The article highlights groundbreaking research led by NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Assistant Professor Elizabeth Hénaff. The study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology reveals that microorganisms in Brooklyn’s highly contaminated Gowanus Canal have developed a comprehensive collection of pollution-fighting genes.

These microbes possess 64 different biochemical pathways to degrade pollutants and 1,171 genes to process heavy metals. This discovery suggests a cheaper, more sustainable, and less disruptive method for cleaning contaminated waterways than the current dredging operations.

The researchers also found 2,300 novel genetic sequences that could enable microbes to produce potentially valuable biochemical compounds for medicine, industry, or environmental applications.

The team created an immersive installation, CHANNEL, at BioBAT Art Space in Brooklyn, featuring sculpture, prints, sound, and projections alongside native Gowanus sediment and water. This artwork communicates the stories behind the scientific data, emphasizing the importance of artistic research in understanding and addressing pressing urban issues.

While more research is needed to understand how to cooperate with these organisms effectively, the discovery of such genetic tools for pollution cleanup may offer valuable lessons for environmental restoration worldwide.

The study also reveals concerns about the potential spread of antibiotic-resistant genes among microbial communities. However, it highlights promising potential benefits, including the development of faster methods for cleaning contaminated waterways and adapting bioremediation methods to resource recovery for re-use.

This research was supported by funding from various institutions, including WorldQuant Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and National Science Foundation. The study builds on prior research spanning a decade to understand the Gowanus Canal microbiome.

The findings come as the Environmental Protection Agency continues its $1.5 billion dredging and capping operation at the canal, removing contaminated sediment and sealing remaining pollution under clean material.

The discovery of such genetic tools for pollution cleanup may offer valuable lessons for environmental restoration worldwide. The hardy microbial organisms of the Gowanus Canal have a unique genetic catalog of survival, which provides a roadmap for adaptation and directed evolution that can be used in polluted sites around the world.

The world’s reliance on iron and its alloys, such as steel and cast iron, has never been more pronounced. As demand continues to grow, researchers are racing to develop cleaner methods for extracting this vital metal. In a breakthrough study published in ACS Energy Letters, scientists have successfully employed electrochemistry to transform synthetic iron ore into purified elemental metal at low temperatures, paving the way for a potentially cost-competitive and environmentally friendly process.

Traditionally, blast furnaces have been used to produce iron, but these high-energy processes come with significant air pollution emissions. In contrast, electrochemical ironmaking offers a promising alternative that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. Led by Paul Kempler, the study’s corresponding author, researchers initially experimented with this process using solutions containing solid iron(III) oxide particles and sodium hydroxide.

However, when natural iron ores with irregular particle sizes and impurities were tested, the low-temperature process was not selective enough. To overcome this hurdle, Kempler collaborated with a new team of researchers to identify suitable iron ore-like feedstocks that could support scalable growth of the electrochemical reaction. They created high surface area iron oxide particles with internal holes and cavities to investigate how the nanoscale morphology of these particles affected the electrochemical process.

The researchers then converted some of these particles into micrometer-wide iron oxide particles, mimicking the morphology of natural ores. These particles contained only trace impurities like carbon and barium. A specialized cathode was designed to pull iron metal from a sodium hydroxide solution containing the iron oxide particles as current passed through it.

In experiments, dense iron oxides were reduced most selectively at a current density of 50 milliamperes per square centimeter, similar to rapidly charging lithium-ion batteries. Conversely, loose particles with higher porosity facilitated more efficient electrochemical iron production, compared to those made to resemble the less porous natural iron ore hematite.

The researchers estimated that their electrochemical ironmaking method could produce iron at less than $600 per metric ton, comparable to traditional methods. Higher current densities, up to 600 milliamperes per square centimeter, could be achieved using particles with nanoscale porosity. Further advances in electrochemical cell design and techniques will be required before the technology sees commercial adoption.

The study received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. This breakthrough has significant implications for the iron industry, potentially leading to cleaner production processes, reduced air pollution emissions, and a more sustainable future.

The Hidden Dangers of Air Pollution: How it Affects Brain Health in Older Adults

A new study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) has found that long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution can harm the brain health of older adults. The research, published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, analyzed data from over 1,000 adults aged 65 and over who took part in the ELSA Harmonised Cognitive Assessment Protocol (ELSA-HCAP) in 2018.

The study revealed that exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is linked to lower scores in key cognitive abilities, particularly language skills. NO₂ mainly enters the atmosphere through fuel combustion from vehicles, power plants, and other sources, while PM2.5 pollution often originates from the combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, or wood.

The researchers examined exposure to air pollution over an eight to 10 year period (2008-2017) and assessed participants’ memory, executive function, language, and overall cognitive function using well-established neurocognitive tests. The findings showed that individuals residing in areas with the highest levels of NO₂ and PM2.5 performed worse on cognitive tests compared to those living in areas with average pollution levels.

The study also found that different sources of air pollution have varying effects on cognitive health. For example, pollution from industries, home heating, and combustion of fuels (like coal and oil) were strongly linked to poorer language performance.

Lead author Dr Giorgio Di Gessa said: “Our study shows that air pollution is not just harmful to the lungs and heart but also to brain health, especially when people are exposed to high levels for long periods. The most consistent links we found were with language ability, which may indicate that certain pollutants have a specific effect on particular cognitive processes.”

The researchers urge policymakers to strengthen air quality regulations, particularly in areas where pollution levels remain high, to help protect brain health as the population ages.

Deputy director of the ELSA study, Professor Paola Zaninotto, said: “By tracking pollution levels over a decade using high-quality data, our research provides robust evidence that sustained exposure to pollutants is damaging people’s brains.”

The study highlights the need for further research into the links between air pollution and cognitive function, as well as the importance of protecting brain health through policies aimed at reducing air pollution.