What's in the News with the Environment by Robert Albertson https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2 APES Current Events Q4 CCA en-us 2019-05-15 11:56:36 UTC 2024-11-17 01:29:37 UTC hello@padlet.com https://imgglb.padletcdn.com/v13/image?t=g_auto&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpadlet.net%2Ficons%2Fpng%2F1f333.png Plastic pollution harms the bacteria that help produce the oxygen we breathe robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/360295184 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190514081738.htm
A laboratory test has shown that the ocean bacteria that produce 10% of the oxygen we breathe are susceptible to plastic pollution. ]]> 2019-05-15 12:14:14 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/360295184 Australian islands home to 414 million pieces of plastic pollution robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361136363 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190516090838.htm
A survey of plastic pollution has shown that there is an estimated 414 million pieces of plastic debris on Australia's Coco Islands. Beaches on the Indian Ocean were estimated to have around 238 tons of plastic, including 373,000 toothbrushes and 977,000 shoes.]]> 2019-05-17 11:46:47 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361136363 Iceland volcano eruption in 1783-84 did not spawn extreme heat wave robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361138724 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190515115831.htm
The study shows that the volcanic eruption on Iceland in 1783-84 did not actually cause the extreme summer heat wave in Europe. It also showed that the eruption did cause the unusually cold winter, as expected. The study will help with predictions of how the climate will respond to high-latitude volcanic eruptions in the future. ]]> 2019-05-17 11:57:23 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361138724 Escaped pet parrots are now naturalized in 23 US states, study finds robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361141287 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190514162206.htm
56 different parrot species have been counted in 43 U.S. states according to research data on bird sightings. Of those species, 25 are now breeding in the wild in 23 different states.]]> 2019-05-17 12:07:40 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361141287 Oldest known trees in eastern North America documented robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361143183 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190509125146.htm
A group of Bald Cypress trees were discovered by college professors in North Carolina. One of the trees was 2,624 years old, the oldest known living trees in eastern North America and the oldest wetland tree species in the world.]]> 2019-05-17 12:15:31 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361143183 Raising giant insects to unravel ancient oxygen robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361703219 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101029132924.htm
Studies in raising insects in various oxygen rich atmospheres, or hyperoxia, have shown that dragonflies grow larger in size with more oxygen in the atmosphere. This relates to the giant dragonflies of ancient Earth which were known to be connected to the higher oxygen atmospheric levels in the past. ]]> 2019-05-20 12:46:30 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/361703219 Counter-intuitive climate change solution robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362093877 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190520115740.htm
A new study proposed the idea of converting extremely potent methane gas into a much less potent driver of global warming, carbon dioxide. The study shows that there would be a significant net benefit for the environment in swapping from methane to carbon dioxide.]]> 2019-05-21 11:49:30 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362093877 Nearly a quarter of West Antarctic ice is now unstable robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362095628 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190516114601.htm
A team of researchers found that ice sheets in Antarctica have thinned by up to 122 meters in some places and one quarter of West Antarctica's glaciers have been affected. The most rapid changes are happening in West Antarctica, where ocean melting is leading to a large amount glacier imbalance.]]> 2019-05-21 11:56:11 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362095628 Breakthrough in new material to harness solar power robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362770288 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190514081554.htm
Scientists have made a breakthrough in the chemical formula of solar cells and process to make a new material. The tandem perovskite solar cell is a ultra-high efficiency material which is helping push the performance of solar cells to new heights.]]> 2019-05-23 02:15:27 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362770288 Record solar hydrogen production with concentrated sunlight robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362774762 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190429111853.htm
A smart device was created by researchers capable of producing large amounts of clean hydrogen. The device uses a smaller amount of the rare, costly materials that are required to produce hydrogen by concentrating sunlight. The device still maintains a high solar-to-fuel efficiency.]]> 2019-05-23 02:35:41 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362774762 Big energy savings for tiny machines robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362777325 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190522153133.htm
Physicists have made a breakthrough that could lead to the creation of more efficient computer chips and solar cells for energy generation. They developed a strategy for manipulating the trillions of tiny molecular nanomachines inside us that work to keep us alive, to conserve energy and maximize efficiency.]]> 2019-05-23 02:51:03 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/362777325 Climate change may make the Arctic tundra a drier landscape robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363119048 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190523143010.htm
According to a new study, the Arctic Tundra is projected to become drier because of climate change. The size of lakes will shrink and smaller lakes could even dry up.]]> 2019-05-23 23:39:51 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363119048 Scientists propose rethinking 'endangered species' definition to save slow-breeding giants robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363133747 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190517081640.htm
New research shows that conservation decisions based on population counts may not protect slow-breeding, larger animals from unrecoverable decline. The population counts lead to the animals reaching a number too low to recover from.]]> 2019-05-24 01:09:16 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363133747 Mapping the global distribution of phytoplankton robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363135577 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190522120509.htm
Researchers recorded the distribution and location of phytoplankton in the world's oceans for the first time and investigated the environmental factors that explain the distribution. The results showed that plankton diversity only partially matches previous theories about plankton diversity.
]]> 2019-05-24 01:20:40 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363135577 Natural environments favor 'good' bacteria robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363136999 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190522141750.htm
A study has shown that including a wider range of species and increasing the biodiversity to restore an environment can promote "good" bacteria over "bad" bacteria.]]> 2019-05-24 01:28:55 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363136999 Reductions in PM over decade has improved health; ozone pollution remains little changed robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363137819 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190522141837.htm
A new report states that there have been fewer illnesses and deaths in the U.S. over the last 10 years because of cleaner air from reductions in PM2.5 pollutuion. However, ozone pollution has had little change.]]> 2019-05-24 01:34:10 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363137819 Seeing inside superfog robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363138907 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190523104936.htm
Research shows that superfog, a particularly dense fog, forms when high humidity and plant moisture mix with cold air and smoke from burning vegetation. While researchers know how it forms, they do not yet know how to predict it.]]> 2019-05-24 01:40:54 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363138907 New method to predict the vulnerability of ecosystems robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363139858 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190520115640.htm
A new model used the properties of predators to determine the susceptibility of ecosystems. It showed that a large body mass index between predator and prey creates a stable system and can also predict which predator species plays a key role in the ecosystem.]]> 2019-05-24 01:46:43 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363139858 Producing electricity at estuaries using light and osmosis robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363141172 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190523111359.htm
Researchers conducted an experiment attempting to exploit osmotic energy, a source of power that's naturally available at estuaries. The experiment showed that when shining a light on a system containing water, salt, and a membrane three atoms thick, it was possible to optimize electricity production. ]]> 2019-05-24 01:54:27 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363141172 Engineered bacteria could be missing link in energy storage robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363142582 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190523130203.htm
A large problem with sustainable energy is storing large amounts of energy that has been generated by solar, wind, and waves. As of now, there is no existing technology that provides large-scale storage and energy retrieval for sustainable energy at a low financial and environmental cost. According to the study, electroactive microbes could do the job.]]> 2019-05-24 02:03:08 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363142582 robert_albertson1 https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363407344 2019-05-25 00:38:21 UTC https://padlet.com/robert_albertson1/r50l7o3t3vx2/wish/363407344