Scientists at the University of Southampton have discovered that extensive chains of volcanoes have been responsible for both emitting and then removing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) over geological time. This stabilized temperatures at Earth’s surface. The researchers, working with colleagues at the University of Sydney, Australian National University (ANU), University of Ottawa and University of Leeds, explored the combined impact of processes in the solid Earth, oceans and atmosphere over the past 400 million years. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Natural breakdown and dissolution of rocks at Earth’s surface is called chemical weathering. It is critically important because the products of weathering (calcium and magnesium) are flushed via rivers to the oceans, where they form minerals that lock up CO₂. This feedback mechanism regulates atmospheric CO₂ levels, and in turn global climate, over geological time.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/

The future connection between human waste, sanitation technology and sustainable agriculture is becoming more evident. According to research directed by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign civil and environmental engineering professor Jeremy Guest, countries could be moving closer to using human waste as fertilizer, closing the loop to more circular, sustainable economies. The new study characterizes the spatial distribution of human urine-derived nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium—and agricultural fertilizer demand to define supply-demand location typologies, their prevalence across the globe and the implications for resource recovery. The findings are published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/