Articles tagged with "environmental-science"
"The Loss of Anybody at NOAA is Directly Connected to Services Lost By Every Individual in the United States" - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights the severe consequences of proposed budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), particularly targeting its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). The suggested reduction of $485 million would slash OAR’s funding to just over $171 million, effectively eliminating it as a line office. This would dismantle critical research efforts on climate change and atmospheric phenomena, reversing decades of scientific progress and severely undermining the United States’ ability to predict and prepare for extreme weather events such as hurricanes. The article underscores that despite having reliable NOAA data, recent storms like Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused significant destruction and loss, emphasizing the vital role NOAA plays in disaster preparedness. Key institutions such as the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS) and the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) face closure under the proposed cuts. These centers are essential for hurricane hunter missions that provide critical data for forecasting hurricane paths and intensities, contributing to nearly $5 billion in savings per major hurricane. The article stresses that shutting down these institutions would not only reduce forecasting accuracy but also lead to substantial financial and human costs. Additionally, NOAA’s Regional Climate Centers, which support farmers with climate data for managing frost, drought, and other weather-related risks, would cease operations, further impacting agricultural decision-making and resilience. In summary, the article argues that defunding NOAA’s research capabilities is both economically and socially detrimental, threatening public safety, agricultural productivity, and the nation’s ability to respond to climate change. It calls the proposed budget cuts absurd and inhumane, noting that maintaining and enhancing NOAA’s services is crucial for protecting lives, property, and the environment across the United States.
energyclimate-changeNOAAhurricane-predictionatmospheric-researchenvironmental-sciencedisaster-preparedness230 giant viruses discovered with surprising effects on ocean health
Researchers at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science have discovered 230 new giant viruses in the ocean, along with 530 new proteins, including nine associated with photosynthesis. These findings suggest that giant viruses can interfere with their hosts’ energy conversion processes, particularly in key marine microorganisms like algae, amoebas, and flagellates that form the base of the oceanic food chain. The study highlights the significant impact these viruses have on marine ecosystems, including their potential role in harmful algal blooms that affect human health globally. To identify these viruses, the team developed a novel computational tool called BEREN, which improved detection and classification of giant viruses from vast DNA sequencing datasets collected from nine major ocean sampling projects worldwide. Analysis revealed that these viruses carry genes involved in critical cellular functions such as carbon metabolism and photosynthesis, indicating they can alter host metabolism and influence marine chemical cycles. The research, published in npj Viruses, not only expands understanding of viral diversity and function in ocean ecosystems but also offers new avenues for monitoring environmental health and biotechnological applications.
energymarine-biologyphotosynthesisocean-virusesbiotechnologyenvironmental-scienceviral-genomicsMicrobes capture CO2, developed this trait by adopting harsh conditions
energyclimate-changecarbon-capturemicrobessustainabilityenvironmental-scienceextremophilesHồ nước thải có thể cung cấp 40 tấn đất hiếm mỗi năm
rare-earth-elementswastewater-treatmentmining-technologysustainable-resourcesenvironmental-sciencechemical-engineeringresource-extractionScientists Have Just Discovered a New Type of Electricity-Conducting Bacteria
energyelectricitybacteriaconductivitybiological-wireCandidatus-Electrothrixenvironmental-scienceCopernicus: Warmest March In Europe & Lowest Arctic Winter Sea Ice
climate-changeArctic-sea-iceEurope-weathertemperature-anomaliesenvironmental-scienceglobal-warmingCopernicus