A new fluorescence detection system can detect fluorescent proteins from bacteria in water down to levels of less than one part per billion, meeting the World Health Organization’s criteria for detecting fecal contamination. The lensless fluorometer reduces device cost, size and weight while providing better performance.
Researchers developed a system that passively alternates between capturing and generating water, eliminating manual labor requirements. The system uses mass transport bridges to optimize efficiency and effectiveness, producing 2-3 liters of water per square meter daily.
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a compact rapid cycling fuel-fired atmospheric water harvesting device that can produce clean drinking water in arid places. The device uses hygroscopic materials to draw water molecules out of non-humid air and then applies heat to release those molecules into liquid form.
Researchers found arsenic treatment media in 71% of tested homes and water softener resin in 84% of homes with water softeners, posing potential health risks to users. The study highlights the need for further research and recommends installing a post-treatment sediment filter to capture escaping media.
MSU researchers developed a new cotton quality module as part of the GOSSYM application, simulating plant growth and yield. The tool can predict crop growth, yield, and fiber quality, providing valuable insights for farmers to maximize income and resiliency in the face of climate change.
A new study suggests that implementing effective water quality management measures could halve future water scarcity in the Pearl River Basin. The research highlights the importance of addressing water pollution and other environmental factors to mitigate water scarcity and support sustainable development.
Ephemeral streams are a substantial pathway for water transfer with significant implications for water quality, transporting pollutants and sediments to rivers and lakes. A recent study found that these streams account for over half of annual discharge from U.S. drainage networks, highlighting the need for enhanced regulation.
New modeling study reveals ephemeral streams contribute up to 55% of US river flow, playing a crucial role in transporting pollutants and nutrients. The findings highlight the importance of including these temporary streams under federal clean water regulations.
A new study finds that climate change could lead to a doubling of daily water collection times for women in certain regions by 2050. The researchers estimate that this would result in substantial welfare losses, equivalent to tens to hundreds of millions of US dollars per country and year.
A new study by Desert Research Institute finds that relying on water storage alone is insufficient to address future water scarcity, and that water conservation measures such as crop changes can help restore up to 20% of reservoir capacity. Agricultural communities in the Western US are advised to adopt these strategies to mitigate the...
Researchers used O K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy to analyze isolated water molecules in aqueous acetonitrile solutions. The study found that these molecules exhibited distinct electronic and structural properties compared to small water clusters.
A new study proposes cost-effective informal water contracts as a solution to quickly and affordably bring water to cities during droughts. Informal water leases enable rapid transfers by bypassing complex regulatory processes.
A new study by Virginia Tech researchers reveals that agricultural demand for water is significantly higher than cities, with crops used for feeding cattle being the largest consumers. The researchers also found that reservoir levels are dropping due to overuse and climate change, highlighting the need for efficient water use strategies.
The global clean water crisis is projected to intensify by the end of the century, affecting 66% of the population in areas with lack of clean water for at least a month. Climate change and socioeconomic developments drive water scarcity, particularly in developing countries.
Research found that during severe droughts, agricultural reservoirs in Korea's southern region experienced increased total organic carbon concentrations. The study suggests that these reservoirs may shift from carbon storage to carbon sources, emitting carbon into the atmosphere. This finding highlights the need for integrated environm...
A research team proposes a method to quantify the 'golden-hour water use efficiency' (GHW) trait, aiming to breed high-yielding and water-efficient crop varieties. The study focuses on the importance of balancing water conservation with biomass output in crops, offering a greener alternative for agricultural productivity.
Researchers discovered a way to stabilize water droplets in oil without using a surfactant. The thin film of oil absorbs onto the surface of water droplets, becoming more viscous, which leads to an attractive interaction and slows down coalescence.
The Colorado River's water is mostly consumed by agriculture, with over 70% used for irrigation and 32% for cattle feed crops. The river's water budget reveals the need for significant reductions in water use to avoid future shortages.
Researchers from KIST have found that nitrate enhances the natural purification of groundwater through the formation of new iron oxides, increasing removal efficiency and duration. This breakthrough is expected to revolutionize water quality management strategies for ASR systems.
Developed using Landsat imagery and Spectral Mixture Analysis, the NDWFI method improves water detection accuracy, particularly for small and transient bodies. This advancement enhances water resource management and conservation efforts worldwide.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new metric to measure water storage in snowpacks, which reveals a 22% drop in annual storage over the past four decades. This finding is important for water managers as it can help make long-term planning decisions for adjusting infrastructure options.
Scientists discovered how water influences collagen formation and assembly. Replacing water with heavy water accelerates collagen production but results in a less stable network. The study's findings offer insights into collagen-related diseases like brittle bone disease and may lead to new materials with controlled mechanical properties.
Researchers have discovered that produced water, often considered waste, contains nearly every element in the periodic table, including critical minerals like lithium and platinum group metals. A new approach using CO2 desalination can extract these valuable minerals, making it a lucrative means of offsetting reclamation costs.
Scientists detected water molecules on two asteroids, Iris and Massalia, indicating a distribution of water in our solar system that can inform searches for life beyond Earth. The discovery was made possible by using the FORCAST instrument to isolate mid-infrared spectral signatures indicative of molecular water.
A recent study published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology explores the impact of reduced building occupancy on water quality. The research found that prolonged stagnation led to significant variations in water quality, including changes in heavy metal and chlorine levels.
Rice University engineers have developed a hybrid urban water supply system that combines conventional, centralized water sources with reclaimed wastewater to save energy and reduce freshwater use. The system is also more resilient against disruptions such as hurricanes and flooding.
Scientists analyzed stable isotope compositions of hydrogen and oxygen in water molecules to identify long-trapped lithospheric water. They found distinct characteristics shared by various types of deep water, including those beneath the seafloor and in volcanic steam, indicating a common evolutionary trajectory.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology developed an uncrewed surface vehicle to measure nitrate concentration and water depth in a reservoir. The study reveals seasonal variations in nitrate levels and the importance of considering timing and weather conditions in water quality assessments.
Researchers at WVU develop a cotreatment process that reduces demand for chemicals to soften wastewater, allowing treated water to be reused up to 99% of its original volume. The study's findings offer a potential solution to the industry's water use challenge and could close the cycle of treating cooling tower blowdown and reusing it.
Researchers have developed a promising new solar-powered technology to harvest water from air, capable of increasing daily water supply needs in dryland areas. The system uses a super hygroscopic gel to absorb and retain large amounts of water, with the potential for large-scale practical applications.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University developed a system to assess water quality challenges in Suzhou, China. The study found that the city's water capacity has increased since 2001 due to effective water management measures.
Researchers at University of Eastern Finland developed a new method for accurate determination of water content in water-soluble compounds, utilizing solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The method is simple, accurate and quick, with results comparable to traditional methods like TGA and X-ray crystallography.
A new solar-powered device can turn polluted water into clean drinking water and hydrogen fuel, addressing global energy and water crises. The device uses solar power to split water molecules, producing clean water and hydrogen with minimal energy loss.
Global land water availability declined from 2001 to 2020, primarily driven by Southern Hemisphere climate variability. The region experienced a significant decrease in water availability over the last 20 years, contributing 95% of global variance.
The publication provides comprehensive guidance on evaluating and using water safely in agriculture, with a focus on health and environmental protection. It offers technical solutions and good agricultural practices to mitigate risks from crop and livestock farming, fish farming, and wastewater use.
A global study reveals that extreme events over the last thirty years had substantial impacts on water use patterns, differing per sector and region. The domestic and irrigation sectors have the highest priority for water use worldwide, but stricter measures are often taken in favor of the domestic sector during extremes.
The ancient Maya built and maintained reservoirs that filtered and cleaned the water using aquatic plants, providing potable water for thousands of people. The Maya's approach to managing water quality could serve as a model for addressing today's water crises.
A new solar-powered desalination system can produce drinking water at a lower cost and rate than traditional tap water. The system, developed by MIT engineers and their Chinese collaborators, uses natural sunlight to evaporate seawater, leaving salt behind, and has a higher production rate and rejection rate than previous designs.
Associate Professor Tadashi Ando from Tokyo University of Science conducted a study to test the performance of OPC and OPC3 water models, evaluating their shear viscosities and comparing values to experimental calculations. The calculated viscosities for both models were very close, with notable accuracy at temperatures above 310 K.
River water quality is deteriorating during extreme weather events, such as droughts, heatwaves, rainstorms, and floods. The study found that water quality tends to decline during these events due to increased contaminant transport and reduced dilution.
A review of almost 1000 studies found climate change negatively impacts water quality globally, increasing salinity and pollutant concentrations. The research highlights the need for improved understanding and management strategies to mitigate these effects.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a molecularly engineered hydrogel that can create clean water from hot air, using solar energy. The device produces up to 7 kilograms of water per kilogram of gel materials, with potential applications for drought-stricken areas and countries lacking access to clean water.
A recent study found that social factors are a stronger influence on water-quality violations than median household income. The study's social vulnerability index captured three times as much of the population affected by water-quality issues as median income did.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals that poor water quality violations disproportionately affect the most vulnerable communities in the US. Approximately 70% of those affected ranked in the highest social vulnerability category, highlighting the need for a broader definition of disadvantaged communities beyo...
Researchers found that climate change and changing water withdrawals have a combined impact on low river flows in Western and Central Europe. The study emphasizes the need for coordinated actions to decrease water withdrawals at regional, national, and international scales to tackle climate change effects.
A new computer model quantifies the black market for drinking water in Jordan, revealing that 91% of traded water is extracted illegally. The study predicts a significant increase in household dependence on private water suppliers due to decreasing public water supply infrastructure.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame recommends building water projects that allow community collaboration, reducing distances and increasing equity. The research team created a unique dataset to optimize locations and found that community collaboration models outperform traditional methods.
New research found that plant water use efficiency has stalled since 2001 due to climate change, contradicting earlier hopes it would help improve water consumption. The study's findings suggest that rising temperatures and atmospheric CO2 may be undermining nature-based methods to achieve carbon neutrality.
A study reveals that cattle stock tanks can provide crucial water sources for raptors in the Southwestern US, helping them cope with heat stress. The research found that these tanks are used by various raptor species, including barn owls and Swainson's hawks, to drink and bathe.
The Yangtze finless porpoise has evolved a specialized subcutaneous blubber layer that serves as an intelligent thermal coat, regulating body temperature in response to changing water temperatures. The blubber thickness changes with the water temperature, becoming thicker in colder waters and thinner in warmer waters.
Researchers have created self-assembling protein-mimics that can selectivity transport water across membranes while rejecting salts, offering a potential solution to improve energy efficiency in industrial water purification. The oligourea foldamers are smaller and more stable than existing artificial water channels.
Researchers develop Dynamic Water Diversion Optimization (DWDO) to improve water quality in Lake Dianchi, China's largest eutrophic freshwater lake. DWDO significantly reduces total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations while minimizing annual water diversion costs.
Researchers developed a novel strategy to detect surface water pollution by fusing UV-Vis and NIR spectral data. The approach improved prediction accuracy for COD, AN, and TN, providing a promising technology for real-time water quality monitoring.
Cultures from water-scarce environments tend to prioritize long-term thinking and less indulgence compared to their water-rich counterparts. This finding is supported by four studies examining the effects of water scarcity on decision-making processes, including a natural test case in Iran's Yazd and Shiraz cities.
Researchers found that giant water striders break the water surface when their legs push downward during a jump. They then quickly move downward surrounded by air caught within and around long hairs on their legs, generating upward force due to drag.
A recent study projects an increase in surface water pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa, posing significant risks to human populations and ecosystem health. The region is expected to become the dominant hotspot of surface water pollution, with potentially catastrophic consequences for communities.
A team of researchers from the University of Arizona is launching a $7 million consortium to improve water security and water reuse methods in the arid southwestern United States. The project aims to advance water treatment technologies and make systems more efficient, driving sustainable practices.
A Birmingham start-up has secured funding to develop a novel technology that can generate water out of air, addressing the global water shortage. The 'atmospheric water harvester' uses proprietary material to capture and release water from air at a faster rate with less energy required.
A new study finds that many Earth-like exoplanets with liquid water exist, increasing the chances of finding life. Researchers discovered two main ways for heat to generate liquid water underground, even in planets with frozen surfaces.
A WVU researcher is working to understand the unknowns about microorganisms growing inside pipes that bring drinking water to homes and businesses. Biofilms can be detrimental to drinking water quality, but the researcher aims to develop strategies for maintaining water quality throughout complex infrastructures.