About 3.3 million years ago, during a period called the Pliocene epoch when Earth’s atmosphere contained CO₂ levels similar to today’s, a short but intense cooling event occurred that scientists call Marine Isotope Stage M2. Understanding what happened during this 25,000-year period matters today because it reveals how sensitive ice sheets are to changes in […]
Why Energy Efficiency Alone Won’t Solve Our Climate Problems
When countries make plans to fight climate change, they often focus heavily on energy efficiency—making buildings, appliances, and vehicles use less energy. But a new study suggests this approach might be missing the bigger picture. Affiliates of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute, Clinton Andrews, Distinguished Professor at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public […]
Empowering Young Innovators to Lead the Way to a Sustainable Future
What if the key to solving our planet’s biggest challenges lies with young people? A new study shows that empowering youth to develop innovative solutions could accelerate progress toward global sustainability goals—but only if we give them the right support and opportunities. Wendy Purcell, professor at Rutgers School of Public Health and affiliate of the Rutgers […]
Turning Liquid Fuel into Clean Energy: A New Cobalt Catalyst Could Help Power the Future
A new study has found a better way to turn a common liquid chemical into clean energy, and it could help us move away from fossil fuels. Kate Waldie, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University and an affiliate of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute, is a co-author on […]
Scientists Map Genome of Hybrid Oyster to Advance Sustainable Aquaculture
Oysters are one of the world’s most important seafood products, with farms producing about seven million metric tons each year. Now, researchers have unlocked the complete genetic code of a special hybrid oyster, providing a valuable tool that could help improve how these shellfish are farmed. The study, published in Scientific Data, presents the first […]
Large Ice Sheets Existed Much Earlier Than Scientists Thought
Scientists have long reconstructed the extent of ancient ice sheets by analyzing chemical signatures in seafloor sediments. The traditional view held that the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets started small about 3 million years ago and gradually grew larger over time, reaching their maximum extent only in the last 800,000 years. This progression seemed to explain […]
Rutgers Center for Lipid Research Holds 10th Annual Symposium
On November 7, the Rutgers Center for Lipid Research (RCLR) held its 10th annual symposium under the theme, “Lipid regulation of cell stress and death.” The symposium, which was held at the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH) on the Rutgers–New Brunswick campus, was attended by more than 90 participants. The annual […]
Amino Acid Shortage Disrupts Vitamin A Distribution, Rutgers Study Finds
Groundbreaking PNAS research reveals a new pathway regulating vitamin A mobilization from the liver—independent of vitamin A status. Researchers at Rutgers University have discovered that amino acid scarcity—whether caused by diet or chemotherapy—impairs the liver’s ability to release vitamin A into the bloodstream, revealing a previously unrecognized mechanism for controlling vitamin A availability in the […]
From Research to Recreation: Rutgers Dawn Redwoods Revitalize Boardwalk at Rutgers Gardens
October 23 marked an exciting milestone for the Rutgers Urban Forestry program and Forestry Club with the successful completion of a collaborative project that turned reclaimed wood into a revitalized trail at Rutgers Gardens. With help from Rutgers Gardens staff, interns and volunteers, 120 feet of new boardwalk was completed—blending research, learning and sustainability into […]
Ocean Currents Act Like Underwater Highways, Delivering Food to Antarctic Wildlife
In Antarctica’s frigid waters, tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill are the foundation of the entire ocean food web, feeding everything from penguins to whales. But how do these krill—and the microscopic plants they eat—end up in the right place at the right time? A new study reveals that ocean currents act like invisible highways, concentrating […]
