Researchers developed a decision-making framework addressing water scarcity under climate change, explicitly considering uncertainties. The framework provides guidelines for policy options and helps policymakers make informed decisions on investments and interventions.
A new study by the JRC found that adopting a healthy diet could reduce the water footprint by 11-35% for meat-based diets, 33-55% for pescetarian diets, and 35-55% for vegetarian diets. This shift towards a more resource-efficient vegetable-rich diet is crucial due to the high water footprint of animal products.
A new analysis reveals that poor-quality care is responsible for an estimated 5 million deaths per year, surpassing deaths due to insufficient access to care. Global efforts to improve health systems will be futile if quality does not improve.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a technology to remove contaminants from storm water using mineral-coated sand. The coated sand can break down organic pollutants into smaller pieces that are less toxic and more biodegradable, creating a safe and local reservoir of drinking water for communities.
Researchers developed a new model explaining the interactions between small copper clusters and water molecules in producing molecular hydrogen. The study shows that copper-water complexes synthesized in ultra-cold helium nanodroplets can catalyze hydrogen production.
Agricultural irrigation accounts for 70% of water use in some regions, and increased efficiency can lead to more water extraction, not less. Higher irrigation efficiency may even increase on-farm water use and groundwater extraction, argues a recent study by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Researchers at UCSB have identified a nuanced way to influence surface hydrophobicity, which affects how water interacts with solid surfaces. By varying the patterning of hydrophobic groups, they found that it can produce large effects on water dynamics, making it useful for designing more efficient membranes.
Scientists have found that many exoplanets, especially those between two to four times the size of Earth, are likely to be water-rich. This suggests that water worlds may be common, with implications for the search for life in our Galaxy.
A UC Davis study found significant variation in how water managers engage with climate information, with perspectives clustering by cultural terms. The researchers identified three types of manager's temporalities, from those who closely model futures to those who disregard climate change.
Researchers at TU Wien have successfully synthesized high-tech dyes using plain water under high temperatures, breaking the need for toxic solvents. The new method utilizes water's properties to dissolve organic substances and crystallize the dyes, enabling their use in organic electronics and demanding applications.
The Household Water Insecurity Research Coordination Network (RCN) aims to develop a geospatial perspective on water insecurity, which affects vulnerable households worldwide. The team will create a water security metric and engage with stakeholders in the international water sector.
A new Arizona State University study shows that animals may be able to use their own muscles to get water when it's not available. Researchers found that during reproduction, muscle metabolism is linked to the water requirements of developing offspring.
Rice plants engineered to have fewer stomata are more tolerant of drought and resilient to future climate change, conserving water and surviving longer under drought and high temperatures. This discovery has significant implications for food security as much of the global rice crop relies on rain-fed agricultural systems.
A researcher at the University of Córdoba has developed a model that uses artificial intelligence to predict water needs for farmers, helping to reduce waste and conserve resources. The model uses fuzzy logic and neural networks to analyze data from remote control systems and establish optimal irrigation depths.
A team at NYU Tandon School of Engineering made surprising findings about the physics of water entry, particularly with solid objects in the water. The study revealed unexpected effects, including a decrease in pressure near a solid cylinder and an increase in pressure towards the keel of a wedge.
Research by LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health found that flushing water lines may not be effective in reducing lead levels, potentially increasing exposure to children. The study suggests that certified water filters and more proactive interventions may be needed to protect children from lead in drinking water.
Researchers are studying how material-water interfaces impact water quality sensors, filtration membranes, and pipes. New sorbents with high reusability and specificity are being designed to address global clean water accessibility challenges.
Researchers found that producing and deploying shade balls to prevent evaporation in reservoirs may actually consume more water than they conserve. The study estimates that for every drop of water saved by the balls, over one drop would be used elsewhere due to production requirements.
A team at TU Wien has uncovered the mystery behind water molecule structures on iron oxide surfaces, revealing complex bridge-like structures that play a significant role in chemical reactions. These findings have wide-ranging implications for processes such as corrosion and catalyst function, and pave the way for further research into...
A team of Swiss researchers used THz spectroscopy to measure the surprisingly slow response of solvating water after changing the charge distribution of a dissolved dye molecule. The study found a timescale around 10 picoseconds, which is slower than expected for liquid water.
A recent study published in Science reveals that atomically thin layers of water near solid surfaces exhibit no electric response, with a thickness of less than one nanometer. This finding has significant implications for understanding the role of water in biological molecules, proteins, and technological processes.
Researchers at UChicago developed a new model of water behavior under extreme temperatures and pressures using quantum simulations. The model provides insight into the properties of water deep inside the Earth's mantle and has implications for understanding life on exoplanets.
A new study led by MIT researchers found that taking modest climate action could prevent extreme water-shortage scenarios in Asia by 2050. The study simulated various economic and climate pathways for the continent, revealing a 50% chance of increased water stress in southern and eastern Asia.
A new study by Vanderbilt University researchers reveals that urban water conservation policies are closely tied to a city's political leaning, with left-leaning cities adopting stronger water-saving measures. This finding suggests that water conservation may be more politicized than previously thought, and could have important implica...
A recent study confirms the effectiveness of water fluoridation in preventing dental caries among US children and adolescents. The analysis found that counties with over 75% access to fluoridated drinking water experienced a 30-40% reduction in dental caries, particularly in primary teeth.
A new MIT system captures water evaporating from cooling towers, reducing water loss and providing clean drinking water for coastal cities. The system's efficiency is improved by using ion beams to charge water droplets, allowing them to be drawn toward a mesh of wires.
A University of California, Berkeley team has developed a next-generation water harvester that can extract drinkable water every day/night cycle at very low humidity and at low cost. The harvester uses solar energy to collect water from the air, making it ideal for people living in arid, water-starved areas of the world.
Scientists have successfully separated two forms of water, ortho- and para-water, which exhibit different chemical reactivities due to their nuclear spin orientations. These findings were reported in Nature Communications and confirmed by computer simulations.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have created a low-cost membrane that can switch between oil-removal and water-removal modes using a single electrical charge. The membrane achieved near-perfect separation of light and heavy oils from water, with an 98% purity rate.
A recent study by Melinda Knuth of Texas A&M University explores the importance of efficient water usage in landscaping and horticulture. The research suggests that relying on recycled water can help conserve this diminishing resource, ultimately benefiting both human life and plant growth.
A study by Ohio State University found that some water-filter pitchers are more effective at removing microcystins, which can be toxic to humans and animals. The researchers tested three popular brands and found that the slowest-filtering pitcher removed all microcystins from the water.
Researchers at Stockholm University have discovered correlated motion in water dynamics on a sub-100 femtosecond timescale, indicating a complex network of hydrogen bonds that play a role even on ultrafast timescales. The study reveals the coordinated dance of water molecules due to the formation of tetrahedral structures.
Researchers identify best irrigation methods for cotton in water-limited situations, challenging common assumption that producers should irrigate early and often. By reducing watering after plant emergence, yields and fiber quality can be maintained or even improved.
Scientists from the University of Leeds developed a global index identifying peatland-fed water as a significant source of drinking water in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The study estimates that peatlands support the equivalent of 71.4 million people globally, with most of these areas being in the British Isles.
Self-assembled block polymer membranes offer customizable pore sizes and can selectively remove contaminants from various water sources. The technology has the potential to advance water treatment technologies, enabling decentralized reuse of wastewater and reducing chemical demands for membrane cleaning.
A new technique using sound waves to levitate water droplets improves the detection of heavy metal contaminants like lead and mercury. The method, combining laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), can detect very low levels of contaminants in real-time on-site.
A recent study from Johns Hopkins University reveals a flaw in the water treatment process that can create toxic transformation products, including 2-butene-1,4-dial. This compound has been linked to negative effects on human cells and may be responsible for toxicity in cigarette smoke and car exhaust.
The VA health care system performs similarly to or better than non-VA systems on most measures of inpatient and outpatient care quality, according to a new study. The findings suggest that the VA needs targeted quality improvement efforts to ensure uniform high-quality care at all facilities.
Experiments show that asteroids can retain up to 30% of their water content after impact, suggesting a mechanism for water delivery to the early Earth. This process could also explain later water activity in the solar system.
New research finds that thinning forests due to wildfires can reduce water stress and save up to 17 billion gallons of water annually. This approach may help offset the costs of forest restoration, which could increase water flow from Sierra Nevada watersheds by as much as 10 percent.
A four-year grant will support the Program on Water, Health & Development (WHD) in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia and Uganda. WHD aims to develop concrete plans for expanding water services to all residents within a target district, guided by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Researchers have developed a type of 'harp' to collect fresh water from fog, outperforming traditional mesh devices. The new harp technology consistently collected more water than equivalent meshes at all wire diameters, with the finest wires collecting over three times the amount.
Researchers at Stockholm University have discovered a moss that can rapidly remove arsenic from contaminated water, making it safe for human consumption. The aquatic moss Warnstofia fluitans can absorb up to 80% of arsenic in just one hour.
A recent Portland State University study reveals people who engage in outdoor activities such as camping and fishing are more attuned to water quality issues than the general population. The research found that higher levels of education and socioeconomic status correlate with increased concern for water quality.
Scientists at UT Dallas created a surface that can capture and direct water droplets from fog and air vapor, rapidly directing them into reservoirs via lubricated microgrooves. The 'hydrophilic directional slippery rough surfaces' (SRS) use hydroxy functional groups to efficiently capture water droplets.
Researchers at Penn State developed a microengineered slippery rough surface that surpasses current technology in water harvesting applications. The new surface combines the properties of pitcher plants and rice leaves, allowing it to collect tiny water droplets from air at a faster rate.
Researchers uncovered the anomaly in water's properties by using supercomputers to 'untune' its interactions, revealing a specific molecular arrangement that contributes to its unusual behavior. This discovery provides a simple explanation for phenomena such as water expanding on cooling and insects walking on its surface.
A University of Oklahoma study analyzes 370,000 Landsat images to reveal divergent trends in US surface water bodies from 1984 to 2016. Climate was the primary driver behind decreasing trends in southwest and northwest states and increasing trends in southeast and northern Great Plains states.
The researchers' hypothesis is confirmed by laboratory experiments and molecular dynamics calculations, which show that chiral arrangements of water molecules enhance material transport through the membrane.
Researchers warn that achieving water quality goals for the Gulf of Mexico will take decades, as decades-long nitrogen buildup from agriculture poses a long-term problem. The study suggests major changes in agricultural and river management practices are necessary to improve water quality.
Researchers have developed low-cost, low-tech solutions to improve water quality in municipal tanks by circulating water through shower head-like attachments. Additionally, they've found effective adsorbents using polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles to remove micropollutants from water, which can be reused and restored.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed a world-first, graphene-based filter that can remove more than 99% of natural organic matter from drinking water. The filter uses graphene oxide membranes to allow high water flow at atmospheric pressure while removing virtually all organic matter.
Research shows that water-bearing minerals release water underneath geologic hot spots, lubricating earthquakes and fueling volcanoes. A new spectroscopy technique applied to garnet containing fragments of quartz reveals the source of water, contradicting conventional thermodynamic equations.
A recent study by researchers sheds light on the hidden health risks of elevated lead levels in private wells. The team found that even newer, 'lead-free' pipes can contain a small amount of lead that leaches into water, posing a risk to those consuming it.
A study published in Appetite found that people prefer the taste of ID-treated wastewater to traditional tap water. The researchers also discovered that women are more likely to prefer bottled water than men and that marketing efforts should focus on similarities between ID and bottled water.
A study by Colorado State University found that 19 megacities worldwide depend on evaporation from surrounding lands for more than one-third of their water supplies. Cities such as Karachi and Shanghai are among those most dependent on moisture recycling, while others like Cairo and Paris have less vulnerable systems.
Researchers at Arizona State University have observed a previously unseen property of water, where it changes from one liquid to another under super-cooling and specific conditions. This phenomenon, known as a liquid-liquid phase transition, was only seen in computer simulations until now.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience finds evidence of widespread and relatively immobile water on the Moon. The research suggests that the water may be present primarily as OH, a more reactive relative of H2O, which doesn't stay on its own for long.
A Southwest Research Institute scientist contributed to a study indicating water and/or hydroxyl may be more prevalent on the Moon's surface than previously thought. The research used multiple instruments and investigations to better characterize the inferred measurements of water, suggesting it is present under wider ranging conditions.
A Portland State University study published in Water Resources Research found that involving residents in local water policies is key to building healthy and resilient city water systems. The research bridged the gap between residents' concerns about costs and water shortages and water managers' concerns about aging infrastructure, res...