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Cooling a hidden threat for climate change and sustainable goals, says Oxford study

Envirotec Magazine

Past research suggests that growing international demand for cooling has the potential to drive one of the most substantial increases in greenhouse gas emissions in recent history. A new study, led by the University of Oxford and published on 19 October in Nature Sustainability , sets out a framework for delivering sustainable cooling.

Cooling 160
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Using urban forestry to fight for environmental justice

GreenBiz

And the shade they provide isn’t just good for picnics; trees absorb heat and release water vapor that cools the surrounding air. Forest Service estimates that trees reduce the energy consumption needed to cool homes in the U.S. by more than 7 percent. Heat is the biggest killer from [a] natural disaster perspective.".

Health 543
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Boiling tap water helps remove microplastics, says study

Envirotec Magazine

The effects of these particles on human health are still under investigation, though current studies suggest that ingesting them could affect the gut microbiome. Samples were boiled for five minutes and allowed to cool. Then, the team measured the free-floating plastic content.

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Aerosol appraisal

Envirotec Magazine

Aerosols in the atmosphere are obviously a concern given their potential to be injurious to health. But they also often have a cooling effect on the planet because of the way they interact with clouds. That creates more droplet surface area, which reflects more energy entering Earth’s atmosphere back to space and cools the planet.

Cooling 130
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Hibernating corals and the microbiomes that sustain them

Envirotec Magazine

As water temperatures cool, the coral retracts its tentacles, stops eating or responding to touch, and goes dormant. Our research found evidence for a shuffling during that dormant period that may help us identify microbial associates that are key to coral health and recovery from disturbance.”. Why does coral wake up?

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Will sweat help us survive climate change?

Grist

As the body tries to cool down, blood vessels widen, redirecting hot blood from the core of your body toward the surface. People over the age of 60, who account for an estimated 80 percent of the 12,000 heat-related deaths in the United States each year, often have health conditions that make heat more dangerous.

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AI pinpoints local pollution hotspots using satellite images

Envirotec Magazine

The algorithm picked out these city-block-sized satellite images as local hotspots (top) and cool spots (bottom) for air pollution in Beijing (image credit: Tongshu Zheng, Duke University). These have an established impact on human health given their ability to travel deep into the lungs. The Global Burden of Disease study ranked PM2.5

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