New Computer Language Unlocks Hidden Pollutants in Environmental Data

In a breakthrough for environmental science, researchers at UC Riverside have developed a programming language called Mass Query Language (MassQL) that enables biologists and chemists to quickly identify previously unknown pollutants in massive chemical datasets. This innovative tool has already helped scientists discover toxic compounds hidden in plain sight.

The power of MassQL lies in its ability to function like a search engine for mass spectrometry data, which is akin to a chemical fingerprint. By making it easier to search these vast datasets, the language allows researchers to find patterns that would otherwise require advanced programming skills. This has significant implications for environmental science, as scientists can now quickly identify pollutants in water, air, and other samples.

Developed by Mingxun Wang, an assistant professor of computer science at UC Riverside, MassQL was created to empower chemists and biologists without extensive coding experience to mine their data exactly how they want. This user-friendly approach has the potential to revolutionize environmental research, enabling scientists to quickly identify pollutants and develop strategies for removal.

One notable example of MassQL’s effectiveness is its use by Nina Zhao, a UCR postdoctoral student now at UC San Diego. She employed the language to sift through the entire world’s mass spectrometry data on water samples, searching for organophosphate esters – compounds commonly found in flame retardants. The results were staggering: MassQL pulled out thousands of measurements, including some chemicals that have not been previously described or catalogued.

These findings highlight the importance of MassQL in environmental science. By providing a powerful tool for identifying pollutants, researchers can now develop strategies to address these toxic compounds and protect human and animal health.

MassQL’s development was made possible by a collaborative effort involving over 70 scientists from various fields. This consensus-driven approach ensured that the language would be useful across multiple disciplines and real-life situations.

The potential applications of MassQL are vast, ranging from detecting fatty acids as markers of alcohol poisoning to identifying new drugs to combat antibiotic resistance. The research team has demonstrated the effectiveness of the language in a variety of scenarios, including finding forever chemicals on playgrounds.

As Wang notes, “I wanted to create one language that could handle multiple kinds of queries. And now we have. I’m excited to hear about the discoveries that could come from this.”

With MassQL, researchers can now quickly identify pollutants and develop strategies for removal, paving the way for a cleaner, healthier environment for all.

Cities are known for their sweltering summers, where the temperature can soar and make even the most mundane activities feel like torture. The heat island effect, which is caused by the concentration of buildings, pavement, and human activity in urban areas, makes cities significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, even at night. This, combined with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change, can make urban living uncomfortable and even hazardous.

A team of researchers from Kyoto University set out to investigate how reducing urban heat release could help mitigate and control local rainfall. They conducted numerical simulations using a mesoscale meteorological model, selecting a severe rainstorm in Osaka City on August 27, 2023, as their case study.

The results of the study showed that reducing sensible heat fluxes over urban areas can lead to the mitigation and control of local-scale rainfall on summer afternoons. The researchers found that by regulating urban heat release, they could reduce the intensity and amount of rainfall in Osaka City.

“We are excited to learn that regulating urban heat release has the potential to help us deal with urban weather-related issues,” said corresponding author Tetsuya Takemi.

The study’s findings have significant implications for cities around the world. As climate change continues to exacerbate extreme weather events, it is essential to find ways to mitigate their impact. Regulating urban heat release could be a key strategy in controlling local rainfall and reducing the risk of flooding and other hazards associated with severe weather.

The researchers are now using a high-resolution numerical model to investigate the impacts of heat release from individual buildings and streets in real cities. They plan to combine this modeling with the mesoscale meteorological model to quantitatively assess how to control local-scale rainfall with the reduction in urban heat release.

“We hope to further advance our study on urban extreme weather and contribute to further mitigation of these problems,” said Takemi.

The article has been rewritten for clarity and accessibility:

Harnessing Sunlight: A Breakthrough in Carbon Capture Technology

Scientists at Cornell University have developed a groundbreaking method to capture and release carbon dioxide using an energy source that’s abundant, clean, and free: sunlight. This innovative approach mimics the way plants store carbon, making it a game-changer in the fight against global warming.

The research team, led by Phillip Milner, associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology, has created a light-powered system that can separate carbon dioxide from industrial sources. They’ve used sunlight to make a stable enol molecule reactive enough to “grab” the carbon, and then driven an additional reaction to release the carbon dioxide for storage or reuse.

This is the first light-powered separation system for both carbon capture and release, and it has significant implications for reducing costs and net emissions in current methods of carbon capture. The team tested their system using flue samples from Cornell’s Combined Heat and Power Building, and it was successful in isolating carbon dioxide, even with trace contaminants present.

Milner is excited about the potential to remove carbon dioxide from air, which he believes is the most practical application. “Imagine going into the desert, you put up these panels that are sucking carbon dioxide out of the air and turning it into pure high-pressure carbon dioxide,” he said. This could then be put in a pipeline or converted into something on-site.

The research team is also exploring how this light-powered system could be applied to other gases, as separation drives 15% of global energy use. “There’s a lot of opportunity to reduce energy consumption by using light to drive these separations instead of electricity,” Milner said.

The study was supported by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Carbontech Development Initiative, and Cornell Atkinson. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize carbon capture technology and make it more efficient, effective, and sustainable.