Warming oceans are trapping shellfish in hotspots they can’t escape

Scientists studying more than half a century of data on bottom-dwelling shellfish have uncovered evidence of a feedback loop in which generations of these marine creatures are becoming trapped in warmer areas that threaten their survival.

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SeaClear project aims to robo-garbage-pick the ocean floor

While we hear a great deal about the huge patches of garbage that are floating on the world's oceans, there's even more trash lying on the seabed. The European Union-funded SeaClear project aims to gather much of it up, using autonomous robots.

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Yale study finds dangerous emissions from asphalt long after it’s laid

A new Yale study suggests that asphalt, so ubiquitous in our modern cities, continues to release a wide range of chemicals into the air long after it's laid down – and it gets up to three times worse on hot days.

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Floods of nutrients found to up the risk factor for heat-stressed corals

As recent bleaching events have shown, warming ocean waters pose a great threat to the existence of natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef, but a new study shows why they aren’t the only factor that needs to be taken into account.

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Continue ReadingFloods of nutrients found to up the risk factor for heat-stressed corals

1.3 billion tonnes of plastic to pollute environment by 2040, study warns

A new study mapping the movement of plastic waste has projected that 1.3 billion tonnes of it will be dumped on land and in the oceans by 2040, unless some significant steps are taken to address the trend.

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Global emissions of heat-trapping methane hit record high

New analysis has revealed that emissions of methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas, have now hit record highs, with the surge being driven in large part by increases in the burning of fossil fuels and increasing agricultural activity.

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Scattering rock dust on crops could soak up billions of tons of CO2

A new study out of the University of Sheffield makes a case for a geoengineering technique known as enhanced rock weathering, which essentially involves supercharging soil’s ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere by sprinkling it with rock dust.

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Boron nitiride catalyst destroys toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”

Rice University researchers have happened upon a powerful new tool they say can neutralize the threat posed by dangerous pollutants known as "forever" chemicals, offering a new catalyst that can destroy them in a matter of hours.

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Zaps of electricity clean up wastewater from biofuel production

Making biofuel from algae is showing promise as a green energy source, but it does create large amounts of toxic wastewater. Now, researchers in Australia have found a way to clean up that wastewater, with a simple and scalable electrical process.

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Monster lightning “megaflashes” set new records for time and distance

There are few more spectacular demonstrations of nature's power than a thunderstorm. The World Meteorological Association (WMO) has now confirmed two new records for the biggest lightning bolts in recorded history, measured by duration and distance.

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Continue ReadingMonster lightning “megaflashes” set new records for time and distance