Articles tagged with Water
Researchers have developed a new approach to fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria using water, targeting their DNA with a special molecule called singlet oxygen. This method uses titanium dioxide crystals to transform normal oxygen molecules into singlet oxygen, which strips electrons away from bacterial DNA, destroying it.
African water conflicts are driven by uncertainty over water availability under extreme climate conditions, rather than an absolute lack of water. Advanced water modeling can provide a shared foundation for managing transboundary water resources and resolving disputes.
Researchers found that extremely rapid heating creates a vapor gap around six nanometers thick between the metal and ice, acting as a thermal barrier. This discovery challenges conventional heat-transfer models and has implications for fields like laser processing, data storage technologies, and catalysis.
Researchers have successfully deployed underwater solar cells to generate 324 mWh of energy at 10 meters below sea level. The cells retained 96% of their initial efficiency after 300 days and showed exceptional long-term operational stability.
A new study projects significant disparities in access to food, water, and energy by 2050, with lower-income groups facing significant challenges. The study finds that in some regions, lower-income people could spend up to 50% of their income on food, while higher-income groups spend only 5%.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have demonstrated that incorporating satellite measurements of water vapor isotopes into weather models improves forecasts of atmospheric conditions. This addition leads to more accurate weather forecasts, particularly for heavy rainfall predictions.
Researchers discovered that gecko skin's nanoscopic hairs, called setulae, trap air and retain water, reducing evaporation and helping lizards survive in dry environments. The study used computational models to evaluate the effects of the hairs on water loss, finding a reduction in evaporation intensity.
Irrigated mountain hayfields act as large filtration systems, reducing nutrient concentrations in runoff and improving water quality. This study found that voluntary adoption of best management practices can effectively mitigate the impacts of agricultural nutrient use in mountain meadow hay systems.
A new NIH-funded study found associations between higher fluoride levels in public drinking water during pregnancy and lower child cognition scores, particularly in fluid reasoning. The study, which included 2,514 children, suggests that higher fluoride levels may impact cognitive development.
Researchers identify three water molecules as minimal unit for efficient catalytic dynamics in aqueous environments. The discovery reveals a unique 'structural switch' mechanism, enabling fast proton transport and resolving the long-standing question about the threshold required for collective catalysis.
Scientists have discovered a new process that forms cloud-forming particles in the Arctic atmosphere when melting sea ice meets open ocean. This combination of marine life and sunlight releases a chemical mixture that seeds the sky with particles, increasing cloud cover and affecting global climate.
A team of researchers at Rice University has created an electrochemical ion pumping platform that can desalinate wastewater while selectively recovering dissolved metals. The approach uses electrode potential as a programmable control parameter, allowing ions to move continuously through the system.
A new study suggests that unsweetened sparkling water may lower the risk of enamel erosion more effectively than sugar-sweetened soda. Researchers found that saliva quickly restored the mouth's acidity to normal after consumption, regardless of beverage type.
Researchers used Landsat thermal infrared imagery to study river temperatures over 250 dams in the US, finding temperature differences in 71% of observations and varying impacts based on dam type and season. This new approach can help better understand freshwater ecology and water resource management.
A cohort study of California educators found associations between trihalomethanes in drinking water and increased uterine cancer risk, including with endometrioid tumors. Further investigation is warranted to understand the role of drinking water contaminants as modifiable risk factors for this common gynecologic cancer.
An international team of scientists developed a novel, catalyst-free plastic recycling process that uses only water and oxygen to convert various types of plastic waste into high-value organic acids. The method achieved near-complete conversion with minimal environmental impact.
Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University review advancements in porous transport layer design for proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers. Optimizing these layers is critical for unlocking ultra-efficient and durable green hydrogen production technologies.
Researchers found that wood frogs' adaptation to salty water increases their vulnerability to ranavirus, a common and fatal disease. The study highlights the hidden costs of survival in wildlife under environmental stress.
Researchers at The University of Osaka used AI to evaluate characterization frameworks for molecular order in liquid water. They found that machine learning models can accurately capture key structural information, shedding light on the relationship between structural fluctuations and thermodynamic states of water.
Computational studies reveal that the tetrahedral order of water molecules collapses at the contact line during complete wetting, leading to a change in line tension. This discovery provides a new design principle for controlling interfacial mechanics and wetting in inorganic and biological systems.
A new study by Tulane University researcher Sönke Dangendorf found that human-caused sea-level rise has significantly increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide. Coastal flooding events expected once every 100 years now occur on average about 12 times more likely to occur globally.
A new detection method for PFAS chemicals in drinking water has been developed by University of Kansas researchers. The fast-flow solid-phase extraction (SPE) approach reduces the time and cost required to analyze ultra-trace amounts, making it feasible for widespread implementation.
Researchers discovered proteins from Pseudomonas syringae bacteria can bind to artificial surfaces, leading to ice formation at higher-than-normal temperatures. This breakthrough enables the development of new applications like deicing, artificial snow, and cryo-medicine.
FAU engineering researcher Masoud Jahandar Lashaki has been awarded a prestigious NSF CAREER award to study the oxidative degradation of amine-functionalized sorbents. The project aims to design longer-lasting technologies for capturing pollutants from air and water, improving indoor and outdoor air quality.
Researchers studied how meltwater from one iceberg impacts its neighbor's melting rate. They found that the gap between icebergs determines their final shape and melt rate., Iceberg clusters may be less prone to melting than isolated icebergs due to the protective effect of meltwater.
University of Missouri researchers developed an irrigation strategy that allows farmers to conserve water while maintaining crop quality. By tailoring water amounts based on plant growth stages, farmers can reduce water usage and costs.
Complex systems exhibit emergent properties due to water's unique polarity, enabling DNA to store information and proteins to adopt specific structures. This order forms the basis for complex molecules to develop unpredictable properties, driving the evolution of life.
Researchers have discovered two thresholds for the behavior of charged water droplets on frictionless surfaces, enabling finer control over electrospray processes and opening up opportunities for nanofabrication. The study's findings may also lead to greener scientific techniques.
Researchers from Colorado State University found that tiny particles bubbling up from melting sea ice in the Arctic sky can create clouds, providing a platform for water vapor to freeze onto. This discovery sheds light on why Arctic clouds behave differently and could help improve weather modeling and climate change predictions.
A recent study found a significant link between very high PFAS exposure and an increased incidence of asthma in children. Researchers analyzed data from over 11,000 children born in Sweden and discovered that the risk of developing asthma was around 40% higher among those with very high PFAS exposure.
A team of researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology has identified the underlying cause of water's unique properties, solving a fundamental mystery in science. They have observed water's liquid-liquid critical point, which marks the transition from two distinct liquid states into a single supercritical liquid state.
A new study by PSU researchers found that wildfires can intensify midwinter rain-on-snow events, leading to rapid snowmelt and increased flood risk. This threatens the region's critical seasonal water storage, refilling reservoirs and producing hydroelectric power.
Researchers at Stockholm University have found a new critical point in supercooled water at around -63 °C and 1000 atmosphere. This discovery explains the unusual properties of water, such as its density and viscosity responding to pressure and temperature changes in ways that are opposite to other liquids.
The Re-Analysis of Water for Society (RAWS) project seeks to create a detailed daily record of the world's freshwater systems spanning 60 years. By combining advanced water modeling with artificial intelligence and integrated global datasets, RAWS aims to provide a clearer picture of how water systems have changed over time.
A new report suggests that changing domestic shower and toilet habits could help close England's projected 5 billion litre daily water shortfall. The report identifies key behaviour change targets, including reporting or fixing in-home leaks, showering, and flushing toilets, and argues that effective behaviour change depends on underst...
A free webinar, part of the Sustainable Microbiology Policy Spotlight journal webinar series, explores how microbiologists can effectively influence policy in the UK. The webinar, featuring senior policymakers and parliamentary affairs professionals, will take place on April 1, 2026, and will be recorded for retrospective viewing.
Conventional oil and gas infrastructure leaves a deeper mark on freshwater biodiversity than shale gas development in Pennsylvania, according to a new study. The research analyzed over 6,800 benthic macroinvertebrate samples and found conventional development was linked with fewer species and a decline in ecosystem health.
Researchers from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics determined the structural motifs of water undecamer cluster, including three low-energy configurations. The study provides crucial insights into the evolution of water's hydrogen-bond network and paves the way for size-dependent studies on solvation processes.
Researchers are using satellite data to measure the Amazon River's water loss through evaporation. This study will create a first-ever basin-wide record of evaporation across the Amazon River, covering 40 years. The findings have significant implications for global environmental sustainability and addressing real-world issues.
A new mechanochemical approach uses water as a catalyst to transform renewable resources into high-performance porous materials capable of capturing CO2 while removing pollutants. The method produces carbon-negative materials with exceptional hydrophobic characteristics and scalable production.
Researchers warn that public fountains can be a breeding ground for aerosolized pollutants, posing significant risks to human health. With an estimated 30% of visitors being children, the risk of fountain-related illnesses is particularly high.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discover that peatland lakes in the Congo Basin release significant amounts of ancient carbon, up to 40% of which is thousands of years old. This carbon reservoir has a leak, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere and potentially destabilizing climate change.
A new framework introduces the Water Sustainability Index (WSI), a transparent, quantitative metric designed to strengthen corporate water accountability worldwide. The WSI evaluates corporate water withdrawals, consumption, discharge quality, and reuse while accounting for local water scarcity.
Researchers have developed a new method for cleaning oil spills using massive fire whirls, which can burn through crude oil nearly twice as fast as in-situ fire pools. The results show that fire whirls produce 40% less soot and consume up to 95% of the fuel, leaving fewer harmful particles behind.
Researchers at UVM have developed a new framework, NextGen, to enhance flood forecasting by providing a common platform for hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. The framework enables scientists to experiment with and develop more accurate models, addressing the limitations of current operational models.
A study found that only planets with medium-level oxygen conditions during core formation can retain essential elements phosphorus and nitrogen, necessary for life. This limits the number of potentially habitable planets, as most solar systems have stars with different chemical compositions.
A new study from Tohoku University and other international researchers has found that an anomalous dust storm on Mars can drive the transport of water to the upper layers of the atmosphere, leading to significant water loss. This discovery opens a new path for understanding how Mars lost much of its water over time.
A study published in BMJ Global Health found that higher salinity in drinking water is associated with higher blood pressure and an increased risk of hypertension. Researchers analyzed data from 27 population-based studies involving over 74,000 participants across several countries.
A recent study has reconciled the debate over the existence and thickness of a microscopically thin liquid layer, known as premelting film, on ice surfaces. The research suggests that this layer is restricted to a limited thickness near the equilibrium point due to water's unusual density properties.
A large cohort study found no association between community water fluoridation and adverse birth outcomes, providing reassurance about its safety during pregnancy. The study highlights the importance of rigorous causal designs in evaluating public health interventions.
The United Nations University reports that many regions are living beyond their hydrological means, with critical water systems already bankrupt. The study defines 'water bankruptcy' as persistent over-withdrawal from surface and groundwater relative to renewable inflows and safe levels of depletion. This has resulted in a growing list...
Researchers have developed a simple crystallization method that achieves chiral resolution under mild conditions, enabling the production of homochiral inorganic crystals. The study uses organic solvents and an achiral crystalline phase to control the growth environment, resulting in single-handed forms of cesium copper chloride.
Researchers at CU Boulder have introduced a solution to improving desalination plant performance by observing in real-time membrane fouling using SRS. The technique helps maximize filtration efficiency and reduce energy use, making it crucial for ensuring global access to clean water.
A new 'River Literacy' concept has been developed to educate communities about the vital roles rivers play in daily lives, cultures, and ecosystems. The framework highlights seven easy-to-grasp principles designed for schools, riverside communities, and the general public.
A new method uses machine learning and flow cytometry to detect contaminated bathing water, providing faster and more complete answers on water safety. The method has several advantages, including being open-source and able to detect changes in entire bacterial communities.
A study published in the journal Children found that improving access to safe drinking water can reduce the odds of stunting by about 20%. The researchers analyzed data from over 3,500 children and found that clean water access had a stronger impact on child growth than sanitation.
A study analyzing over 100 cities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America found that compact urban planning is crucial for delivering water and sanitation to growing populations. The research suggests that if cities spread outward rather than building more densely, access to clean water and basic sanitation could be significantly impacted.
MIT engineers have developed an ultrasonic device that vibrates at high frequency to shake out water molecules from a material, recovering clean drinking water in minutes. This design is 45 times more efficient than existing heat-based systems, which can take hours or days.
A study found that lowered arsenic exposure was associated with a decrease in mortality rates from chronic diseases among populations exposed to contaminated drinking water. The findings support the importance of reducing arsenic levels in drinking water for public health benefits.
The EU-funded INNOVATILE project aims to reduce the environmental impact of ceramic tile manufacturing through innovative technology, targeting a 10-20% decrease in raw material and water consumption. The project also focuses on using secondary raw materials and replacing critical resources with alternative resources.