W.Va. spill exposes a new risk to water from coal

The chemical spill that contaminated water for hundreds of thousands of West Virginians is just the latest and most high-profile case of coal polluting the nation's waters.

Investigate 'comminution' as an alternative to fracking

(Phys.org) —Hydraulic fracturing, popularly known as fracking—a method used to extract oil and natural gas from rock deep within the earth—has great economic benefits for the U.S. but not without environmental costs. ...

How tiny organisms make a big impact on clean water

Nearly every body of water, from a puddle or a pond to a vast ocean, contains microscopic organisms that live attached to rocks, plants, and animals. These so-called sessile suspension feeders are critical to aquatic ecosystems ...

Blueprint for reusing Europe's old industrial sites

In densely populated Europe, the effective use of all available land is essential for economic growth. In this context, so-called 'brownfields' - abandoned or underused industrial and commercial facilities - provide an opportunity ...

Dust storms in Africa affect US and the Caribbean's air quality

You might find it hard to believe that dust clouds from the African Sahara can travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean, but it does every year and in large quantities. In a recent study, Joseph Prospero, professor ...

Pollutant-eating bacteria not so rare

(Phys.org) —Dioxane, a chemical in wide industrial use, has an enemy in naturally occurring bacteria that remove it from the environment. Researchers at Rice University have found that these bacteria are more abundant at ...

Old concrete can protect nature

Usually we think of demolished concrete walls and floors as environmental contaminants, but in fact this material may turn out to be a valuable resource in nature protection work. This is the conclusion from researchers from ...

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