Applying a low voltage to polluted river sediment can boost microbes’ natural ability to degrade harmful polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminants, according to a new study. The approach could be a cost-effective, sustainable strategy to bioremediate polluted sites.

Mercury, in the form of monomethylmercury, can accumulate in fish to high concentrations, presenting the greatest concern for human exposure to this potent neurotoxin. New long-term research of fish in a natural setting has shown that removal rates of the toxin from body tissues are likely to be even slower than thought.

Natural wetlands can provide effective long-term remediation of contamination from abandoned mines, new research suggests. The study examined a natural wetland receiving water from a copper mine in the UK, and showed that the water’s acidity and levels of toxic metals were significantly reduced once it had passed through the wetland.

The use of pesticides in orchards may be threatening populations of wild bees, which are important pollinators that increase crop productivity, a new study concludes. However, the damage was mitigated in areas where the orchards were surrounded by natural landscapes, such as deciduous forests.

Nutrient leaching, the movement of plant nutrients from soil to water, can have negative effects on aquatic ecosystems due to eutrophication, which reduces the oxygen available in water, causing species and habitat loss. Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA), which is based on ecological principles and integrates crop production and animal husbandry, may limit this effect. This study investigated the impact of ERA on agricultural fields in Finland, showing that the practice can reduce nitrogen leaching and may help to achieve agricultural nitrogen-reduction targets.

What has been the impact of Agricultural Environment Schemes (AES) on European farming? These schemes provide payments to farmers in return for the implementation of agri-environmental measures to encourage positive environmental outcomes and as a counterbalance to the profit incentive. The schemes might concentrate on low-intensity production, organic or integrated management or enhancement of biodiversity on farmland. This Thematic Issue presents recent peer-reviewed research examining the impacts AES have had on European farm ecosystems, biodiversity and farmers – and to what extent AES have benefited a range of animals and plants by increasing the number of individuals and species.

Biological control agents are an environmentally-friendly way of controlling pests and diseases on crops and are advocated in the EU’s Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive1. The authors of a new review of the current state of biological control refer to a recent UN report2 which states that it is possible to produce enough food to feed a world population of nine billion with substantially less chemical pesticides — and even without these pesticides if sufficient effort is made to develop biocontrol-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods. The study suggests that policy measures can speed up the development and use of environmentally-friendly crop protection.

Copper (Cu) is frequently used in agricultural practices, particularly in fungicides, used extensively in the management of permanent crops, such as vineyards, olive groves, and fruit orchards — all crops of significant economic importance to the EU. An investigation into the factors influencing Cu distribution in the topsoils of 25 EU Member States has identified that, in conjunction with other factors such as topsoil properties, land cover, and climate, such agricultural management practices play a role in influencing Cu concentration. The analysis used 21 682 soil samples from the EU-funded Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey (LUCAS)¹ and found that vineyards, olive groves, and orchards had the highest mean soil Cu concentrations of all land use categories. The findings highlight the major impact of land use and agricultural practices on soil Cu concentrations and emphasise a need for more sustainable land management practices.

Nano-sized particles of plastic can be more damaging to marine species than larger sized microplastics, a new study shows. Lab tests revealed that nanoplastics can damage cell membranes in tiny marine creatures called rotifers (Rotifera), disrupting their natural defences against toxicants. The researchers found that rotifers that had been exposed to nanoparticles of polystyrene were significantly more susceptible to the lethal effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

A recent study assesses new methods for comparing and predicting air quality data in Helsinki, Finland and Thessaloniki, Greece, that significantly improve the capability to analyse and predict air quality in these cities. There are good indications that the methods could be applied to other European cities.

Agriculture is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Researchers have developed a framework for estimating emissions of methane and nitrous oxides from agriculture, by updating the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach, which captures more detail about differences between locations.

Air pollution legislation has led to reduced ozone pollution in rural areas in western Mediterranean countries; however, levels in urban and suburban areas are still increasing, new research concludes. This suggests that ground-level ozone, linked to human health issues as well as environmental damage, has the potential to become a more significant air quality issue than previously believed, the researchers say.

Levels of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are falling at urban and rural sites in Europe and North America, according to recent research. These results contribute to growing evidence demonstrating that the legislation to reduce these harmful emissions has been successful. Concentrations of PAHs in urban areas were highest, the researchers found, but they were also declining at the fastest rate.

Ammonia released by nitrogen fertilisers in Spanish agriculture could be reduced by up to 82% with only a very minimal impact on crop yield, finds new research. This could be achieved by combining optimised management of manure with the use of non-urea synthetic fertilisers.

Small streams are important refuges for biodiversity, yet knowledge of the effects of agricultural pesticides on these freshwater bodies is limited. Researchers have used national monitoring data to determine the number of small streams in Germany where regulatory acceptable concentrations (RACs) of pesticides are exceeded. An analysis of data covering almost 500 pesticides and over 2 000 small streams suggests that agricultural land use is a major contributor of pesticides to streams. Overall, RACs were exceeded at 26% of sampled streams, and exceedances were 3.7 times more likely if a stream was near agricultural land. This finding may have implications for environmental monitoring and agri-environmental measures.

A recent analysis highlights advances in the field of synthetic biology and efforts to develop approaches that will prevent non-natural organisms from interfering with natural organisms and ecosystems. It suggests that synthetic organisms could be developed with inbuilt ‘firewalls’ that prevent genetic interactions with other organisms.

Applying a low voltage to polluted river sediment can boost microbes’ natural ability to degrade harmful polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminants, according to a new study. The approach could be a cost-effective, sustainable strategy to bioremediate polluted sites.

Myke makes an official statement, Grey drives a truck across Europe, and they both discuss sharing responsibilities in their business.

Former professional ghost hunter Darren Lee Willbourne now turns ‘ghost guru’ in his newly published book, The Ghost Guru Volume 1: Steampunking the Supernatural.

Scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have created a paper-like material derived from pollen that bends and curls in response to changing levels of environmental humidity....

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Instead of coloring Valentine’s treats with artificial red dye, try one of these natural red dye alternatives for cupcakes, cookies and more.

A new study shows that 20 percent of UNESCO World Heritage Sites are at risk, bringing to light the cultural implications of climate change.

I just had my 36-week checkup at the gynecologist and they told me that my baby is breech, meaning that if it doesn’t go head-down soon, I’m going to have t

UNESCO protects more than landmarks and culturally-significant sites. There are intangible parts of culture that are important, too.

Challenge those viruses with science-proven treatments that could help you get better faster.

Once you have the virus, cold sores can appear with little warning. Here's what you can do to treat and prevent these unsightly blemishes.

These home remedies can help you tackle that pesky poison ivy rash the natural way.

After trying several methods to remove the label glue from the bottles, I finally found the winner.

Suffering from hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia or anxiety? Hormonal imbalance could be to blame — try these natural remedies to get things back on track.

Pesky insects can be a real pain during summer outdoor activities, but these simple remedies ease the aftermath of a bee sting.

From wound salve and cough syrup to dandruff cure, honey comes to the rescue to solve a variety of body issues.

Herbals and natural food alternatives may offer you a chance to skip the pills next time you're sick.

There are some ingredients right in your kitchen that can help improve psoriasis.

Most women know the burning, itching signs of a yeast infection, but before reaching for an OTC medication, you might try these natural home remedies.

Though insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, it's a symptom (usually of some form of stress) rather than a disease.

Want to ditch that annoying itch from mosquito bites? These natural remedies can provide itch relief so you can get back to enjoying the great outdoors.

Avoid harsh chemicals on your pet with these natural methods for pet flea prevention and treatment.

If you have stinky feet, here are some tried-and-true natural remedies to keep foul foot odor at bay.

Overdo it in the sun? From aloe vera to baking soda to oatmeal, these common household supplies make effective homemade sunburn remedies.

From ear gunk to constipation, you might be able to tackle these issues naturally with your pet. But first, talk to your veterinarian.

Pike Research forecasts huge boost in NGV market — but there will only be 26,000 natural gas refueling stations worldwide.

Before reaching for commercial pesticides, try these solutions first to keep bees, butterflies and beneficial bugs safe.

If you’re concerned about the health effects of regular deodorants, here are some natural homemade deodorant options.

Wind energy and natural gas could be a formidable solution for America's energy problem.

Although natural gas is considered comparably safer and better for the planet than other fossil fuels, there are drawbacks.

Meanwhile, increasing domestic oil production (and shipping it by rail) is expected to spur the billionaire's profits.

The school plans to fund a study on the effects of fracking by allowing the controversial extraction process to take place on 8,000 acres in Cumberland Forest.

natural gas trucks

Learn about the natural world past and present at these outstanding museums