Latest news with #environmentalresearch
New York Times
08-08-2025
- Business
- New York Times
E.P.A. to Stop Updating Popular Database After Lead Scientist Criticized Trump
The Environmental Protection Agency said it would stop updating research that hundreds of companies use to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions after the agency suspended the database's creator because he had signed a letter criticizing the Trump administration's approach to scientific research. The researcher, Wesley Ingwersen, is leaving the E.P.A. to pursue his work at Stanford University. He was one of 139 E.P.A. employees suspended and investigated by the agency after signing the June letter, which charged that Mr. Trump's policies 'undermine the E.P.A. mission of protecting human health and the environment.' Dr. Ingwersen led work on a statistical model that combines environmental and economic data to calculate the carbon footprints — what experts refer to as emissions factors — of a range of goods and services, from making steel to flying planes to growing apples. The open-source data sets help companies understand the greenhouse gases generated by each step in their supply chains. The database is the third most viewed of more than 281,000 federal data sets on the government's public data repository. An earlier version of the database is among the top 10 most viewed. The data sets will remain publicly available but will not be updated to reflect the current state of the economy, rendering them less useful over time. Dr. Ingwersen will move his work to Stanford through a consortium with two private companies, which has pledged to continue updating the information and making it free to the public. Ten most viewed federal datasets, as of Aug. 7 Source: Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Agilent and Nanyang Technological University's NEWRI Sign Agreement to Enhance Water Contaminant Research in Singapore
SINGAPORE, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) announced the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), outlining their collaboration in advancing environmental and water research over the next three years. NEWRI is a leading research institute at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), ranked 13th globally for Environmental Sciences by QS World University Ranking in 2025¹. The collaboration aims to further strengthen Singapore's capabilities in detecting emerging contaminants, such as microplastics, in the face of growing concerns. This marks the third partnership between Agilent and NEWRI in the context of environmental contaminant research addressing Singapore's national priorities in water needs and wastewater treatment. The strategic collaboration leverages Agilent's next-generation technologies, including an extensive portfolio of LC/MS systems, ICP-MS series, Seahorse XF technology, xCELLigence real-time cell analyzer, and LDIR chemical imaging spectroscopy. Through the development of advanced analytical and bioanalytical methods and building relevant databases, this partnership enables new chemical and bioassay screenings and applications, supporting continuous efforts in environmental sustainability. Professor Wang Rong, Executive Director of NEWRI, highlighted, "We are really excited to take our partnership with Agilent to the next level. Over the past 12 years, NEWRI has made significant contributions in the detection of emerging contaminants, developing robust methods to identify these challenging compounds. This collaboration will pool our strengths and deliver more impactful outcomes in advancing environmental monitoring and protection." Bharat Bhardwaj, Vice President of Sales for Asia Pacific, said, "This enduring partnership exemplifies the trust that NEWRI places in our groundbreaking innovations, which bring transformative science to reality. With a robust presence spanning over 25 years and a dedicated team of 600 local experts in Singapore, we take immense pride in advancing targeted projects alongside our collaboration partner. Together, we are pioneering new pathways in safe water testing, addressing the challenges posed by emerging contaminants." Over the past decade, NEWRI has advanced new solutions in low energy desalination, cutting-edge solid-waste solutions, autonomous water treatment systems, and resource recovery. The R&D work is supported in part by a remarkable array of Agilent's state-of-the-art analytical instruments, deployed across multiple projects nationwide. As a well-established local supplier in Singapore, Agilent has grown its presence since 1999. In 2022, the company was recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a global leader in Factory Lighthouse for responsible scaling through smart manufacturing that prioritizes the environment and people. Agilent remains the sole analytical and clinical laboratory technology company worldwide to be recognized by WEF. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, delivering insights and innovation that help our customers bring great science to life. Agilent's full range of solutions includes instruments, software, services, and expertise that provide trusted answers to our customers' most challenging questions. The company generated revenue of $6.51 billion in fiscal year 2024 and employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at To receive the latest Agilent news, subscribe to the Agilent Newsroom. Follow Agilent on LinkedIn and Facebook. About Nanyang Technological University, Singapore A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 35,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Business, Computing & Data Science, Engineering, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, Medicine, Science, and Graduate colleges. NTU is also home to world-renowned autonomous institutes – the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering – and various leading research centres such as the Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute and Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N). Under the NTU Smart Campus vision, the University harnesses the power of digital technology and tech-enabled solutions to support better learning and living experiences, the discovery of new knowledge, and the sustainability of resources. Ranked amongst the world's top universities, the University's main campus is also frequently listed among the world's most beautiful. Known for its sustainability, NTU has achieved 100% Green Mark Platinum certification for all its eligible building projects. Apart from its main campus, NTU also has a medical campus in Novena, Singapore's healthcare district. For more information, visit Media Contacts Grace ThongAgilent Technologies +65 9688 Lester Kok Wei Ming Nanyang Technological University, Singapore +65 97415593 lesterkok@ ¹ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Agilent Technologies
CBC
23-07-2025
- Science
- CBC
3-year study to help First Nations in Ontario's far north adapt to climate change
Social Sharing Indigenous communities in Ontario's far north are participating in a three-year study to understand the impacts of climate change and how communities along the James Bay coast can better adapt to those changes. "What we want to do is prepare our communities," said Barb Duffin, director of Cree Geomatics with Mushkegowuk Council, which represents seven northern First Nations. "So they're seeing flooding in the spring, they're seeing dryness in the summer, shorter times for freezing up for road transportation, changing tides." Cree Geomatics is working with Mushkegowuk's lands and resources department, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Up North On Climate centre at Laurentian University for the study. One of the key components for the research will be the collection of aerial photos of the coastline in July, which can be compared with archival maps and photos to show recent erosion. "The biggest thing we want to do is compare now what we're taking to what's available, say back to 1960 or 1970," Duffin said. She said there's also a traditional knowledge component to the research project. "Traditional knowledge has been collected over the last decade and a half, two decades on different projects," Duffin said. "And that information that's given to us and documented by our elders and from our land users shows us where they've used the land." Duffin said some Cree communities, such as Kashechewan First Nation, are already prone to flooding in the spring. "Do we start building our homes on stilts?" she asked. Roxanne Metlin, the climate resiliency co-ordinator with Mushkegowuk Council, said climate change has also affected wildlife in Ontario's far north. "You have the elders going out with the young harvesters. What they know or what they can teach… about growing up on that land is changing," she said. Metlin said some animal species more common to the south, such as porcupines, are now migrating north due to the warming climate. That means locals need to learn about new plants and animals that were not typically found in the region.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers make alarming discovery after analyzing feces of wild cat species: 'Can cause severe damage'
A study has found plastic contamination in fishing cat waste throughout India's Sundarbans wetlands, The Times of India reported. Scientists from the University of Calcutta analyzed scat samples from fishing cats across four locations in the Sundarbans and discovered microplastics in every sample tested. The plastic pieces ranged from 0.1 to 0.9 millimeters and included fibers, beads, pellets, foam, sheets, and fragments. "Microplastics detected in the scat samples of fishing cats are mainly fibres with some beads and pellets, foam, sheets and fragments," said Samrat Chakraborty, who led the study at Calcutta University's zoology department. The analysis confirmed the plastic came from high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and other common materials found in tourist and industrial waste. The contamination affects more than just the cats themselves. Researchers also found plastic in the region's soil, water, vegetation, rodents, fish, and crabs. The study identified tourism activities, discarded fishing nets, and industrial waste from Kolkata as the primary sources of this pollution. Plastic particles can cause gastrointestinal problems, making it harder for fishing cats to digest food and absorb nutrients properly. "This can result in behavioural changes that may impact their hunting practices," Chakraborty explained. "These toxins can cause severe damage to the reproductive cycles, resulting in poor litter numbers or babies with immunological problems." These health impacts could reduce fishing cat populations. For humans living in the Sundarbans, losing fishing cats would mean losing a natural predator that helps control rodent populations. These cats also serve as an indicator species, which means their health reflects the condition of the wetland ecosystem that millions of people depend on for fishing, tourism, and coastal protection. The plastic contamination shows how pollution from cities and tourist activities travels through food webs, eventually reaching apex predators. If these toxins can accumulate in wild cats, they're likely present throughout the food chain that local communities rely on. Do you think we use too much plastic in America? Definitely Only some people Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The research team has launched awareness campaigns across 12 districts in South Bengal, reaching teachers, anglers, boat operators, students, and other community members. They've conducted cleanup drives at the Bhagabatpur Crocodile Sanctuary and organized educational camps focused on the toxic effects of plastic pollution. To protect fishing cats and reduce plastic waste, rely on reusable bags, bottles, and containers instead of single-use plastic items. Pack out trash and participate in local cleanup efforts when visiting natural areas. Supporting organizations working on wetland conservation and reducing plastic pollution can multiply your impact. Advocate for stronger waste management policies in your community and choose products with little or no plastic packaging. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBC
17-06-2025
- Science
- CBC
Is watercress helping or hurting P.E.I. streams? A UPEI student aims to find out
If you're near a freshwater stream or river in Prince Edward Island this summer, you might spot UPEI biology student Julie Goodwin at work. Goodwin is spending the summer tracking watercress, an aquatic perennial herb that grows in slow-moving bodies of water and is also edible. Her goal is to learn where watercress is growing and how it's affecting Island streams. She said not much is known about the plant's history on the Island, so her work is helping create a snapshot for future research. It could also support better decisions about whether the plant should be controlled. "We have baseline data from when it was introduced, but that was quite a while ago," she told CBC's Island Morning. "Since then, there has been no distribution tracking. We don't know now if it has gotten more abundant, if it has moved downstream, if it's moved to other streams. And just because it's not reported somewhere, that doesn't mean it's not there." So far, she said, a lot of what's known about watercress distribution on P.E.I. has come from citizen science through platforms like iNaturalist. The app allows users to share photos and locations of plants and animals, helping researchers gather data for scientific and conservation purposes. "In the world… plant collection and plant identification is a serious issue. There is a lack thereof," she said. Benefits and drawbacks Goodwin said that after speaking with different watershed groups, she learned the impact of watercress varies depending on the environment. "Some watershed groups have mentioned that it grows so abundantly that it over-widens their streams and causes flooding, which damages aquatic habitats, and it out-competes native plants," she said. "However, other groups have just noticed it kind of sitting along the banks, catching sediment, even being nursery habitat... I myself have seen frog eggs laid on watercress early in the season." That variation highlights why more data is needed to better understand the plant's role in Island ecosystems, Goodwin said. "There's lots of relationships in the ecosystems in which the watercress resides, and understanding those relationships is really what this project is about," she said. "We want to understand why it's here, what's interacting with it, what kind of changes it might be having in the ecosystems. And from there, we can then go on to collect more data and more data over the years and be able to track it. And, really, that will move toward proper management and conservation." How Islanders can help Goodwin is hoping Islanders can help her gather data this summer. She's asking people to snap photos of any watercress they come across and upload them to iNaturalist. She said those who want to contribute directly can also send photos to her email along with the GPS co-ordinates, which are easily accessible from most smartphones. That information will be added to her personal monitoring system and help identify at-risk areas that might be more likely to accumulate watercress. "Eventually, once we have enough data, and once we do a bit of a pilot study this summer, hopefully we can develop a practical monitoring system that watershed groups can use to track it every year. And it's not just a summer project," she said.
