Category: Environment

Fresh anchovies at the fish counter of a grocery store

Anchovy-lovers, your favorite pizza topping may get harder to find! Back when the Earth was warmer, a part of the ocean called the Humboldt Current used to be dominated by goby-like fish instead of the modern, more valuable anchovy. This could happen again as the oceans warm up.

Posted on August 29, 2022August 29, 2022 by Erica Curles 303 views

Back when the Earth was warmer, a part of the ocean called the Humboldt Current used to be dominated by goby-like fish instead of the…

sprite plastic bottle on table

How long will plastic waste stick around in the deep sea? Scientists recently showed that microbes can degrade some types of plastics on the deep sea floor, but they do so incredibly slowly.

Posted on August 15, 2022August 11, 2022 by Aubrey Zerkle 598 views

Plastics are ideal for use in household and industrial products because they are strong and elastic, but these properties also make them…

New rice growing method is environmentally friendly and more effective Growing rice using an alternating wet and dry method can boost plant health and the amount of nutrients it carries thanks to plant-growth-promoting microbes found in the drier, oxygen-rich soils.

Posted on April 20, 2022April 20, 2022 by Hunter Dulay 598 views

Growing rice using an alternating wet and dry method can boost plant health and the amount of nutrients it carries thanks to…

Fish behavior is affected by microplastics in water Microplastics and nanoplastics affect gut bacteria and neurotransmitter levels in discus fish, potentially explaining changes in fish behavior when microplastic levels are high.

Posted on April 7, 2022April 7, 2022 by Erica Curles 717 views

Microplastics and nanoplastics affect gut bacteria and neurotransmitter levels in discus fish, potentially explaining changes in fish…

Invasive trees are changing the soil in the American Southwest Lab tests show that plants influence soil properties over their lifetime because of the bacteria that live on their roots, and Russian olive trees produce previously unaccounted for greenhouse gas emissions.

Posted on January 27, 2022January 12, 2022 by Marina Hein 1k views

Ecosystems with diverse species and healthy habitats provide services that keep the system stable and are beneficial to humans. Humans…

Scientists use bacteria to remove uranium from polluted water In a laboratory scale experiment, scientists found uranium-eating bacteria that could remove 90% of uranium from the culture liquid by turning it into a salt that drops out of the solution.

Posted on November 29, 2021November 29, 2021 by Hannah Lambertson 1k views

Scientists discover a bacterial species that could potentially clean up uranium contamination in the environment following mining activity…

Hawaiian caves invaded by rats Rattus rattus, commonly known as the black rat or house rat, have set their sights on the delicate system of lava tube caves in Hawaii. They outcompete native species for food sources.

Posted on August 19, 2021August 11, 2021 by Riana Foley 765 views

Rattus rattus, commonly known as the black rat or house rat has been recognized as “one of the most invasive species worldwide”. These…

Small animals that carry disease adapt well to our activities A study suggests that small mammals like rodents and birds have adapted to thrive after urban development of wild land. These animals are also more likely to carry human pathogens.

Posted on February 11, 2021November 16, 2021 by Sriram Devata 318 views

A study suggests that small mammals like rodents have adapted to thrive on human-influenced land. They also happen to carry a lot of human…

Fungi may be able to help clean up polluted water A few species of fungi were tested for their ability to clean up wastewaters contaminated with selenium. With additional nutrients added, it mostly worked. The fungi Alternaria showed great potential for cleaning up water polluted with selenite.

Posted on November 24, 2020April 1, 2021 by Mary Sabuda 864 views

Human activities such as coal mining and processing can cause high levels of selenium contamination, which can be harmful to human health.…

Symbiotic fungi can save farm crops during droughts As many farms worldwide get less and less rainfall per year due to climate change, it is getting harder to keep plants alive in dry seasons. Luckily, the use of mycorrhizal fungi in farming may allow our food crops to find more water during droughts.

Posted on September 11, 2020November 16, 2021 by Niko Carvajal Janke 532 views

What should farmers do to deal with disappearing water? Add fungi to the soil! This recent study sheds light on the use of mycorrhizae to…

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