Mulching plus remediation corrects contaminated lawns
Fargo ND (SPX) Jul 29, 2016 -
Petroleum-based spills on turfgrass can occur during lawn care and maintenance, primarily as a result of equipment failure or improper refueling. When these spills happen, hazardous hydrocarbons can contaminate soil and compromise the chemical balance of the grass and soil. The authors of a study in the June 2016 issue of HortTechnology found that application of mulching materials after soil rem ...
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Monsoon intensity enhanced by heat captured by desert dust
Austin TX (SPX) Jul 29, 2016 -
Variations in the ability of sand particles kicked into the atmosphere from deserts in the Middle East to absorb heat can change the intensity of the Indian Summer Monsoon, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin. The research was published in Scientific Reports, an open access journal from the publishers of Nature.
The Indian monsoon is a period of intense rainfal ...
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Utah State University geologists probe geological carbon storage
Logan UT (SPX) Jul 29, 2016 -
Effective carbon capture and storage or "CCS" in underground reservoirs is one possible way to meet ambitious climate change targets demanded by countries and international partnerships around the world. But are current technologies up to the task of securely and safely corralling buoyant carbon dioxide (CO2) for at least 10,000 years - the minimum time period required of most agreements?
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Nottingham Dollies prove cloned sheep can live long and healthy lives
Nottingham UK (SPX) Jul 28, 2016 -
Three weeks after the scientific world marked the 20th anniversary of the birth of Dolly the sheep new research, published by The University of Nottingham, in the academic journal Nature Communications has shown that four clones derived from the same cell line - genomic copies of Dolly - reached their 8th birthdays in good health. The video can be seen here.
Nottingham's Dollies - Debbie, ...
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Study highlights electric grids' vulnerabilities to extreme weather
Oak Ridge, Tenn. (UPI) Jul 29, 2016 -
Climate change is likely to expose electric grids to new threats. Researchers say electrical engineers and those who manage America's electrical grid need prepare for emerging vulnerabilities.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed new analysis strategies for identifying the parts of the electric grid that are most vulnerable to extreme weather.
"For the first ...
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Watering solar cells makes them grow ... in power
Onna, Japan (SPX) Jul 28, 2016 -
Perovskite solar cells are the rising star in the photovoltaic landscape. Since their invention, less than ten years ago, their efficiency has doubled twice and it is now over 22% - an astonishing result in the renewable energy sector.
Taking the name 'perovskite' from the light-harvesting layer that characterizes them, these solar cells are lighter, cheaper, and more flexible than the tra ...
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CryoSat sets new standard for measuring sea levels
Paris (ESA) Jul 28, 2016 -
Trying to measure sea levels around rugged coastlines is not always an easy task. ESA's CryoSat satellite is making a difference with its radar altimeter. Sea level is a very sensitive indicator of climate change, reflecting components of the climate system such as heat, glaciers and the melting of ice-sheets.
Precisely monitoring changes in the average level of oceans is vitally important ...
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