"Supervillain" CO2 has "henchmen" like NO2 and methane to amplify global warmingSeptember 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have said that in the fight against global warming, "supervillain" carbon dioxide (CO2) should not be solely targeted, as there are harmful greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane, which are the "henchmen" of CO2. According to a report in National Geographic News, several "henchmen" gases-some even more potent than CO2-have also been building up in Earth's atmosphere.
Scientists turn the tables on old truth about nitrogen mixing in oceansSeptember 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A Princeton University-led team of scientists has turned the tables on a long-standing controversy to re-establish an old truth about nitrogen mixing in the oceans. For decades, scientists thought they had a handle on the workings of an intricate natural mechanism known as the nitrogen cycle, essential to maintaining life on Earth.
'Laughing gas' leaves ozone layer in splitsAugust 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has determined that nitrous dioxide, popularly known as 'laughing gas', has now become the largest ozone-depleting substance emitted through human activities, and is expected to remain the largest throughout the 21st century. The study was authored by A.R.
Ancient Chinese herbal formulas for heart can produce nitric oxideAugust 19th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Ancient Chinese herbal formulas, primarily used for cardiovascular indications like heart disease, can produce large amounts of artery-widening nitric oxide, according to a study at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,
Nitric oxide is crucial to the cardiovascular system because it signals the inner walls of blood vessels to relax, which facilitates the flow of blood through the heart and circulatory system. The messenger molecule also eliminates dangerous clots, lowers high blood pressure and reduces artery-clogging plaque formation.
Diatoms can also drive large-scale phytoplankton bloom in southwest Indian OceanAugust 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have found that the large-scale autumn bloom of microscopic marine algae known as phytoplankton in the southwest Indian Ocean was driven by diatoms in 2005, not by nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae. The observations were made by researchers based at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS), during a 2005 hydrographic survey south and east of Madagascar while aboard the royal research ship RRS Discovery.
Scientists use camera flash to turn insulating material into conductorAugust 13th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Can camera flash actually turn an insulating material into a conductor? Yes, if Northwestern University researchers are to be believed. Lead researcher Jiaxing Huang, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science have found a novel way of turning graphite oxide - a low-cost insulator made by oxidizing graphite powder-into graphene, a material that conducts electricity.
Scientists discover ozone-boosting chemical reactionJuly 21st, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, scientists at University of California Irvine (UCI) have discovered a previously unknown chemical reaction that could account for up to 40 parts per billion of ozone. This reaction is not included in computer models used to predict air pollution levels and the effectiveness of ozone control strategies that can cost billions of dollars.
Ozone and nitrogen change the way rising CO2 affects Earth's waterJuly 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A team of NASA-funded researchers have found that future concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and ozone in the atmosphere and of nitrogen in the soil are likely to have an important but overlooked effect on the cycling of water from sky to land to waterways. With the help of a modeling experiment, the researchers concluded that models of climate change may be underestimating how much water is likely to run off the land and back into the sea as atmospheric chemistry changes.
How plants use nitrogen to invade and take over native plantsJuly 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), US, gives important new information on how plants can change "nitrogen cycling" to gain nitrogen and how this allows plant species to invade and take over native plants. In the research, UNL biologist Johannes Knops has demonstrated how one invasive plant species replaces native species because of its ability to take up and hold on to nitrogen.
EPA is proposing regulations to cut air pollution from oceangoing tankers and cargo shipsJuly 1st, 2009 EPA proposes regulations to cut ship pollutionWASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing tougher rules to reduce air pollution from large oceangoing ships, including oil tankers and cargo vessels. The agency announced Wednesdays it is beginning work on a regulation that would cut harmful chemicals releases from smokestacks of ships within 200 miles of the U.S.
EPA proposes tougher clean air rule for nitrogen dioxide to help stem respiratory ailmentsJune 29th, 2009 EPA proposes tougher clean air ruleWASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Monday proposed to strengthen a key air pollution health standard to better protect children and people with respiratory illnesses. The Environmental Protection Agency said it wants to tighten the air quality requirement for nitrogen dioxide that is released from motor vehicles, coal burning power plants and factories.
Indian origin scientist develops tool that can search best solutions for pollution controlJune 16th, 2009 Washington, June 16 (ANI): A scientist of Indian origin has designed a tool that takes into consideration all feasible solutions for decreasing non-point source pollution for the amount of money available. The scientist in question is Indrajeet Chaubey, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, Purdue University.
Humans are disrupting the nitrogen cycle, say scientistsJune 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have determined that humans are disrupting the nitrogen cycle by altering the amount of nitrogen that is stored in the biosphere. The chief culprit for disruption in the nitrogen cycle is fossil fuel combustion, which releases nitric oxides into the air that combine with other elements to form smog and acid rain.
Sea cucumbers inspire sponge that absorbs CO2May 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - An Australian researcher has suggested that the porous structure of sea cucumbers could be the perfect model to create a sponge that absorbs C02 (carbon dioxide) and boosts hydrogen fuel production. According to a report by ABC News, the researcher in question is Chemical engineer Dr Andrew Harris of the University of Sydney.
Commercial ships spew half as much pollution as world's carsFebruary 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Commercial ships account for almost half as much particulate pollution as the total amount released by cars, according to a new study. The study estimate that worldwide, ships emit about a million kilos of particulate pollution each year.
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