Environmental impact – Science & research news

Toward more energy-efficient cruise ships

March 12, 2019

An EPFL researcher has developed a system based on fuel cells to reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of cruise ships, which are increasingly popular among vacation goers around the world; Frontiers in Energy Research [...]

Squid could provide an eco-friendly alternative to plastics

February 22, 2019

Self-healing fabric, abrasion-resistant coatings, precision drug delivery and smart textiles are among the potential applications of squid 'ring tooth' protein; Frontiers in Chemistry [...]

Warning over deep-sea ‘gold rush’

February 15, 2019

Harmful deep sea mining could be avoided altogether if humanity moves towards a "circular economy" that focuses on reuse and recycling of metals, reduces overconsumption and limits built-in obsolescence of technology; Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

It’s not trails that disturb forest birds, but the people on them

January 4, 2019

Image of people walking on a forest trail. Research finds that frequently used forest trails have fewer birds - even when the trails have been used for decades - showing a negative environmental impact of trails: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Frequently used forest trails have fewer birds and not as many species - even when the trails have been used for decades: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

How safe is GM cotton?

September 28, 2018

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology: GM cotton in Mexico is delivering monster crops, without the Frankenstein – thanks to traditional farming practices and use of non-GM crop ‘refuges’.

GM cotton in Mexico is delivering monster crops, without the Frankenstein – thanks to traditional farming practices and use of non-GM ‘refuges’; Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. [...]

Invaluable to the medical industry, the horseshoe crab is under threat

August 15, 2018

Horseshoe crab blood is invaluable for drug and safety testing, but unsustainable commercial demand threatens these 'living fossils': Frontiers in Marine Science

Horseshoe crab blood is invaluable for drug and safety testing, but this commercial demand threatens these 'living fossils': Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Effects of munitions in the seas only partially known

June 27, 2018

New review identifies significant knowledge gaps on the environmental impact of old ammunition on marine ecosystems: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Impact of fishing gear entanglement deduced from whale hormone levels

June 8, 2018

Hormone analysis provides a new way to understand the effects of fishing gear entanglement on endangered whale species: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Is Big Data the solution to climate challenges? Professor John Kimball provides insights

May 16, 2018

John Kimball, Chief Editor Data Driven Climate Sciences, Frontiers in Big Data

The Chief Editor of the Data-Driven Climate Sciences section of Frontiers in Big Data talks about what Big Data means for the environment and sustainability. [...]

High levels of hazardous chemicals found in plastics collected from Lake Geneva

April 18, 2018

The first analysis of plastic from the lake's beaches finds cadmium, mercury and lead, sometimes at levels exceeding those permitted under EU law: Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

Commercial pesticides: Not as safe as they seem

March 15, 2018

Lack of testing on adjuvants in commercial pesticide formulations ignores the potential risk of these on people and the environment: Frontiers in Public Health [...]

High levels of microplastics found in Northwest Atlantic fish

February 21, 2018

Marine science: plastic pollution mesopelagic fish

Study finds microplastics in 73 percent of mesopelagic fish caught in the Northwest Atlantic - one of the highest levels globally: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Organic food provides significant environmental benefits to plant-rich diets

February 15, 2018

Environmental impact of organic vegetarian food

The study of more than 34,000 people is the first to investigate the environmental impacts of both food choices and farm production systems: Frontiers in Nutrition [...]

Modern man vs. giant animals

February 12, 2018

Megafauna extinction mammoth woolly rhinoceros giant sloth

Extinct herbivorous megafauna -- like woolly rhinos, giant sloths and mammoths -- were displaced by humans who partly took their place in the ecosystem: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Seabed mining could destroy deep sea ecosystems

February 2, 2018

Marine science: environmental impact of deepsea mining

The first global overview of seabed mining highlights potential environmental impacts, knowledge gaps and areas for future research: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Wild grape yeast could be more effective than pesticides in preventing grape molds

November 7, 2017

Wild grapes contain a huge variety of yeasts that can inhibit grape molds, and offer an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides.

A wild yeast described in Frontiers in Microbiology could be an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. [...]

Virtual coasts improve understanding of possible coastal planning outcomes

October 28, 2017

coastal-visualization-simulation-planning-animation

A simulation described in Frontiers in Marine Science helps people to assess the aesthetic aspects of proposed coastal developments and their effect on the marine environment. [...]

Waterside lighting drastically disrupts wildlife in the surrounding ecosystem

October 24, 2017

waterside-lighting-ecosystem-bioverdiversity

Streetlights affect insects and spiders living beneath the lights, finds a study in Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

House sparrow decline linked to air pollution and poor diet

October 6, 2017

City sparrows have higher levels of free-radical damage than their country cousins, especially during breeding season, finds a study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. [...]

Does the European public understand the impacts of climate change on the ocean?

July 17, 2017

The European public perceive ocean pollution as the most severe human impact on the ocean, however they are not well informed on ocean acidification caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Melting sea ice, coastal flooding, sea level rise, and extreme weather events were also of concern. Interestingly, nations that have already been coping with problems, such as the Dutch with sea level rise and the Norwegians with sea-ice loss, are the least concerned with the impacts of climate change.

First in-depth study, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, looking at public engagement with marine climate change issues across 10 European countries. [...]

Are drones disturbing marine mammals?

February 15, 2017

Is noise pollution by drones interfering with marine wildlife research? [...]

How your diet can influence your environmental impact

October 31, 2016

By Hedwig Ens, Frontiers The impact of our dietary choices on the global phosphorus footprint shouldn’t be neglected, recent research in Frontiers in Nutrition [...]

Don’t fear GM crops, they could help solve the sustainability crisis

September 12, 2016

by Emily Barker, Frontiersin.org Modified crops are nothing to be scared of and could be essential in solving the global sustainability crisis, explained Dr. James Lloyd, [...]