ES&T Online News

Incorporating nitrogen cycle leads to predictions of more atmospheric CO2

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Change in climate modeling shrinks projected levels of carbon fixation by plants.

Brominated and mixed halogenated dioxins in the Baltic-and beyond

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EDT

New research points to a natural origin for the Baltic Sea's dioxins, but pollution may play a role.

Abandoned Soviet farmlands could help offset global warming

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Russia and Kazakhstan could become leaders in green energy production and perhaps even sell green energy to Europe.

Gardea-Torresdey receives Distinguished Scientist Award from SACNAS

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The honor recognizes his research and his work to promote careers in science among Hispanics and Native Americans.

Contaminants reveal tuna's origins

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Researchers use PCBs and pesticides to pin down the provenance of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean.

Early BPA exposure linked to behavioral effects in children

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Researchers say that BPA exposure in the womb might trigger aggressive behavior and other problems for girls.

Particulate matter in the air and its origins in coal-burning regions

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A new study shows how residential coal-fired appliances can "outperform" industry and traffic in diminishing air quality in Poland.

UN update: climate change hitting sooner and stronger

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Research indicates realities are outstripping some predictions.

Arsenic in rice: a recipe for nutrient loss

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Rice feeds half the world, but in some regions, high arsenic levels may be depressing the micronutrients people need to stay healthy and fight disease.

Potential of geoengineering highly uncertain

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Even as consensus points to the need for research on geoengineering, scientists say that real-world implementation remains profoundly uncertain.

Sulfur controls alone won't curb soil acidification in China

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Increasing nitrogen emissions will cancel out the benefits of SO₂ reductions.

New research aims to create accurate account of a city's carbon burden

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Climate, transportation, and fuel mix matter more than average income to a city’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Key environmental epigenetics paper challenged

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Government and industry scientists cannot reproduce multigenerational results.

A smartphone application for field scientists

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Citizen scientists could contribute data using their phones.

Greenhouse gas leaking from Arctic Ocean floor

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Methane is drifting up from ocean depths as a result of climate warming, researchers believe.

The Federal Trade Commission moves to prosecute misleading environmental claims

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Can FTC’s enforcements keep pace with growth in the green-products sector?

Beyond Regulation: Risk Pricing and Responsible Innovation

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Sizing up cellulosics

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Cellulosic feedstocks for biofuels will still contribute to nutrient pollution.

Old-growth forests store a treasure trove of carbon

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Still adding to their vast stores of carbon, old forests can mitigate climate change best when left standing, not cut and converted to younger forests.

More debate about corn ethanol's climate impacts

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Articles also highlight challenges associated with using life-cycle analyses in policy making.

Algae: fuel of the future?

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Start-ups and oil giants are investing millions in the photosynthetic powers of algae.

Spate of gas drilling leaks raises Marcellus concerns

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Stable-isotope forensics links explosion to drilling.

Global study finds that treelines are not universally advancing in response to warming

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

It takes more than increases in average temperature for treelines to advance.

Station ALOHA Stands Sentinel

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Samples collected at this remote buoy provide an exquisitely detailed record of the ocean’s changing condition during the past 21 years.

The Pacific Ocean's Acidification Laboratory

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The thermal vents of Maug Island offer a rare chance to study ocean acidification in situ, which gives us a glimpse of what the future might hold.

Discontinued pajama flame retardant detected in baby products and house dust

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A flame retardant discontinued from use in U.S. children's pajamas decades ago is now found in foam padding used in baby products and other household goods.

Trouble In The Tundra

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Features formed by melting permafrost provide clues to a changing Arctic landscape and climate.

Using microbes and wastewater to desalinate water

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

In a specialized microbial fuel cell, microbes and wastewater furnish the only energy needed to remove salts from water.

Landmark global fisheries assessment finds good and bad news

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Many fish stocks are recovering, but far more are still overfished.

UV-stabilizing chemicals contaminating Japan's marine environment

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Research indicates benzotriazole compounds are ubiquitous in a range of sea life.

Methyl iodide, a fumigant under fire

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The Bush administration's approval of the pesticide is on trial in California's external scientific review.

China's dust travels full global circuit

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A study of dust carried from China to the Pacific Ocean shows how new technology and modeling will improve long-range transport studies of pollutants.

Hunting for engineered nanomaterials in the environment

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

New methods may be able to distinguish manufactured nanoparticles from natural ones in the real world.

E-waste reuse may be more pervasive than previously thought

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Formal and informal practices in Peru extend the lifetime of old computers and may help to decrease their environmental impact.

The mercury mystery of South America

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Mercury sulfide, known as cinnabar, was mined in the Peruvian Andes as far back as 1400 BC, causing major atmospheric mercury pollution.

Grim forecast for future water supply from the Colorado River

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

After 10 consecutive years of drought, a 10–20% reduction in stream flow could be critical.

Hoping to avoid a fever? Try ecosystem conservation

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Ecologists have a new prescription for suppressing infectious disease.

Widely used antifouling biocide lingers in freshwater ecosystems

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A growing body of evidence shows that Irgarol and other biocides present a toxic threat to vulnerable freshwater organisms.

Perfluoropolymer degrades in decades, study estimates

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A new EPA study, though flawed, suggests that fluoropolymer breakdown is a current source of PFOA.

Isotopes finger fertilizer's perchlorate legacy

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Long Island study could have national implications.

Tropical precipitation heading north

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Scientists unravel rainfall history by studying sediments from Pacific island lake bottoms.

Winners of Presidential Early Career Awards named

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Research grants awarded to 100 recipients.

Pennsylvania to regulate salt discharges

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

State acts to control treatment of brines from gas drilling.

Ozone hole linked to deterioration of Southern Ocean carbon sink

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Diminished ozone leads to lower CO₂ uptake and increased acidification.

U.S. increases catches of bigeye tuna

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The move puts the country at odds with other nations' practices and its own record.

Consumer culture keeps carbon emissions high

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Consumer goods are not as cheap as their price tags suggest, because they lead to significant emissions elsewhere.

Is regulation on ocean acidification on the horizon?

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The prospect of applying the Clean Water Act to ocean acidification is being tested.

Recalibrating the human carbon footprint from wastewater

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Petroleum that's in common household products and then enters the wastewater system may be the source of a very old carbon isotope signal in the environment.

From land to sea: tracing mercury’s transit to coastal environments

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Scientists find that subterranean flows of terrestrial groundwater carry mercury, including the toxic methyl form, into the ocean.

Influential global change model predicts greater warming

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

New predictions by MIT's Integrated Global System Model are more than double those it made six years ago.

Tundra thaw could be carbon time bomb

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Feedback loop could open vast permafrost carbon reserve.

Paul Anastas goes to Washington

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

ES&T Editorial Advisory Board member nominated to take the helm at EPA's Office of Research and Development.

Are perfluorochemicals widespread in biosolids?

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

High levels of perfluorochemicals found in biosolids used to fertilize grazing fields near Decatur, Ala., are prompting broader questions about contaminant levels in sludge.

Developing air-quality measurements for the world

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

An unexpected ozone reaction helps researchers devise a simple, inexpensive technique that could make air-quality measurements routine throughout the world.

New data suggest PBDE byproducts are ubiquitous in U.S. waters

Wed, 27 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Waste from consumer goods containing PBDEs can contaminate U.S. waterways with persistent, bioaccumulative byproducts about which very little is known.

Never the same river twice

Wed, 27 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Freshwater flows change as global climate shifts.

Mapping conservation areas outside your back door

Wed, 27 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A national partnership maps protected lands in the U.S., with ratings on how biodiversity is being managed there.

Electromethanogenesis: the direct bioconversion of current to methane

Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A new biocathode may make it possible to produce methane directly from electric current.

Breathing less easily with ultrafine particles

Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Tiny nanosized particles from traffic and other emissions sources are getting more scrutiny because of their possible impact on human health.

Leaden clouds are cool

Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Lead particle pollution changes the altitude and distribution of clouds, ultimately cooling the climate.

Do cities belch the most greenhouse gases?

Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

New research suggests that energy-efficient, well-governed cities may be part of the way forward for climate change mitigation.

Coal ban could heat up electricity prices

Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

New study shows that banning coal-fired power plants is expensive and doesn't cut greenhouse gas emissions very much.

Lead remains a threat to all ages

Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

New research links the toxic metal to an increased death rate among elderly women.

Artificial sweetener makes ideal tracer

Thu, 7 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The environmental impacts of artificial sugars, if any, remain unknown, but these compounds could indicate the presence of human pathogens in recreational and drinking-water sources.

Proteomics of Chernobyl-grown seeds gives hints about adaptation to radiation

Thu, 7 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Martin Hajduch talks to Journal of Proteome Research about conducting plant proteomics studies in the contaminated Chernobyl region of Ukraine.

Top nutrient contributors to dead zone identified

Thu, 7 May 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A new assessment highlights uncertainties in the rankings of high-polluting areas.

First commercial perfluorochemicals found in human blood

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Discovery provides important clues about people’s daily exposure to perfluorochemicals.

Research links PBDEs in house dust to lowered testosterone in men

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Scientists say that more research is "urgently needed" to investigate how PBDEs may be impacting male hormone levels.

U.S. and Canada say: curb ship emissions

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The UN's IMO will consider the first internationally enforced buffer zone for ship air pollution, specifically for North American coastlines.

LCA finally takes water into account

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Researchers develop the first life-cycle assessment model to incorporate the impact of global water consumption.

USGS profiles private wells

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

New survey of private drinking-water wells shows low levels of contaminants overall but highlights threats from both natural and human-made contaminants.

Health agency accused of overlooking environmental threats to public

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Congressional subcommittee looks into ATSDR.

Climate change creates paradox for wetlands

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

While higher CO2 levels drive sea levels to rise, they also stimulate wetland-sustaining plant growth.

Farmed fish from top to bottom

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Research provides a baseline assessment of farmed seafood sold in The Netherlands and sets the stage for comparisons among species that carry halogenated contaminants.

One-third of U.S. bird species threatened

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Habitat loss and invasive species are top threats to the nation’s 800 avian species, particularly in Hawaii.

More bad news about plastic containers?

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Researchers suspect that plastics used in water bottles may contain endocrine disrupters.

Unlabeled toxics in children's bath products

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The U.S. does not require product labels to alert consumers to the presence of formaldehyde or 1,4-dioxane in personal-care products.

Mercury in seals linked to vanishing sea ice

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Longer ice-free seasons may mean that food sources for Arctic marine mammals are more contaminated.

In the mix: equine estrogens used in HRT

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Equine estrogens are common in effluent from sewage treatment plants in the U.K. and may play a role in the feminization of male fish.

Ship smokestacks emit unexpected pollutants

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EDT

"Snapshots" of plumes from oceangoing ships show that the emissions contain larger amounts of pollutants than previously thought, including black carbon.

Calculating the costs of nanohazard testing

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The costs of testing the toxicity of existing nanomaterials could be minimized by prioritizing materials before they are tested, according to the first study to quantify these expenses.

Energy efficiency and the smart grid

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

New energy policy goals for the U.S. promise diverse benefits, including significant reductions of carbon emissions.

Coal-ash spills highlight ongoing risk to ecosystems

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Nearly one-third of the fly ash produced annually in the U.S. ends up in wet ponds and poses a risk to human health and ecosystems.

Dueling priorities—renewable energy vs environmental assessment

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

The push to spend stimulus money quickly to save jobs and the climate could lead to a change in environmental policy—and possibly damage species and habitats.

Impending water shortages spell unforeseen financial losses

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Dwindling water sources in a warming climate may leave businesses dry.

CSI-style tools offer clues about flame retardants in dust

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

High-tech tools pinpoint disintegrating plastics and textiles as a significant source of brominated flame retardants, particularly deca-BDE, in dust.

More crop diversity, less nitrate pollution

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A century of data links farm practices with water quality.

Animal research reveals how chemicals can impact human embryos

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A new website consolidates data from research articles that illustrate how endocrine-disrupting chemicals may impair embryonic development.

Coastal development eating up wetlands

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A new government report finds that 59,000 acres of U.S. coastal wetlands have been disappearing each year.

Promising Green Nanomaterials

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Researchers are creating green nanomaterials, with an eye toward their hazards as well as cleanup potentials and pitfalls.

A range of possible futures for mercury emissions

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Global emissions of mercury are predicted to rise by up to 96% by 2050, largely as a result of coal-fired power plants, researchers find.

How mercury flows downstream

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A comprehensive study shows the correlations among landscape, mercury, and the life in streams and rivers.

Outlook hazy for climate regulations?

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Will Cass Sunstein, President Obama’s presumed pick for regulatory czar, square off with administration heavyweights on global warming?

Breathing easier with cellulosic ethanol

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Cellulosic ethanol emits fewer fine particles that damage health than corn ethanol or gasoline.

Top Paper in Environmental Science: Leaving a legacy of dead zones

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Long-term studies reveal that coastal ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico have shifted to a new state that is more vulnerable to the formation of low-oxygen “dead zones” in response to excess nutrients.

Top Paper in Environmental Technology: Saltwater power

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A bum Internet connection helped to inspire research that paves the way for taming the energy unleashed when freshwater meets the sea.

Top Paper in Environmental Policy: Eat locally, or eat differently?

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Eating local foods can reduce your greenhouse gas footprint, but not by as much as swapping meat for veggies.

ES&T's Best Papers of 2008

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Chosen by the Editors.

Ocean alert: acidifying waters portend severe impacts

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Scientists call for immediate action to curtail greenhouse gas emissions.

Top Papers in Environmental Science, First Runner-Up: Minerals get more complex

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Scientists using the tiniest of probes have revealed the surface structure of soil and find that the surfaces are more heterogeneous than once thought.

Top Papers in Environmental Technology, First Runner-Up: Single-walled nanotubes in a tight spot

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

How will carbon nanotubes behave in the environment? One group looks at toxic SWNTs and finds a mix of possibilities.

Top Papers in Environmental Policy, First Runner-Up: Pinpointing metal stocks

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Researchers survey in-use metal stock data and their policy relevance.

Top Papers in Environmental Science, Second Runner-Up (Tie): Uncoupled frozen fish

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

For the first time, scientists demonstrate the toxicity of a flame retardant metabolite in animals and describe its mechanism of action.

Top Papers in Environmental Science, Second Runner-Up (Tie): Bacterial weapons in the war on iron in the seas

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Starting with speciation, a researcher pinpoints how bacteria acquire iron in the oceans.

Top Papers in Environmental Technology, Second Runner-Up: Stars align for PCB cleanup technology

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Experts agree that a technology developed by U.S. EPA researchers to target one of the agency’s highest cleanup priorities has great promise.

Top Papers in Environmental Policy, Second Runner-Up: Buildings as emissions culprits

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Accounting for emissions associated with the demolition of buildings can help reduce the environmental footprint of the structures.

Harnessing waves for energy

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Will engineers find ways to get energy from the world’s oceans in an environmentally safe and economical fashion?

Hantavirus on the prowl in Europe

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EDT

A surge in rodent-borne disease is linked with climate change, human behavior, and ecosystem traits.