In BulletsFrom the depths of the seas to the mountaintop, plastic has traveled throughout the globe—and possibly beyond—accumulating in the most unexpected places, including Antarctica and human tissue. Scientists have cultivated plants in soil amended with nanoplastics for more than 100 days to determine the impact on plants. No differences in plant parameters, such as height or tiller number, which is a yield indicator, were discovered by the team. However, they also found that plants growing in soils with a maximum of 250 mg/kg of nanoplastics had an increased number of empty rice shells and a decrease in the weight of peanut seeds. Additionally, they discovered that the rice and the peanuts had lower mineral concentrations of calcium, manganese, zinc, magnesium, and iron.
More information: Jiang et al. (2022). Evidence and impacts of Nanoplastic Accumulation on Crop Grains. Advanced Science. DOI:10.1002/advs.202202336
Journal information: Advanced Science
Fossil fuels have served humans for the past 200 years as a source of concentrated energy resulting from millions of years of photosynthesis condensed into energy-dense substances. But with a limited supply and adverse effects on the environment. In a recent study, chemists have developed a novel artificial photosynthesis system that is more efficient than earlier artificial systems. The team hopes that the artificial system might be helpful in the production of ethanol, methane, or other fuels in contrast to natural photosynthesis, which converts carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates.
More information: Lan et al. (2022). Biomimetic active sites on monolayered metal–organic frameworks for artificial photosynthesis. Nature Catalysis. DOI:10.1038/s41929-022-00865-5
Journal information: Nature Catalysis
Scientists stated at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, that global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are anticipated to rise by 1% in 2022 and reach a new record of 37.5 billion tonnes. If that continues, humans may release enough CO2 into the atmosphere in 9 years and cause the Paris Climate Agreement — which aims to keep global warming at 1.5 °C — to fail. Increased coal and oil use have contributed to the spike.
More information: Jeff Tollefson (2022). Carbon emissions hit new high: warning from COP27. Nature. DOI:10.1038/d41586-022-03657-w
Journal information: Nature