Earth Sciences

What if we could supply 85% of Japan’s electricity needs using infrastructure that already exists? Rooftop solar panels and electric vehicle batteries are the dynamic duo proposed by a new study.

A world-first multi-sensor detection of an intense gamma-ray flash has been observed by researchers from The University of Osaka, when two lightning leaders collided. Observations across a wide radiation spectrum enabled precise measurement of the electric current produced during this extreme event, and demonstrated that the gamma-ray flash preceded the collision of the lightning leaders between the thundercloud and the ground.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a non-precious metal catalyst for the efficient hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural to valuable tetrahydrofuran-based compounds under mild conditions. The catalyst, consisting of nickel carbide nanoparticles supported on alumina, achieved 90% furfural conversion under ambient hydrogen pressure. This result will help advance the development of energy-efficient, cost-effective processes for the conversion of biomass to valuable materials.

An analysis of satellite imagery of major river systems in the Philippines has revealed surprising insights into how rivers behave, with significant implications for river management in tropical settings.

How the core-mantle differentiation shaped volatile elements in the Earth

Large-scale multidisciplinary ecological survey reveals long-term changes in the eastern Indian sector of the Southern Ocean

New machine learning model cuts fluid simulation time from 45 minutes to 3

Enhanced westerly winds associated with global warming will strengthen the clockwise circulations and heat transport to the ice sheet in the East Antarctic coastal area.

Food waste accounts for about 30 per cent of Hong Kong's municipal solid waste in landfills, negatively impacting environmental ecology and wasting recyclable organic materials. To address this issue, the Zeshan Foundation has funded A Plastic Ocean Foundation in collaboration with academic partner Lingnan University’s Science Unit, and strategic partner Gaw Capital People’s Place, to launch an innovative food waste processing programme in April - the Bi-Loop Nature-Based Food Waste Regeneration Pilot Programme (the programme).

LES with an idealized terrain configuration reveals the effect of convection-environment interactions in extreme rainfall over mountainous islands.

Because of climate change, harmful algal blooms are increasing in frequency and intensity. New science helps demystify the frequent harmful algal blooms in the Pacific off the coast of Chile by studying how algae species interact with each other and their environment.

What created the Noto Peninsula landscape we know today? After examining the devastation from the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, researchers from Tohoku University have a theory.

Detailed study of a Greenland glacier’s flow rate reveals the impact of environmental conditions.

Tsuyoshi Watanabe uses corals to understand the environment of the past and what it can tell us about people living then.

A new study has lifted the lid on five species of root-lesion nematodes living in maize crops across New Zealand - and suggested the existence of a hitherto-unsuspected cryptic species.

Groundwater and multilevel cooperation in recovery efforts mitigated water crisis after flooding

A research team led by National Taiwan University used geochemical indicators from deep-sea sediments to reconstruct the upper ocean zonal gradients in the tropical Pacific during the last glacial period, providing valuable constraints for future climate projections.

Accidental clogging in geothermal wells reveals need for monitoring to ensure long-term usability

This annual event will bring together innovators, researchers, and industry leaders from around the world to spotlight groundbreaking advancements in sustainable energy and green technology.

Tsunamis can cause immense physical damage to ports, but the economic cost does not stop there. The resultant disruptions of shipping lanes result in billions of dollars in losses every day, as was seen in the 2011 tsunami that hit the Tohoku Region. To better assess the ripple effect a tsunami could cause to shipping lanes in the South China Sea, a group of international researchers carried out 104 tsunami simulations.

The distribution of traditional wild food sources in the Republic of Sakha could change significantly, affecting the diets and incomes of Indigenous rural communities who depend on them.

A boon to solar power, agriculture, and other industries, ADMU and MO scientists have found a way to improve sunny weather forecasts by as much as 94%.

Venice of the Pacific, Membrane transformers, Diverse meals, Nano dots and spirals & Extinct swimmers. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Balancing environmental conditions with energy-saving performance

In a pivotal move ahead of COP29, Applied Microbiology International (AMI) has partnered with leading global scientific organisations to issue a unified call to action, spotlighting microbial solutions as pivotal in combating climate change. In a strategic publication, released in multiple high-impact scientific journals at once, the joint paper advocates for the establishment of a global science-driven climate task force. This initiative aims to expedite the deployment of microbiome technologies, providing stakeholders worldwide with access to effective and immediate solutions

Research suggests that urban areas could reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by optimizing their urban form. However, the relationship between urban form and emissions is highly context-dependent and generalizations cannot be made.

The international team, led by Distinguished Chair Professor Chuan-Chou Shen of the Department, of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, uncovered Nan Madol's history by analyzing the ages of the site's coral rubbles. The research found that subsidence-related sea level rise and climate change posed serious threated to the construction and maintenance of Nan Madol, ultimately leading to the collapse of the chiefdom and abandonment of the site.

Data could help rethink climate change models regarding sources of carbon and CO2 sinks

GDC 2024 will explore how social, economic, and political factors influence the effectiveness of climate resilience strategies.

Crystallographic preferred orientation of phase D at high pressure and temperature