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Earth Science

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Jun-2026 20:15 ET (19-Jun-2026 00:15 GMT/UTC)

OU researchers are using revolutionary radars to advance lightning monitoring and storm electrification research

University of Oklahoma
Grant and Award Announcement

A newly funded research project led by David Schvartzman will use trailblazing technology to transform understanding of lightning and electrification, helping to improve storm warnings and better assess the risk of structural damage and power outages from thunderstorms.

Study documents conflict between commerce and conservation at mining operation in Bangladesh

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study using multidecade satellite imagery and face-to-face human interviews tracked the environmental and societal impacts of gravel mining in the Lubha River, Northeast Bangladesh. The researchers found that the river had recovered its natural shape within just four years after gravel mining stopped. However, the local economy did not bounce back nearly as quickly.

Journal: Cell Reports Sustainability
Funder: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Webinar: How to communicate your science to UK policymakers

Applied Microbiology International
Meeting Announcement

Ever feel like nobody’s listening? Now’s your chance to make an impact and get your knowledge in front of decision makers.

Applied Microbiology International is offering a free webinar - part of the Sustainable Microbiology Policy Spotlight journal webinar series - that will explore how microbiologists can most effectively influence policy in the UK, with insights that apply to the international policymaking context.

Iowa-led research team names, describes new crocodile that hunted iconic Lucy’s species

University of Iowa
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers led by the University of Iowa have described and named a new crocodile species that roamed a region in Africa more than 3 million years ago. The species is named Lucy’s hunter, because it overlapped with the famed Lucy and her hominin kin and would have hunted them. Results published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

Journal: Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
Funder: Leakey Foundation, University of Iowa

How fast does smoke rise, rain fall, and a supernova explode?

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Impossible to study experimentally, and previously thought too complex to model computationally, researchers have successfully simulated the behavior of a fluid containing 100,000 particles, each with mass and volume, as it mixes with a clear fluid on a 3D grid of hundreds of millions of points over millions of steps. This computational breakthrough has already led to the discovery of novel fluid behaviors and lays a new foundation for studying fundamental physics in fields ranging from astronomy to meteorology, and for discovering engineering solutions in chemical refining, environmental protection, wastewater treatment, and beyond.

Journal: Physical Review Letters
Funder: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Turning herbal waste into a powerful tool for cleaning heavy metal pollution

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study demonstrates that agricultural and medicinal plant residues can be transformed into a highly effective material for removing toxic heavy metals from contaminated water and soil while also improving crop productivity. Researchers developed a phosphorus-modified biochar derived from residues of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a widely used medicinal herb, and showed that the material can simultaneously immobilize harmful metals and enhance soil fertility.

Journal: Biochar

Pew awards fellowships to seven scientists advancing marine conservation

Pew Charitable Trusts
Grant and Award Announcement

The global ocean faces major threats—from illegal fishing to vanishing coastal habitats to plastic pollution. Now, a new cohort of scientists will work to bridge the knowledge gaps hindering effective ocean protections.

The Pew Charitable Trusts announced today that seven fellows—based in Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Thailand—will receive $150,000 grants over three years to pursue conservation-focused research aimed at strengthening ocean health and the communities that depend on it.

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