University of Alberta geochemists have discovered a missing piece to one of the great mysteries of science — the origin of life on Earth.

That fateful spark is believed to have occurred on the ocean’s floor, fuelled by warm, mineral-rich hydrothermal vents. But scientists have long puzzled over how the right fertilizer — particularly the forms of carbon and nitrogen necessary to create and sustain life — could have existed without the benefit of the sun.

After analyzing rock samples from hydrothermal vents drilled over a depth of about 200 metres into the crust in the South China Sea, Long Li and his team in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences found evidence of a chemical process — called abiotic nitrogen reduction (ANR), a reaction driven by minerals as catalyst — that likely produced the necessary nutrients for life. A key part of those is ammonium, says Li, crucial for the abiotic synthesis of organic compounds to develop the first life.

A team of researchers from the University of East London (UEL) has found an unexpected solution to one of the construction industry’s biggest carbon problems - and it lies on the shoreline. New findings show that discarded seashells, typically treated as waste, can be transformed into a low-carbon concrete ingredient, potentially cutting significant amounts of CO₂ from one of the world’s most polluting materials and helping drive more sustainable construction.

New research from Rice University and the University of Alberta shows that residents who believe their neighborhoods were exposed to toxic contamination during flooding report significantly higher concerns about future storms and their long-term well-being. The study analyzed survey responses from Houston residents following Hurricane Harvey, focusing on worries related to home, health and neighborhood safety. Researchers found that the combination of flooding and suspected contamination—not flooding alone—was strongly associated with elevated climate concerns, particularly in coastal industrial communities and communities of color. The authors argue that industrial pollution and climate-related flood risks are increasingly interconnected challenges that require coordinated planning and policy responses. The study, published in Natural Hazards Review, highlights the need for improved strategies to protect vulnerable neighborhoods as severe weather events intensify.