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Data from 196 countries finds high UV radiation levels are strongly associated with reduced COVID-19 transmission rates — ScienceDaily

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Data from 196 countries finds high UV radiation levels are strongly associated with reduced COVID-19 transmission rates — ScienceDaily

COVID-19 transmission can be more accurately modeled by incorporating meteorological factors, with ultraviolet (UV) radiation as the main driver, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by a team of scientists from the Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI), at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Transvalor S.A., … Read more

New study analyzes trends, opportunities, and challenges related to water security in Nevada’s Native American communities — ScienceDaily

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New study analyzes trends, opportunities, and challenges related to water security in Nevada’s Native American communities — ScienceDaily

A growing number of Native American households in Nevada have no access to indoor plumbing, a condition known as “plumbing poverty,” according to a new study by a team from DRI and the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities. The study assesses trends and challenges associated with water security (reliable access to a sufficient quantity of … Read more

Researchers put a number on the amount of energy that plants use to lift water — ScienceDaily

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Researchers put a number on the amount of energy that plants use to lift water — ScienceDaily

Every day, about one quadrillion gallons of water are silently pumped from the ground to the treetops. Earth’s plant life accomplishes this staggering feat using only sunlight. It takes energy to lift all this liquid, but just how much was an open question until this year. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have calculated the tremendous … Read more

Ecosystem changes can be predicted more accurately via emissions of chiral compounds — ScienceDaily

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Ecosystem changes can be predicted more accurately via emissions of chiral compounds — ScienceDaily

Worldwide, plants emit about 100 million tonnes of monoterpenes into the atmosphere each year. These volatile organic molecules include many fragrances such as the molecule pinene — known for its pine fresh scent. Since these molecules are highly reactive and can form tiny aerosol particles that can grow into nuclei for clouds droplets, natural emissions … Read more

There’s plenty of good news about the environment

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There’s plenty of good news about the environment

It’s easy to believe that life on Earth is getting ever-worse. The media highlight one catastrophe after another and make terrifying predictions. With a torrent of doom and gloom about climate change and the environment, it’s understandable why many people — especially the young — genuinely believe the world is about to end. The fact … Read more

Research finds that the leaf area index of mixed-forests influences seasonal changes in the formation of a nocturnal cold-air pool at a small mountain basin in central Japan — ScienceDaily

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Research finds that the leaf area index of mixed-forests influences seasonal changes in the formation of a nocturnal cold-air pool at a small mountain basin in central Japan — ScienceDaily

The changing seasons tell us much about the workings of nature. Now, a research group from Japan has discovered that the seasonal changes of tree leaf growth and shedding can have a big influence on climate even on small, local scales. Forests act as intermediaries between the atmosphere and land, reducing surface wind speeds and … Read more

Wildfire smoke becomes increasingly important for climate models due to climate change — ScienceDaily

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Wildfire smoke becomes increasingly important for climate models due to climate change — ScienceDaily

The 2019/20 wildfires in Australia transported more smoke into the atmosphere than observed ever before anywhere in the world. In the so-called Black Summer, three times as many particles reached high air layers as in the previous record wildfires in Canada during summer 2017. Two analyses led by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) … Read more

Inhaled pollutants shape developing microbiome in ways that may promote allergies and obesity, influence brain — ScienceDaily

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Inhaled pollutants shape developing microbiome in ways that may promote allergies and obesity, influence brain — ScienceDaily

Exposure to air pollution in the first six months of life impacts a child’s inner world of gut bacteria, or microbiome, in ways that could increase risk of allergies, obesity and diabetes, and even influence brain development, suggests new CU Boulder research. The study, published this month in the journal Gut Microbes, is the first … Read more

Simple measures can go a long way to combating air pollution in schools — ScienceDaily

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Simple measures can go a long way to combating air pollution in schools — ScienceDaily

Most UK primary schools experience levels of pollution which exceed the safe levels set out by the World Health Organization, yet simple measures can cut outdoor and indoor exposure of toxins by almost half, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. Working with a select number of London schools, researchers from Surrey’s … Read more