,000 patients for 14 years, found that living in a green environment was associated with better chances of survival.
Researchers used Google Street View to analyze built environment factors and found they can predict 63% of coronary heart disease variation between neighborhoods. Features like green spaces and walkable roads are associated with lower risk, while poorly paved roads with higher risk.
A recent study by Boston Children's Hospital researchers found that activity in the dentate gyrus helps keep us focused on our environment when our mind wanders. This neural activity also aids in forming memories.
A recent study suggests that nature experiences positively impact human time perception, particularly in temporal duration and perspective. This can lead to a sense of 'gaining time' and balance feelings of time scarcity. By reconnecting with nature, people may develop a more positive and balanced time perspective.
Neuroscientists have improved understanding of how the brain creates a map of its environment by revealing the role of endocannabinoids in navigation. Activated place cells release endocannabinoids, which signal quickly and specifically, allowing animals to encode information about their location.
A new perspective article suggests that integrating environmental effects into genetic research is crucial to understand the intricate nature of gene-environment interactions. The authors propose expanding genome-wide association studies by incorporating environmental data, which could help mitigate deterministic thinking in genetics.
Researchers at KICT successfully implemented an electrostatic environment that simulates the Moon's surface conditions, reducing threats in executing lunar missions. The technology assesses performance and can be used for future in-situ resource utilization on the Moon.
Researchers developed a multi-step process to quantify the dependency of international trade on Nature's Contributions to People (NCPs), including spatial mapping and tracing international trade flows. The study aims to improve knowledge about the complex relationship between nature and international trade, supporting implementing Targ...
Researchers successfully conduct laboratory studies on whistler mode chorus emission using the RT-1 device, a magnetically levitated superconducting coil. The findings reveal that high-temperature electrons drive the generation of chorus emission, while increasing plasma density suppresses its occurrence.
A recent twin study published in Human Brain Mapping has found that genetics play a significant role in brain activity during emotional and cognitive tasks, with some factors being exclusive to environment. The study used functional MRI scans on twins to analyze the relationship between genetics and environment in brain function.
Regular nature visits are more beneficial to well-being of lower-income people than richer individuals, according to a University of Vienna study. People on low incomes at high risk of mental health problems can benefit from time spent in nature, which reduces stress and improves overall health.
Researchers aim to improve thermal comfort evaluation system by addressing metrics, questionnaire design, and prediction models. The goal is to provide a more personalized approach to comfort in various environments.
Research found associations between prenatal substance exposure and neurobehavioral problems in children, but controlling for environment and genetics eliminated many links. Prenatal alcohol exposure was significantly correlated with sleep problems and mental health issues despite compensatory brain responses.
Researchers at the University of Utah found that participants who walked through nature showed improved executive attention compared to those walking in urban areas. The study used EEG data to measure brain activity and controlled for factors such as exercise.
Researchers studied how epithelial cells sense small changes in their environment using ion channels. They found that even small movements can trigger rapid intracellular calcium changes via mechanosensitive cation channels, which play a key role in touch sensation and other physiological functions.
This article analyzes the work of two influential landscape architects, Xiaoxiang Sun and Lawrence Halprin, to explore their intellectual potentials for contemporary landscape architecture theory. Their theories focus on the role of nature, form-giving, and aesthetic experience in designed landscapes.
Researchers develop enzyme that can break silicon–carbon bonds in siloxanes, a first step towards rendering chemicals biodegradable. The discovery opens possibilities for natural organisms to degrade siloxane contaminants in wastewater and treat them in the environment.
A new MIT study found that children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds show less sensitivity to rewarding experiences, which can impact motivation and attention. The research suggests that the brain adapts to its environment by dampening its response to rewards, making it less responsive in low SES environments.
A groundbreaking study reveals indoor metabolites as key indicators in asthma and allergic rhinitis. Homes with diseased children had higher levels of mycotoxins and synthetic chemicals, while healthy homes were enriched with beneficial microbes and metabolites.
The EU's Nature Restoration Law (NRL) sets ambitious targets to restore 20% of Europe's land and marine areas by 2030, with the goal of increasing pollinator populations and rewetting peatlands. National implementation will be crucial for its success, requiring cooperation with economic sectors such as agriculture.