Researchers found that elephant seals shed significant amounts of mercury during molting, resulting in high concentrations of the toxic metal in coastal waters. The study reveals a previously unrecognized source of mercury contamination in coastal waters, highlighting the need for further monitoring and mitigation efforts.
A new study reveals higher concentrations of methylmercury in Arctic species compared to lower trophic levels, suggesting increased toxicity and potential protective effects of selenium. The research confirms previous suggestions that biomagnification may be more pronounced in Arctic systems.
A new study provides more accurate estimates of worldwide mercury pollution, revealing Asia produces over double the previous estimated amount. The research uses a top-down approach combining measured air concentrations with a global simulation to calculate mercury emissions, improving estimates and refining pollution-control strategies.
Researchers from the University of New Hampshire's Space Science Center use MESSENGER spacecraft data to investigate interplanetary coronal mass ejections, improving space weather prediction capabilities. The study sheds light on the speed and deceleration of ICMEs after their launch from the sun.
A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology has found associations between lower blood manganese levels and higher blood mercury levels with a greater risk of glaucoma diagnosis. The research suggests that trace metals may play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, and future investigations could explore potential neuroprotective effects.
A new study enhances climate model accuracy, while a modeling tool facilitates high-resolution calculations of Earth's elastic response. Five new research papers explore topics including tropical cyclones in a cooler climate and exotic crust formation on Mercury.
Scientists use new technology to determine grizzly bears' protein intake and mercury levels by analyzing a single hair sample. The technique has potential applications in determining the recovery of threatened bears and their habitat needs.
Researchers developed a new material that mimics the structure of coral, a natural adsorbent of heavy metals, and found it could remove around 2.5 times more mercury from water than traditional aluminium oxide nanoparticles. The synthetic coral-like material has potential applications in environmental remediation.
A new study suggests that warmer air and reduced sea ice in the Arctic may lead to lower levels of toxic methylmercury in fish and humans. The EarthQuiz challenge allows users to explore virtual field locations with interactive imagery and puzzles.
A study by Oregon State University found that mercury emission controls at a coal-fired power plant also reduced concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by 40-72 percent. The air pollution reductions were attributed to the upgrade's impact on regional emissions.
Scientists will investigate how environmental factors like mercury, silica, and nanoparticles trigger autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The three-year project aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms behind autoimmunity.
The new detector, made of Mercury-Cadmium-Telluride alloy, processes infrared signals at a single-photon level, offering unparalleled sensitivity. It has customers for Earth and planetary remote sensing, as well as potential uses in telecommunications, medical imaging, and materials science.
Researchers at University of Colorado Boulder discovered that halogen reactions from ocean air can turn mercury into a water-soluble form that stays high in the atmosphere for long periods. This process may help explain why mercury deposition is so widespread and persistent in some regions.
A Dartmouth-led study using a 600-year-old ice core shows that global mercury pollution increased dramatically during the 20th century, but declined faster than previously thought after emissions started to decrease in the late 1970s. The study suggests present-day efforts to cut mercury emissions will reduce pollution more quickly tha...
A new study found that certain pollutants penetrate further into the feto-maternal system, causing harm to fetuses. The research analyzed pollutant levels in cord blood and maternal tissues, revealing heavy metals like mercury and lead easily pass through the placental barrier.
Invasive earthworms in New England's forests are bioaccumulating high levels of toxic metals, including lead and mercury, which may harm birds, amphibians, and mammals that feed on them. The Dartmouth-led study found similar situations in forests across the northeastern United States.
A study found that Griffon vultures in Catalonia have high levels of lead in their tissues, affecting their immune systems and reproductive function. The birds' diet, which mainly consists of carrion from domestic and wild hunting species, increases their likelihood of ingesting lead.
Kobe University has developed a mercury-free film-type ultraviolet light source for medical applications, which can deliver high-intensity radiation to only the affected area, reducing treatment time and patients' stress. The technology uses plasma excitation similar to plasma televisions and is expected to begin sales in October 2015.
Scientists have discovered that Mercury's magnetic field is almost 4 billion years old, providing a new understanding of the planet's history. The discovery was made possible by data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, which orbited Mercury between 2011 and 2015.
Scientists have discovered a magnetization signal emanating from an ancient region of Mercury's crust, indicating the presence of a dynamo-driven magnetic field 3.8 billion years ago. This finding suggests that Mercury's core dynamo has persisted for billions of years.
The MESSENGER spacecraft is using its altimeter instrument to help with navigation during close approaches to Mercury's surface. The team is using the altimeter's precise measurements of distance from the spacecraft to the surface to assess the accuracy of their orbit predictions.
Researchers propose that comet dust, rich in carbon, has painted Mercury black over billions of years. The team's experiments show that tiny carbon particles can darken surfaces to less than 5% reflectivity, similar to Mercury's dark surface.
Researchers propose that a second generation of planets, including super-Earths, existed in the inner solar system before being destroyed by Jupiter's massive migration. This scenario helps explain why Earth and other terrestrial planets have relatively low masses compared to exoplanets orbiting other sun-like stars.
The study explains why our solar system has a gap between Mercury and the outer planets. Jupiter's inward migration destroyed any newly-formed super-Earths, leaving behind rocky inner planets like Earth with thinner atmospheres.
Researchers found that periphyton, a community of algae and bacteria, helps transform mercury pollution from a Superfund site along the Androscoggin River into a more toxic form of mercury. Lower-than-expected levels of methylmercury were also detected in crayfish and small fish downstream from the site.
Scientists have created global-scale maps of Mercury's surface chemistry, revealing previously unrecognized geochemical terranes with distinct compositions. The presence of these terranes has important implications for the planet's history and evolution.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new glass ionomer cement for tooth fillings that is mercury-free and offers improved durability. The material has good biological properties and releases fluoride to prevent cavities, making it a promising alternative to existing composite filling materials.
A new study found that exposure to mercury, even at low levels considered safe, is associated with an increased risk of autoimmunity in women. Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that greater exposure to mercury was linked to a higher rate of autoantibodies, a precursor to autoi...
Mercury contamination is affecting fish populations worldwide, with yellowfin tuna concentrations doubling by 2050 if emissions continue to rise. Human activity is driving the increase in mercury levels, highlighting the need for urgent action to reduce pollution.
Researchers developed a new sensor to detect ambient mercury levels in the atmosphere, providing a more accurate method for measuring global human exposure. The sequential two-photon laser-induced fluorescence (2P-LIF) instrument detects mercury at parts-per-quadrillion sensitivity, outperforming existing methods.
A new study led by the University of Michigan found that mercury concentrations in Hawaiian yellowfin tuna increased at a rate of 3.8% per year from 1998 to 2008, likely due to rising atmospheric mercury levels. This increase is consistent with global trends and highlights the need for stricter policies to reduce mercury emissions.
An international team of astronomers has discovered a Sun-like star with orbiting Earth-sized planets dating back to the dawn of the Galaxy. The discovery, Kepler-444, hosts five small planets smaller than Mercury and Venus.
Astronomers have discovered a star that is 11.2 billion years old and has at least five Earth-size planets, revealing that planetary formation occurred throughout the universe's history. The system, Kepler-444, consists of five planets with sizes between Mercury and Venus, orbiting a smaller star than our sun.
Research in Seychelles finds that fish consumption during pregnancy may offset mercury exposure risks, with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) counteracting toxic effects. Higher PUFA levels in mothers are linked to better neurological development in children.
Researchers have found hazardous levels of mercury hundreds of miles downstream from Peruvian gold mines, contaminating local soil, sediment, and water resources. The study highlights the widespread impact of artisanal small-scale gold mining on human health and the environment.
A team of researchers at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center developed an Induced Sputum (IS) technique to assess the effect of pollution on urban asthmatic children. The study found that IS is a more physiologically sensitive biomonitoring method than environmental sampling stations, detecting hazardous particles like mercury in the lungs.
A special themed issue of the Journal of Dental Research covers recent developments in novel dental biomaterials and technologies, aiming to improve oral health outcomes. The issue highlights significant advances in materials engineering and their clinical applications.
A new virus, Sea Star Associated Densovirus (SSaDV), has been identified as the cause of a widespread disease affecting sea stars along the Pacific Coast. The study found that the virus was present in museum specimens dating back to 1942 and had likely existed at low levels for over 72 years.
A recent FDA and EPA guideline update suggests pregnant and breastfeeding women consume at least eight ounces to 12 ounces of fish per week. Omega-3 acids EPA and DHA found in some fish support fetal brain development and maternal health, while mercury levels in other fish pose risks.
A Virginia Tech graduate student has received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fellowship to study the effects of mercury contamination on red-winged blackbird populations. Her research aims to investigate how stress hormones and disease are connected in birds, with potential implications for understanding avian malaria infections.
A recent study found that home blood pressure monitors can be inaccurate, with systolic readings off by as much as 5mm Hg and diastolic readings off by as much as 10mm Hg in up to 30% of patients. The American Society of Nephrology recommends that all patients with home monitors get them validated with their healthcare providers.
A new study reveals that probiotic yogurt can reduce the uptake of mercury and arsenic in pregnant women by up to 78%, while also showing positive but not statistically effective results in children. The probiotic strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, binds to heavy metals and prevents their absorption.
Researchers found a significant protective effect of probiotics against mercury and arsenic in pregnant women, while children showed benefits but lacked statistical significance. The study suggests basic foodstuffs like yogurt could provide preventative protection for pregnant women worldwide.
Researchers create low-cost, disposable platform for detecting bath salts with high accuracy, suitable for handheld sensor development. The technique uses environmentally friendly electrodes and validates its results against established methods.
A new study estimates that more than 40% of global waste is burned in unregulated fires, releasing pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide, and mercury. These emissions have been linked to serious medical issues, including decreased lung function and cancer.
New study finds that seafood mislabeling distorts true abundance of fish, defrauds consumers, and causes unwanted exposure to harmful pollutants like mercury. The researchers found that even MSC-certified fish can have high mercury levels if substituted with other species from the same geographic area.
A new technique can quickly screen products for mercury content, helping to identify those at risk of serious health problems. The method uses total reflection x-ray fluorescence and has been shown to be just as accurate as existing techniques.
Researchers estimate mercury levels in global ocean, separating natural and human sources for the first time. The study found that ocean waters shallower than 100m have tripled in mercury concentration since the Industrial Revolution.
Researchers created a model showing how Mercury's core dynamics contribute to its unusual magnetic field, which is three times stronger in the north than south. This finding indicates that planets have multiple ways of generating a magnetic field.
A study suggests that Planet Mercury's unusual metal-rich composition is a result of early hit-and-run collisions with larger planets. This process could have stripped away Mercury's mantle without intense shock, leaving behind a mostly-iron body.
A new study has found that the Western Amazon is contaminated with oil pollutants, posing a significant risk to its unparalleled biological and cultural diversity. The research, published for the first time, reveals high levels of lead, mercury, and cadmium in wastewater samples from 18 sites in 10 Amazon tributaries.
Two planets in the Kepler-56 system will meet their fate when they are dragged into the star's expanding orbit. The inner planets will be destroyed due to tidal forces and intense heat from the growing star.
Researchers will investigate how extreme rain events affect the transport of dissolved organic matter through the Connecticut River watershed, potentially impacting water quality and mercury inputs. The study aims to test a new conceptual framework for drainage networks and understand regional-scale dynamics of river systems.
A recent modeling study reveals that fish consumption advisories are ineffective in reducing infant exposure to long-lived pollutants like persistent organic pollutants (POPs), with estimates suggesting only a 10-15% reduction in child exposure even for mothers who stop eating fish before pregnancy.
A new analysis of Mercury's surface suggests that the planet experienced extended periods of volcanic explosions in its history. The study, led by researchers at Brown University, used MESSENGER data to determine that the eruptions did not occur all at once but rather over an appreciable period of Mercury's history.
Researchers in China have developed a convenient way to selectively prepare germanium sulfide nanostructures, including nanosheets and nanowires. These nanostructures show outstanding photoresponsive behavior, indicating their potential use in solar energy conversion systems and optoelectronics.
A study found that heat waves in Montreal increased the risk of early-term delivery by 17-27%, with nearly 20,000 births occurring after a day when temperatures reached 32°C or higher. This may lead to increased morbidity in newborns, particularly those born at 37-38 weeks.
Scientists used MESSENGER spacecraft images and topographic data to build a comprehensive map of tectonic features on Mercury's surface. The findings indicate the planet has contracted between 4.6 and 7 kilometers in radius over its lifetime.
Researchers have discovered that Mercury has contracted by as much as 4.4 miles due to cooling, exceeding previous estimates of ½ to 2 miles. This finding is consistent with thermal models and resolves a decades-old paradox in understanding the planet's history.
A CU-Boulder-led study found that crowdsourcing can be an accurate tool for counting lunar craters, surpassing even experienced professionals. The research compared the work of over 5,000 amateur counters to eight expert planetary crater counters, with surprising results.