Summary

Environmental science emerged from the fields of natural history and medicine during the Enlightenment. Today, it provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems. Environmental studies are incorporating more of the social sciences in order to understand human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. This entry collection features information about design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect.

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Entries
Topic Review
Can Climate Change be Mitigated through Modular Construction?
Modular construction (MC) is a promising concept with the potential to revolutionize the construction industry (CI). The sustainability aspects of MC, among its other encouraging facets, have garnered escalated interest and acclaim among the research community, especially in the context of climate change (CC) mitigation efforts. 
  • 663
  • 21 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Economics in Marine Spatial Planning
There has been a rapid increase in the use of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) worldwide, partly due to the continued loss of marine biodiversity and habitat. The sustainability of marine resources is threatened in all regions of the world by major events such as climate change, marine pollution, and overfishing, as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing both on the high seas and in country waters.
  • 1.1K
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Impact of Climate Change on Soil N2O Emission
Microbial-driven processes, including nitrification and denitrification closely related to soil nitrous oxide (N2O) production, are orchestrated by a network of enzymes and genes such as amoA genes from ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), narG (nitrate reductase), nirS and nirK (nitrite reductase), and nosZ (N2O reductase). However, how climatic factors could influence these genes and processes and, consequently, soil N2O emissions remain unclear. 
  • 536
  • 26 Feb 2024
Topic Review
HILIC on Poly-Hydroxyl Stationary Phases in Protein-Rich-Food Supplements
Monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides are essential sources of dietary energy. In the food industry, certain monosaccharides like glucose, galactose, and fructose, and disaccharides like lactose, sucrose, and maltose, are known for their sweet taste. With the increasing prevalence of public health issues such as obesity and diabetes, it is essential to increase consumer awareness about sugar consumption and monitor the intake of processed foods.
  • 395
  • 14 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Fungi Remediate Soils Contaminated by War-like Activities
Fungi comprise the largest kingdom of higher organisms on the planet: eukaryotes with complex cell structures and abilities to make tissues and organs. Hyphae filaments have a rigid, complex cell wall and moving protoplasm (cytosol) divided into compartments by cross walls termed septa, allowing cellular components to move through these. The plasma membrane comprises a phospholipid bilayer associated with transmembrane proteins and ergosterol and some enzymes such as integral membrane proteins chitin synthase and glucan synthase. The release of enzymes into the extracellular environment, which many fungal species carry out, and the high contact area between filamentous fungi and the soil make these organisms promising for the degradation or immobilization of pollutants (explosives, metals, metalloids, radionuclides, and herbicides) in soil impacted by War-like activities.
  • 446
  • 17 Feb 2024
Topic Review
The Development of Biogas Plants
Agricultural biogas plants have a long history, beginning with early advancements in biogas technology and its application in agricultural contexts. Throughout history, several societies have used organic waste to make biogas, a renewable energy source. However, modern agricultural biogas plants as we know them today have changed greatly as a result of scientific and technological advances.
  • 594
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Application of Machine Learning for Runoff Prediction
Water resource modeling is an important means of studying the distribution, change, utilization, and management of water resources. By establishing various models, water resources can be quantitatively described and predicted, providing a scientific basis for water resource management, protection, and planning. Traditional hydrological observation methods, often reliant on experience and statistical methods, are time-consuming and labor-intensive, frequently resulting in predictions of limited accuracy. However, machine learning technologies enhance the efficiency and sustainability of water resource modeling by analyzing extensive hydrogeological data, thereby improving predictions and optimizing water resource utilization and allocation.
  • 473
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction
Given the environmental problems caused by burning fossil fuels, it is believed that converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into chemical inputs is a great ally to generating clean energy. In this way, investigative studies related to electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RE) concerning the behavior of metal catalysts have received attention about the processes involved. CO2RE can be an important tool to mitigate the presence of this gas in the Earth’s atmosphere.
  • 370
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Catch and Cover Crop Biomass Bioconversion into Energy
Catch and cover crops are defined as crops sown in pure or mixed sowings between two main crops. A short vegetation period is a key feature of these plants.
  • 415
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Rare Earth Elements (REE)
The rare earth elements (REE) comprise a group of 16 chemically very similar elements that occur widespread in rocks, soils, and water bodies, share similar ionic radii to the essential element Ca2+, and consequently also occur in biota. Given that REE form mainly trivalent cations, they also share similarities to Al3+. Compared to their chemical cognate Ca, they have a higher reactivity. Thus, their accumulation in soils may constitute a severe environmental threat. Over the last decades, the increasing use of REE in modern technology and fertilizers raised concerns about the pollution of soils and water bodies, which led to a rapidly increasing number of publications dealing with REE toxicity to plants, animals and humans, the fate of REE in soil–plant systems, REE cycling in ecosystems and impacts of REE pollution on food security.
  • 523
  • 05 Feb 2024
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