All Pollution and Remediation articles
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NewsBloomNet turns lake data into early algal bloom warnings
A research team has developed BloomNet, an interpretable deep-learning framework that forecasts harmful algal blooms at hourly resolution up to 72 hours ahead while also showing how risk changes over time.
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NewsTire microplastics may accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance in cities
A new perspective article suggests that tire microplastics could create environmental hotspots that help antibiotic resistance genes persist, move between bacteria, and spread through cities.
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NewsCaterpillar that attacks soybeans and cotton harbors fungi that can degrade polystyrene
A moth caterpillar identified by the agribusiness sector as one of the most destructive pests of soybean, cotton, and corn crops may harbor fungi and bacteria in its gut that can degrade expanded polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam.
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NewsEngineered microbial communities offer a faster route to removing herbicide residues from soil
A new review highlights how carefully designed teams of microorganisms could offer a more effective way to break down herbicide contaminants than relying on individual microbial strains.
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NewsExpanding uses for bioengineered bacterial spores
Fused to the outer layer of bacterial spores, things like enzymes, biosensors, and drugs are easily stored under even extreme conditions.
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NewsCyanobacterial toxins can be inhaled
Research on Southwest Florida cyanobacterial blooms shows that the toxins they produce are aerosolized, potentially being inhaled by people far from contaminated water bodies.
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NewsHuman activities compromise coral health and resilience
Researchers discovered that 25 contaminants from agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical sources accumulated in the soft tissues of coral around Maui, Hawai‘i.
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NewsAntibiotic resistant gene found in Australian soil
A new study reveals a hidden source of antibiotic resistance. The novel gene found in contaminated freshwater NSW sediment provides bacteria with resistance to polymyxin - a critical last line antibiotic, used when others stop working.
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NewsLow carbon dioxide levels improve microbial production of biodegradable plastic
In an innovative gas fermentation process, reducing concentration of carbon dioxide was found to significantly improve microbial production of the biodegradable plastic, poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]. The study provides a promising strategy for sustainable carbon recycling and efficient CO2 utilization.
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NewsScientists receive DOW funding for fungal biotechnology research
Scientists have been awarded funding to develop new tools permitting high-throughput analysis of fungal genes. The grant focuses on species of Candida, which can contaminate and sometimes cause operational issues in DOW systems like aircraft fuel systems, vehicles, and electronics.
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NewsArctic microplastics: A ticking time bomb for climate feedback loops
A new study systematically maps the major transport pathways—atmospheric, oceanic, and local—and details how microplastics infiltrate Arctic food webs and interact with physical and biogeochemical processes that govern regional climate.
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NewsBiochar and smarter water management could help make rice safer in polluted soils
A new study suggests that pairing iron and manganese modified biochar with carefully chosen irrigation strategies can reduce cadmium and mercury buildup in rice, offering a practical path toward safer food production in co-contaminated paddy fields.
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NewsCommon COVID-19 drugs may pose hidden risks to marine life, study finds
A new study suggests that several drugs widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic can be toxic to marine organisms, even at relatively low concentrations. Five pharmaceuticals were tested on nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia salina.
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NewsNative litter jump-starts microbial recovery in mine soils
By applying litter collected from nearby native woodland to rehabilitated mine land, a study has shown increases in microbial diversity, enrichment of carbon- and nitrogen-cycling microorganisms, and stronger biochemical potential for soil organic matter decomposition and nitrogen mobilization.
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NewsSoil bacteria reveal hidden arsenic stress in brick kilns
Researchers collected soils from a shut-down brick kiln area. As arsenic levels increased, bacterial richness and diversity declined, while arsenic-tolerant groups became more abundant. The study also found that bacteria strengthened stress-response pathways and upregulated arsenic-resistance genes.
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NewsMovement of “forever chemicals” through the Great Lakes
New analysis of 42 years worth of biological records from the Great Lakes, unveils how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” have moved across the region, contaminating a variety of wildlife.
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NewsThree interlinked factors are needed to sustainably grow microbes for MICP
A new review investigates cost-effective and greener ways to grow microorganisms for use in Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP), a microbial process that precipitates calcium carbonate, and identifies three interlinked factors that determine success or failure.
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NewsNew biobank decodes survival secrets of extreme acid mine drainage microbes
Over 97 percent of microorganisms in acid mine drainage have never been cultured, leaving their metabolism and adaptation strategies locked as “microbial dark matter.” Now, a new culturomics‑driven resource called the Microbial Biobank of AMD (mbAMD) changes that.
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NewsBiochar may help stop antibiotics from escaping through hidden soil highways
A new study reveals that biochar can do more than simply trap pollutants. It may actively redirect antibiotic movement in structured soils, helping reduce the risk of contamination in nearby water systems.
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NewsBiochar’s hidden electron power could unlock cleaner pollution control and energy recovery
A new review highlights how biochar’s natural redox properties may help overcome key barriers to large-scale environmental applications.