Water

Iran’s water mafia and thirst for war leaves the country on brink of being dry

Iran’s Lake Urmia, once the Middle East’s largest saltwater lake, has shrunk by 90 percent due to mismanagement, dams, and drought. As Tehran pours billions into foreign conflicts, water activists face repression at home. The crisis mirrors Syria’s drought-driven unrest, showing how water scarcity can destabilize entire regions.

Wastewater plants are a hidden climate issue, and we’re measuring it all wrong

Wastewater treatment plants are a hidden source of greenhouse gas emissions, releasing methane, nitrous oxide, and fossil CO₂. A new study calls for smarter monitoring and tailored emission factors. U.S. firms like Jacobs, AECOM, and Black & Veatch are key players in building climate-resilient wastewater infrastructure.

Iran is sinking in sinkholes from overwatering

What's that sinking feeling? In Iran, the very ground under your feet may drop away. The issue here isn’t war. The issue is land subsidence, a...

Ecomondo 2025: Italy’s Green Expo Powers Global Circular Innovation

Each November, a quiet city on Italy’s Adriatic coast becomes the epicenter of the world’s circular economy conversation. What began in 1997 as a local waste management trade show has grown into Ecomondo, a global forum for environmental innovation, resource regeneration, and ecological transition.

Greta Thunberg Sails Toward Gaza as Israeli Navy Prepares Interception

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is aboard a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla (of one) now navigating the eastern Mediterranean, as the Israeli navy signals it is prepared to intercept the vessels enforcing what it calls a “security naval blockade.”

Climate, Not Just People, Is Driving Central Asia’s Desertification, Study Finds

In a sweeping analysis of drylands across Central Asia, scientists have found that natural environmental forces—particularly declining snow levels and rising temperatures—are more responsible for desertification than human activity.

Jordan turns to ancient fire and mines volcanic soil to solve water crisis

In the volcanic highlands of northern Jordan, north of Amman engineers are mining a natural resource not for energy, but for agriculture. The material: crushed volcanic rock, now processed into a mineral-rich soil that may hold the key to reducing water and fertilizer demand in arid regions.

Iraq’s Ancient Water Wisdom Faces a Modern Reckoning

The land between the Tigris and Euphrates was once a wellspring of invention. Thousands of years before modern irrigation, the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians carved canals, engineered flood basins, and developed qanat systems—ingenious underground channels that carried water from mountain springs to distant farms.

Global Progress and Setbacks: Tracking Water Quality Indicators Toward SDG 6 by 2030

The United Nations has 17 objectives that paint a more resource-conscious and fair world called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The sixth mission is to “ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all” by 2030. The turn of the decade will happen before too long, so assessing progress and moments for improvement at this stage is critical. How is SDG 6 going, and what can humanity do to achieve it?

How Pape-Dawson’s Water Engineering Services Support Climate Adaptation and Drought Mitigation

Drought and climate change no longer surprise us—they define today’s water reality. Pape-Dawson meets these trials with practical, site-specific solutions rooted in water sustainability engineering.

These desalination membranes mean less waste

Desalination plants, a major and growing source of freshwater in dry regions, could produce less harmful waste using electricity and new membranes made at the University of Michigan.

Trump’s “Shower Liberation” Proposal: A Disastrous Step Back or a New Path to Efficiency?

New findings revealed that at any given flow rate, higher-pressure showers were associated with lower water consumption. While low-flow showers delivered less water than high-flow-rate showers, high-pressure showers used less water overall because they were turned off sooner.

Can cuttlefish ink be “bear spray” against sharks?

By releasing cuttlefish ink—or a synthetic version—into the water, it may be possible to create a safe zone that deters sharks. This approach could provide a protective barrier, allowing divers to observe marine life without posing a threat to themselves or the sharks.

The UN builds an AI coalition to save the planet

Over 100 partners, including 37 tech companies, 11 countries and 5 international organizations, have joined forces with the UN under the Coalition for Environmentally Sustainable Artificial Intelligence, aiming to ramp up global momentum to place AI on a more environmentally sustainable path. 

Net Zero by 2050 a pipe dream with current tech advances and population growth

These results emphasize the need to develop innovative agricultural solutions that will help reduce emissions and strengthen national food security. 

Hot this week

A Face Swap Tool for Training and Internal Comms

Corporate training videos often require repeated filming, travel, and production resources every time policies or personnel change. AI-powered face swap tools offer a more sustainable approach by extending the life of digital training content, reducing unnecessary reshoots, and helping organizations communicate more efficiently—provided they are used transparently with clear consent and ethical governance.

How a tick bite can lead to a life-threatening meat allergy AFG

Imagine developing a severe allergy to steak after a single tick bite. That's the reality for people with alpha-gal syndrome, a rapidly emerging condition linked to lone star ticks and other tick species. As researchers uncover how tick saliva rewires the immune system, health officials warn that hundreds of thousands of Americans may already be living with this unusual red meat allergy.

Russia’s Arctic superdeep oil drill revives debunked ‘infinite oil’ theory

Russia is reviving the controversial abiotic oil theory with plans to drill superdeep holes in the Arctic. While small amounts of abiotic methane exist deep within the Earth, most geologists reject the idea that commercial oil reserves originate from non-biological processes, raising questions about the environmental cost and scientific value of the project.

Code Red from the Galapagos: human drugs and sunscreen are polluting the sea

Millions of visitors swim in the pristine waters of the Galápagos each year, but new research suggests sunscreen chemicals and other human-made pollutants are reaching even the islands' most protected marine habitats. Scientists are calling for urgent monitoring to safeguard one of Earth's most iconic ecosystems.

AI will crack the codes from the Dead Sea Scrolls

Artificial intelligence is opening a new chapter in Dead Sea Scrolls research. By combining machine learning with chemical analysis, scientists hope to uncover where the ancient manuscripts were produced, identify connections between scribes, and reveal hidden patterns across more than 25,000 fragments that have remained unsolved for decades.

Topics

A Face Swap Tool for Training and Internal Comms

Corporate training videos often require repeated filming, travel, and production resources every time policies or personnel change. AI-powered face swap tools offer a more sustainable approach by extending the life of digital training content, reducing unnecessary reshoots, and helping organizations communicate more efficiently—provided they are used transparently with clear consent and ethical governance.

How a tick bite can lead to a life-threatening meat allergy AFG

Imagine developing a severe allergy to steak after a single tick bite. That's the reality for people with alpha-gal syndrome, a rapidly emerging condition linked to lone star ticks and other tick species. As researchers uncover how tick saliva rewires the immune system, health officials warn that hundreds of thousands of Americans may already be living with this unusual red meat allergy.

Russia’s Arctic superdeep oil drill revives debunked ‘infinite oil’ theory

Russia is reviving the controversial abiotic oil theory with plans to drill superdeep holes in the Arctic. While small amounts of abiotic methane exist deep within the Earth, most geologists reject the idea that commercial oil reserves originate from non-biological processes, raising questions about the environmental cost and scientific value of the project.

Code Red from the Galapagos: human drugs and sunscreen are polluting the sea

Millions of visitors swim in the pristine waters of the Galápagos each year, but new research suggests sunscreen chemicals and other human-made pollutants are reaching even the islands' most protected marine habitats. Scientists are calling for urgent monitoring to safeguard one of Earth's most iconic ecosystems.

AI will crack the codes from the Dead Sea Scrolls

Artificial intelligence is opening a new chapter in Dead Sea Scrolls research. By combining machine learning with chemical analysis, scientists hope to uncover where the ancient manuscripts were produced, identify connections between scribes, and reveal hidden patterns across more than 25,000 fragments that have remained unsolved for decades.

90% of Americans worry about microplastics

Microplastics are showing up everywhere—from dollar store toys and synthetic clothing to bottled water, toothbrushes and even human sperm. A new Ocean Conservancy survey finds that nearly 9 in 10 Americans are concerned about the health impacts of microplastics, while support is growing for tougher regulations. As scientists uncover plastic particles in the heart, placenta and reproductive organs, the question is no longer whether microplastics are affecting our lives, but how much damage they are already doing.

Understanding Food Production: Karl Studer on the Urban-Rural Knowledge Gap

Karl Studer occupies an unusual position in American business. As President of Quanta Services, he oversees electrical infrastructure operations across the United States, Canada, and Australia, managing thousands of employees and multibillion-dollar projects.

Tigris River oil spill highlights Iraq’s environmental oversight and our addiction to oil

A fresh oil spill in the Tigris River, filmed by an Iraqi university student, has reignited concern over Iraq's polluted waterways. From ancient Mesopotamia to modern Basra, the country's dependence on oil has come at a steep environmental and human cost, with activists warning that unchecked contamination is putting ecosystems and public health at risk.
spot_img

Related Articles