Feature Channels: Environmental Science

Filters close
Released: 18-May-2016 2:00 PM EDT
Hamburg, Shalala, Glickman, Angell Headline Food Law Conference at Georgetown University
O'Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law

Former FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, Clinton Foundation President and former U.S. Secretary of Health Donna E. Shalala, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, and Sonia Angell, deputy commissioner for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene headline a unique conference focused on food issues, “Vote Food 2016: Better Food, Better Health,” on June 3 in Washington, DC.

Released: 18-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Scientists Predict Extensive Ice Loss From Huge Antarctic Glacier
Imperial College London

Current rates of climate change could trigger instability in a major Antarctic glacier, ultimately leading to more than 2m of sea-level rise.

Released: 18-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
New Study Finds Major Earthquake Threat From the Riasi Fault in the Himalayas
Oregon State University

New geologic mapping in the Himalayan mountains of Kashmir between Pakistan and India suggests that the region is ripe for a major earthquake that could endanger the lives of as many as a million people.

Released: 18-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
City of Second Chance Soils
American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

Once the world's largest steel working mill, Steelworkers Park in Chicago has become the proving grounds for rehabilitating unforgiving slag with biosolids and dredged sediments.

Released: 18-May-2016 11:00 AM EDT
Nature vs. Nurture? Both Are Important, Anthropologist Argues
University of Notre Dame

Some anthropologists try to understand how societies and histories construct our identities, and others ask about how genes and the environment do the same thing. Which is the better approach? Both are needed, argues Agustin Fuentes, University of Notre Dame biological anthropologist.

Released: 17-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
Grant Allows Denniston and Team to Pursue Climate Research
Cornell College

The National Science Foundation just announced that Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa will receive grant money that will enable Cornell geologist Rhawn Denniston to continue his studies on past climate research. The grant will also provide support for student involvement in the research.

Released: 17-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
Gone with the Wind: Argonne Coating Shows Surprising Potential to Improve Reliability in Wind Power
Argonne National Laboratory

A group of researchers from the Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Akron discovered that a particular form of carbon coating not necessarily designed for wind turbines may indeed prove a boon to the wind industry—a serendipitous finding that was recently highlighted in the journal Tribology International.

Released: 17-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
Snapshot Wisconsin: Trail Cams to Document State’s Wildlife
University of Wisconsin–Madison

With the help of between 4,000 and 5,000 strategically deployed trail cameras, a suite of remote sensing satellites and a global crowd-sourced database, Wisconsin’s wildlife will soon have its prime time moment. May 17 marks the official start of Snapshot Wisconsin, an unprecedented effort to capture in space and time the deer, bears, elk, coyotes, bobcats, badgers and any other wild animal that lumbers, hops, lopes or slithers across the Badger state.

Released: 17-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
Chance Finding Could Transform Plant Production: U of Guelph Study
University of Guelph

An almost entirely accidental discovery by University of Guelph researchers could transform food and biofuel production and increase carbon capture on farmland. By tweaking a plant’s genetic profile, the researchers doubled the plant’s growth and increased seed production by more than 400 per cent.

Released: 17-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Top Stories 5-17-2016
Newswise Trends

click to view today's top stories

Released: 17-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Chemical Emitted by Trees Can Impact St. Louis’ Ozone Levels
Washington University in St. Louis

It is well known that the dog days of summer in St. Louis are hot, humid and hazy. On the warmest of these days, the air arrives from the south, bringing with it high temperatures, moisture and natural forest emissions of chemicals, known as hydrocarbons, from the Ozark Plateau. The hydrocarbons can interact with human-influenced emissions, and in the presence of sunlight, create a cocktail of pollutants — including ozone — that are hazardous to human health.

12-May-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Study: Paris Climate Goals Cannot Be Met Without Emissions Reductions From Farming
University of Vermont

Scientists have calculated, for the first time, the extent to which agricultural emissions must be reduced to meet the Paris climate agreement’s plan to limit warming to 2°C in 2100. Scientists estimate that the agriculture sector must reduce non-CO2 emissions by 1 gigaton per year in 2030. The analysis also revealed a major gap between the existing mitigation options for the agriculture sector and the reductions needed: current interventions would only deliver between 21-40% of mitigation required.

Released: 16-May-2016 6:05 PM EDT
Forest-Loving Moose Learning to Thrive on Farmland
University of Saskatchewan

While populations of moose have been declining in much of their North American range, research from the University of Saskatchewan shows how these icons of the northern boreal forest are finding success by moving south into farmers’ fields.

Released: 16-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Study Offers New Answer to Why Earth's Atmosphere Became Oxygenated
Rice University

Earth scientists from Rice University, Yale University and the University of Tokyo are offering a new answer to the long-standing question of how our planet acquired its oxygenated atmosphere.

Released: 16-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Protecting Sea Turtles, Juvenile Sea Stars, Wildfires to Increase in Alaska, and more in the Environment News Source
Newswise

Protecting Sea Turtles, Juvenile Sea Stars, Wildfires to Increase in Alaska, and more in the Environment News Source

Released: 16-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
More Sea Turtles Survive with Less Beach Debris
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

In the study, clearing the beach of flotsam and jetsam increased the number of nests by as much as 200 percent, while leaving the detritus decreased the number by nearly 50 percent.

Released: 16-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Ocean Bacteria Are Programmed to Alter Climate Gases
Oregon State University

SAR11, the most abundant plankton in the world's oceans, are pumping out massive amounts of two sulfur gases that play important roles in the Earth's atmosphere, researchers announced today in the journal Nature Microbiology.

Released: 16-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Farms Have Become a Major Air-Pollution Source
American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Emissions from farms outweigh all other human sources of fine-particulate air pollution in much of the United States, Europe, Russia and China, according to new research. The culprit: fumes from nitrogen-rich fertilizers and animal waste combine in the air with combustion emissions to form solid particles, which constitute a major source of disease and death, according to the new study.

Released: 16-May-2016 11:05 AM EDT
Left Uncontrolled, Weeds Would Cost Billions in Economic Losses Every Year
Kansas State University

A team of experts from the Weed Science Society of America found that if weeds were allowed to grow with no control measures, about half of corn and soybean crops across the United States and Canada would be lost, costing growers about $43 billion annually. The team was led by Kansas State University agronomy professor, Anita Dille.

Released: 16-May-2016 11:05 AM EDT
How Does Water Move Through Soil?
Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

In the basic water cycle, water falls on the land in some type of precipitation (rain or snow). It either is soaked into the ground or runs off into a body of water – storm water or natural. Eventually, it returns to the atmosphere. But the story about water movement in soil is complex. Soil scientists call this topic “soil hydrology.” The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) May 15 Soils Matter blog post explains how soil texture, soil structure, and gravity influence water movement.

13-May-2016 2:30 PM EDT
Polluted Dust Can Impact Ocean Life Thousands of Miles Away, Study Says
Georgia Institute of Technology

As climatologists closely monitor the impact of human activity on the world’s oceans, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have found yet another worrying trend impacting the health of the Pacific Ocean.

Released: 16-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
Top Stories 5-16-2016
Newswise Trends

click to view today's top stories

       
Released: 16-May-2016 8:00 AM EDT
World’s Richest Source of New in-Water Oceanographic Data Now Operational at Rutgers
Rutgers University's Office for Research

The Ocean Observatories Initiative's data center, which collects and shares data from more than 800 instruments and a transmission network across the Atlantic and Pacific, is operating at Rutgers. The university has an initial $11.8 million contract to design, build and operate the OOI cyberinfrastructure.

Released: 16-May-2016 7:05 AM EDT
UF/IFAS Study: Citizen Scientists Can Help Protect Endangered Species
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Until this study, the conservation and management of fox squirrels in Florida was constrained by a lack of reliable information on the factors influencing its distribution. But with this research, which combines sightings and photos of fox squirrels by everyday citizens and professional ecologists, scientists now know they can get help from citizen scientists in conserving the fox squirrel population.

Released: 13-May-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Major Leap Toward a 'Perfect' Quantum Metamaterial, Seismic Response of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete, and more in the Material Science Channel
Newswise

Major Leap Toward a 'Perfect' Quantum Metamaterial, Seismic Response of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete. and more in the Material Science Channel

Released: 13-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Conservation Laws Need Reshaping to Protect Sea Turtles, Research Finds
University of Exeter

Researchers call for socioeconomic infuences to be factored into future protection policies.

Released: 13-May-2016 11:05 AM EDT
New Microbiome Center to Combine UChicago, Marine Biological Laboratory and Argonne Expertise
University of Chicago

The University of Chicago, the Marine Biological Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory announced today a new partnership called The Microbiome Center that will seek to understand the identity and function of microbes across environments.

Released: 13-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Top Stories 5-13-2016
Newswise Trends

click to see today's top stories

       
Released: 12-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Protecting Soybean Roots
South Dakota State University

Soybean roots are under attack from two culprits, a parasitic round worm called the soybean cyst nematode, feeds on the roots, and a fungal disease called sudden death syndrome, which inhibits root growth. Soybean fields affected by both feel the greatest impact on yields. Planting resistant varieties and rotating crops are essential.

Released: 12-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
School Lunch Subsidy Could Boost Local Farms, Economies
Cornell University

If New York state lawmakers were to provide a subsidy of 5 cents per school lunch just one day per week for the purchase of local fruits and vegetables, it would likely provide a financial boost for New York farmers and local economies.

Released: 12-May-2016 8:05 AM EDT
Globally Recognized Entomologist Named Interim Director of UF/IFAS Indian River REC
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

In accepting the position as interim director at Indian River REC, Ron Cave said he envisions the restoration of the Indian River District as a thriving production region for the world’s highest quality grapefruit and oranges.

Released: 11-May-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Sea Star Juveniles Abundant, but Recovery Is Anything but Guaranteed
Oregon State University

An unprecedented number of juvenile sea stars have been observed off the Oregon coast over the past several months – just two years after one of the most severe marine ecosystem epidemics in recorded history nearly wiped the population out.

Released: 11-May-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Bringing Climate Down to Earth
Argonne National Laboratory

The EcoSpec Project at Argonne seeks to inject indirect measurements of terrestrial ecosystems into climate models.

Released: 11-May-2016 12:05 PM EDT
Wildfires to Increase in Alaska with Future Climate Change
University of Montana

Climate change is melting glaciers, reducing sea-ice cover and increasing wildlife activity - with some of the most dramatic impacts occurring in the northern high latitudes.

Released: 11-May-2016 11:05 AM EDT
From Broken to Teaming with Life
American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

Researchers in Brazil found the teamwork of intercropping improved soil qualities and diversified farm income.

Released: 11-May-2016 9:05 AM EDT
Top Stories 5-11-2016
Newswise Trends

click to see today's top stories

       
Released: 11-May-2016 8:05 AM EDT
Top UF/IFAS-Produced Food, Beverages Showcased at Flavors of Florida
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

“Flavors of Florida is a chance for UF/IFAS to showcase the many fine foods and beverages developed by our world-renowned scientists to not only make food tastier and more nutritious but to help growers sell more food at the grocery store,” said Jack Payne, UF senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources.

Released: 11-May-2016 8:05 AM EDT
UF/IFAS Soil and Water Sciences Chair Earns National Wetlands Award
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Professor K. Ramesh Reddy is among five recipients of this year’s National Wetlands Awards, given by the Environmental Law Institute. Reddy is being recognized for his 40 years of groundbreaking work on nutrient cycling in wetlands aquatic systems.

Released: 11-May-2016 7:05 AM EDT
Highway Noise Deters Communication Between Birds
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Northern cardinals and tufted titmice are two abundant bird species in the woods of eastern North America. Many bird and mammal species rely on information from tufted titmice calls to detect and respond to dangerous predators. This causes important information networks to form around tufted titmouse communication. Normally, northern cardinals listen to tufted titmouse predator alarm calls and will typically respond by fleeing or freezing until the danger passes.

Released: 10-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Tuberculosis in Mongoose Driven by Social Communication Behavior
Virginia Tech

Mongoose use urine and anal gland secretions to communicate with other members of their species. However, in the mongoose, secretions from sick animals were found to be infected with the TB pathogen.

10-May-2016 9:00 AM EDT
Top Stories 5-10-2016
Newswise Trends

click to see today's top stories

       
Released: 10-May-2016 8:05 AM EDT
$2.6M Legislative Allotment Lets UF/IFAS Complete Beef Teaching Unit Expansion
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

The facility will house 5,000 square feet of multipurpose enclosed space and another 15,000 square feet for cattle pens and working area. Beef is big business in Florida. Nine of the top 25 beef cattle producers in the nation are located in Florida. Beef producers own about 1.6 million beef cattle.

Released: 9-May-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Mercury in Fish Affected by Both Prey Type and Quality
Dartmouth College

Whether fish hunt nearshore or in the open water and what prey they eat affect the amount of mercury that accumulates in them, a Dartmouth College study shows.

Released: 9-May-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Tiger Moths Use Signals to Warn Bats: Toxic Not Tasty
Wake Forest University

Acoustic warning signals emitted by tiger moths to deter bats – a behavior previously proven only in the laboratory – actually occur in nature and are used as a defense mechanism, according to new research from Wake Forest University.

Released: 9-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
ESF to Announce Top 10 New Species This Month
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) will announce the Top 10 New Species for 2016 this month.

Released: 9-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Feeling the Pulse of Africa
Crop Science Society of America (CSSA)

The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) sent ten students to the PanAfrican Legume Conference and World Cowpea Conference in Livingstone, Zambia. CSSA is celebrating the International Year of Pulses (IYP) to promote pulses -- crops of dry beans, peas, and lentils.

Released: 9-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Leftover Warm Water in Pacific Ocean Fueled Massive El Niño
American Geophysical Union (AGU)

A new study provides insight into how the current El Niño, one of the strongest on record, formed in the Pacific Ocean. The new research finds easterly winds in the tropical Pacific Ocean stalled a potential El Niño in 2014 and left a swath of warm water in the central Pacific. The presence of that warm water stacked the deck for a monster El Niño to occur in 2015, according to the study's authors.

Released: 9-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Carrot Genome Paints Picture of Domestication, Could Help Improve Crops
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Sometimes, the evolutionary history of a species can be found in a fossil record. Other times, rocks and imprints must be swapped for DNA and genetic fingerprints. The latter is the case for the good-for-your-eyes carrot, a top crop whose full genetic code was just deciphered by a team of researchers led by University of Wisconsin–Madison horticulture professor and geneticist Phil Simon.



close
3.38837