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There is a growing body of evidence that many of the thousands of prescription and over-the-counter medications ultimately make their way into water bodies and drinking-water supplies. Typical wastewater treatment plants may not be effective at…

The American beech (Fagus grandifolia) is native to forest regions east of the Mississippi River and is a key tree species in the United States. In particular, it is very abundant from Ohio to the New England states. The tree is also found in the…

During the past decade, the automotive industry has converted more than 50 percent of its internal combustion engines from a traditional technology called port fuel injection (PFI) to a new technology called gasoline direct injection (GDI). The…

A class of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) are particularly worrisome in the environment because they do not biodegrade. For this reason, scientists often refer to PFAS as “forever chemicals.” PFAS’s staying power…

With a miniature version of the kind of television antennas that often adorned rooftops before the advent of satellite and cable TV, researchers have demonstrated the conversion of electrical signals into light beamed in a particular direction. This…

Naturally ventilating a house, such as by opening doors and windows, has long been considered an effective strategy for exhausting indoor air pollutants. However, according to researchers reporting in the journal Science Advances (February 2020),…

As offices, schools, health clubs, restaurants, hotels, and other facilities gradually reopen after shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the public may confront yet another unmitigated health hazard: unsafe water from dormant or underused…

Concrete is the most widely used construction material worldwide because of its versatility, strength, and durability. Applications range from roadways and dams to furniture and tiles. With proper manufacturing, reinforcement, and engineering…

Researchers from Drexel University in Pennsylvania, USA, have synthesized conductive and layered 2D materials known as MXenes (pronounced maxenes) using a water-free process. In doing so, scientists have opened up potential uses of MXenes as…

On July 20, 1969, the bulkily space-suited figure of astronaut Neil Armstrong descended the ladder of Apollo 11’s lunar lander, planted his boot in the Moon's gray dust, and declared: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."…

Collectively, members of the class Amphibia are facing massive reductions in total numbers, and the overall biodiversity of amphibians across the globe is under threat. Scientists have determined that global climate change and habitat destruction…

Plastic is a ubiquitous and life-saving product, but it is also rapidly becoming a significant environmental problem. Globally, less than 10 percent of plastics are recycled, about 12 percent are incinerated, and the vast majority are disposed of in…

Trees provide substantial benefits to the environment. In addition to improving air quality, reducing stormwater runoff, serving as a wildlife habitat, and sequestering carbon by absorbing carbon dioxide, trees also cool the atmosphere through shade…

Sand is mined for many applications, but the largest use by far is for fine aggregate in concrete. Smaller quantities of sand are used for fracking, water treatment (filtration), metal casting, and making glass, silicon chips, and ceramics. Concrete…

At the Woranso-Mille paleontological site in northern Ethiopia, researchers have discovered a 3.8 million-year-old cranium (skull) belonging to a primitive hominin known as Australopithecus anamensis. Initially unearthed in 2016, but not reported…

A study published in the journal Atmospheric Environment (April 2019), comparing the differences in air pollution caused by automobiles powered by internal combustion (conventional) engines versus electric vehicles (EVs) powered by batteries,…

Photosynthesis is a key natural process utilized by plants and is necessary for proper plant growth. Specifically, photosynthesis uses light to manufacture chemical compounds, including organic compounds—primarily carbohydrates—that are derived from…

Progress continues in the attempt to master nuclear fusion—the phenomenon that powers the stars, including our Sun—for energy production here on Earth. Recent research has identified a previously unknown kind of heat burst that causes…

Although international shipping is critical to global trade, cargo ships are a major source of air pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions. At present, atmospheric emissions from fuel oil-powered marine ships include sulfur oxides (SOx),…

Researchers at Duke University in North Carolina (United States) have developed a test for distinguishing lead isotopes found in coal fly ash from lead isotopes found in other lead-containing sources, such as paint. Fly ash is a fine particulate…

Researchers have produced carbon chips from waste plastic bags for use in making anodes for lithium-ion batteries, according to a report in ACS Omega (December 2018). For the most part, it is very difficult to break down (depolymerize) plastics into…

New research from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) predicts that the next decade will be a favorable period for human exploration due to lower risks of inclement "space weather"—a term that refers to radiation conditions…

Pesticides—including insecticides and herbicides—are chemical products used to control, reduce, or eliminate organisms that are harmful to cultivated plants. However, the use of pesticides on plants that provide foods for human consumption is often…

Reusable sponge-like (foam) sorbent materials for cleaning up oil spills may soon become available, as a result of promising research from multiple groups. Oil spills damage ecosystems and habitats, harm and kill wildlife and plants, contaminate…

Plastic shopping bags are convenient to use because they are lightweight and inexpensive, and yet they are also a major source of plastic pollution. People worldwide use an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion single-use plastic bags each year.…

More apples are consumed worldwide than any other temperate-zone tree fruit. Apples are eaten fresh, processed into jellies and preserves, cooked in pies and pastries, and made into sauces. Therefore, the cultivation of the trees (genus Malus) that…

Seawater desalination involves removing salts and minerals from water and discharging a higher-concentration solution, or brine, to the sea. The brine effluent may affect the water quality (for example, salinity) and organisms—particularly the…

Those who fear contracting a water-borne illness caused by pollution at the shore or ingesting a killer amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) at a freshwater lake might instead opt to visit a swimming pool. After all, most pool water is hygienically treated.…

Neonicotinoid insecticides are the most used insecticide worldwide and have been linked to the decline of pollinator insects. In 2018, the European Union banned the outdoor use of three neonicotinoid insecticides: clothianidin, imidacloprid, and…

In the journal Science (September 2018), researchers reported a method for making a coating that reflects sunlight and radiates heat. The coating can be used to cool buildings and reduce air-conditioning use, keeping surfaces painted with the…

The Mississippi River has undergone extensive river engineering for flood control, with its 3500-mile Mississippi River and Tributaries levee (artificial-embankment) system. However, researchers reported in Nature (April 2018) that disconnecting the…

On February 6, 2018, the Falcon Heavy rocket passed its first launch test, lifting off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida atop a bright pillar of fire. Built by the California-based, private aerospace company SpaceX, the Falcon Heavy is the…

The World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to recognize gaming disorder as a mental health disease in 2018. The 11th revision of the WHO's International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which is a major worldwide reference for epidemiological,…

Mammals possess a certain gene, termed PON1, which encodes a protein enzyme (paraoxonase) that is used to process the cholesterol lipids and fatty acids found in food. This gene evolved millions of years ago and is functionally active in terrestrial…

As the demand for carbon fiber has grown, so has the waste stream of scrap and end-of-life composite materials. For a material to be considered sustainable, its environmental impact needs to be considered through its entire life cycle, including…

By July 6, 2018, beaches on the eastern coast of St. Vincent—an island located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea (Lesser Antilles)—were covered nearly one-meter deep with rotting brown algae (seaweed), known as Sargassum, posing multiple problems…

To better understand the nutritional effects (health benefits), chemical composition, growing conditions, and shelf life of microgreens, a team of researchers reviewed the science behind them in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry…

Researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, reported in the journal Nature Communications an alloy design concept that could broaden the use of magnesium (Mg) alloys in engineering applications requiring…

Destructive blooms of Karenia brevis, a dinoflagellate species of algae that imparts a red color to ocean waters when the microorganisms grow and accumulate to unusually high quantities, are causing unprecedented environmental and ecosystem damage…

For more than 10 years, natural-gas-fired power plants have been touted as “cleaner” electrical power generators, producing half the carbon dioxide (CO2), one-third of the nitrogen oxides (NOX), and negligible sulfur oxides (SOX) compared to…

Fueled by the demand for inexpensive garments with vibrant colors, Asia is leading the world in textile manufacturing. However, this textile manufacturing boom is having a significant environmental impact on the region. According to the World Bank,…

Since its landing in 2012, NASA’s Curiosity rover has been analyzing Martian soils and rocks for evidence that the Red Planet could have supported life in its past. So far, Curiosity has found carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, methane,…

Roman marine concrete, having lasted for nearly 2000 years, is a highly durable material. In contrast, modern marine concrete, which is made using Portland cement, may start to degrade in as few as 50 years. Researchers have now discovered why. As…

The water crisis that gripped the city of Flint, Michigan, in 2014 and 2015—and which is still felt to the present day—became one of the most notorious and scandalous public health disasters in recent United States history. The immediate cause was…

Bananas (Musa genus) are one of the world's most valuable and popular primary agricultural commodities. However, the most prevalent naturally occurring bananas, that is, those of the Cavendish variety, are being severely decimated by Panama disease…

A new species of orangutan has been identified in the Batang Toru forest ecosystem in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Genetic and morphological evidence, as well as behavioral data, have confirmed that the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is…

Scientists from IBM and Sony Storage Media Solutions Corporation have jointly developed a magnetic storage tape with 20 times the storage capacity (areal density) of currently available tape. The record-setting tape, reported in IEEE Transactions on…

Tiny granules found within the pollen sacs of numerous species of flowers may play a key role in allergic reactions associated with pollen. Measuring less than 4 micrometers (μm) in diameter (most being less than 1 μm), these granules are called…

In an attempt to quantify the amount of plastics ever produced and what has happened to them, researchers produced the first global analysis using data collected from plastic industry sources. As reported in Science Advances (July 2017), 8300…

In the short term, the future of autonomous-vehicle technology is hard to unravel, but two reports (May 2017) offer some insight into what we might expect. A multidisciplinary research team from eight universities reported in the e-print repository…

Over the six decades since humans first began lobbing objects into space, the celestial environment around our planet has become increasingly crowded with “space junk.” This orbital debris ranges in size, from spent rockets and derelict satellites…

Surface water from streams across the United States contain a diverse mixture of synthetic organic pollutants, according to a joint U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study reported in the journal…

Because of nutrient-poor soil and the high cost of fertilizer, farmers in parts of Africa often produce only one-fifth to one-tenth as much corn (maize) per hectare as farmers in the United States do. Over time, farming in Africa and elsewhere in…

A magnitude 5.1 nuclear test was detected 376 km (234 mi) NE of Pyongyang, North Korea (DPRK) on January 6, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. local time (01:30 UTC), according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The event was picked up at seismic stations around…

Floor plans show walls, windows, doors, and other features of a room or building. Architects and engineers use them to study spatial relationships and describe their designs. Typically, floor plans are rendered as two-dimensional drawings.In this…

Whether preparing for Halloween or just a regular day, you can make skull-shaped edibles from this project's 3D candy mold. Like many molds, this one is a hollow container into which you can pour water or hot liquids, such as gelatin, chocolate, or…

A spur gear is a common toothed wheel that works with other wheels in a set to adjust the speed, power, or direction of a complex machine. It's found in many everyday devices, such as electric screwdrivers, washing machines, and mechanical clocks…

Terrain maps are physical models that give you an at-a-glance overview of landforms. Architects, builders, and engineers often use these types of maps to provide context to proposed building designs. In this project, you'll create a layered…

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are rectifying semiconductor devices that convert electrical energy into electromagnetic radiation. You can use these devices to create a 3-dimensional light display. LED cubes require some care and good soldering skills…

The benefits of outdoor physical activity (exercise) outweigh the potential harm caused by air pollution except in the most highly polluted cities, according to epidemiological studies reported in the journal Preventive Medicine (February 2016).…

An oscilloscope is a device that allows you to see an electronic signal so that it appears as a waveform. Traditional oscilloscopes work by amplifying a signal to control the position of a dot on the y-axis (vertical axis) of a cathode-ray tube…

Many trees enjoy extremely long lives in comparison to humans and other animals. Yet one group of trees, the bristlecone pines, stands out as the most ancient of all, with individual trees that commonly live for thousands of years, including one…

Mosquito repellents are natural and synthetic chemical compounds that are applied to skin, clothing, and sometimes home furnishings such as bed nets. For years, they have been an important defense against mosquito-borne diseases, such as Dengue…

When volcanoes erupt explosively, they can hurl huge ash plumes of fine (<2 mm) glassy and jagged rock and mineral fragments into the atmosphere. The smallest of these ash particles, less than 200 micrometers across, can travel hundreds of…

Groundwater is the most abundant source of freshwater for drinking and irrigation. It is a renewable resource that is stored in underground reservoirs (aquifers) and replenished by precipitation. Withdrawing groundwater faster than it is replenished…

This project takes you through the steps to build, launch, and fly a foam glider in sustained and controlled flight. Control in flight is achieved by modifying the wind the glider flies through with a large cardboard sheet (paddle). If this is your…

Landfill mining is a method for recovering valuable materials, reclaiming land, and mitigating air and water pollution. It is similar to surface mining, in which valuable minerals are recovered from the earth by removing (excavating) soil and ore,…

This project allows you to use electromagnetic levitation to suspend a globe of the world above a surface. The "globe" is actually a table tennis ball painted to look like a globe. Keeping it in place requires careful control of electrical current…

Environmental research often involves the use of data loggers to record data at regular intervals over a period of time. Most data loggers are based on digital processors, and can be fairly expensive, but you can build your own. This project uses a…

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued new rules, effective August 2016, for safely operating small unmanned/uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS or drones) for work or business, including scientific research. Because the use of drones is…

Biochar is charcoal made from biomass (organic matter used for energy). A process called pyrolysis, in which biomass is heated to high temperature in the absence of oxygen, produces biochar along with combustible gases (syngas) and oils (bio-oils).…

A pulse generator circuit is an important building block for many electronic projects, such as the heart of a digital clock. Its purpose is basically to switch an output on and off for as long as the circuit is activated. Sometimes, these circuits…

Organic micropollutants are synthetic chemicals found in water sources and treated wastewater at concentrations in the range of micrograms per liter or lower. Micropollutants tend to be resistant to biodegradation and many are bioactive. Most…

In an advance for soft robotics, a young technology that finds inspiration in living things, research engineers developed a promising material that imitates the extraordinary flexibility, sensitivity, and luminescence of squids, octopuses,…

Researchers from Northwestern University have developed a structural material, called sulfur concrete, that is based entirely on raw materials that are abundant on Mars. Potentially, it could be used for constructing buildings on the Red Planet.…

Internal combustion engines are very inefficient at converting chemical energy to mechanical energy. Among the energy losses are friction and heat losses. In October 2016, researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, United States,…

Concrete and steel have been the materials of choice for constructing high-rise buildings for over 100 years. Definitions of high-rise buildings vary, but according to the U.S. National Fire Protection Association high-rise buildings are 23 meters…

A red, green, and blue (RGB) light-emitting diode (LED) is a useful electronic component that can produce visible light in a variety of colors. This is done by varying the intensity of the light output of the three different color LED elements (red,…

This project takes you through the steps to build, launch,and fly a paper airplane (glider) in sustained and controlled flight. Control in flight is achieved by modifying the wind the glider flies through with a large cardboard sheet or foam board…

This project takes you through the steps to build, launch, and fly an ultralight foam glider in sustained and controlled flight. Controlled flight is achieved by modifying the wind the glider flies through with a large cardboard sheet, or paddle.The…

In this project, you will build a small, vertical-axis wind turbine, or VAWT for short. VAWTs are not as efficient as their horizontal-axis cousins, but they are better suited to urban environments where wind can come from different…

On April 29, 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported five earthquakes in Oklahoma of magnitude 2.5 or greater—that is, tremors strong enough to be felt. The most powerful of these was a M4.1 earthquake 21 km (13 mi) west of the city of…

An artificial leaf is a solar cell that uses water and an electrical current generated from sunlight to produce hydrogen (for fuel) and oxygen. It is currently in development at laboratories worldwide. If successful, the artificial leaf could serve…

Biodegradable metals, also known as bioresorbable or bioabsorbable metals, are compatible with human tissues and degrade to nontoxic by-products. The most promising candidates for use as orthopedic and cardiovascular implants are alloys of…

For over fifty years, heat stabilizers, light stabilizers, and antioxidants have been added to polymers to maintain their material properties by preventing their degradation. This chemical adjustment is necessary to extend the life of products such…

Although sales will continue for as long as inventory remains, worldwide production of incandescent lights (lamps) has mostly been phased out by the push for more energy-efficient lighting and improvements in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and…

Conifers are predominantly cone-bearing, evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the order Pinales, as well as a small number of extinct orders, in the class Pinopsida of the division Pinophyta (Coniferophyta). All are woody plants, and they are…

In the Rising Star cave system in South Africa, located about 48 kilometers (30 miles) north of Johannesburg, paleoanthropologists have unearthed an extensive collection of more than 1550 skeletal elements from at least 15 individuals that have…

Much of coastal and southern California has a Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by cooler, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers. Only drought-resistant plant species can survive without irrigation in this type of climate. Turf…

Textiles are materials made of natural or synthetic fibers. They typically are produced by spinning fibers into yarns and then weaving or knitting the yarns into fabrics. Electronic textiles, or e-textiles, are fabrics with electronic circuits,…

Since 1975, approximately 1200 dams have been removed from rivers in the United States, including 72 in 2014. Some of these dams were in danger of failure, others had become functionally obsolete because their reservoirs had filled with sediment,…

In humans, taste buds on the tongue have sensory receptors that detect the qualities of water-soluble chemicals in food and convert (or transduce) those stimuli to electrical signals. Nerves then carry the signals to the brain, which processes them…

In the Afar region of Ethiopia, paleoanthropologists unearthed a 2.8 million-year-old jawbone (mandible) that was provisionally assigned to the genus Homo [the genus of human beings, including modern humans (Homo sapiens) and other extinct…

The biflagellate water molds, downy mildews, and other microorganisms classified as members of the Oomycota (also termed Oomycetes) have long puzzled taxonomists. Previously, investigators thought them to constitute a group within the true fungi…

The New Horizons space probe, launched on January 19, 2006, was designed to fly by Pluto and to study that body and its satellites. On July 14, 2015, after a 9½-year journey, New Horizons reached the vicinity of Pluto, flying only 12,500 km (7800…

In the summer of 2014, a search conducted with the Hubble Space Telescope identified 5 small Kuiper Belt objects as potential second destinations for the New Horizons spacecraft after its flyby of Pluto, which would take place on July 14, 2015.…

The olive tree (Olea europaea) is an ancient cultivated plant that was originally domesticated by early civilizations in the eastern Mediterranean regions. Today, the major olive-producing countries are Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, which…

Phthalates are esters of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (phthalic acid) [1] made by reacting phthalic anhydride (2) with alcohols. Phthalates are used mostly as plasticizers—additives to make ridged polymers flexible. Flexible poly(vinyl chloride), or…

The flow of pedestrians through public spaces and thoroughfares is frequently a concern of architects, engineers, and planners, as well as building owners and operation managers, who may want to identify potential traffic bottlenecks, reduce…

Polymer scientists have developed a siloxane (silicone) polymer that stretches to 5000 percent of its original length and then returns to its unstretched size when released. The scientists presented their work at the 250th National Meeting &…