Environment

ASU scientists are taking green research to the blue skies. They are developing cost-effective biofuels that can be used to fly airplanes.

The desert city of Phoenix depends on an extensive canal system to bring water to farms and homes. But artificial lakes and canal systems along with extensive groundwater pumping have had unintended effects on the ecosystem, scientists say. --by Margaret Coulombe

By studying nature for clues to solving design and engineering problems, designers and engineers can create innovative solutions that will minimize the environmental impact of new products. --by Adelheid Fischer

Greenhouse gases aren't the only factors that contribute to climate change. New research on brown carbons--nanoscale particles released by combustion engines--may help predict the effects of climate change more accurately. --by Joe Kullman

How many products contain nanoparticles? More than you might realize. Nanomaterials are present in everthing from bicycle parts to vitamin supplements. --by Melissa Crytzer Fry

Daphnia eat algae, and fish eat daphnia. Big fish eat the little fish, and people eat the big fish. If there are pollutants in the water, they can build up with each successive meal. The process is called bioaccumulation. ASU researchers want to know if nanomaterials are subject to this buildup. --by Melissa Crytzer Fry

Could nanomaterials be toxic to humans? ASU scientists are using a filter membrane system that mimics the small intestine to find out. --by Melissa Crytzer Fry

Lake Tanganyika is an ecological jewel at the heart of desperate human misery. Prohibitions on fishing--designed to protect the fragile ecosystem--have angered local fishermen. These kinds of tensions between conservationists and local people are common. ASU researchers are working to strike a balance. --by Adelheid Fischer

Nanomaterials are in or on the surface of thousands of the products you use every day. They are part of toothpaste, stain-resistant clothing, sunscreens, plastic water bottles, and more. ASU researchers want to know if these microscopic materials are also making their way into the environment, drinking water and, ultimately, your body. --by Melissa Crytzer Fry

The Vortis Insect Suction Sampler vacuums bugs off of plants. Researcher Stan Faeth uses the tool to study what kind of bugs inhabit particular plants, and their relationships to them. --by Margaret Coulombe