By Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle Microbes are by far the most important factor in determining how much carbon is stored in the soil, according to a new study with implications for mitigating climate change and improving soil health for agriculture and food production. The research is the first to measure …
In Australia, scientists begin vaccinating koalas against chlamydia
By The Associated Press, from NPR The aim of Australian scientists vaccinating koalas for chlamydia is to test a method for protecting the beloved marsupials against a widespread disease that causes blindness, infertility and death. Mark Baker/AP Australian scientists have begun vaccinating wild koalas against chlamydia in an ambitious field …
Human pangenome reference will enable more complete and equitable understanding of genomic diversity
By Emily Cerf of University of California – Santa Cruz, Science Daily UC Santa Cruz scientists, along with a consortium of researchers, have released a draft of the first human pangenome — a new, usable reference for genomics that combines the genetic material of 47 individuals from different ancestral backgrounds …
Engineers harvest small amounts of abundant clean energy from thin air, 24/7
By University of Massachusetts Amherst, from Science Daily A team of engineers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has recently shown that nearly any material can be turned into a device that continuously harvests electricity from humidity in the air. The secret lies in being able to pepper the material …
New airborne radar could revolutionize hurricane forecasting
Andrew Freedman, Axios Closeup of Hurricane Ian’s eye seen from space as the storm struck Sanibel Island, Fla., on Sept. 18, 2022. Image: NASA Next-generation radar technology capable of taking 3D slices of hurricanes and other storms is poised to move ahead, after years of fits and starts. Driving the …
There’s gold in them hills: why money is flowing into nature tech
Reuters By Mark Hillsdon Novihum Technologies uses lignite to help boost soil health. Novihum/Handout via Reuters Summary Startups in nature tech, such as regenerative agriculture, soil health, and natural carbon removals, have attracted a flood of venture capital finance in last 18 months Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has …
Biden’s EPA proposes crackdown on power plant carbon emissions
Reuters By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) – The Biden administration on Thursday unveiled a sweeping plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. power industry, one of the biggest steps so far in its effort to decarbonize the economy to fight climate change. The proposal would limit how much …
New atomic-scale understanding of catalysis could unlock massive energy savings
Date: April 6, 2023 Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison Summary: In an advance they consider a breakthrough in computational chemistry research, chemical engineers have developed a model of how catalytic reactions work at the atomic scale. This understanding could allow engineers and chemists to develop more efficient catalysts and tune industrial …
Newly discovered probiotic could protect Caribbean corals threatened by deadly, devastating disease
New treatment offers an alternative to antibiotic treatment, reducing risk of resistant pathogenic bacteria Source: Smithsonian Summary: Researchers have discovered the first effective bacterial probiotic for treating and preventing stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), a mysterious ailment that has devastated Florida’s coral reefs since 2014 and is rapidly spreading …
Seaweed recycling startups get funded, as Sargassum bloom hits Florida
Dan Primack, author of Axios Pro Rata Beach in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on March 16. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Carbonwave, a Boston-based startup that “upcycles” Sargassum seaweed into biomaterials, raised $5 million in venture capital funding led by an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers. Why it matters: The largest-ever blob of Sargassum …