Water


Study: Microbes Consumed Surprisingly Large Amount of Oil in Gulf Spill Slick

Researchers found that bacterial microbes inside the slick degraded the oil at a rate five times faster than microbes outside the slick—accounting in large part for the disappearance of the slick some three weeks after Deepwater Horizon's Macondo well was shut off.

Some Replacements for CFC-Containing Refrigerants Much More Potent GHGs than CO2

While international climate talks remain deadlocked, the Montreal Protocol has been methodically eliminating some of the worst chemicals contributing to global warming.

New Research Suggests Radioactive Decay is Key Ingredient Behind Earth's Heat

New research suggests that nearly half the Earth's heat comes from the radioactive decay of materials beneath the surface, according to a large international research collaboration that includes a Kansas State University physicist.

Aerosols Affect Climate More than Satellite Estimates Predict

Aerosol particles, including soot and sulfur dioxide from burning fossil fuels, essentially mask the effects of greenhouse gases and are at the heart of the biggest uncertainty in climate change prediction.

Tips Tuesday: How to Save Energy While on Vacation

Summer is the ideal season for vacations, and whether you plan to spend your days beach bumming, hiking with friends or visiting out-of-town relatives, these tips will help reduce your at-home energy consumption as much as possible while you are away.

DOE Panel: Let Communities Volunteer to Host Waste Facilities

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future also says currently available revenues are sufficient and a new, non-DOE nuclear waste management program should be established.

Round-the-Clock Solar Power May Be the Stuff of Dreams No Longer

The biggest hurdle to widespread implementation of solar power is the fact that the sun doesn't shine constantly in any given place, so backup power systems are needed for nights and cloudy days. But a novel system designed by researchers at MIT could finally overcome that problem, delivering steady power 24/7.

Researchers Discover Catalyst That Could Help Replace Petroleum-Derived Products

Researchers in the Pacific Northwest have developed a new catalyst material that could replace chemicals currently derived from petroleum and be the basis for more environmentally friendly products, including octane-boosting gas and fuel additives, bio-based rubber for tires and a safer solvent for the chemicals industry.



Tide's Retreat and Advance Not as Constant as You Might Think

The ebb and flow of the ocean tides, generally thought to be one of the most predictable forces on Earth, are actually quite variable over long time periods, in ways that have not been adequately accounted for in most evaluations of prehistoric sea level changes.

Dow Chemical Agrees to Pay $2.5M to Resolve Air, Water and Waste Violations at Mich. Complex

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Dow Chemical Company has agreed to pay a $2.5 million civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at its chemical manufacturing and research complex in Midland, Mich.

Caving for Climate

A group of scientists from the University of Alabama are exploring caves in the South Pacific to gain insight on ancient weather patterns.

EPA Protects Rivers, Lakes and Streams by Plugging Abandoned Oil Wells in Western New York

Over the past six years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has plugged close to 300 abandoned – and in some cases leaking – oil wells in Western New York in an effort to prevent any remaining oil that may be in the wells from reaching nearby lakes, rivers and streams.

Tequila Plant Could Fuel Vehicles, Help Reduce Emissions

The agave plant has not yet been widely cultivated as a fuel source, but it promises some significant advantages over existing sources of ethanol such as sugarcane and corn.

Miami Man Sentenced to Prison for Smuggling Refrigerant

U.S. District Court Judge Adalberto Jordan sentenced Brendan Clery, 34, to 18 months in prison and ordered him to pay a $10,000 criminal fine and forfeit illegal proceeds in the amount of $935,240.

Researchers: Energy Balance Is Key to Disparity Between Climate Models And Observed Temperatures

The previously unexplained differences between model-based forecasts of rapid global warming and meteorological data showing a slower rate of warming have been the source of often contentious debate and controversy for more than two decades.

Making the Case for Sustainability

Communicating the benefits of a business solution to various stakeholders requires wearing multiple hats and re-focusing the conversation to the elements that are important to the individual.

Evidence Clears Ben Frankin of Importing Tallow Trees

Genetic tests on more than 1,000 Chinese tallow trees from the United States and China show the famed U.S. statesman did not import the tallow trees that are overrunning thousands of acres of U.S. coastal prairie from Florida to East Texas.

Automakers Will Have to Meet 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standard By 2025

Building on the agreement for model year 2012-2016 vehicles, which will raise fuel efficiency to 35.5 mpg, the next round of standards will require performance equivalent to 54.5 mpg or 163 grams/ mile of CO2 for cars and light-duty trucks by model year 2025.

Berkeley Labs' User Test Bed Facility to Advance Research, Development of Energy-efficient Buildings

The facility will allow researchers and manufacturers to test buildings systems and components under real-world conditions by swapping out systems and changing configurations and then allow rigorous monitoring of performance of every key building element that impacts energy consumption.

EPA Proposes Air Pollution Standards for Oil and Gas Production

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed standards to reduce harmful air pollution from oil and gas drilling operations.