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phosphorus

A swirling, bright blue shape with soft edges appears against a background of dark blue in this bird’s-eye view of the ocean off the coast of France.
Posted inResearch Spotlights

Global Observations Reveal Rapid Reorganization of Ocean Nutrients

Sarah Stanley, Science Writer by Sarah Stanley 12 March 202612 March 2026

Data reveal that changes in nutrient levels vary depending on depth and distance from shore—and that these changes are happening more quickly than scientists realized.

A Sentinel-2 satellite image shows a dust storm over the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Posted inNews

Greenland Dust Delivers Nutrients to Ice-Melting Algae

by Taylor Mitchell Brown 27 February 202627 February 2026

Researchers scrutinized aerosols above and within the ice sheet, finding phosphorus and other mineral particles.

A beach in the Florida Keys
Posted inNews

Shallow Injection Imperfectly Filters Florida Wastewater

by Caroline Hasler 26 September 202526 September 2025

Injection of wastewater into shallow wells is meant to filter nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus out of the wastewater. But a new study suggests that nutrients aren’t entirely eliminated—and may be polluting coastal waters.

Photo of a river
Posted inEditors' Highlights

Carbon-Nutrient Ratios Drive Nitrate Removal in Mediterranean Streams

by Kyle Boodoo and Suzanne Tank 19 March 202519 March 2025

The type of organic matter, and ratio of nutrients to carbon, impact the ability of heterotrophic bacteria to effectively remove certain forms of nitrogen pollution (nitrate) from streams.

A person crouches with an outstretched arm atop a dried lake bed coated with white salt.
Posted inNews

Last Chance Lake Harbors the Highest Known Levels of Phosphate

Katherine Kornei, Science Writer by Katherine Kornei 29 February 202429 February 2024

Bodies of water such as this might have functioned as cradles of life, given their unique biogeochemistry.

A creek flows in a forest.
Posted inResearch Spotlights

Current Agriculture Adds More Phosphorus to Streams Than to Lakes

Rachel Fritts, Science Writer by Rachel Fritts 17 August 202317 August 2023

Improved agricultural nutrient management could improve stream water quality by reducing phosphorus levels, but rising temperatures and rainfall due to climate change might offset improvements.

Sunlight shines through plumes of ice crystals and dust grains jetting from a gray sphere.
Posted inNews

Essential Ingredient for Life Found on Enceladus

by Matthew R. Francis 27 July 202327 July 2023

Icy plumes from Saturn’s moon Enceladus contain phosphorus, part of the biochemistry of life—the first time the element has been found in a liquid environment beyond Earth.

Maps of the Great Lakes region using different colors to show nutrient concentrations.
Posted inEditors' Highlights

Analyzing Sources of Pollution in the Great Lakes

by Luis Lassaletta 11 April 20237 June 2023

Understanding how agriculture and land use affect nutrient flows and concentrations in the vast area of the Great Lakes is an essential step to developing sustainable management strategies.

A white water tower against a blue sky with trees in the foreground.
Posted inResearch Spotlights

U.S. Public Water Supply Is a Local Source of Phosphorus Pollution

Rachel Fritts, Science Writer by Rachel Fritts 16 March 202322 June 2023

Excess phosphorus may reach U.S. rivers, lakes, and groundwater through water main leaks and outdoor water use.

Posted inResearch Spotlights

If There Is Phosphine on Venus, There Isn’t Much

by Morgan Rehnberg 1 December 20221 December 2022

New observations of the Venusian atmosphere collected from an airborne observatory showed no sign of the potential biosignature gas, casting additional doubt on a previous report of its detection.

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Over a dark blue-green square appear the words Special Report: The State of the Science 1 Year On.

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