What’s Going on in our Aquifers?

By: Jessica Robertson

Most of us rely daily on ground water stored in aquifers, whether it provides our drinking water or our morning shower or whether it irrigates the crops that we consume. We don’t often think about the goings on that occur deep underground before we see any of that water, but the aquifers are an important habitat for complex microbial life. This interesting ecosystem may hold a promising answer for removing harmful carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.

Deep underwater in the aquifers, oxygen content is very low, if present at all. Microbes must rely on other substances, namely minerals like iron and sulfur, to produce energy. The byproducts of the microbes’ “breathing” these solid minerals are reactive ions that will readily interact with other chemical compounds present in the aquifer. These reactions can dramatically shape the environmental state of the nearby water, soil, or rock, and, importantly, the crops watered by groundwater.

When samples of some deep aquifer microbes were studied, it was determined that even though iron is a better source of energy, many organisms were using iron and sulfur, an unusual combination. With the pH of many aquifers being more alkaline than surface waters, reconsideration of microbial energy calculations showed that sulfur is more important to deep aquifer dwelling microbes than previously known. With interactions occurring between different species of microbes and their dependence on each others’ reactions, even without measureable levels of a given byproduct, the amount of energy cycling through the aquifer could be very high.

What this new understanding means is significant. Carbon sequestration has become difficult in light of new findings suggesting that soil is a less efficient carbon capturer than previously assumed. With the high levels of reactive ions residing in the deep aquifers thanks to the symbiotic relationships between mineral-fueled microbes, it may be possible to inject harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the aquifers; it will react with ions there, forming stable and solid compounds and sinking to the bottom of the aquifers, never to seep to the surface again.

Finding this new information regarding these deep-water microbes has been an illuminating piece of the puzzle that is carbon sequestration. Now knowing more details of the dependent relationship of iron- and sulfur- reducing microbes, it may be possible to clean up our atmosphere. 

Music Matters

By: Kate M. Serrano

Perhaps Bob Marley was right when he said "One good thing about music, is when it hits you, you feel no pain." Studies suggest that music not only helps us cope with pain — it can also benefit our physical and mental health in numerous other ways. Anyone who has ever wiped tears away from their eyes listening to a relatable sad song will know how powerful simple notes and chords can be.

Everyone reacts to music in different ways. One individual may love heavy metal while others find pleasure listening to Mozart. Whatever the preference may be, studies have shown that plugging in to your favourite music could help melt away a bad mood. Music triggers the release of dopamine, the feel-good chemical in the brain.

If you’re into running, music helps you pick up your pace and run faster. A study at Brunel University in West London has shown that music can help increase endurance by as much as 15 per cent, helping to lower the perception of effort during exercise, as well as increasing energy efficiency by between one and three per cent. Again, this is so because of the release of endorphins— our natural 'feel good' hormones that lift our mood and give us motivation to carry on longer with exercise. Focusing on your favorite album may not let you notice you just ran an extra mile.

For many people suffering from memory loss the spoken language has become meaningless. Music can act as an outlet for expressing things that they are unable to put into words. It awakens memory and can help patients remember tunes or songs and get in touch with their history. Music can be a great pick-me-up when you are feeling stressed too. Tuning in to your favourite songs can be incredibly soothing and help to reduce anxiety.

Preparing for Arctic Traffic

By: Jessica Robertson

With the changing climate melting ice in the Arctic Ocean, traffic, both tourism and industry related, steadily increases in the northern realm of our planet. The increased travel brings to light the unpreparedness of the region for managing the risk of an oil spill.

            Other highly trafficked water routes have systems in place for managing the occasional oil spill. In the Arctic, fewer systems are in place and the extreme conditions make it a difficult operation to even respond to a spill. Due to the extreme weather, enormous geographic area, beautifully diverse ecosystem, and limited resources for operation and communication in some areas, many changes would need to be instated to prepare for a spill response that compares to a response in easier waters.

            Decision makers are working toward an international plan that would better prepare and protect the Arctic as the traffic pattern expands. A proper response plan must include a number of techniques to span the vast number of possible environmental situations. No single method can begin to apply in all possible spill scenarios.  More equipment, better communication, a larger workforce, and increased safety measures are just a few of the items on the wishlist for a project of this scale.

            Studies are underway to assess the possible effects of dispersants and oil on some Arctic marine species. The findings of these studies will inform decisions on how to manage spills in the future. Alaska has yet to grant approval for the use of chemical dispersants to address a spill, preferring in situ burning as a cleaner and safer method for their environment. It is yet to be seen what methods will be placed in the Arctic toolbox, but hopes are high that the environment will remain safe in their care. 

Presenting the Innovative Ooho

By: Daniela Silva

Ooho an edible water “bottle” has been developed by design students in imperial college london. Created by Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, Pierre Paslier, and Guillaume Couche this new development may bring down the plastic plague that litters our oceans and landfills. Cheap, easy to make, and with a great green initiative the Ooho presents a strong competitive front to compete with bottled water.

It takes two pennies to produce one Ooho and even better, you can make them at home, the ingredients can easily be ordered online and be made in you kitchen safely in minutes and takes trial and error to get the consistency you prefer. In order to be able to take these around you will need a clean container and clean hands to handle them in order to consume them.

With a natural base of calcium chloride and brown algae, the Ooho will have a substantially fast  decomposition time as compared to plastic bottles which take 450 - 1000 years to decompose, and some plastic bottles may never biodegrade.

Ooho is still a product yet to be introduced reviewed and improved, yet the world is completely delighted to see such a fun, environmentally friendly and innovative product that has the potential to push us into the right direction of cleaning up our earth and taking care of our people.

Hydropower Versus Fish

By: Jessica Robertson

With the challenge of answering the biggest environmental problems of our age comes the responsibility to simultaneously bring balance to all aspects of the planet. Unfortunately, harmony does not always exist between the various strategies for environmental improvement, but it is our responsibility to establish and preserve healthy relationships between all aspects of the environment.

One not-so-harmonious relationship is represented in the current battle between the fish population and the high-pressure dams powering the hydropower industry. Hydropower is an essential component of the new environment-focused energy industry. Renewable, clean energy is produced and stored by capturing the potential of flowing water, often with dams and turbines in rivers. However, these mechanisms are detrimental to fish in their locale.

Fast, coursing water churns powerfully around the dam area, creating a pressure change that is so dramatic that it can cause serious internal injury or death to fish. The forces can burst a fish’s swim bladder, an organ responsible for maintaining buoyancy at a particular depth; it is designed to inflate and deflate as needed, but the pressure changes in this phenomenon, known as barotrauma, simply cause too much change too fast for the swim bladder to withstand. Besides these serious internal injuries, fish can also become disoriented in the raging waters around the machinery, and they are at risk of being thrashed about by blades of the turbine.

Even with the great success and promise of hydropower, the industry is aware of the dangers to local fish populations. Hydropower is too crucial to the development of a sustainable planet to be forgotten, but, at the same time, it is intolerable that our ecosystem suffer at the hands of “clean” energy. Is hydropower truly “clean” or “sustainable” if whole populations of water-dwelling animals are lost?

The dilemma is being quickly addressed across the globe in laboratories and in real-life application. Strategies are being implemented for preventing the dangerous pressure change around the dam, making rivers again safe for their inhabitants, and making clean energy truly clean.

The Wondernut

By: Kate M. Serrano

I grew up in a place where coconut trees are more bountiful than apples and oranges and I cannot help but marvel at how this plant is so useful from head to toe. There’s an endless list of products and by-products derived from its various parts hence the nickname “Tree of Life.” In the Philippines, the coconut industry provides livelihood to one-third of the country's population. So here are the many uses of this versatile plant.

Coconut meat. From the meat we obtain coco flour, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut chips, candies, fertilizer and animal feeds. Coco chips, which are wrinkled coconut meat, are very popular in Hawaii. The dried meat, called copra, contains over 60% oil. This oil is used in making soap, cooking fat, margarine, cosmetics, lubricants, and many other products. Coconut flour can be used as a wheat extender in baking without affecting appearance or acceptability.

Coconut milk. This is used to make Virgin Coconut Oil which helps prevent and treat minor ailments. Coconut milk is a good protein source. Whole coco milk contains about 22% oil, which accounts for its laxative property.

Coconut oil. Probably the most known use of the tree, coconut oil is not only used for culinary purposes but also for beauty and wellness. Coconut oil is used for frying, with soya bean oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil as its main competitors. Coconut oil also retards aging by counteracting the heart, colon, pancreatic and liver tumor inducers. In the detergent industry, an important use of the coconut oil was discovered in a May 1951 study where it was found to be an effective sanitizer. Other products from coconut oil are soap, lard, coco chemicals, crude oil, pomade, shampoo, margarine and butter. It’s also used as hairdressing and as massage oil.

Coconut juice. This is a nutritious refreshing drink especially for those with renal disorders. Coconut juice is highly alkaline. For preventive medication, water from one mature coconut consumed daily, could guarantee the avoidance of stone formations in the kidney. To those who already have it, coconut water therapy is proven to be an inexpensive and effective cure. It is also for fighting tooth decay and gum disease, taming menopause symptoms, improving cholesterol levels and boosting the immune system.

Coconut husk. Mats, brushes, fishing nets, cordage and packaging material for plant, and in some countries the coconut husk is used as floor polisher because of the abundance of its fiber. Coir yarn, coir rope, bags, rugs, mannequin wig, brush, coir flex, and fishnets are other products that can be obtained from coco husk.

Coconut shell. For ladles and cups, souvenirs, household products, accessories, handicrafts and decorative objects. It’s also a potting medium for forest tree saplings in Thailand. The most important benefit of the coconut shell is activated carbon produced from its charcoal. It is utilized in air purification systems such as cooker hoods, air conditioning, industrial gas purification and industrial and gas masks.

Coconut leaves. Young leaves and shoots may be eaten as salad. The leaves of the tree are used as roofing thatch and temporary sheds and to make hats, baskets, brooms and fans. The ribs of the leaves are used for spears, arrows, and torches.

Coconut sap. A sweetish fluid from the bud of the coconut tree’s inflorescence called toddy is fermented into an alcoholic beverage or into vinegar. After being left for five days then distilled, coconut toddy produces an alcoholic spirit known locally in the Philippines as lambanog which is more or less 98% proof.

Coconut trunk. In Hawaii, the trunk is used for canoes, drums, posts, rafters, and fences. The trunk is also a great source of hardy and durable wood used to make benches, tables, carvings, picture frames, tables, tool boxes, and construction materials. Paper pulp can also be extracted from the coconut trunk and other woody parts of the tree.

Coconut roots. A frayed piece of coconut root can be used as a toothbrush. The roots are also used as a mouthwash and in some countries medicine, beverages and dyestuff are obtained from the coconut roots.

These are just a few off the known benefits from the wonder tree. It’s amazing how varied the uses are. Now may be a good time to start sipping my coco juice. I don’t want to be missing the coconut’s miracle health benefits.

Mexico and America Align to Conserve Nature

By: Jessica Robertson

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation just released the result of two decades of environmental cooperation in North America – the long-awaited Big Bend-Río Bravo Conservation Assessment. This binational collaboration highlights 29 specific areas in the Mexican-American borderland, all of which are home to a beautifully diverse ecosystem. The arid and semi-arid habitats of the region support some endangered plants and animals and are vital to the migratory paths of many birds and animals. The conservation plan is designed to protect these species and the grassland, mountainous, aquatic, and riparian habitats in which they live. The conservation efforts even include parts of the Rio Grande.

            The communities in the conservation zone are being encouraged to increase their sustainability and environmental quality, and also to raise up local leaders and educators who will promote the project on both sides of the border. The conservation assessment holds promise for the better management of natural resources for both Mexican and American communities, and should stand as an example for other international conservation efforts.

            This effort marks a special time for Big Bend National Park; from its establishment in 1944, hopes were that the park’s existence would one day culminate in the unification of the entire region for conservation, regardless of national borders. 

Illegal Wildlife Trade: The Fourth Most Lucrative in the World

By: Daniela Silva

Behind a booming black market, drug trafficking, and the horrors of human trafficking the Illegal wildlife trade has become the fourth most lucrative trade in the world. There has been a unforeseen rise in poaching in recent years, threatening to diminish all the conservation efforts and successes of previous and future years to come. This being said, the illegal wildlife trade is worth $19 billion dollars and increasing as well as taking the lives of many endangered and critically endangered species. China, a country well known for the mass consumption of endangered species has now made it a criminal offense to eat an endangered species; it is now punishable by 10 years in prison.

Eating endangered animals and a various array of their parts has been believed to have contain various medicinal properties for generations in china; which in turn have been the base for illegal wildlife trade. The rhinoceros in our lifetime may become a thing of our past, simply because its horn is believed to cure cancer, cure hangovers, and used as an aphrodisiac. Despite this, Rhinoceroses aren't the only animal that are susceptible to extreme poaching. Tigers, bantengs, grevy's zebras, sunbears, Chinese alligators, tortoises, and many more are being killed for trade. What will it take to keep endangered species from becoming taxidermied in a national museums years to come?

Conservations and future successes may find themselves facing more difficulties as poachers try and cut corners to attempt to meet the demand for consumers eager for the produce they have been able to have access to for so many generations. Hopefully, China's new law is the change we need to see to help see the end in the poaching and killing of our endangered species.

Getting to Know the Great White Shark

By: Kate M. Serrano

To those who have ticked swimming off their bucket list after watching episodes of “Jaws”, the great white sharks may have struck them as vicious man eaters. Partly correct, partly incorrect. Although the great whites (Carcharodon carcharias) are the world’s largest known predators of marine mammals and are ranked first in having the most attacks on human, we are not their preferred prey. Great whites are very curious and most so-called “attacks” appear to be motivated by curiosity rather than a desire to feed. Their attacks on humans are rare and not fatal. It is their size and efficiency as predators that inflict unnecessary fear. Great whites use their speed and coloring for hunting. They search for prey at the surface while swimming below. Once a target is identified, they use a burst of speed to bump the poor prey while simultaneously biting it. They have thousands of teeth that are sharp and strong enough to tear their bigger preys apart. As teeth fall out, they are rapidly replaced by those in the row behind them. Therefore, unless you’re a seal, a fish an orca, sailing the deep ocean is not much to be fearful about.

Ironically, the great white is far more threatened by humans than we are of them. They have very less commercial value yet the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature) have listed them as vulnerable and is on the verge of being endangered due to overfishing  –they are often killed for sport and for their jaws, teeth and fins. Marine biologists do not have the exact numbers on the great white population, but they're seen very rarely. Lucky enough great white sharks have are protected in South Africa, Australia and the United States. How can we help? Stop the purchase of great white jaws or items made from their fins. 

  

New Measurements Show More Natural Gas Emissions

By: Jessica Robertson

When a new type of greenhouse gas detecting method was recently employed, in which methane levels are measured in the air above wells, some of the findings were a surprise to most. Seven of the shale gas wells studied were identified as having high emissions levels. Though the seven wells only account for one percent of those studied, all seven were in the drilling stage, a stage that has never been associated with high methane emissions. The methane plumes detected from the wells in drilling phase ranged from 100 to 1000 times greater in strength than previously estimated. These findings could significantly impact the way we look at natural gas production and shale gas wells, and they could radically change the way the industry strives to keep our environment safe and clean.

Besides illuminating the need for better control of emissions, the study showed that current inventory methods for detecting emissions are falling short. This new measurement method, known as the “top down” method, uses a specially equipped airplane to monitor plumes of methane above the wells. A method like this could serve as a good complement to preexisting protocol, better protecting the environment.