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Navy denies claims from Camp Lejeune's contaminated water![]() Washington DC (UPI) Jan 25, 2019 Nearly 4,400 civil claims resulting from contaminated drinking water at the Camp Lejeune, N.C., military base were denied by the U.S. Navy. The decision, announced on Thursday by Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, says that the U.S. military has no legal authority to pay claims alleging personal injury or wrongful death from exposure to water-borne contaminants from the 1950s to the 1980s. Two contaminated wells, found to contain trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and benzene, were ... read more |
Envisioned 'octopus farms' would have far-reaching and detrimental environmental impactNew York NY (SPX) Jan 25, 2019 Commercial octopus farming, currently in developmental stages on multiple continents, would have a negative ripple effect on sustainability and animal welfare, concludes a team of researchers in a n ... more
Plants can smell, now researchers know howTokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 24, 2019 Plants don't need noses to smell. The ability is in their genes. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered the first steps of how information from odor molecules changes gene expression ... more
Farm manure boosts greenhouse gas emissions even in winterBurlington VT (SPX) Jan 23, 2019 Decisions farmers make over the spring and summer can dramatically increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions later in the winter. That's a key takeaway from a new University of Vermont study tha ... more
How bacteria build hyper-efficient photosynthesis machinesWashington DC (SPX) Jan 25, 2019 Researchers facing a future with a larger population and more uncertain climate are looking for ways to improve crop yields, and they're looking to photosynthetic bacteria for engineering solutions. ... more |
Typhoon Fung-wong leaves flooded Philippine towns in its wake
Typhoon exposes centuries-old shipwreck off Vietnam port Weakening Typhoon Fung-wong exits Philippines after displacing 1.4 million Super Typhoon Fung-wong makes landfall in Philippines Over 1 million evacuate as deadly Super Typhoon Fung-wong nears Philippines Dam reservoir levels drop below 3% in Iran's second city: media Philippines evacuates one million, woman dead as super typhoon nears Japan observes tiny tsunami following 6.7 magnitude quake Philippines evacuates hundreds of thousands as super typhoon nears Tornado kills six, injures 750 as it wrecks southern Brazil town |
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| Previous Issues | Jan 25 | Jan 24 | Jan 23 | Jan 22 | Jan 21 |
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Scientists discover new 'architecture' in cornBaton Rouge LA (SPX) Jan 22, 2019 New research on the U.S.'s most economically important agricultural plant - corn - has revealed a different internal structure of the plant than previously thought, which can help optimize how corn ... more
Human diet causing 'catastrophic' damage to planet: studyParis (AFP) Jan 16, 2019 The way humanity produces and eats food must radically change to avoid millions of deaths and "catastrophic" damage to the planet, according to a landmark study published Thursday. ... more
60 percent of coffee varieties face 'extinction risk'Paris (AFP) Jan 16, 2019 Three in five species of wild coffee are at risk of extinction as a deadly mix of climate change, disease and deforestation puts the future of the world's favourite beverage in jeopardy, new research warned Wednesday. ... more
Desalination produces more toxic waste than clean waterParis (AFP) Jan 14, 2019 More than 16,000 desalination plants scattered across the globe produce far more toxic sludge than fresh water, according to a first global assessment of the sector's industrial waste, published Monday. ... more
Million dead fish cause environmental stink in AustraliaSydney (AFP) Jan 14, 2019 As many as a million fish are believed to have died along the banks of a major river system in drought-battered eastern Australia, and the authorities warned Monday of more deaths to come. ... more |
![]() UN warns of rising levels of toxic brine as desalination plants meet growing water needs
RUDN pedologists found out a correct combination of nitrogen fertilizers and plastic mulchMoscow, Russia (SPX) Jan 16, 2019 Nitrogen is a part of organic compounds that are of extreme importance for plants: chlorophyll, proteins, hormones, and enzymes. When plants lack nitrogen, their growth slows down, stems become thin ... more |
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Ancient quinoa found in Ontario, suggesting early links between indigenous groupsWashington (UPI) Jan 16, 2019 The discovery of ancient quinoa seeds outside of Ontario suggests early indigenous groups were exchanging perishable goods as early as 900 B.C. ... more
Survey: GMO food critics overestimate their knowledge of the subjectWashington (UPI) Jan 15, 2019 Opponents of genetically modified foods overrate their knowledge of the subject, according to a new survey. ... more
France takes Roundup weed-killer off market after court rulingLyon (AFP) Jan 15, 2019 French authorities on Tuesday banned the sale of a form of controversial weed-killer Roundup following a court ruling that regulators failed to take safety concerns into account when clearing the widely used herbicide. ... more
UK Space Agency COMPASS project aims to to improve crop yields for Mexican farmersHarwell UK (SPX) Jan 11, 2019 SIAP, the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food - part of the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture (SAGARPA) - has signed a declaration of intent with the UK Space ... more
Feds, states can help biochar live up to its soil-saving potentialHouston TX (SPX) Jan 15, 2019 Even though every dollar spent on soil improvement can save much more in environmental costs down the road, startup costs can sometimes make it hard for farmers to implement best environmental pract ... more |
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Russia to launch Arctic weather satellite Moscow (Sputnik) Jan 21, 2019
The first Russian satellite for weather forecasting and monitoring climate and environment in the Arctic region, Arktika-M, is planned to be sent to near-earth orbit in June 2019, a source in the Russian space industry told Sputnik on Sunday.
"The launch of the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle from the Baikonur cosmodrome with Fregat booster and the first hydrometeorological satellite Arktika-M i ... more |
Magnetic North's erratic behavior forces update to global navigation system Washington (UPI) Jan 14, 2019
Magnetic North is shifting rapidly, throwing off the World Magnetic Model that powers a variety of global navigational systems.
Scientists were originally scheduled to release an updated model this week - a fix for the accumulating anomalies - but due to the government shutdown, the update's release has been delayed until the end of the month.
Scientists with the British Geolog ... more |
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How much rainforest do birds need? Gottingen, Germany (SPX) Jan 23, 2019
Researchers of the Department of Conservation Biology at the University of Gottingen have carried out research in Southwest Cameroon to assess which proportion of forest would be necessary in order to provide sufficient habitat for rainforest bird species. The results of the study were published in the journal Biological Conservation.
The Gottingen team investigated relationships between f ... more |
A powerful catalyst for electrolysis of water that could help harness renewable energy Seoul, South Korea (SPX) Jan 28, 2019
The importance of finding and improving renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly important. One strategy to generate energy is breaking water molecules (H2O) apart in an electrochemical reaction known as electrolysis. This process allows us to convert energy from the sun or other renewable sources into chemical energy.
However, electrochemically splitting water molecules requires ... more |
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Self-assembling nanomaterial enable cheaper more efficient solar power New York NY (SPX) Jan 25, 2019
Solar rays are a plentiful, clean source of energy that is becoming increasingly important as the world works to shift away from power sources that contribute to global warming. But current methods of harvesting solar charges are expensive and inefficient - with a theoretical efficiency limit of 33 percent. New nanomaterials developed by researchers at the Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) ... more |
EON achieves successful commercial operation and tax equity financing for Stella wind farm Chicago IL (SPX) Jan 24, 2019
E.ON reports the successful completion and tax equity financing of its 201 megawatt (MW) Stella wind farm in Kenedy County, Texas.
Allianz Capital Partners of America on behalf of Allianz insurance companies provided tax equity financing in exchange for a partial interest in the Stella project. The project achieved commercial operation and closing of tax equity in December 2018.
"Con ... more |
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Germany should phase out coal use by 2038: commission Berlin (AFP) Jan 26, 2019
Germany should stop using coal for electricity production by 2038, a government-appointed commission said Saturday, laying out an 80-billion euro roadmap to phase out the polluting fuel.
The commission agreed to the deadline after months of bitter wrangling as pressure mounts on Europe's top economy to step up its commitment to battling climate change.
The panel, consisting of politicia ... more |
Australia demands China treat detained national 'fairly' Sydney (AFP) Jan 24, 2019
Australia on Thursday demanded China handle the case of detained author Yang Hengjun "transparently and fairly," amid a growing row about the fate of the Chinese-Australian.
Yang - a novelist, democracy advocate and former Chinese diplomat - was detained shortly after he made a rare return to China from the United States last week.
Friend and colleague Chongyi Feng told AFP he believes ... more |
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Automation to hit most jobs, but overall impact 'muted': study Washington (AFP) Jan 24, 2019
Artificial intelligence and automation will lead to job losses in "virtually all occupational groups" over the coming decades in the United States, but the overall impact on employment will be "muted," a prominent think tank study said Thursday.
"Almost no occupation will be unaffected by the adoption of currently available technologies," said the Brookings Institution study.
The researc ... more |
Brazil's Vale hit with first fine over dam disaster Rio De Janeiro (AFP) Jan 26, 2019
Brazilian mining giant Vale was hit with an initial $66.5 million fine Saturday over a dam collapse at one of its mines a day earlier that killed at least 10 people and left hundreds missing.
The amount, confirmed by multiple sources including a government official, was announced by the environment ministry, which did not immediately give an official figure.
It was levied by the govern ... more |
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Forest soil takes decades to recover from wildfire, logging Washington (UPI) Jan 23, 2019
Many forest species can rebound relatively quickly in the wake of wildfire. Some animals even thrive among the newly scorched environs. But according to new research, forest soil takes up to 80 years to recover from severe burns.
Researchers at the Australian National University found both fire and logging can have surprisingly long-lasting effects on the health of forest soil.
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Brazil dam disaster leaves 34 dead, hundreds missing Brumadinho, Brazil (AFP) Jan 26, 2019 Thirty-four people were confirmed dead and nearly 300 missing Saturday, with hopes fading of them being found alive, after a dam collapsed at a mine in southeast Brazil.
The disaster struck Friday at the Vale mine near the city of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais state, spewing millions of tons of muddy sludge across the facility and down towards farmland alongside the nearby town of Brumadinh ... more |
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Power outages as Australia swelters through extreme temperatures Sydney (AFP) Jan 25, 2019
Hundreds of thousands of people sweltering through a brutal heatwave in southern Australia were left without power Friday, as the grid struggled with surging demand.
Authorities said more than 200,000 customers were experiencing blackouts after it ordered forced outages to reduce the risk of the entire grid failing.
"We have asked for 100 megawatts of involuntary load reduction, we have ... more |
Malaysia scraps multi-billion dollar China-backed project Kuala Lumpur (AFP) Jan 26, 2019
A multi-billion dollar China-backed rail project in Malaysia has been scrapped, government officials said Saturday, adding that the cost of building it was too high.
Malaysia has in recent months suspended several major projects signed under the country's previous scandal-plagued regime, in a bid to cut the country's massive one trillion ringgit ($251 billion) debt.
Economics minister ... more |
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Surprising Explanation for Differences in Southern and Northern Lights Bergen, Norway (SPX) Jan 25, 2019
For many years, scientists assumed the aurora seen around the north pole was identical to the aurora seen around the south pole. The poles are connected by magnetic field lines, and auroral displays are caused by charged particles streaming along these field lines. Because the charged particles follow these field lines, it would make sense that the auroras would be mirror images of each other. ... more |
Invasive species could spell trouble on China's new 'Silk Road' Washington (AFP) Jan 24, 2019
Invasive species have been around for centuries, since the beginning of international trade.
But a major new trade route organized by China and spanning 123 countries could accelerate the spread of invasive species like never before, researchers warned Thursday.
Officially called China's Belt and Road Initiative, the project was launched five years ago and aims to include about half the ... more |
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