-
Pilot Whales Reveal Major Drop in Legacy PFAS in Subarctic Ocean
A decades-long record from North Atlantic pilot whales shows a steep decline in older PFAS chemicals in the open ocean. The findings offer cautious good news for marine ecosystems but highlight growing concerns about newer, less understood PFAS.
-
Shrubs Turn China’s Largest Desert Rim Into a Carbon Sink
Along the rim of China’s Taklamakan Desert, a 40-year experiment in planting hardy shrubs is slowing desert expansion and quietly soaking up carbon dioxide. New satellite-based research shows even one of the world’s driest places can become a measurable carbon sink.
-
Winter Wood Burning at Home Linked to Thousands of US Deaths
A new Northwestern University study shows that cozy winter fires come with a hidden cost: they are a major source of deadly fine particle pollution, especially in cities and communities of color. Researchers say shifting to cleaner home heating could save thousands of lives each year.
-
Climate Change Is Draining Monarch Butterflies’ Fuel Supply
A new University of Ottawa study shows that even a small rise in temperature can reduce the sugar content and amount of flower nectar, leaving monarch butterflies with less fat for their epic migration. The findings highlight an overlooked way climate change threatens pollinators.
-
How Office Movement Is Helping Scientists Map Indoor Air Pollution
A Birmingham-led team has shown how everyday movement in offices can stir up indoor air pollution — and how radar and low-cost sensors could help engineers design healthier buildings.
-
Nitrogen Speeds Tropical Forest Recovery After Deforestation
Tropical forests can regrow twice as fast on nitrogen-rich soils, a major long-term experiment in Central America finds. The results could reshape how countries plan reforestation to fight climate change.
-
Hidden Bark Microbes Turn Forests Into Powerful Air Scrubbers
Australian researchers have uncovered a vast, invisible ecosystem living in tree bark that helps clean the air of climate-warming and toxic gases. The discovery could reshape how cities and countries plan tree planting for both climate and health.
-
Wildfires Can Turn Safe Soil Minerals Into Toxic Chromium
New research from the University of Oregon reveals that intense wildfires can transform a harmless form of chromium in some soils into a toxic contaminant that may linger in groundwater for years. The findings point to the need for expanded post-fire testing in fire-prone regions.
-
MIT’s Low-Heat Carbon Capture Method Could Cut Industry Costs
MIT chemical engineers have developed a low-heat carbon capture method that could make it cheaper and easier for factories to trap their emissions. The approach uses a common chemical additive to boost efficiency and run on waste heat or sunlight.
-
Linked Reef Protections in Fiji Show Path to Saving Corals
A new study of coral reefs in Fiji finds that protecting a few well-connected reefs and tackling both overfishing and pollution together can strengthen entire reef networks. The work offers a practical roadmap for safeguarding coral ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
