Northwestern University researchers Julius Lucks and Sera Young present innovative solutions for monitoring water quality and addressing household water insecurity. The Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (HWISE.org) measures experiences of household-level water access and use globally.
The study reveals that even modest climate warming scenarios can lead to a significant loss of groundwater in the continental US, with the eastern region being more sensitive. As shallow groundwater storage is depleted, it can no longer buffer plant water stress, leading to dramatic changes in vegetation and surface waters.
Researchers used persistent homology and molecular dynamics simulations to study water molecules on graphene surfaces. They found that water molecules form stable polygonal shapes, which evolve into 3D tetrahedral structures after three layers are added. This discovery provides insights into the transition between surface and free water.
During droughts, mountain forests and grasslands at higher elevations release more water into the air than in normal growth periods. This is due to increased metabolism promoting water uptake by vegetation. As a result, evapotranspiration rates are above average, draining rivers and streams of half their usual volume.
A team of researchers from the University of Portsmouth has discovered that using fewer coffee beans ground more coarsely can lead to a stronger, more consistent espresso. This method reduces costs while maintaining quality, with potential savings estimated at over $1.1 billion annually.
Higher-density development with more impervious surfaces causes runoff, leading to increased water pollution. Agriculture also contributes significantly to water pollution, and anti-sprawl policies can prevent much-needed land-use changes that reduce pollution.
Research led by University of Arizona found simultaneous droughts in Southern California's main water sources occurred six times per century on average. Perfect droughts lasting two or more years coincide with high pressure off the northwest Pacific Coast and storm tracks shifted north.
Scientists studied Martian atmospheric water vapor using ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter data, finding seasonal changes were the dominant regulator. The study suggests that warm seasons can lead to increased water loss into space, impacting Mars' continued desiccation.
Researchers have discovered that koalas move like marsupials on the ground but employ primate-like strategies when climbing through trees. Koalas exhibit a similar gait pattern to primates, with diagonally opposed hand and foot in contact with branches for stability.
A multidisciplinary team of researchers has developed a novel water filtration process that mimics the human body's efficient water transport system. The new membrane technology shows impressive desalination properties, exhibiting selective salt removal with higher efficiency than current processes.
Researchers used a combination of VR, aerial thermal-imaging, and ground surveys to develop a statistical model for predicting koala locations. The three-pronged approach proved 75% more accurate than ground surveys alone, providing critical information for koala protection.
Researchers found that charged polymers increase viscosity by altering water-water interactions, which is influenced by a nuclear quantum effect. This discovery has fundamental implications for developing new technologies in health, biosciences, materials science, and environmental science.
The study ranked Asian Water Towers as the most important and most threatened globally, with the Indus water tower being the most relied-upon and vulnerable. Climate change and geopolitical factors pose significant risks to these systems, threatening the water supply for 1.9 billion people.
Researchers are exploring various water management techniques to optimize crop yields and reduce water usage in water-scarce areas. Advanced irrigation technologies, such as mobile drip and precision application, show promise in reducing applied water by up to 20%.
A team from Colorado State University has created a novel dataset, AquaSat, by merging large public datasets of water quality observations with satellite imagery. This 'symphony of data' provides over 6 million water quality observations, unlocking powerful new applications in remote sensing of water quality. The study aims to improve ...
A research project at the University of Córdoba and the University of Zaragoza analyzed legislative changes in water management in Spain, California, and the Murray Darling Basin in Australia. The study shows that despite similarities in agriculture and water scarcity, these regions have distinct approaches to managing their watersheds.
Researchers found that a shallow frozen ground layer present in winter months can lead to greater ground failure and damage after earthquakes. The study on two historical earthquakes in Kazakhstan shows that the presence of this layer can generate more severe ground fracturing during earthquakes in the winter.
Researchers found that a shallow frozen ground layer likely caused more ground failure in the 1911 Kemin earthquake due to its ability to inhibit drainage of pore-pressure excess. The study suggests seismologists should consider seasonality in soil characteristics when making probabilistic liquefaction or ground failure assessments.
A ground penetrating radar study revealed a 7km-long embankment was inadequate to contain average water flow, questioning Khmer kings' legitimacy. Researchers believe the failure led to the relocation of the capital from Koh Ker to Angkor.
Researchers discovered a two-atom catalyst that enables efficient oxygen production from water under low-light conditions. The study's findings mimic the activation of photosystem II during photosynthesis, suggesting that similar two-atom catalytic cores might be suitable for achieving efficient water splitting.
A new study by Duke University predicts that switching to natural gas will save 12,000 billion gallons a year by 2030, while solar and wind power yield even greater savings. These reductions come despite increased water use from fracking and shale gas production.
The Bureau of Reclamation is providing funding for 27 new research projects to address technical challenges in managing water and generating power. The projects focus on areas such as water infrastructure, environmental issues, and developing water supplies.
A study found that water contamination violations associated with immediate health risks led to a 14% increase in bottled water sales. However, low-income rural communities did not show a significant response to nitrate violations, which pose a risk to infants.
A new tool, HWISE Scale, measures household water insecurity in low- and middle-income countries. It provides actionable information to address the global water crisis, strongly associated with food insecurity, stress, and economic productivity.
The UMD CONSERVE Center develops safe, alternative irrigation strategies to sustain food production in a changing climate. Non-traditional water sources like reclaimed water, brackish water, and return flows hold promise, but require additional treatments to reduce microbial and chemical contaminants.
Pedro Alvarez and Rice's NEWT Center will focus on resilient transport and storage, one of six areas of research for the NAWI alliance. The goal is to advance technologies that make nontraditional water sources cost-competitive within 10 years.
KAUST researchers find that water molecules become less stable when squeezed between two hydrophobic surfaces due to quantum effects. This discovery has practical implications for the development of nanofluidic platforms for molecular separation.
The new Energy-Water Desalination Hub will focus on early-stage research and development for energy-efficient and low-cost desalination solutions. NAWI aims to recycle 90% of nontraditional water sources, promoting a circular water economy. The hub will advance novel technologies and prioritize high-impact projects.
A new study estimates that toxic chemicals in tap water could cause more than 100,000 cancer cases nationwide. The Environmental Working Group analyzed 48,363 community water systems and found increased cancer risk due to contaminants such as arsenic and radioactive elements.
The 'Flying Fish' robot uses a water-reactive chemical reaction to create gas, which propels it out of the water and into a glide of up to 26 meters. The robot can travel long distances without additional power, making it suitable for collecting water samples in hazardous environments.
Researchers found high levels of bacterial DNA and opportunistic pathogens in source water from remote bores in Northern Australia. The study suggests that managing groundwater quality is crucial for ensuring safe drinking water supplies in these communities.
A study led by the University of Arizona found that city design factors such as housing density, lot size, and vegetated land cover significantly impact residential water use. Researchers estimated models for annual and summer water use in four cities, including Austin, Phoenix, Portland, and Salt Lake City.
A study of 1800 working-aged residents in a Colombian public apartment complex found that women on the ground floor earned twice as much as those on other floors, narrowing the gender earnings gap. Ground-floor female entrepreneurs also earned triple what their neighbors made in other occupations.
A new study reveals that adults fetching water is associated with an increased risk of child death and children collecting water with increased odds of childhood diarrheal disease. Improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation reduces maternal and child health risks, including lower child mortality rates.
Dr. Simon Dai's research aims to advance a passive technology that can attract and capture water droplets from fog and moisture in the air, providing a sustainable solution to global water scarcity. The new funding will help create a more durable lubricant for water harvesting.
A simple, electricity-independent device has been proven effective in reducing child diarrhea rates by up to 23% in developing countries. The Aquatabs Flo technology uses precise chlorine dosing to purify water without compromising taste, offering a promising solution to control the second-leading cause of death for children globally.
A new study by Indiana University researchers reveals that acid deposition causes plants to intensify their water use, leading to a decrease in soil water availability and increasing the risk of drought-related mortality. The mechanism works by washing out soil calcium, causing calcium deficiency in plants.
A solar steam generation system has been developed to produce clean water from salty ocean water with almost 100 per cent salt removal, providing a solution to water shortages in regional areas. The technology uses photothermal materials and the power of the sun, achieving efficient and continuous clean water production.
A study published in Journal of Climate reveals that global warming will accelerate the water cycle over global land monsoon regions, enlarging the wet-dry season contrast. This could lead to increased crop yields in some areas and food security threats due to depleted soil water.
A multifunctional device captures heat from photovoltaic solar panels to produce fresh water, exceeding traditional solar stills' output. The device's electricity output remains unaffected, demonstrating a promising solution for sustainable global development.
Plant communities in Mediterranean climates with limited underground water storage can thrive in both low-water and rainy years. They do well because the soil stores little water relative to rainfall, replenishing the supply even during dry years.
Researchers studied an ancient water system in Huamantanga, Peru, and found it could reroute 35% of wet season water, equivalent to 99 million cubic meters per year. The method could extend the wet season, providing more drinking water and longer crop-growing periods for local farmers.
Pumping groundwater for irrigation has decreased streamflow and plant water availability in the US. Groundwater declines have led to a more than 50% decline in some streams, with evapotranspiration also declining in response.
Researchers at West Virginia University have developed a unique solution to reduce the water used by thermoelectric power plants. By combining blowdown water with produced water from Marcellus gas wells, they can create clean enough water for reuse. This process also produces two valuable products: chlorine and 10-pound brine.
Experts argue that current water cycle diagrams are misleading due to lack of human interaction representation, leading to a false sense of water security. A new set of diagrams shows human influence on nearly all parts of the cycle, highlighting the need for better understanding and global solutions to the world's water crisis.
A mathematical model of fresh water lenses was developed to understand the interaction between physical factors and water storage, circulation, and resilience. The research has practical applications in managing water resources around the world, particularly in arid deserts.
A new study by Cardiff University and the University of Vermont found that efforts to improve water quality can counteract the effects of climate warming on river invertebrates. Over a 20-year period, average water temperatures increased, but improvements in water quality offset the biological effects of warming.
Swedish water treatment plants have unique combinations of by-products, making it difficult to reduce health risks. Advanced technology detects new compounds, highlighting the need to discover effective ways to use chlorination while reducing exposure to unwanted by-products.
Researchers found that Texas' major rivers produce enough water to store almost two-thirds of the state's flow capacity. Capturing this water could partially mitigate floods and droughts. The study's discovery fills a niche in understanding the potential for aquifer storage projects across the state.
A novel method assesses combined risk of multiple tap water pollutants in California, estimating over 15,000 cancer cases. The study uses a cumulative approach to calculate health impacts of carcinogens and toxic contaminants in public water systems.
Researchers found signs of ground failure, including slumped road ramps and liquefaction, in the aftermath of the 2018 Anchorage earthquake. The study suggests that shaking from the quake did not reactivate past landslides, likely due to its short duration.
Researchers at Utah State University have discovered a new mode of water surface skipping termed 'water walking', which involves elastic spheres gaining significant speed to maintain a deformed shape. The team's findings provide new insights into water impact physics and lay the foundation for future design of water-walking drones.
A novel plasma water treatment method by electrical discharge has been developed, producing drinking water as suitable for consumption as ozonation, without carcinogens or high costs.
A global review of water reallocation from rural to urban regions found that 69 cities receive significant amounts of reallocated water, mainly driven by North America and Asia's growing populations. The practice is expected to rise further, with 2.5 billion more urban dwellers projected by 2050.
Researchers will assess and monitor changes in microbial ecology, water chemistry and nutrient availability in Pittsburgh's water system after adding orthophosphate. The study aims to understand the impact of orthophosphate on aquatic ecosystems and provide insights for other cities implementing this treatment.
Researchers found that weedy rice has evolved a root growth strategy that minimizes below-ground contact with other plants, allowing it to exploit the nutrient-sharing soil environment of rice fields. This 'cheater' root trait enables weedy rice to outcompete cultivated rice for essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory developed a new molecular model of water using machine learning, achieving high accuracy and reducing computational cost. The coarse-grained model replicates the behavior of water at the atomic scale, with applications in fields like materials science and climate modeling.
A team of researchers has revealed the molecular structure of membranes used in reverse osmosis, a leading method of purifying brackish water into drinking water. The study found that the perpendicular packing motif is better correlated with optimal filtration properties and may be related to how water pathways are oriented.
A new biosensor attached to a phone can detect arsenic levels in water, revealing a potential solution for contaminated drinking water sources. The device uses bacteria to generate easy-to-interpret patterns, providing an urgent need for simple and affordable monitoring tools.
Researchers detected Cryptosporidium parasites in 40% of surveyed wells in Minnesota's public water systems, even those not influenced by surface water. The findings suggest soil may not completely filter out the parasite, prompting consideration for monitoring and treatment measures.