The Trump administration is pushing a strategy that could undo hundreds of state-level bans on harmful chemicals in everyday items. These bans cover a wide range of products, from children's toys to personal care items, and even clothing. The goal? To make it easier for companies to use these chemic
In a significant legal move, a jury has ordered the oil giant Chevron to pay over 744 million dollars in damages. This ruling comes after years of legal battles over the destruction of Louisiana's coastal wetlands. The verdict is the result of one of 42 lawsuits filed around 12 years ago, all pointi
Lebanon is facing a waste crisis. The country's informal waste sector is a big part of the problem. The informal sector is made up of workers who collect and sort waste without any official rules or support. This might sound like a good thing, but it's not. It creates a lot of problems. The inf
Tunnels in chilly areas often face a big problem: frost heave. This is when the ground swells due to freezing and thawing. To tackle this, an insulation layer is usually added. However, this layer does not last forever. It wears down over time due to repeated freezing and thawing, as well as tempera
Wastewater treatment plants are home to a vast and largely unknown world of tiny organisms. These plants use a process called activated sludge to clean water. This sludge is teeming with diverse microorganisms, many of which have never been studied before. Most research has focused on bacteria and v
In Cambodia, a small hero is making a big difference. Ronin, a five-year-old African giant pouched rat, has found 109 landmines and 15 pieces of unexploded bombs since 2021. This is a big deal. Why? Because Cambodia is still full of dangerous leftovers from a war that ended over two decades ago. The
Freshwater mussels are vital to the health of rivers and lakes. Yet, they often go unnoticed. A group of experts decided to change that. They gathered specialists in mussel reproduction. The goal? To understand what these experts think about measuring mussel health. This isn't just about science. It
The world of fish farming is no stranger to problems. One major issue is the rise of various diseases that can wipe out entire populations of fish. This is a big deal for the industry. One such disease has been causing trouble for the Obscure Pufferfish Takifugu obscurus. A recent outbreak on a farm
In the United States, there is a push to switch from traditional air conditioning systems to evaporative cooling. This change is driven by the desire to cut down on energy use and reduce the strain on the power grid. However, this shift is not as straightforward as it seems. There are other environm
Gadolinium, a heavy metal, has been quietly making its way into our waterways. It's a rare earth element that's quite toxic in its Gd3+ form. To make it safe for use in MRI scans, it's bound to other molecules. However, once it's used, it's not so easy to get rid of. Wastewater treatment plants stru
