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Sea turtle photographed by Lorianne DiSabato at the New England Aquarium in Boston, MA (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

To Sea Turtles, Ocean Plastic Smells Like Food

April 8, 2020April 7, 2020 Science Connectedanimal behavior, foraging, ocean plastic, pollution, sea turtles, sense of smell

Sea turtles may eat plastic found in the ocean because it builds up a layer of microorganisms and smells the same as their food, a new study finds.

Environment Health

Impact of Air Conditioning on Climate and Disease

April 6, 2020April 7, 2020 Science Connectedair conditioning, airborne infection, climate, disease, heat, ventilation

Air conditioning recirculates indoor air, leaving users more exposed to airborne disease and increasing carbon dioxide levels due to poor ventilation.

Ecology Environment Health Technology

Will We Ever Find a Microplastics Alternative?

March 25, 2020March 20, 2020 Science Connectedmicrobeads, microplastics, plastics, plastics pollution

A microplastics alternative is much in demand due to the harmful impact these tiny plastic particles have on the environment and human health.

Climate Change Environment

Washing clothes in short, cool cycles is better

March 23, 2020March 12, 2020 Science Connectedclothes, dye, laundry, microfibers, microplastics, washing

Washing laundry in quick, cold cycles reduces microfiber pollution and energy use, and keeps clothing in better condition so it lasts longer.

Animals Environment

Ants’ Love of Pee May Reduce Greenhouse Gas

March 4, 2020March 1, 2020 Science Connectedants, Australia, Greenhouse Gases, Nitrogen, Urine

Ants consume urine for its nitrogen content, and a new study shows that this helps ants thrive in sandy habitats and may even reduce greenhouse gases.

Biodiversity Climate Change Environment

Extreme Wildfires’ Effects on Australian Forests

February 17, 2020February 15, 2020 Science ConnectedAustralia, climate change, fire, global warming, wildfires, wildlife

By Jacqueline Mattos (@mattosjacq) Australia began 2020 facing the losses and catastrophic effects of the early fire season that began in September 2019. As of this writing, 33 people have died, and more than 2,200 homes have been lost—numbers that may increase, as some fires are still burning in the country, even after heavy rains have helped put out others. According to scientists, more than one billion animals have died in the wildfires, while more than 46 million acres of land have burned. Experts are saying that the Australian environment…

The water bear or moss piglet is a tiny invertebrate that's been around on Earth for more than half a billion years. This is a giant model at the AMNH's "Life at the Limits" exhibit. Photo courtesy of Eden, Janine, and Jim(CC BY 2.0)

Animals Biology Climate Change Environment

Even the Resilient Tardigrade Has an Achilles Heel

February 10, 2020January 30, 2020 Science Connectedclimate change, extreme temperature, resilience, rising temperature, tardigrade

By Shelby Nilsen (@shellbeegrace) Climate change is already affecting many habitats and ecosystems. As a result, scientists are working to understand how the rising temperatures we face might affect extant animals—that is, those species that are still surviving—including tardigrades, some of the toughest organisms around, which are well known for their ability to adapt to extreme environments. In the face of certain environmental cues, tardigrades enter cryptobiosis, a state in which all metabolic processes stop until the organism’s surroundings become favorable again. This remarkable survival tactic allows tardigrades to withstand…

Engineering Environment

Are Hydropower Dams the Future of Energy?

February 5, 2020January 28, 2020 Science Connectedclimate change, dam technology, energy generation, fossil fuels, hydroelectric energy, renewable energy

By Emily Folk @EmilySFolk Growing concerns about fossil fuels—especially their potential contributions to pollution and global warming—have individuals and governments around the globe looking for alternative sources of power. Hydropower is one of the oldest sources of electricity, already responsible for generating around 52 percent of the United States’ renewable electricity generation according to the National Hydropower Association. Hydroelectric dams are seen as some of the best options available. However, there are challenges that hydropower will need to overcome—otherwise, they may prevent the energy source’s widespread adoption. Current state of…

Bush Fires across Woy Woy Bay in New South Wales, Australia, Photo by Martin Snicer (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Climate Change Ecology Environment

Australian Bushfires vs Amazon Rain Forest Fires

January 28, 2020January 27, 2020 Science ConnectedAmazon, Australia, climate change, fires, global warming, rain forest

By Jacqueline Mattos (@mattosjacq) Year 2019 faced many climatic emergencies and devastating scenarios. The Amazon rainforest in Brazil was consumed by a number of fires that burned around 17.5 million acres of land, and Australia was ravaged by massive bushfires that have spread uncontrollably into 2020. There are many questions about the differences between these two events. From a large distance, they might look alike, but they actually present a lot of dissimilarities, making any comparison unfair. The evident and shocking number of deaths in Australia—both human and animal—already shows…

Climate Change Environment Geology

CO2 underground could combat climate change

January 13, 2020January 8, 2020 Science Connectedcarbon capture, carbon emissions, CCS, climate change, offshore drilling

By Mackenzie Myers, @kenzwrites Despite the scariness of already-manifesting climate change, lawmakers and researchers worldwide have identified strategies to help us fight it. Expanding renewable energy, replacing coal with natural gas, and making machines more energy-efficient are just a few tricks humankind has up its sleeves. At the center of all this, of course, is a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. According to a new study, one key to accomplishing that goal may lie far beneath the surface of the earth and yet be more accessible than you might…