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Long-term exposure to nitrate in drinking water may be a risk factor for prostate cancer

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that long-term exposure to nitrate in drinking water may increase the risk of prostate cancer, especially among younger men and those with aggressive tumors. Eating a diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables can help mitigate this effect.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 8, 2023

Study demonstrates energy-efficient conversion of nitrate pollutants into ammonia

A new study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign demonstrates an approach for integrated capture and conversion of nitrate-contaminated waters into valuable ammonia using a single electrochemical cell. The device shows significant enhancements in energy efficiency, nitrate removal, and ammonium production rate compared to ...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2023

Dietary nitrate – found in beetroot juice - significantly increases muscle force during exercise

A new study found that consuming dietary nitrate from beetroot juice significantly increases muscle force while exercising. The researchers discovered a 7% increase in muscle torque production, providing the best evidence to date on the mechanisms behind why dietary nitrate improves human muscle performance.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalActa Physiologica·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2023

Finding current toilet technology flushes profits, WVU researcher takes aim at turning yellow into green by recycling urine

A WVU engineer has developed a technology that can treat urine on site rather than at a centralized wastewater treatment facility, allowing for the recovery of nitrogen as a valuable fertilizer. The approach enables quick treatment and promotes the reduction of nutrient discharge into lakes and rivers.

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalEnvironmental Technology·DateDec 12, 2022

Laughing gas in space could mean life

Researchers propose nitrous oxide as a potential biosignature for exoplanets, detectable by the James Webb Space Telescope. They modeled N2O production on Earth-like planets and found it could be comparable to CO2 or methane in star systems like TRAPPIST-1.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 4, 2022

Cover crops not enough to improve soil after decades of continuous corn

Researchers found that short-term cover crop use cannot reverse decades of soil microbial dynamics in response to unsustainable practices. Long-term fertilization disrupted nitrogen cycling communities, while cover crops enhanced biodiversity but had both positive and negative effects on soil microbes.

‘Friendly’ gut bacteria may eliminate pathogens by competing for energy resources

A new study published in Cell Host & Microbe finds that friendly bacteria in the gut, such as Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, can compete with harmful bacteria like Salmonella for energy resources like nitrate. This competition allows the probiotic to occupy both niches and protect against infection.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2022

Rice process aims to strip ammonia from wastewater

Researchers create high-performance catalyst to pull ammonia and solid fertilizer from low-level nitrates in industrial wastewater, reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The process works at room temperature and under ambient pressure, with potential for decentralized ammonia production.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2022

Discovering molecular ‘team-work’ underlying nitrate assimilation in a unicellular red alga

Researchers identified a critical region of CmMYB1 and the CmNDB1 protein that negatively regulate nitrate assimilation genes under nitrogen-repleted conditions. This study provides valuable insights into molecular functions and mechanisms in plants, shedding light on the regulation of transcription under specific nitrogen levels.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2022

NTU Singapore scientists develop ‘greener’ way to make fertiliser

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore have devised a new method for producing urea, a key compound in fertilisers, through electrocatalysis. This approach produces urea five times more efficiently than previous methods and has the potential to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2021

Texas Tech, Nanjing Agricultural Research teams make plant nutrient delivery breakthrough

Scientists discovered that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi supply nitrogen to plants through a newly identified protein, enabling crops like rice to thrive with reduced fertilizer use. The finding could lead to more sustainable agricultural practices and reduce environmental impact by minimizing agrochemical use.

SourceTexas Tech University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 17, 2020

Trial questions benefits of organic nitrates for bone health

A new study published in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that organic nitrates do not have a clinically relevant effect on bone mineral density or bone turnover in postmenopausal women. The treatment caused significant side effects, casting doubt on previous research reporting large positive effects of nitrates on bone health.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateMay 6, 2020

Reducing sulfur dioxide emissions alone cannot substantially decrease air pollution

A recent study found that reducing sulfur dioxide emissions alone can significantly decrease air pollution, mainly due to the stability of ammonium nitrate formed with nitrogen oxides and ammonia. In China, nitrogen dioxide control is more effective in reducing surface PM2.5 concentrations.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateApr 11, 2020

A friendlier way to deal with nitrate pollution

Scientists have developed a catalyst that converts nitrate into nitrite without high temperatures or acidity, addressing water pollution concerns. The catalyst's mechanism mimics natural enzymes, offering a promising solution for detoxifying nitrate in mild environments.

SourceRIKEN·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 2, 2020

Explosion in Tianjin Port enhanced atmospheric nitrogen deposition over the Bohai Sea

A recent study found that the Tianjin Port explosion significantly increased atmospheric nitrogen deposition in the Bohai Sea, with a 308.49 micromole N increase per square meter per day. The study suggests that the impact area of the explosion on the Bohai Sea is approximately 1/5 of its total area.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateNov 13, 2019