Environment

Desalinization has become a convenient way of sourcing fresh water. The process involves forcing seawater through a reverse-osmosis process using membranes. These devices used here have pores that favor the passage of molecules with the size and properties of water, but not of other substances (e.g., sodium chloride). Therefore, they can deliver the isolation of fresh potable liquid from the normally undrinkable water.

Many species of bees are in decline, worldwide. This phenomenon poses a risk to plant life, both in the wild and those involved in human agriculture. Should the bee-populations become significantly reduced, this may create a gap between flower maturity and pollination, without which many plants would not survive. Therefore, it is in our interest to study (and hopefully eradicate) the causes of bee decline.

A large and growing literature estimates the effects of climate change, but these numbers vary widely, and there is a debate surrounding how they should be applied for policymaking. Though long-term outcomes remain uncertain, policymakers should plan for updates to the policy, adjust their goals, and account for new information, technology, and diplomatic developments.

The concept of carrying capacity is employed in a remarkably wide range of disciplines and debates, and it has been forcefully critiqued within numerous fields. Though, its historical origins still remain obscure.

Northern California is currently suffering from some of the worst wildfires the state has ever seen, including the ongoing Mendocino Fire, which is now the largest fire in recorded history.

Both the olfactory system and the central brain function of marine or saltwater fishes are being compromised by elevated carbon dioxide levels.

Fingerprint studies, predicted by climatic models, use pattern information to separate human and natural influences on the climate. Most fingerprint research relies on patterns of climate change that are averaged out over decades.

The National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) has estimated that millions of earthquakes take place globally that go undetected or are unreported. This could be due to their occurrence in remote locations or with small magnitudes.

Discarded electronics are a potential hazard to the environment and to human living space. These products are still likely to end up in a landfill, in developed and developing countries, particularly as China does not need them anymore.

There are initiatives in many countries to increase the uptake or popularity of renewable or sustainable fuels. It is possible that hydrogen is the best-known and most feasible of these. However, it appears that there is a new, even more, familiar player in the game.

Tesla may appear to be in some trouble these days - their new electric vehicle, the Model 3, is way behind schedule in terms of production, with some customers even canceling their pre-orders over the delays.

The fossil fuel industry has historically been powerful, successful and lucrative for various reasons, globally.