nitrogen

A team of researchers has published a new method for obtaining ammonia in the journal Angewandte Chemie. This method, which uses reactive boron compounds to convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonium chloride with the addition of an acid, is much milder than the traditional Haber-Bosch process and does not require the use of energy-intensive hydrogen gas or metals. This conversion can be carried out in solution at room temperature, making it a more environmentally friendly and efficient alternative for producing…

Current and critical N inputs and outputs.Global current (year 2010) nitrogen (N) inputs (subdivided into fertilizer, BNF, manure and deposition) and N outputs (subdivided into N uptake and N surplus) and critical N inputs and outputs related to three thresholds (N deposition to limit terrestrial biodiversity loss, N load to surface water to limit eutrophication, and N leaching to groundwater to meet drinking water standards), and for all thresholds…

Vertical sections of water column properties along meridional transect on the Bering-Chukchi shelf and zonal transect just south of the Bering Strait. Credit: Science China Press This study is led by Dr. Chen Jianfang and Dr. Li Hongliang from the Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources. Based on the field observation though two Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) cruises in 2003 and…

If crops could feel envy, it’d be for legumes. Bean plants have a superpower. Or more accurately, they share one. They’ve developed symbiotic relationships with bacteria that process atmospheric nitrogen into a form that’s usable for those plants—an essential element for building their tissues, photosynthesizing, and generally staying healthy. This is known as nitrogen fixation. If you look at a legume’s roots, you’ll see nodules that provide these nitrogen-fixing microbes with a home and food. Other crops—cereals like…

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles play important roles in the prediction of climate change and ecosystem sustainability in the dryland. Climate change has threatened the nutrient balance of dryland ecosystems; however, its impact on soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN) in drylands, as well as SOC and STN variation, are still unclear.…

The “origin of life” is a subject that scientists have invested an unparalleled amount of time and resources in to understand it better. How life emerged from non-living molecules continues to be a much-debated topic. But now, scientists at Scripps Research may have found something to shed light on the subject. Scientists have discovered a set of chemical reactions that can produce amino acids and nucleic acids — the building blocks of proteins and DNA — by using cyanide, ammonia, and carbon dioxide.What makes this an…

The fearsome megalodon was the largest shark that ever lived, possibly growing up to 20 meters (66 feet) in length, with teeth the size of a human hand. New research analyzing teeth from this ancient creature has revealed that the megalodon was the most apex of apex predators.  By studying the levels of nitrogen isotopes present in cells, scientists can figure out where a creature was in the food chain – because of the way the nitrogen is processed and excreted, nitrogen-15 builds up the higher in the food chain you…

If you are a person who owns a vehicle, then you must have found yourselves in a situation where you were asked if you want the normal air or Nitrogen in the tyres. Over the years, we have seen many talking about the positives and negatives of filling Nitrogen to the tyres. It has been one of the most asked questions when it comes to vehicle maintenance. The regular air is free while you have to pay for the Nitrogen. So, is filling Nitrogen in your car or bike’s tyre a good option and does it make much of a difference?…

Planting more crops isn't the only way to feed a growing population. Cutting air pollution could go a long way towards increasing crop production while saving precious land and money, according to new research.  If the world cuts the emissions of just one type of air pollutant in half, estimates suggest winter crops could yield about 28 percent more in China and up to 10 percent more in other parts of the world. The pollutants in question are oxides of nitrogen, a family of invisible, poisonous gasses produced by car…