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.
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 Northwestern University study links underground climate change to shifting ground beneath urban areas, causing building foundations and surrounding ground to move excessively and crack. The researchers also found that past building damage may have been caused by rising temperatures, which will continue for years to come.
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 study led by Dr. Dawen Yang finds that thawing permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau provides a considerable but unsustainable water supply, threatening regional water security. The research suggests that ground ice meltwater contributes significantly to river runoff, particularly in sub-regions with dense populations.
Researchers have measured the effects of ground on propeller noise for the first time, finding clear differences in noise characteristics. The study aims to inform strategies to reduce aircraft noise while taking off or landing, which is crucial for urban air services.
Brackish groundwater has the potential to replace fresh water for cooling coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, but treatment can be energy intensive. The study found that retrofitting power plants to use brackish water could nearly eliminate fresh water usage, but increase electricity generation costs by 8-10%.
A new study from the University of Colorado Boulder documents more than 60 years of change in snowpack water storage across Western North America. The researchers found that snowpack water storage has significantly declined in over 25% of the Mountain West, leading to earlier water scarcity and impacts on agriculture and wildfire risk.
A study analyzing the affordability of water services for 28.3 million people in the US found that 15% of households, or one in seven, face financial hardship in paying for access to water and wastewater services. The researchers suggest that solutions require comprehensive strategies at local, state, and federal levels.
A study found that California's mandatory water-use cuts in 2015 and 2016 resulted in ongoing water efficiencies, with higher-end water users adopting technology and achieving smaller rebound effects. Lower-end users, however, resumed watering their lawns after the mandate was lifted, contributing to a modest increase in water use.
New research reveals a strong correlation between El Niño-Southern Oscillation and cloud-to-ground lightning in China. The study found that ENSO events, particularly La Niña, lead to enhanced cloud-to-ground lightning activity in North China and Northeast China.
A new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health finds that water arsenic levels are associated with higher urinary arsenic among the U.S. population, especially in public water supplies in the West and South regions. The researchers found that private well users and those in public water systems have higher urinary a...
A new study reveals that Indigenous groups in the western US are struggling to turn their legal right to water into actual water use, despite having settled their water-rights claims. The findings show that tribes are likely using only a fraction of their entitled water rights, resulting in significant revenue losses.
Greater mouse-eared bats prioritize high-calorie, high-risk ground-dwelling insects but switch to aerial prey when environmental conditions hinder their ground-foraging success. This study reveals that bats rely heavily on ground prey due to its nutritional value and higher profitability.
A study published in Nature Water shows that boil water alerts significantly disrupt student learning, with unexcused absence rates increasing between 1% and 10%. Chronic exposure to contaminated water can have long-term impacts on a child's life.
Research reveals that social inequalities are driving urban water crises in cities worldwide, with affluent individuals consuming a disproportionate share of water for leisure activities. The study suggests that addressing unsustainable water consumption among the wealthy is crucial to reducing these crises.
The Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology has developed a smart sensor that detects subtle changes in slope and triggers an LED warning light to alert those in the situation room. The sensors can be installed at high-risk areas and are expected to help prevent and respond to collapses.
Researchers have found a new water reservoir on the Moon, discovered in impact glass beads, which can buffer the lunar surface water cycle. The study suggests that these beads can store and release solar wind-derived water, indicating their potential for in-situ resource utilization.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that ground beetle species will thrive or decline based on their habitats and traits. Habitat conservation can help mitigate the effects of climate change on these insects, which are critical pest control agents in North American agriculture.
A recent review study led by UT Austin examines the planet's freshwater supplies and strategies for sustainably managing them. The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing surface water and groundwater as a single resource to ensure future water resilience.
Scientists have detected water in the disk forming around a nearby protostar, V883 Ori, using ALMA. The discovery provides evidence that water in our Solar System formed billions of years before the Sun.
A study by Revathy Parameswaran and colleagues compared ground motion and magnitude estimates from satellite and seismic records for the 2021 Chignik earthquake. The researchers found that GNSS and strong-motion acceleration seismic data can be used interchangeably or jointly for rapid magnitude or ground motion estimation.
The study estimates that tap water scald burns result in significant healthcare costs, with average costs of $572 per emergency department visit and $28,431 per hospital stay. Thermostatic mixing valves could reduce the risk of these burns by mixing hot water with cold water.
A study found that a commercial water purifier may have caused Mycobacterium abscessus infections in 4 cardiac surgery patients due to chlorine depletion. The hospital's water system was contaminated via municipal water, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and preventing mycobacteria.
The Zhurong rover has imaged shallow impact craters and buried impact crater walls in the top five meters of Mars' surface, revealing complex subsurface geology. Researchers found layers of sediment left by past flooding and deposition, but no evidence of water or ice in the present day.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a rapid and sensitive soil moisture sensor using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to optimize water usage in agriculture. The MOF-based sensor shows high sensitivity and selectivity for water even in the presence of metal ions, enabling precise irrigation management.
A sunlight-powered porous hydrogel inspired by loofahs can rapidly absorb and release purified water. The material has the potential to meet a person's daily demand, regardless of light conditions.
The study examines the impact of climate change and economic sustainability on drinking water management strategies. The integrated assessment framework assesses factors such as water quality, environmental changes, and potential costs to determine performance data and benchmarking.
Researchers discovered 'dhaka' pits that stored surface and ground water for the city, managing a stable supply during dry periods. The ancient civilization's innovative approach to water management may offer valuable lessons for modern societies.
Researchers found that riparian buffers can increase stream flow during low-flow events and maintain water levels in areas with high future development. However, the effectiveness of buffers was limited, and they were not enough to mitigate extreme changes in stream flow.
Researchers designed and fabricated a water wave superscattering device based on degeneracy resonance, breaking the single channel scattering limit. The device achieved enhanced water wave scattering using metamaterials, promising applications in marine energy harvesting and coastal protection.
The Tibetan Plateau's frozen ground is experiencing diverse variations in thawing due to uneven wetting under climate change. The study found that arid regions have become warmer and wetter, while humid regions have become warmer but drier. This has led to a reduction in permafrost area by 28% as substantial wetting in arid areas exert...
Using machine learning to study water's phase changes, researchers found strong computational evidence in support of liquid-liquid transition. This technique can be applied to real-world systems that use water, informing water's use in industrial processes and climate models.
Researchers used AI to design and test thousands of functional group patterns on a carbon nanotube pore, finding optimal arrangements that can filter out contaminants. The study demonstrates AI's potential in developing new types of water purification membranes.
A global study of human water requirements found that water turnover varies with factors like age, climate, and body composition. The research developed an equation to predict individual water usage, with higher rates in younger adults and those with lower human development indices.
A new study of thousands measures daily water intake and turnover in people worldwide, revealing significant variations. The study found that physical activity level, sex, age, and environmental factors drive differences in water consumption.
Researchers at Göttingen University found that removing vegetation in small areas led to a significant increase in ground nests, especially with nearby flowering plants. The removal of vegetation proved to be a simple measure to promote ground-nesting wild bees on calcareous grasslands.
A new study published in Science found that the recommended eight 8-oz glasses of water per day is too high for human needs. Water turnover, measured objectively using a stable isotope technique, showed higher values in hot and humid environments, athletes, pregnant women, and individuals with high physical activity. The researchers de...
Researchers discovered a novel water sensing mechanism called 'Hydro-Signalling' that links hormone movement with water fluxes, enabling plant roots to pause and resume branching based on moisture availability. This adaptation helps plants survive in drought conditions and informs the development of climate-resilient crops.
A new study by the University of Gothenburg reveals that the salinity of surface water is crucial for sea ice formation at low temperatures. The study finds that warm water is prevented from rising to the surface due to its lower salinity, creating a 'lid' that allows cold polar temperatures to freeze continuously moving warmer water.
Researchers have developed a novel proposal for designing flip-flop dynamic crystals with temperature-regulated apertures to separate water isotopologues. The new material exhibits excellent separation factor and high selectivity, overcoming the century-old challenge in separation science.
Two billion people globally rely on mountain water for drinking and irrigation, which is under threat due to global heating. Researchers propose integrated water strategies that include scientists working directly with communities to drive climate adaptation and boost water security.
The US beef industry is found to be the least efficient at using virtual water, with a significant amount of blue water needed to produce just one ton of boneless beef. Researchers have developed a model to trace virtual water flows in beef supply chains, revealing major disconnects between consumption and production counties.
Researchers have discovered that aluminous silicas play a significant role in transporting water into the Earth's deep interior. These minerals can hold large amounts of water even at high temperatures, challenging previous assumptions about the water cycle in the mantle.
A large-scale study of 47 primate species across three continents found that climate change and deforestation are driving these animals to spend more time on the ground. The study suggests that primates with certain traits, such as a generalized diet or living in larger groups, may be more likely to adapt to this new lifestyle.
Researchers developed a new global water quality model to assess current and future pollution status of rivers and streams globally. The study found that achieving the SDG target would not be enough to protect surface water quality in some regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
A new study by UTA hydrologist Ricardo Sánchez-Murillo has created detailed maps of Tegucigalpa's water sources, charting areas critical to recharge. These maps could help Honduras implement stricter urbanization and agriculture regulations to conserve water and protect vital landscapes.
A large observational study found that moderate coffee consumption, including decaffeinated and ground coffee, was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and death. The study suggests that mild to moderate intake of coffee can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
Researchers applied a new integrated model linking surface water to groundwater to estimate water resources at high spatial resolution. The study found that irrigation increases atmospheric water loss but reduces groundwater support, especially during dry seasons.
A study by Duke University researchers found that rooftop solar cells can save a significant amount of water, with households saving an average of 16,200 gallons per year. Converting to solar in homes reduces the use of grid electricity and therefore also the volume of water used.
Researchers at Penn State are developing a membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) method that uses battery- or solar-powered electricity to purify water. The method has shown promise in treating ground and brackish water, but needs improvement for more highly concentrated sources like seawater.
Computer simulations reveal that animals rearing up to smell the air is part of an efficient strategy for locating scent sources. Animals use physics to navigate turbulent environments, pausing and standing on hind legs to catch distant scents in the air.
Researchers developed a wireless system called Contactless Moisture Estimation (CoMEt) that estimates soil moisture in agricultural fields at multiple depths using radio signals. CoMEt can assess soil moisture without requiring in-ground sensors, making it more cost-effective and convenient for farmers.
The UW Photonic Sensing Facility uses fiber-optic sensing technology to detect ground motions as small as 1 nanometer for seismology, glaciology, oceanography, and infrastructure monitoring. The new center will expand seismic data collection by thousands of times.
A new study from Penn State and Northwestern University finds that avoiding tap water is associated with a 20-30% increase in food insecurity among Americans. Tap water avoidance can divert funds meant for nutritious food, leading to higher reliance on prepackaged and restaurant food.
A study by Australian National University found that at least 25,245 people in remote communities had access to non-compliant drinking water services. The researchers also identified 408 locations with poor water quality, including 40% of Indigenous communities. A national drinking water database is urgently needed to address these gaps.