Research on lakes and freshwater. Covers waterborne illness, AI algal-bloom technology, freshwater carbon, and cyanobacteria toxin detection.
A new study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that children under five are equally likely to contract bilharzia as their infected mothers. The researchers recommend improving access to clean water and sanitation to reduce the spread of the disease.
A study published in Science found that reducing phosphorus levels in lakes can lead to decreased nitrogen removal processes, resulting in nitrogen accumulation. This has significant implications for global pollution control efforts, as many large lakes are affected by successful phosphorus control measures.
New research finds subalpine lakes contaminated with microplastics, which can enter food webs through freshwater invertebrates. Microplastic particles can also adsorb toxic pollutants and transport them to other habitats.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales discovered the genetic secrets of Antarctic extremophiles that can thrive in extremely cold and salty water. The study found that these microorganisms engage in extensive DNA swapping, enabling them to coexist despite their vastly different niches.
Researchers discovered haloarchaea dominate Deep Lake's microbial community, exchanging DNA among species and genera. The microbes' ability to share genetic information enables specialization, coexistence, and adaptability.
A new study predicts a northward shift of Earth's wind and rain belts, making the Middle East, American West, and Amazonia drier. This redistribution is based on historical climate patterns during the last ice age, when warming led to changes in ocean currents and temperature contrasts between hemispheres.
The Uros populations of Peru and Bolivia possess a unique genetic ancestry that predates the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, potentially dating back to 3,700 years ago. Their divergent genetic lineage is distinct from surrounding Andean populations.
Research suggests that as few as 20 Asian carp could establish a population in the Great Lakes, posing significant threats to native fish species and the ecosystem. The invasive fish's rapid growth rate and size advantage over native species make it a formidable competitor for food and space.
The Rim Fire remains active in multiple drainages and is expected to spread into Yosemite Wilderness areas. The fire is 80% contained over 255,000 acres affected, making it California's largest fire of the season.
Scientists have discovered life forms dating back nearly a hundred thousand years in subglacial lake sediments, challenging our understanding of what can survive in extreme environments. The discovery, made in Lake Hodgson on the Antarctic Peninsula, reveals diverse microorganisms that could hold clues for survival on other planets.
The Rim Fire has grown to become the fourth largest fire in California's history, spanning over 231,000 acres. Burnout operations have shown success on the northern and southern portions of the fire.
The Rim Fire is currently 35% contained, with a new containment date set for October 20, 2013. The fire has slowed down due to cooler temperatures and increased humidity, burning approximately 300 acres per hour on average.
A study published in Botany reveals that the genetic diversity of the Branched Bartonia plant in Ontario is greater than initially thought. The research found that the Muskoka population is genetically distinct from a core population in New York State, highlighting the importance of considering genetic novelty in conservation policies.
A study by University of Pennsylvania geologist Jane Willenbring and colleagues found that the local glacial maximum in southern Europe occurred earlier than expected, around 26,000 years ago. This discovery provides new insights into how regional climates have varied over time and could lead to more accurate global climate models.
A Wayne State University team is working on a technology that can quickly and significantly reduce the emission of mercury and other toxic substances by power plants into the Great Lakes basin. The Locational Emissions Estimation Methodology (LEEM) technology, which was previously supported by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, will be r...
The Rim Fire in California has grown to over 106,000 acres, largely due to dry conditions and challenging terrain. Despite efforts of over 2,000 firefighters, the fire remains only 2% contained.
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have discovered that crushed concrete can bind up to 90% of phosphorus, a key contributor to algae growth. The technique uses crushed concrete as a filter to remove excess phosphorus from rainwater, reducing its impact on water quality and aquatic life.
Fires in Idaho and Montana continue to burn, with the Gold Pan complex fire expanding to 27,000 acres. The Lolo Creek complex has grown to 8,600 acres in difficult terrain.
A new high-tech analysis by University of Colorado Boulder researchers dated the oldest known petroglyphs in North America to at least 10,500 years ago. The Winnemucca Lake petroglyph site, located in western Nevada, features complex designs and vertical chain-like symbols carved into limestone boulders.
A University of Oklahoma biologist is studying how Daphnia, a small crustacean, adapts to changes in nutrient levels and water quality. The research aims to improve forecasting models of global environmental change and inform effective management of natural resources.
Researchers at TUM developed a new method to monitor large plant populations in lakes using aerial images. They created a digital library of plant spectral characteristics to evaluate the images, factoring out image errors and providing early detection of ecosystem risks.
Researchers from the University of Washington monitored Arctic ice and found a melt pond at the North Pole, but it was not extreme. The pond drained in late July, revealing typical summer conditions.
Entomologist Jack Longino identified 33 new species of predatory ants in Central America and the Caribbean. The ants were found in small patches of forest and have monster-like faces with sharp teeth and jaws. Their primitive eyes detect light, but not form images.
Research suggests that timber rattlesnakes can remove thousands of infected ticks from ecosystems each year, potentially regulating Lyme disease prevalence. Fungi, meanwhile, display unique relationships with other species, including decomposition, mutual benefits, and parasitic behaviors.
Researchers have discovered direct geochemical evidence linking massive floods to the formation of the world's deepest gorge, the Tsangpo Gorge in the Himalayas. The study found that the presence of uranium-bearing zircon grains downstream was higher than expected, indicating a sudden and catastrophic event.
Researchers studied various locations across North America, including the Black Canyon of Gunnison, Colorado, and the Sierra Nevada batholith. They found that spatio-temporal variability in fluvial incision rates provides data on uplift and denudation histories of landscapes.
Supraglacial lakes' draining mechanisms, which affect ice velocity and extent, were studied in West Greenland. The findings show that rapid draining accelerates glacial movement, while slow draining increases its pace, with implications for sea-level rise.
Research suggests that freshwater ecosystems were more resilient than oceans during the asteroid impact due to annual freeze-thaw cycles, groundwater seeps, and dormant stages of many organisms. This study also explores the bubbling of methane from thermokarst lakes, an important factor in the carbon cycle and global climate change.
A global single-cell genomic study highlights British Columbia's role as an 'oasis' of microbial biodiversity. The research, published in Nature, provides new insights into the vital biological diversity encoded in microorganisms, shedding light on essential ecosystem functions and services.
Researchers identified thousands of species, including bacteria, fungi, and archaea, through DNA and RNA sequencing. The findings suggest the lake once connected to the ocean, with marine and freshwater species present.
Researchers discovered a fat cell near male sea lampreys' dorsal fin produces heat when approached by females, a previously unknown mechanism in spawning. This finding sheds new light on the invasive species' biology and may help reduce its numbers or eliminate it from the Great Lakes.
A new study finds that industrial extraction in Wolf Lake Forest Reserve would significantly threaten biodiversity, making it a 'scientifically irreplaceable system'. The reserve's unique characteristics allow for climate change studies and inform future restoration practices.
Physicists at the University of Texas at Austin have built a tabletop particle accelerator capable of generating energies previously reached only by major facilities. The device accelerates electrons to 2 GeV over a distance of just 1 inch, marking a significant milestone in the development of X-ray laser technology.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered evidence of prehistoric copper mining leading to high levels of lead pollution in northern Michigan lakes. The study reveals that human activities contributing to environmental lead pollution began as early as 8,000 years ago.
Researchers analyzed newly discovered ice-age deposits from Garwood Valley to understand the rise and collapse of Antarctic ice sheets. They also studied the geological history of granite emplacement and glacial evolution in Death Valley, California.
Researchers found that aerosol pollution from the Northern Hemisphere cooled the region, shifting tropical rain bands and leading to drought in central Africa. The study used decades of historical observations and climate models to determine this global impact. The discovery highlights the remote climate effects of air pollution.
A new study forecasts higher surface water temperatures in Austrian lakes by 2050 due to climate change, posing risks to water quality and ecosystems. Warmer waters could lead to enhanced nutrient loads and algal blooms.
Researchers have found that Blue Lake on North Stradbroke Island has remained relatively stable and resilient for millennia. The study suggests that increased groundwater extraction poses a threat to the lake's stability as a freshwater refuge.
The Powerhouse Fire in California has burned approximately 46 square miles of the Angeles National Forest, destroying at least six homes and damaging 15 more. Evacuation orders are in place for large portions of the fire area, including several communities, as 975 personnel fight to contain the rapidly spreading blaze.
A new study analyzes the longest terrestrial sediment core in the Arctic, revealing that the region was warmer around 3.5 to 2 million years ago than previously thought. The findings suggest that small fluctuations in carbon dioxide levels can have a significant impact on Arctic climate.
An international team led by Julie Brigham-Grette analyzed Arctic sediment cores from Lake El'gygytgyn, revealing sustained warmth in the Middle Pliocene. This finding suggests that the Earth system response to small changes in carbon dioxide is bigger than suggested by earlier climate models.
Utah biologist Çagan Şekercioğlu has won the prestigious Whitley Gold Award for conservation twice, including this year, for his work safeguarding bird-rich wetlands in northeast Turkey. He was awarded by Princess Anne at a ceremony in London.
Scientists have developed solar-powered nanofilters that can pump in antibiotics to clean contaminated water, removing them twice as efficiently as existing technology. This innovation could also be adapted to remove other pollutants like hormones and heavy metals from water.
Detailed mapping of the Kima'Kho tuya in northern British Columbia shows that the ancient regional ice sheet through which it erupted was twice as thick as previously estimated. This discovery could provide new constraints on paleoclimate models, advancing our understanding of glaciovolcanic eruptions and their impact.
Janet Vail, an associate research scientist at AWRI since 1990, is being recognized for her public outreach and education efforts on Great Lakes issues. She has led several tours and organized conferences to raise awareness and support for Great Lakes protection.
Researchers used pitcher plants to identify signs of ecosystem trouble, finding that nutrient overloads can trigger drastic changes. The study discovered a reliable way to create tipping points and aims to identify early warning signals.
Researchers develop a solar-powered nano filter that can remove 64% of antibiotics from surface waters, compared to 40% by traditional filters. The new filter uses light-driven bacterial proteins to power the absorption process and allows for antibiotic recycling.
Researchers found at least 759 seismic events before the mine collapse and 569 aftershocks, with some evidence of up to 1,022 seismic events and 1,167 aftershocks, indicating a larger collapse area extending to the west end of the mine
A study by University of Utah researchers found that superstorm Sandy caused significant seismic activity along the East Coast as well as in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm's 'standing waves' created energy at the seafloor, detectable by seismometers across the US.
A SwRI-led remote-sensing study has revealed accelerated loss of surface water in shallow lakes and ponds in Arctic Alaskan wetlands, with a recent 27-year period showing a 5.5% decrease in water-body surface area. The analysis also found changes in permafrost degradation and ice-wedge polygon morphology.
Researchers have revised the history of large earthquakes in the area, showing that the Salt Lake City segment has been more active than previously thought. The study contributes to forecasting probabilities for future earthquakes in the Wasatch Front region.
Researchers from Grand Valley State University and the University of Notre Dame are investigating how watershed environments affect contaminant levels in stream resident fish. The study aims to develop a mathematical process that predicts changes to the watershed landscape on native fish populations.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new statistical model to compare modern and historical temperatures. The study found that the warmest summers in the last two decades are unprecedented in the previous six centuries.
A record-breaking algae bloom in Lake Erie was triggered by a combination of long-term agricultural practices and extreme weather events. The researchers predict that future blooms will be even more severe unless agricultural policies are revised to reduce nutrient runoff.
Researchers propose that the brain automatically assesses its environment, making trade-offs in resource allocation. This adaptation process can lead to improved sensitivity for one stimulus at the expense of another.
University of Cincinnati student researcher Bo Yang develops method to combine thermal data from separate satellite systems, creating detailed maps of regional temperature fluctuations. This technique simplifies the process of analyzing parallel data, allowing geographers to derive daily surface temperature and emissivity information.
Researchers found 85% of collected particles in Lake Erie were smaller than two-tenths of an inch, with 1.5-1.7 million per square mile. Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes may be even worse than in oceans due to their large volume.
Researchers found no evidence of widespread Asian carp presence in the Great Lakes, but detected DNA from bighead and silver carp. Live fish are considered the most likely source of the DNA, contradicting reports of bird or boat spread.
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame and The Nature Conservancy found no evidence of widespread Asian carp presence in the Great Lakes, contrary to recent reports. Instead, they detected DNA only in areas where Asian carp have been caught, suggesting that live fish are the most likely source of the invasive species.
Researchers found that papyrus sedge can absorb toxic matter from abattoir effluent, including nitrogen and phosphorus ions. The study suggests using constructed wetlands with papyrus as a final treatment step to reduce untreated effluent reaching Lake Victoria.