Climate Change

  • Climate Change Is Damaging Soil Needed for Crop Growth

    Climate Change Is Damaging Soil Needed for Crop Growth

    Extreme weather conditions caused by climate change may have a more negative impact on soil and plant ecosystems than scientists previously thought, according to a new study. An international team of researchers led by the University of Manchester in the UK studied how drought affects soil at a microbial level and found that these underlying… Read More

  • Women Killin’ It in the Fight Against Climate Change

    Women Killin’ It in the Fight Against Climate Change

    Climate change is occurring at unprecedented rates, posing a severe threat to humans, animal species, marine life and global economies. Fortunately, great strides are made in science, technology and activism every day to combat this issue — and women are at the forefront of such progress. In this article, we highlight seven women who are… Read More

  • Earth Overshoot Day: Humanity Has Already Used Up 2018’s Natural Resources

    Earth Overshoot Day: Humanity Has Already Used Up 2018’s Natural Resources

    Earth Overshoot Day, the date that marks when humanity has consumed more resources than the earth’s ecosystems can replenish in a year, has fallen on August 1 this year — the earliest ever. According to Global Footprint Network, humans are using earth’s resources 1.7 times faster than the planet can regenerate. Essentially, in 2018, we… Read More

  • Tiny, Deep-Ocean Organisms Could Have Huge Effect on Earth’s Carbon Cycle

    Tiny, Deep-Ocean Organisms Could Have Huge Effect on Earth’s Carbon Cycle

    In the darkness of the ocean’s twilight zone, 100 to 1,000 meters below the water’s surface, the ravenous appetite of tiny, single-celled organisms could play an unexpected role in altering Earth’s carbon cycle, according to a new study. Led by Mike Stukel, an assistant professor of oceanography at Florida State University, a team of researchers… Read More

  • First Fern Genome Sequenced, Solving Old Mysteries and Opening New Doors

    First Fern Genome Sequenced, Solving Old Mysteries and Opening New Doors

    At first glance, the ancient water fern Azolla filiculoides is unassuming. It is miniscule by any measure, with gnat-sized leaves that can sit comfortably on the tip of your smallest finger. But there is more to this miniature plant than meets the eye. Some researchers believe its nitrogen fixation abilities and insect resistant properties could… Read More

  • Ultrashort Laser Pulses Produce Reactive Carbon Dioxide

    Ultrashort Laser Pulses Produce Reactive Carbon Dioxide

    What if the inert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be converted into a usable raw material? Plants do this during photosynthesis, turning carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar when exposed to light. Inspired by this process, physico-chemists at the University of Bonn in Germany have developed a new way to generate a reactive variant… Read More

  • University of Twente Develops C02 Capture Device to Advance Sustainability

    University of Twente Develops C02 Capture Device to Advance Sustainability

    Researchers at the University of Twente, the Netherlands, have developed a new device for the capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide to stimulate the growth of algae, an important bio-commodity. The technology can also be used to store solar and wind energy. The research is led by Dr. Wim Brilman, associate professor of sustainable process technology… Read More

  • UW-Madison Faculty Presses University to Take Climate Action

    UW-Madison Faculty Presses University to Take Climate Action

    Faculty members at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are joining the fight to tackle climate change. They have adopted a resolution calling for the university to take action and adopt measures that would ensure an environmentally friendly campus. The resolution encourages funding, creation and implementation of a campus-wide climate action plan with specific and measurable targets.… Read More

  • Universities Lead Battle to Reverse Climate Change

    Universities Lead Battle to Reverse Climate Change

    Two years ago, at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 193 member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals—17 distinct goals designed to eradicate poverty, address climate change, and build peaceful, inclusive societies for all by 2030. With the U.S. pulling out of the Paris Agreement and the recent record-breaking hurricane damage this… Read More

  • Going Green All the Way at Missouri State University

    Going Green All the Way at Missouri State University

    In 2016, Missouri State University (MSU) introduced a handful of convenient and environmentally-friendly vertical food growing systems called ZipGrow Towers to its dining services. Since then, the university has expanded the program and created a “grow room” to house the 48 systems currently in place. This revolutionary growing and harvesting practice enables MSU’s dining services… Read More

  • Universities Affirm Their Commitment to the Paris Agreement

    Universities Affirm Their Commitment to the Paris Agreement

    Despite President Trump’s decision to remove the U.S. from the Paris accord, 1,219 U.S. colleges, universities, governors, mayors, businesses, and investors have proclaimed: “We Are Still In.” That number already includes 183 colleges and universities, which is not a surprise, since colleges and institutions have been on the forefront of research and development in the… Read More

  • Trump Pulls Out of the Paris Accord: What Does This Mean for University Climate Research and Activism?

    Trump Pulls Out of the Paris Accord: What Does This Mean for University Climate Research and Activism?

    After much controversy and speculation, President Trump has decided to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, as of today June 1, 2017. In an announcement, Trump stated that he decided to withdraw from the agreement because he deemed it unfair to the U.S., but he indicated that he would be willing to negotiate… Read More

  • The Future of 100% Renewable Energy Will Happen Sooner Than You Think on College Campuses

    The Future of 100% Renewable Energy Will Happen Sooner Than You Think on College Campuses

    It may not be easy being green, but many colleges and universities across the country are certainly making a significant effort to try. The past few years in particular have seen many changes regarding energy and resources being made around the country, in both private homes and businesses. Some colleges have opted to join the… Read More

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