http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Research & Tech Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2013 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Wed, 22 May 2013 07:06:05 GMT Wed, 22 May 2013 07:06:05 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://news.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com http://news.softpedia.com/news/Weather-and-Climate-Related-Events-Displaced-Nearly-30-Million-People-in-2012-354928.shtml Only a few days back, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center issued a new report documenting how many people were forced to flee their homes because of disasters that took place in 2012 alone.

Long story short, said year witnessed the displacement of 32.4 million people. Of these, a whopping 98% wer... (read more)]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 20:41:02 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Weather-and-Climate-Related-Events-Displaced-Nearly-30-Million-People-in-2012-354928.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Weather-and-Climate-Related-Events-Displaced-Nearly-30-Million-People-in-2012-354928.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/NY-s-Heat-Related-Deaths-Expected-to-Rise-by-22-354571.shtml A team of researchers writing in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change document how climate change will affect heat-related mortality rates in major urban areas.

Focusing on Manhattan, New York and piecing together several models, these specialists reached the conclusion that, because of global warming, the heat-related deaths... (read more)]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 08:43:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/NY-s-Heat-Related-Deaths-Expected-to-Rise-by-22-354571.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/NY-s-Heat-Related-Deaths-Expected-to-Rise-by-22-354571.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Printable-Solar-Cells-Rolled-Out-by-Australian-Researchers-354265.shtml Harvesting green energy sources is by far one of the best ways to improve on the energy industry's current ecological footprint.

In an attempt to promote sustainability and make the practice of harvesting solar power a more affordable one, a team of Australian researchers have figured out a way to print solar cells.
... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 19:41:02 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Printable-Solar-Cells-Rolled-Out-by-Australian-Researchers-354265.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Printable-Solar-Cells-Rolled-Out-by-Australian-Researchers-354265.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Melting-Glaciers-Greatly-Contribute-to-Sea-Level-Rise-354089.shtml Between the years 2003 and 2009, glaciers scattered all around the world dropped a whopping 260 gigatons of water on a yearly basis, argues a research whose findings were published in today's issue of the journal Science.

According to the researchers who looked into this issue, the amount of water lost by these glaciers account... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 08:04:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Melting-Glaciers-Greatly-Contribute-to-Sea-Level-Rise-354089.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Melting-Glaciers-Greatly-Contribute-to-Sea-Level-Rise-354089.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Raw-Cotton-Might-Help-Clean-Up-Oil-Spills-353862.shtml A new research paper documents the possibility of using raw cotton in order to clean up any accidental spills that might occur while the oil industry is busy carrying on with its working agenda.

The study, made available to the public in the latest issue of the journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, argues that, apart from i... (read more)]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 11:44:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Raw-Cotton-Might-Help-Clean-Up-Oil-Spills-353862.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Raw-Cotton-Might-Help-Clean-Up-Oil-Spills-353862.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tropical-Coral-Reefs-In-Dire-Need-of-Cooler-Ocean-Temperatures-353569.shtml This May 14, a team of University of Bristol researchers went public with the findings of their investigation into how climate change and global warming are affecting tropical coral reefs.

These specialists maintain that, unless measures to restrict greenhouse gases-related warming of oceanic waters are soon taken, cor... (read more)]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 19:21:01 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tropical-Coral-Reefs-In-Dire-Need-of-Cooler-Ocean-Temperatures-353569.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tropical-Coral-Reefs-In-Dire-Need-of-Cooler-Ocean-Temperatures-353569.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/West-Nile-Virus-Now-Spreading-Across-Europe-All-Thanks-to-Climate-Change-353228.shtml The scientific journal PLOS ONE has recently witnessed the publication of a new study detailing how climate change and global warming influence the spread of the West Nile virus across Europe.

Long story short, this study shows how, all thanks to said phenomena, the Vest Nile virus is now beginning to show up... (read more)]]> Tue, 14 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/West-Nile-Virus-Now-Spreading-Across-Europe-All-Thanks-to-Climate-Change-353228.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/West-Nile-Virus-Now-Spreading-Across-Europe-All-Thanks-to-Climate-Change-353228.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Deforestation-Affects-Hydropower-in-Rainforest-Areas-353191.shtml A new research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science documents how the practice of cutting trees affects hydropower in tropical rainforest regions.

It appears that, once one too many trees are cut, local natural balance finds itself greatly disturbed. More precisely, high deforestation rates nee... (read more)]]> Tue, 14 May 2013 12:39:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Deforestation-Affects-Hydropower-in-Rainforest-Areas-353191.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Deforestation-Affects-Hydropower-in-Rainforest-Areas-353191.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Mount-Everest-s-Glaciers-Are-Shrinking-at-Alarming-Rates-353084.shtml Following their researching the snow and ice cover of Mount Everest and the national park established around this landmark, a team of scientists have concluded that these natural ecosystems are undergoing significant changes.

Long story short, these specialists maintain that, throughout the past 50 years, the glaciers found ... (read more)]]> Tue, 14 May 2013 08:54:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Mount-Everest-s-Glaciers-Are-Shrinking-at-Alarming-Rates-353084.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Mount-Everest-s-Glaciers-Are-Shrinking-at-Alarming-Rates-353084.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Environmental-Pollution-Ups-Suicide-Rates-Study-Finds-353061.shtml A study recently published in the Journal of Mood Disorders details the link between environmental pollution and suicide rates.

More precisely, this research suggests that, all things considered, air pollution might have to be held responsible for upping the suicide rates in a given community.

The researchers who t... (read more)]]> Tue, 14 May 2013 08:19:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Environmental-Pollution-Ups-Suicide-Rates-Study-Finds-353061.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Environmental-Pollution-Ups-Suicide-Rates-Study-Finds-353061.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Earthworms-Protect-Plants-Against-Hungry-Slugs-352766.shtml Despite their living in the soil and not above ground, earthworms help protect plants against slugs, a team of University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna researchers now say.

These specialists also maintain that, when wishing to protect various natural ecosystems against said pest, it is best to increase plant diversity ... (read more)]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 09:31:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Earthworms-Protect-Plants-Against-Hungry-Slugs-352766.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Earthworms-Protect-Plants-Against-Hungry-Slugs-352766.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hundreds-of-Plants-Animals-to-Be-Affected-by-Decline-in-Snow-Cover-351661.shtml Plants and animals inhabiting the Northern Hemisphere are about to hit some very rough patches, all because of climate change-induced decline in the local snow cover.

A team of UW-Madison researchers writing in a recent issue of the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment explain that several of the plant ... (read more)]]> Wed, 8 May 2013 18:41:01 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hundreds-of-Plants-Animals-to-Be-Affected-by-Decline-in-Snow-Cover-351661.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hundreds-of-Plants-Animals-to-Be-Affected-by-Decline-in-Snow-Cover-351661.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hawaii-Set-to-Be-Hit-by-More-Hurricanes-in-the-Years-to-Come-351310.shtml On May 5, the scientific journal Nature Climate Chance witnessed the publication of a new study stating that the predicted increase in global average temperatures, together with the weather changes that go hand in hand with it, will lead to Hawaii's getting hit by ever more hurricanes.

Throughout the past 30 years, only ... (read more)]]> Tue, 7 May 2013 21:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hawaii-Set-to-Be-Hit-by-More-Hurricanes-in-the-Years-to-Come-351310.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hawaii-Set-to-Be-Hit-by-More-Hurricanes-in-the-Years-to-Come-351310.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/3-Years-After-the-Deepwater-Horizon-Spill-Local-Fish-Display-Abnormalities-350504.shtml This past May 1, a team of University of California – Davis researchers announced that, according to their investigations, marine wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico is still displaying several abnormalities as a result of its having been exposed to oil.

Following their keeping a close eye on killifish emb... (read more)]]> Thu, 2 May 2013 12:44:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/3-Years-After-the-Deepwater-Horizon-Spill-Local-Fish-Display-Abnormalities-350504.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/3-Years-After-the-Deepwater-Horizon-Spill-Local-Fish-Display-Abnormalities-350504.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Grocery-Delivery-Services-Are-More-Eco-Friendly-Than-Going-to-the-Store-349140.shtml A team of researchers might have just come up with the best excuse not to go to the store once one's pantry gets a tad too empty.

Long story short, these specialists claim that having someone deliver one's groceries to one's doorstep is more environmentally friendly than driving all the way to the store and th... (read more)]]> Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:11:02 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Grocery-Delivery-Services-Are-More-Eco-Friendly-Than-Going-to-the-Store-349140.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Grocery-Delivery-Services-Are-More-Eco-Friendly-Than-Going-to-the-Store-349140.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Plants-Create-Sunshades-to-Curb-Climate-Change-Study-Says-349291.shtml A team of researchers writing in the journal Nature Geoscience explain that, according to their investigations, plants help offset the effects of climate change and global warming by emitting gases that have a sun-dimming effects.

This conclusion was reached after analyzing the way in which 11 different forest sites spread ... (read more)]]> Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:35:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Plants-Create-Sunshades-to-Curb-Climate-Change-Study-Says-349291.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Plants-Create-Sunshades-to-Curb-Climate-Change-Study-Says-349291.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sea-Surface-Temperatures-Hit-Highest-Level-in-150-Years-NOAA-Says-349033.shtml A new NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) investigation says that, this past year, sea surface temperatures in the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem were so elevated that they managed to set a new record.

More precisely, specialists say that, when compared to sea surface temperatures recorded... (read more)]]> Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:11:01 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sea-Surface-Temperatures-Hit-Highest-Level-in-150-Years-NOAA-Says-349033.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sea-Surface-Temperatures-Hit-Highest-Level-in-150-Years-NOAA-Says-349033.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Solar-Powered-Proteins-Promise-to-Rid-Water-Sources-of-Harmful-Antibiotics-347337.shtml Given human society's heavily industrialized ways, keeping rivers and lakes clean is by no means an easy task. A team of researchers now wish to attempt ridding these water sources of harmful antibiotics with the help of so-called solar-powered proteins.

These solar-powered proteins are in fact nano filters... (read more)]]> Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:01:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Solar-Powered-Proteins-Promise-to-Rid-Water-Sources-of-Harmful-Antibiotics-347337.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Solar-Powered-Proteins-Promise-to-Rid-Water-Sources-of-Harmful-Antibiotics-347337.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Past-3-Decades-Were-the-Warmest-in-1-400-Years-Researchers-Say-347176.shtml A team of 80 international researchers writing in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience explain how, according to their investigations, the planet has warmed more over the past few years than it has in well over a millennium.

More precisely, these scientists maintain that, as far as global average temperatures are c... (read more)]]> Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:58:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Past-3-Decades-Were-the-Warmest-in-1-400-Years-Researchers-Say-347176.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Past-3-Decades-Were-the-Warmest-in-1-400-Years-Researchers-Say-347176.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sea-Level-Rise-Can-Be-Stalled-by-Cutting-Emissions-of-Specific-Pollutants-345494.shtml A new research, whose findings were published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Chance only a few days back, says that stalling the predicted increase in global sea levels is very much within reach.

Thus, all that needs be done is cut down on the emissions of certain pollutants human society releases ... (read more)]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:51:06 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sea-Level-Rise-Can-Be-Stalled-by-Cutting-Emissions-of-Specific-Pollutants-345494.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sea-Level-Rise-Can-Be-Stalled-by-Cutting-Emissions-of-Specific-Pollutants-345494.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Organic-Pollutants-Are-Accumulating-in-the-Himalayas-and-the-Tibetan-Plateau-344960.shtml According to a new study recently published in the scientific journal Nature, both the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau are currently accumulating noteworthy amounts of organic pollutants.

What worries researchers even more is the fact that some of these pollutants are persistent ones, meaning that they ... (read more)]]> Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:50:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Organic-Pollutants-Are-Accumulating-in-the-Himalayas-and-the-Tibetan-Plateau-344960.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Organic-Pollutants-Are-Accumulating-in-the-Himalayas-and-the-Tibetan-Plateau-344960.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Giant-Crabs-Are-Taking-Up-Residence-in-Chesapeake-Bay-344072.shtml Information shared with the general public by the University of North Carolina’s Aquarium Researcher Center says that giant crabs are now taking up residence in Chesapeake Bay, and that carbon pollution is the one to blame for these animals' beginning to thrive in these waters.

The researchers who took the time to investi... (read more)]]> Tue, 9 Apr 2013 20:41:02 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Giant-Crabs-Are-Taking-Up-Residence-in-Chesapeake-Bay-344072.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Giant-Crabs-Are-Taking-Up-Residence-in-Chesapeake-Bay-344072.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Future-Flights-Will-Be-Bumpier-All-Because-of-Climate-Change-344161.shtml Those planning on traveling from Europe to North America by plane in the not so distant future would do best to ready themselves for a seriously bumpy flight.

This is because, as climate change and global warming continue to toy with our planet's natural balance, said traveling corridor will only get shakier.

read more)]]> Tue, 9 Apr 2013 13:53:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Future-Flights-Will-Be-Bumpier-All-Because-of-Climate-Change-344161.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Future-Flights-Will-Be-Bumpier-All-Because-of-Climate-Change-344161.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Gulf-of-Mexico-Has-Surprising-Innate-Ability-to-Cleanse-Oil-Spills-343996.shtml A new research concerning the Deepwater Horizon disaster and its aftermath argues that, as evidence suggests, the Gulf of Mexico has a greater-than-expected “innate” ability to cleanse itself. The findings of this research were recently presented during a meeting of the American Chemical Society.

With t... (read more)]]> Tue, 9 Apr 2013 08:23:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Gulf-of-Mexico-Has-Surprising-Innate-Ability-to-Cleanse-Oil-Spills-343996.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Gulf-of-Mexico-Has-Surprising-Innate-Ability-to-Cleanse-Oil-Spills-343996.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Climate-Change-Set-to-Transform-the-Wine-Industry-343956.shtml A team of researchers writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences maintain that, according to their investigations, climate change is bound to drastically transform the wine industry.

The specialists predict that, all things considered, major shifts in the wine industry will take place within the followin... (read more)]]> Tue, 9 Apr 2013 07:23:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Climate-Change-Set-to-Transform-the-Wine-Industry-343956.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Climate-Change-Set-to-Transform-the-Wine-Industry-343956.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Violent-Crimes-Less-Likely-to-Occur-in-Greener-Neighborhoods-Study-Finds-343405.shtml Several specialists writing in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning maintain that urban vegetation does more than just freshen up the air and accommodate various animals that can live close to humans. Thus, they say that violent crimes are less likely to occur in greener neighborhoods.

These claims can be... (read more)]]> Fri, 5 Apr 2013 20:51:02 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Violent-Crimes-Less-Likely-to-Occur-in-Greener-Neighborhoods-Study-Finds-343405.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Violent-Crimes-Less-Likely-to-Occur-in-Greener-Neighborhoods-Study-Finds-343405.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Hydrogen-Technology-Promises-to-Rid-Us-of-Fossil-Fuel-Dependency-343379.shtml In an attempt to help rid human society of its dependency on fossil fuels, a team of researchers working at Virginia Tech have rolled out a new technology which makes it possible for hydrogen to be extracted in impressive amounts from any given plant.

As several reports issued by the Department of Energy in the U... (read more)]]> Fri, 5 Apr 2013 19:11:01 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Hydrogen-Technology-Promises-to-Rid-Us-of-Fossil-Fuel-Dependency-343379.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Hydrogen-Technology-Promises-to-Rid-Us-of-Fossil-Fuel-Dependency-343379.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Pharmaceutical-Pollution-Now-Said-to-Affect-Streams-Worldwide-342300.shtml According to a new report issued by scientists working with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, pharmaceutical pollution is currently affecting streams worldwide.

Despite the fact that further research on the matter at hand is needed, the researchers speculate that said type of pollution affects not just water qual... (read more)]]> Tue, 2 Apr 2013 13:31:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Pharmaceutical-Pollution-Now-Said-to-Affect-Streams-Worldwide-342300.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Pharmaceutical-Pollution-Now-Said-to-Affect-Streams-Worldwide-342300.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Arctic-Landscape-Will-Get-Drastically-Greener-New-Study-Warns-341782.shtml A study published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change towards the middle of March made a case of how global warming and climate change would eventually translate into the Arctic's getting increasingly greener.

A new research whose findings were made available to the public in the same journal this March ... (read more)]]> Mon, 1 Apr 2013 07:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Arctic-Landscape-Will-Get-Drastically-Greener-New-Study-Warns-341782.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Arctic-Landscape-Will-Get-Drastically-Greener-New-Study-Warns-341782.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Scientists-Use-Trees-to-Make-Recyclable-Solar-Cells-341127.shtml Scientist Bernard Kippelen, now working with the Georgia Institute of Technology, and his fellow researchers have recently gone public with the news that they have succeeded in manufacturing recyclable solar cells using trees as one of their raw materials.

The solar cells are said to have a power conversion efficiency of 2.7%. Fu... (read more)]]> Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:11:01 GMT Softpedia News - Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Scientists-Use-Trees-to-Make-Recyclable-Solar-Cells-341127.shtml Research & Tech http://news.softpedia.com/news/Scientists-Use-Trees-to-Make-Recyclable-Solar-Cells-341127.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Laura Sinpetru)