Environmental science
The latest chemistry news and research on environmental science, including atmosphere, climate, water and space, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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ResearchCovid pandemic’s disruption of industrial activity drove surge in methane in early 2020s
Levels of methane-degrading radicals decreased as a knock-on effect of the pandemic
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ResearchEmbodying polymer chemistry with a purpose by upcycling plastics and trapping PFAS
For Frank Leibfarth, focussing on reactivity and selectivity helps him bridge the gap between fundamental and applied research
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NewsHow air pollution is rewiring gut chemistry and fuelling chronic disease
The impact of air pollution on our bodies’ microbiomes is only just beginning to be uncovered
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WebinarTextiles in the age of sustainability: alternative methods for fabric dying and treatment
Learn about advances in sustainability of textile production – join us on 31 March
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FeatureHow RNA reveals clues to life’s origins on Earth
The discovery of catalytic RNA transformed our understanding of life’s beginnings. Clare Sansom explores how the RNA world hypothesis bridges the gap between non-living chemistry and the first cells
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ResearchThree nitrile molecules identified as fresh targets for life-hunting astronomers
Experiments at interstellar temperatures yield new chemical clues to the molecules that seed biology
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PodcastBench-stable butyllithium & secrets of Pompeii’s limescale
In this episode, we discuss the latest formulations designed to make a set of fiery reagents safer, explore what limescale can tell us about ancient civilizations and hear the latest headlines.
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OpinionThree centuries of Roman limescale reveals a dirty secret about Pompeii’s public baths
Carbon isotope ratios suggest that pre-aqueduct, the water was often contaminated with human waste
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NewsDeaths of municipal technicians in Zimbabwe from noxious gases linked to lack of chemistry expertise
An inability to pay good wages has seen technical talent leave the country with poorly-trained employees put at risk
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OpinionPlastic recycling’s perfect storm
Pending policies that demand more recycling cannot offset problems of high costs and competition from cheap virgin polymers
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NewsLeading environmental health journal defunded by Trump administration has been saved
The American Chemical Society will now publish Environmental Health Perspectives
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BusinessPlastic recycling is contracting when it needs to grow
High costs, oversupply of virgin polymers and complex political environment are challenging industry
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NewsAria for chemist who wants to tackle key challenge of our age
Chemistry World spoke to Mark Symes, an electrochemist heading up Aria’s geoengineering programme
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NewsProminent environmental health journal disappears, but it’s in transition
Environmental Health Perspectives, published by NIH for over 50 years, is suddenly gone but will soon move to a new, non-governmental publisher
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FeatureThe JWST reveals the molecular origins of planetary systems
The world’s most expensive infrared spectrometer – the James Webb Space Telescope – is unearthing extraordinary exoplanet chemistry. James Mitchell Crow looks to the skies
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OpinionAn analytical gold mine
How forensic techniques can help trace the origin of illegally sourced gold
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FeatureThe Antarctic manganese mystery
RRS Sir David Attenborough scientists are trying to measure the potentially crucial role of ocean manganese, finds Andy Extance. But how do you do cutting-edge science in the inhospitable Southern Ocean?
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BusinessTaking aerogel insulation from spacecraft to living space
Nanoplume’s bio-based materials are super-insulating but also cheap and scalable
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ResearchThe chemist using curry to understand indoor air pollution
Ashish Kumar’s research reveals how cooking shapes the air we breathe indoors
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OpinionWe’ll always have Paris… won’t we?
A decade on from Cop21, the Paris agreement has delivered change, but keeping it on track is getting harder