Engineers from UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have been actively involved in recovery efforts and mitigation strategies following the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles in January 2025. Their efforts have included field reconnaissance, soil and water testing, and infrastructure mapping to better understand the fires' lasting effects and enhance preparedness for future disasters. Professor Sanjay Mohanty and students have conducted soil testing on over 1,000 properties to analyze levels of toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, and hexavalent chromium, providing valuable data for ongoing recovery and prevention efforts.
Author: Enn
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Environmental News Network – New ‘Hydrogel’ Makes Personal Hygiene Products Greener
Dr. Tizazu Mekonnen, a chemical engineering professor at the University of Waterloo, has developed a natural, superabsorbent hydrogel that can reduce the environmental impact of personal hygiene products such as diapers, menstrual pads, and tampons. Unlike synthetic materials, this new hydrogel degrades in soil within three months, offering a more sustainable alternative for these products. By creating eco-friendly materials to replace non-degradable components in hygiene products, Dr. Mekonnen's innovation provides a promising solution for reducing waste and promoting environmental sustainability in the personal care industry.
https://www.enn.com/articles/77652-new-hydrogel-makes-personal-hygiene-products-greener
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Environmental News Network – Solar Hydrogen Can Now Be Produced Efficiently Without the Scarce Metal Platinum
A research team at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has developed a new method to produce hydrogen gas using sunlight, water, and electrically conductive plastic particles, eliminating the need for scarce and expensive platinum. This breakthrough offers a sustainable and cost-effective way to produce hydrogen, crucial for renewable energy efforts, without the environmental and health risks associated with platinum. The research, published in Advanced Materials, demonstrates the efficient production of hydrogen gas from solar energy without the use of platinum, offering a promising solution for environmentally friendly hydrogen production.
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Environmental News Network – Drone Monitoring Helps Dolphins
A new study from Flinders University utilized drone-based thermal images to measure dolphin surface temperature and respiration rates non-invasively, aiming to provide reliable tools for monitoring dolphin health in the face of environmental pressures. Traditional health checks for dolphins can be stressful due to capture or invasive probes, but drones equipped with thermal cameras offer a less invasive and more accessible method for monitoring dolphin populations and supporting conservation efforts.
https://www.enn.com/articles/77639-drone-monitoring-helps-dolphins
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Environmental News Network – Spray-on Antibacterial Coating Offers New Protection for Plants Against Disease and Drought
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a spray-on polymer coating to help plants resist bacterial infections and survive drought, which could strengthen global food security. Bacterial infections are a growing threat to agriculture, causing major crop losses worldwide. Rising temperatures are allowing pathogens to expand into new regions, increasing crop exposure to infections. Researchers developed an antibacterial coating that can be sprayed directly onto plant leaves to combat this challenge, offering a promising solution to enhance crop resilience and food production in the face of climate change.
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Environmental News Network – How Climate Policies that Incentivize and Penalize Can Drive the Clean Energy Transition
A new study published in Nature Climate Change by researchers from UC San Diego and Princeton University shows that a combination of subsidies for clean energy and taxes on pollution can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The study's economic models demonstrate that these policies can drive rapid adoption of cleaner technologies in the near term. The research emphasizes the importance of both financial incentives and penalties for polluters in combating climate change, shedding light on effective climate policy discussions. This highlights the need for comprehensive approaches to address the issue and underscores the significance of implementing a mix of policies to achieve significant emissions reductions.
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Environmental News Network – UC San Diego Launches Soil Health Center to Advance Climate Solutions, Food Security
The University of California San Diego has established the UC San Diego Soil Health Center at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in Southern California, dedicated to advancing climate solutions through soil health research, education, and outreach. The center's focus is on building and maintaining soil health to mitigate climate change, enhance food security, and boost societal resilience. By bringing together experts from different fields, the center aims to drive sustainable technology innovations, such as creating a natural soil probiotic to enhance plant growth and increase carbon storage in the soil.
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Environmental News Network – New Window Insulation Blocks Heat, but Not Your View
Physicists at CU Boulder have created a groundbreaking material called MOCHI that can be applied to windows to improve energy efficiency in buildings globally. This transparent and long-lasting insulator does not obstruct the view through the window, unlike traditional materials. MOCHI addresses the need for transparent insulators to block heat exchange, offering a promising solution for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Climate solutions experts should take note of this innovative technology as a potential tool for combating climate change.
https://www.enn.com/articles/77569-new-window-insulation-blocks-heat-but-not-your-view
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Environmental News Network – A New Approach to Carbon Capture Could Slash Costs
Chemical engineers at MIT have developed a more energy-efficient method for capturing carbon emissions from industrial plants by incorporating a common chemical compound into capture solutions. By using tris to stabilize the pH of the solution, the system can absorb more CO2 at lower temperatures, potentially allowing the technology to operate on waste heat or sunlight. This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce costs and make carbon capture more efficient and affordable, ultimately aiding in the global effort to combat climate change.
https://www.enn.com/articles/77563-a-new-approach-to-carbon-capture-could-slash-costs
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Environmental News Network – When Spending Less Delivers More Climate-Friendly Nutrition
A global study from Tufts University published in Nature Food found that eating healthy can save money and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to current food choices. The study identified locally available foods that meet nutritional needs with low emissions and costs, challenging the belief that climate-friendly eating is expensive. Lead researcher William A. Masters emphasized the importance of considering both cost and emissions when making food choices, highlighting that cheaper food options generally have lower emissions within each food group. This research provides valuable insights for climate solutions experts looking to promote sustainable and affordable food choices.
https://www.enn.com/articles/77552-when-spending-less-delivers-more-climate-friendly-nutrition