�� Feature Channel: Environmental Health

How a New Drone System May Transform Next-Gen Ecology Research

Ohio State University — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:50:50 EST

A new autonomous drone system could provide ecologists with deeper insights into animal behavior in the wild, a study suggests.

Tuskan Awarded Marcus Wallenberg Prize, Forestry's Top Honor

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:15:04 EST

Gerald Tuskan, director of the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, or CBI, and a Corporate Fellow at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been awarded the Marcus Wallenberg Prize, the world's highest honor in the field of forestry, for his pioneering work in sequencing and analyzing the first tree genome.

Innovative Partnerships Advancing Ocean Observations

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:15:34 EST

An initiative between Cargo marine vessel (MV) Oleander, WHOI and ASU BIOS is contributing to ocean observations and data collection, and offering peer-reviewed data. Since the 1970s, scientific equipment has been mounted on three different container ships operating consecutively on the "Oleander Line," which runs between New Jersey and Bermuda, resulting in decades of scientific data. The newest MV Oleander came into service in 2019, and is now providing regular water column, sea surface, and atmospheric measurements. The project is a part of WHOI's Science RoCs (Research on Commercial Ships) initiative, which aims to equip many more commercial vessels with sensors to measure physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the ocean along the world's major shipping routes.

Scarlet Macaw Chicks Get a Helping Hand from Humans Before Being Released into the Wild

Wildlife Conservation Society — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 08:10:23 EST

Scarlet macaws in Mesoamerica are highly threatened by poaching and habitat loss. In Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve, only a few hundred remain.

MSU Research: Eating Brown Rice Increases Exposure to Arsenic Compared to White Rice

Michigan State University — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:15:20 EST

Whether you buy rice at the grocery store or order a side of it while dining out, do you prefer brown rice or white rice? Or do you exclusively choose brown rice over white rice because you want to eat healthier, as brown rice contains more nutrients and fiber? Well, the answer to this question is not as simple as you might have thought, as it ignores a potential food safety concern.

Spring Break is Fire for Students Conducting Prescribed Burns in Georgia

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:05:09 EST

Students from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) chose to spend spring break in Georgia, engaging in prescribed burns -- a forestry management practice that involves intentionally setting fires to promote forest health, support wildlife biodiversity, and increase resilience to future wildfires.

A Step Toward Cleaner Iron Extraction Using Electricity

American Chemical Society (ACS) — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 08:00:00 EST

Researchers in ACS Energy Letters report that they've developed a cleaner method to extract iron from a synthetic iron ore using electrochemistry, which they say could become cost-competitive with blast furnaces.

Climate Change and Human Activity Threaten Plant Diversity--Can Ancient Pollen Help Predict the Future?

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:55:17 EST

Scientists from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have compared several methods for plant diversity reconstruction using pollen data. By analyzing modern pollen distributions across China, the team calculated angiosperm diversity using five key ecological indices and--for the first time--applied an image similarity algorithm (SSIM) to validate their findings.

Wildfire Recovery: What Victims Say They Need Most

UC Davis Health — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 06:35:47 EST

Wildfire victims have a very wide range of needs, including mental health support and information about wildfire smoke, according to a UC Davis study.

WHO Pandemic Agreement, Under Negotiations Now in Geneva, Has Immense Potential to Help Prevent Future Devastating Pandemics

Wildlife Conservation Society — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 19:05:28 EST

The Wildlife Conservation Society continues to be at the table in Geneva as the WHO nears the finalization of its groundbreaking International Agreement on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. An agreement may be reached on Friday; and the World Health Assembly will convene on May 19-27th to consider final adoption.

Firefighting Without PFAS, Expert Explains

Virginia Tech — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:30:34 EST

For decades, PFAS, which stands for polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been a staple in firefighting foams because of their ability to smother liquid fuel fires. But as concerns over their environmental and health impacts grow, researchers are racing to find safer alternatives. Brian Lattimer, head of the Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been at the forefront of this challenge.

Experts Weigh in on U.S. Infrastructure Woes

Virginia Tech — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:15:58 EST

America's infrastructure is cracking, according to the latest report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. In multiple categories, from aviation to roads to energy, the country's infrastructure is earning Ds, almost-failing grades. Virginia Tech engineering experts can break down what these failing grades mean -- and what needs to happen to rebuild to make our communities safer and better prepared for the future.

Where Have All the Butterflies Gone?

Virginia Tech — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:15:36 EST

If you've noticed fewer butterflies fluttering around your garden lately, you're not alone. Many insect populations are in decline, and butterflies are no exception. According to Virginia Tech entomologists, they face a variety of challenges, such as habitat destruction, improper use or overuse of pesticides, and climate change.

Flex Appeal: 'Trade-off' Between Armor and Efficiency in Sea Turtle Shells

Florida Atlantic University — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 08:30:09 EST

A sea turtle's shell is a masterpiece. A new study reveals that marine turtle shells combine flexibility and strength to protect against predators like sharks and stress while optimizing movement. This adaptation highlights the complex design of their shells and provides insights into this remarkable balance of strength and flexibility, which has allowed them to survive in the ocean for millions of years - an example of evolution shaping species in an environment.

Perceptions of the Past and the Future Affect Individual Climate Change Action

American Sociological Association (ASA) — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 06:00:47 EST

A recent sociological study explores this common mindset in the context of how we respond--or fail to respond--to climate change.

Termite Stowaways: Study Reveals Boats as Perfect Vessels for Global Termite Spread

University of Florida — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 22:50:49 EST

A new study by a University of Florida scientist reveals that termites are not simply spreading through natural processes of building new colonies, suggesting humans may be helping them "conquer the world" by unknowingly transporting them aboard private boats.

Dust in the Wind: How Cities Alter Natural Airborne Particles

University of Utah — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 22:40:40 EST

Utah's locally sourced dust pollution carries far more hazardous elements than natural dust blown in from Great Basin, potentially threatening Salt Lake City' water supplies, according to new research led by University of Utah.

Locating Microplastic Hotspots Along the Texas Coast

American Chemical Society (ACS) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:10:04 EST

To better understand how microplastics accumulate and disperse in marine environments, new research published in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology reflects efforts to locate hotspots -- areas with high concentrations of microplastics -- in Texas coastal bays.

What Makes a 1-in-1000-Year Storm, Really?

Washington University in St. Louis — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:55:22 EST

Thunderstorms that swept the central U.S. in 2022 were unprecedented, but their extreme precipitation may not be that rare -- especially with global warming, according to a new analysis from WashU researchers

Chemical Pollution Increases More Than 100-Fold After Sewage Discharges in South-Coast Waters

University of Portsmouth — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 02:35:00 EST

A worryingly wide range of chemical pollutants has been found by researchers studying two of the UK's south-coast harbours, raising concerns about the impact on wildlife and the human activities responsible for this contamination.

�������� Feature Channel: Environmental Health