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How a Fjord in Greenland generated a global seismic signal

Researchers used realistic numerical models to solve mysteries about Earth vibrations of unknown origin and discovered a 'seiche' phenomenon caused by a massive rockslide in the fjord. The event generated seismic waves detectable globally for nine days, highlighting the interrelations between climate change and geological processes.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalScience·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 13, 2024

West Antarctic ice sheet may disappear by 2300

A Dartmouth-led study projects that Antarctica's glaciers will rapidly retreat and potentially collapse by 2200, increasing global sea levels by up to 5.5 feet by 2300. The researchers used 16 ice-sheet models to refine the projection of ice loss over the next 300 years.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalEarth's Future·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 12, 2024

Study: Cloud cover reduced by large-scale deforestation

Deforestation leads to decreased cloud cover, which partially offsets surface albedo change's cooling effect on climate. Researchers analyzed idealized deforestation simulations using climate models to provide insights into the impact of large-scale deforestation on global low-level and tropical high-level clouds.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 11, 2024

Biodiversity loss: Many students of environment-related subjects are partly unaware of the causes

A worldwide survey by Goethe University Frankfurt found that students in environmental studies are unaware of the main causes of biodiversity loss. The study identified eight response types with varying levels of understanding, with climate change being underestimated in many countries. The researchers suggest that this lack of knowled...

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·Journalnpj Biodiversity·TypeSurvey·DateAug 30, 2024

Children contribute to group projects when there are clear and common goals

A study found that children as young as six can contribute to group projects when there are clear and common goals. The researchers used a game where children worked together to fill a pool with water, with benefits for the whole group but individual costs. The results showed that most groups achieved their objectives and cooperated, e...

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalPsychological Science·TypeObservational study·DateAug 29, 2024

New vaccine created by Mizzou researchers protects cattle from deadly tick-borne disease

A new vaccine created by Mizzou researchers protects cattle from bovine anaplasmosis, a devastating tick-borne disease causing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses. The vaccine has been proven to give immunized cattle protection for at least a month and is being discussed with industry partners for future distribution.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalVaccine·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 28, 2024

When climate reporting fails to create impact

A new study from the University of Auckland finds that mandating social and environmental disclosures doesn't necessarily improve businesses' performance. The researchers analyzed a cross-country sample of companies under the EU Directive 2014/95/EU and found no meaningful improvement in environmental outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Auckland·JournalThe British Accounting Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 21, 2024

Study finds highest prediction of sea-level rise unlikely

A new study led by Dartmouth researchers questions the rapid polar ice collapse model used in the IPCC's sixth assessment report. The team found that the expected rate of retreat is significantly lower than predicted, making the worst-case scenario less likely, but still dire due to ongoing ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 21, 2024

UCF researcher develops lotus-inspired tech to convert CO2 to fuels, chemicals

A University of Central Florida researcher has developed a nature-inspired filtration and conversion system that extracts carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere to create fuels and chemicals. The device mimics the lotus surface, capturing carbon dioxide with a microsurface comprised of a tin oxide film and fluorine layer.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 20, 2024

Millions of years for plants to recover from global warming

A study by ETH Zurich scientists found that global warming's effects on plant recovery can last for thousands to millions of years. The research team discovered that the severity of climate shifts and the speed at which carbon is sequestered affect the duration of climate warming.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 8, 2024

Work-from-home success might depend on home office setup

A Dutch survey study found that higher satisfaction with home office setup, including air ventilation, is associated with higher productivity and lower burnout. The study suggests that investing in home-office hardware and environmental factors can support work-from-home policies.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateAug 7, 2024

Researchers urge united nations to reject growth-driven framework in favor of lower population and consumption

Demographic experts urge UN to reject current 'growth' paradigm and focus on contracting human impact to reverse ecological overshoot. The Journal of Population and Sustainability cites research linking population growth to climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and social crises.

SourcePopulation Balance·JournalThe Journal of Population and Sustainability·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 6, 2024

Air quality regimes around the world are playing catch up as science evolves and policy ambitions are too blunt, researchers say

Researchers call for coordinated action to address air pollution's complexity, including elevating policy ambition, expanding regulatory scope, and integrating scientific policymaking. The paper highlights urgent need for clean air globally as health harms arise from lower concentrations.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 5, 2024

Microgrids: Resilient city for everyone

A study by KIT researchers provides urban planners with a template for designing microgrids that integrate socio-economic factors and societal participation. The model aims to create equitable access to energy and services for all population groups, particularly vulnerable ones, in the face of power outages and crises.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 26, 2024

Mighty floods of the Nile River during warmer and wetter climates

A 1,500 year long sediment core off the Nile mouth recorded past floods with varying amounts of fluvial particulate matter. The analysis suggests that the North African Humid Period was characterized by extremely strong and variable Nile floods, with a period of strong erosional activity between 9,200 and 8,600 years ago.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 3, 2024

Extreme temperatures becoming more common in Ireland, Maynooth University study finds

A recent study by Maynooth University has found that extreme temperatures in Ireland have increased significantly over the past few decades. The research reveals that temperature events of 33 degrees Celsius have become a regular occurrence, with some areas experiencing them every 9 years, up from once every 180 years in 1942.

SourceMaynooth University·JournalJournal Of The Royal Statistical Society·TypeObservational study·DateJul 2, 2024

Climate change to shift tropical rains northward

A study predicts that tropical rains will shift northward in the coming decades, impacting regions such as central Africa, northern South America, and Pacific island states. The shift is caused by changes in the atmosphere spurred by carbon emissions, which would have significant effects on agriculture and economies.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 28, 2024

El Niño forecasts extended to 18 months with innovative physics-based model

A new conceptual model, XRO, significantly improves predictive skill of ENSO events at over one year in advance, offering a transparent view into the mechanisms of equatorial Pacific recharge-discharge physics. This improves conventional climate model forecasting and provides robust quantification of extratropical Pacific, tropical Ind...

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalNature·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 26, 2024

Association found between media diet and science-consistent beliefs about climate change

A study found a strong association between media diet and science-consistent beliefs about climate change, with far-right media having a stronger negative impact on climate change beliefs and support for a carbon tax. Exposure to centrist and science media was positively associated with these beliefs.

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateJun 10, 2024

The roles of rhizospheric and endophytic microorganisms on the regulation of secondary metabolites accumulation in Medicinal Plants-A Review from Medicinal Plant Research Center of South China Agricultural University

Recent research from the Medicinal Plant Research Center of South China Agricultural University reveals that rhizospheric and endophytic microorganisms significantly influence the accumulation of key SMs in medicinal plants. These microorganisms encode genes related to nitrogen fixation, phosphate metabolism, hormone synthesis, and roo...

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalMedicinal Plant Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 7, 2024

Risky path to meeting climate targets for Stockholm

Researchers at Linköping University assess Stockholm's climate strategy, finding a reliance on carbon capture technology without sufficient discussion of its risks. They recommend setting separate targets for emissions reduction and capturing CO2 to ensure clearer decision-making.

SourceLinköping University·JournalEnergy Research & Social Science·TypeCase study·DateMay 29, 2024

What is the carbon footprint of a house in Japan?

Researchers at Kyushu University analyzed the carbon footprint of building a wooden house in Japan, estimating 38 tons of CO2 emissions. The team identified electric power sector and steel manufacturing process as major contributors to total emissions.

SourceKyushu University·JournalJournal of Environmental Management·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 15, 2024

Weaker ocean currents lead to decline in nutrients for North Atlantic ocean life during prehistoric climate change, research shows

Researchers found that weaker ocean currents during the Younger Dryas period led to a decline in nutrient availability, resulting in decreased biological productivity in the North Atlantic. This study supports predictions about the impact of climate change on ocean circulation and life.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalScience·TypeSurvey·DateMay 9, 2024