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A new land surface model to monitor global river water environment

A new land surface model CAS-LSM was developed to assess impacts of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances on global river temperature and nitrogen transport. The model found increased river temperatures in tropical zones due to climate change, with power plants warming local rivers by up to 60% in Asia.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalJournal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems·DateOct 14, 2020

Illinois research links soil nitrogen levels to corn yield and nitrogen losses

Researchers establish relationship between soil nitrogen at different growth stages and corn yield, finding a tradeoff between productivity and environmental impact. Soil nitrogen explains majority of grain yield variation, with optimal levels resulting in 22% yield increase.

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

Reducing nitrogen with boron and beer

Researchers from the University of Würzburg have developed a method to convert nitrogen to ammonium at room temperature without using transition metals. The key to this process is the use of boron and water, which enables sequential reactions that bring the team close to producing ammonia.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Chemistry·DateSep 14, 2020

New nitrogen products are in the air

Researchers at Yale University have developed a method to combine atmospheric nitrogen with benzene to produce aniline, a precursor to various synthetic materials. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of new products such as dyes and pharmaceuticals.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateAug 12, 2020

A new look at deep-sea microbes

Researchers found that microbes inside hydrocarbon seeps have less efficient, fast-growing lifestyles while those outside have slower but more efficient lives. This difference in lifestyle could mirror how microbes behave higher in the water column.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 9, 2020

Gas cooker exposure can lower blood pressure, study finds

A study published in Circulation Research found that exposure to nitrogen dioxide from gas cookers can lower blood pressure by 5 mm Hg. Blood levels of nitrite also increased after exposure, suggesting a possible mechanism linking air pollution to cardiovascular health. The findings suggest that cooking with gas may have a beneficial e...

SourceKing's College London·JournalCirculation Research·DateJun 26, 2020

Pandemics and the environment: China's COVID-19 interventions reduced nitrogen dioxide levels

Satellite measurements revealed a 48% drop in nitrogen dioxide densities over China following government announcements of the first reported COVID-19 case and lockdowns. This significant reduction is attributed to a substantial decrease in fossil fuel consumption, with an additional 21% drop compared to 2015-2019.

Human waste could help combat global food insecurity

A team of researchers has discovered a way to create a nitrogen-rich fertilizer using human waste, which could increase agriculture yields in developing countries and reduce groundwater contamination. The new method involves recycling nitrogen from urine through a process involving biochar and CO2 priming.

SourceUniversity of Saskatchewan·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateJun 2, 2020

A potential explanation for urban smog

New research suggests nitric acid can boost particle growth in cold climates, forming particles even in highly polluted cities. This mechanism also affects the oxidation characteristics of organic compounds, potentially reducing aerosol formation and contributing to climate warming.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 27, 2020

A new tool to predict volcanic eruptions

Researchers have developed a new tool to predict volcanic eruptions by analyzing the composition of gases in the atmosphere. The tool uses precise measurements to identify the contribution of the atmosphere and Earth's mantle to these gases, allowing for more accurate predictions of future eruptions.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateApr 15, 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

Ammonia has been wrongly missing in portraying air pollution impacts

Recent studies challenge traditional approaches to understanding air pollution impacts by highlighting the importance of dry deposition processes, particularly ammonia. Ammonia plays a vital role in nitrogen deposition and haze pollution, with global concentrations increasing worldwide over recent decades.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateMar 20, 2020