Articles tagged with Nitrogen
A Chinese research team has developed a new chemical looping process for synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen gas, water, and renewable energy. The process offers great promise for saving energy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, potentially addressing the challenges of the energy and environmental crisis.
Agricultural Research Service scientists have identified key genes and transcription factors in plants that allow them to direct nitrogen to their roots, shoots, flowers, and seed heads. This knowledge may enable the breeding of new plant varieties with improved nitrogen use efficiency.
A new study by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has identified new regulators of nitrogen use in plants, which may lead to the development of crops better suited to thrive under different environmental conditions. The researchers found that eliminating certain genes can stunt plant growth and distort roots when nitrogen is scarce.
Researchers at UC Davis and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered a gene network that enables plant roots to efficiently take up and metabolize nitrogen. This breakthrough could lead to the development of crop varieties that need less fertilizer or make better use of it, reducing environmental impacts.
A new study suggests that declining nitrogen availability in natural ecosystems like grasslands and forests may limit plants' ability to absorb carbon dioxide. This could have significant implications for the global climate, as plants play a crucial role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers found a global decline in nitrogen availability due to climate change, which can impact forest carbon sequestration and ecosystem health. The study suggests that even with reduced carbon emissions, many ecosystems will face nitrogen limitations, highlighting the need for sustainable land management practices.
Scientists have created a single-molecule magnet that retains its memory properties above -196°C, paving the way for higher-capacity hard disks. The breakthrough, led by University of Jyväskylä researchers, uses liquid nitrogen instead of liquid helium, making it more affordable and accessible.
Researchers propose that applying CAFE-style standards to fertilizer production could yield $5-8 billion in economic benefits for the US corn sector. The approach aims to incentivize technology development and reduce nitrogen pollution, with potential environmental and human health gains.
A new study suggests that requiring manufacturers to sell nitrogen fertilizers with efficient compounds could reduce air and water pollution from nitrogen use by 16 percent. This approach could earn farmers millions of dollars through higher crop yields and reduce total costs of nitrogen pollution up to $5-7 billion.
Scientists have developed a metal-organic framework that can take up gaseous ammonia at densities similar to those of liquid ammonia, making it suitable for storage and handling. The framework's unique sorption mode allows for reversible adsorption and desorption of ammonia.
A 130-year-old brain coral's skeleton provided evidence that the North Atlantic Ocean has significantly less nitrogen pollution than previously estimated. The study found no signs of increased human-made nitrogen emissions, suggesting U.S. pollution control measures are effective in limiting ocean impact.
Recent research suggests that anthropogenic nitrogen inputs to the North Atlantic may be lower than previously thought. Coral skeletons show minimal changes in nitrogen isotope ratio over the past 130 years, contradicting model simulations predicting a significant decline.
Researchers at RUDN University developed a precise model of intermolecular bonds in diazone dyes, revealing their photochromic properties and importance in stabilizing dye structures. This study can be useful for creating new azo dyes with essential physical and chemical properties.
Researchers developed a new method for detecting hazardous nitrogen-containing substances using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry. The technique analyzes 14N NMR relaxation signals to identify explosives and toxic substances, offering improved efficiency and accuracy compared to traditional methods.
Researchers create device that reduces energy needed for magnetic field detectors, enabling applications in navigation, medical imaging, and natural resource exploration. The technology uses nitrogen-infused diamonds to detect magnetic fields with lower power consumption.
Long-term data analysis shows decreasing nitrogen inputs decrease algal blooms and increase water clarity in Lake Müggelsee. Blue-green algae do not rely on atmospheric nitrogen to sustain themselves.
A new study finds that alpine ecosystems take decades to recover from high levels of nitrogen air pollution, with soil acidification and biodiversity lingering long after emission rates decrease. Researchers used a 12-year field experiment to test the extent to which ecosystems can reverse the effects of nitrogen deposition.
Researchers have identified 85 genes essential for fission yeast cells to maintain their ability to divide after being starved of nitrogen. The study sheds light on the genetic network required for resting cells like cancer stem cells to reactivate and has potential applications in developing new therapies to treat cancer. This discove...
Researchers at Syracuse University use nitrogen isotopic composition of sediments to understand changes in marine conditions during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a brief period of rapid global warming approximately 56 million years ago. The study provides a benchmark for present and future climate and ocean models.
Researchers found that using legume cover crops reduces the need for nitrogen fertilizer by up to 35% compared to cereal cover crops or no cover crop at all. This simple technique can help farmers maximize sweet potato yields while reducing costs and environmental impact.
Researchers have identified a corn variety that obtains 29-82% of its nitrogen from beneficial bacteria, attracted by sugary secretions. This trait could reduce fertilizer use and increase production in poor soils.
A study found that tropical tree species have distinct nutrient-capture strategies, with some producing more phosphatase in poor soils. The research highlights the importance of biodiversity for successful reforestation projects and suggests that applying basic biological processes can maximize carbon capture.
A new study reveals that clothing, furniture, and other non-food products are significant contributors to ocean and freshwater pollution. The researchers used a modeling tool to calculate country-specific 'eutrophication footprints', which show that the EU's non-food consumption primarily generates pollution in other regions.
Researchers successfully created nitrides, a previously considered impossible material, using a direct synthesis method under ultra-high pressure. The development of these materials could lead to improved cutting tools and innovative applications in electronics.
A new quick soil test aims to determine nitrogen need by measuring protein presence. This method has the potential to reduce fertilizer waste and mitigate environmental problems associated with excessive nitrogen use.
Bottlenose dolphin populations vary in diving ability by almost 1000m due to lung architecture and gas management. The research suggests that deep divers use elevated heart rates during surface intervals and directed blood flow through collapsed lung regions to manage nitrogen levels.
The University of Melbourne researchers have created a tool to calculate the 'nitrogen footprint' of an organization, providing a guide to reduce daily activities' impact on pollution. The study found that institutions can significantly contribute to nitrogen pollution but also have potential for reduction by up to 60%.
Scientists have engineered a bacterium that can fix nitrogen from the air, paving the way for nitrogen-fixing plants that could reduce fertilizer usage and increase crop yields. The breakthrough could benefit billions of people worldwide, particularly subsistence farmers.
Researchers found that coating fertilizer with maleic-itaconic polymers (MIPs) slows down urease activity, improving nitrogen availability for plants. The study suggests farmers have a choice depending on their soil's acidity, offering a potential solution to increase crop yields and reduce environmental impact.
Researchers confirm nitrogen becomes a metallic fluid when subjected to high pressures and temperatures, with implications for the Earth's deep nitrogen cycle. The findings could inform the creation of energetic nitrogen polymers and superconducting states.
A new study by Duke University found that urban stormwater ponds do not release significant amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. The research, which analyzed sediment samples from 64 ponds in eight cities, concluded that these ponds are unlikely to be important sources of climate change emissions.
Researchers found evidence of two transient oxygenation events on early Earth, with the first occurring around 2.66 billion years ago and the second around 50 million years later. These findings may help astronomers detect life on exoplanets by avoiding false negatives caused by undetectable oxygen levels.
A Lehigh University researcher is exploring an electrochemical method to produce ammonia, reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The new process uses electricity to drive the chemical reaction, eliminating high-pressure requirements and emitting only oxygen as a byproduct.
Researchers used high-energy laser beams and optical sensors to observe nitrogen behavior at extreme conditions, confirming it exists as a liquid metal. The findings shed light on the fundamental nature of nitrogen and its potential role in the planet's atmosphere evolution.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have successfully metallized nitrogen under extreme conditions, revealing a pressure-temperature region above 125 GPa and 2500 K. This breakthrough sheds light on the interplay between molecular dissociation, melting, and metallization in nitrogen.
Researchers found that lawns in Salt Lake Valley up to 100 years old show no signs of being saturated with fertilizer nutrient nitrogen, contradicting previous studies. The study suggests that natural processes may account for the unusual pattern, including storage in the soil and losses through groundwater leaching.
Researchers used molecular dynamics to study the role of nitrogen in GaN defects. They found that nitrogen configurations exhibited significantly more states in the bandgap, potentially contributing to dislocation-related effects. This discovery could lead to optimizing GaN material for improved device performance
Scientists led by Roland Wester have confirmed the presence of molecules in space using terahertz spectroscopy, a method that allows for accurate measurement of spectral lines. The study's findings provide new insights into the chemical composition of interstellar medium and may aid in detecting unknown species in space.
Scientists found that late-season replenishment of oxygen allows the Bay to clean itself, leading to smaller and shorter-lived dead zones. This natural response suggests progress in reducing eutrophication and improving water quality.
Replacing traditional crop-based feed with protein-rich microbes could decrease deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and nitrogen losses by over 5%. Microbial protein production is economically profitable and could have positive effects on animal growth performance.
A study published in Science Advances found that ancient agricultural activity caused significant changes to soil nutrients and plants, leading to a lasting effect on the environment. Researchers analyzed animal bones from 90 archaeological sites in Ireland and discovered an increase in deforestation and agriculture during the Bronze Age.
A large-scale study reveals an abundant and widely distributed suite of non-photosynthetic bacterial populations responsible for fixing nitrogen in the surface ocean. The research, published in Nature Microbiology, provides the first genomic evidence of non-photosynthetic bacteria with nitrogen fixation capabilities.
A metal-organic framework (MOF) material has been developed that exhibits selective, reversible, and repeatable capture of nitrogen dioxide gas from the atmosphere. The material, MFM-300(Al), demonstrated robustness and capability to be fully regenerated multiple times without loss of crystallinity or porosity.
The TRAX project is the only known transit-based mobile air quality network in North America. It has mapped out where and when different pollutants are present along its route, providing valuable insights into air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers found radish cover crops significantly reduced soil nitrate content, but decomposed nitrogen was not returned to the soil. The study suggests radish can trap nitrogen without providing a fertilizer benefit to subsequent crops.
Top nitrogen researchers discuss potential pathways to achieve radical improvements in nitrogen fixation chemistry, driven by molecular-level understanding and discovery of new catalytic systems. They also present a clean and renewable light-driven process for converting nitrogen to ammonia, a primary component of fertilizer.
Researchers at UCF develop new method for producing ammonia, a vital ingredient in fertilizers, using renewable energy and reducing high-energy barriers. The new approach, utilizing palladium hydride catalysts, may inspire other reactions for renewable energy conversion.
A team of biologists and computer scientists have developed a time-based machine-learning approach to understand the temporal logic of nitrogen signaling in plants. This discovery has significant implications for global food production and sustainable agriculture by potentially offering new ways to monitor and enhance crop growth using...
A meta-analysis of 168 studies across six continents shows that importing Brazilian and US soybeans led to widespread land-use changes, increasing nitrogen pollution by over 100,000 metric tons. The study highlights the need for sustainable agricultural practices in both exporting and importing countries.
A new study by Michigan State University researchers shows that importing food can damage the environment at home. The study found that shifting from sustainable crops like soybeans to water and nutrient-intensive crops like corn increases nitrogen pollution in importing countries.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a new type of catalytic reaction that generates ammonia from nitrogen and water using an electric field and nanoscale carbon spikes. The process occurs at room temperature and could lead to more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly methods for fertilizer production.
A new study reveals that US improvements in air quality are slowing down, making it challenging to meet ozone pollution goals. The slowdown is attributed to slower-than-expected reductions in emissions from industrial and commercial sources.
A NUS-led study reveals that a beltway in Sao Paulo diverted heavy-duty diesel vehicles, reducing public health damage from diesel emissions. The intervention led to a sustained drop in nitrogen oxides levels and improved air quality.
Biologist Judy Simon develops a system to observe interactions between tree roots in 3D, enabling the study of nitrogen uptake and communication. The transparent substrate allows for the observation of root activities, potentially contributing to sustainable forest management.
A new study reveals that marine mammals' unusual lung architecture allows them to avoid the bends by creating a ventilation-perfusion mismatch. This adaptation helps to minimize nitrogen uptake and reduce the risk of decompression sickness. However, excessive stress caused by human-made sound can disrupt this system.
Scientists discover small microbes removing nitrogen from seawater in microenvironments with low oxygen levels, expanding the nitrogen cycle beyond previously thought regions. This finding changes our understanding of ocean responses to climate change.
Researchers found that faba bean cover crops can add a significant amount of nitrogen to the soil, reducing the need for commercial fertilizer by up to half. The timing and management of faba bean residues also play a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of this practice.
A study published in Science reveals that up to 26 percent of the nitrogen in ecosystems comes from weathering of rocks at Earth's surface. This discovery sheds light on the mysterious gap in nitrogen balance and has implications for forest growth, carbon sequestration, and conservation efforts.
A new study evaluated 101 commercially available elite corn hybrids for their yield stability and crop-management adaptability. The researchers found that hybrids with stable yields under varying conditions are less responsive to environmental factors, while those with high adaptability yield well in optimal conditions but may perform ...
Researchers found that up to 26 percent of natural ecosystems' nitrogen comes from rocks, not the atmosphere. This discovery could help forests and grasslands sequester more fossil fuel CO2 emissions.