ENVIRONMENT

May 16 2026ENVIRONMENT

Urban Green Spaces: The Key to a Healthier Gut

Rewilding, the process of restoring natural habitats in cities, is gaining attention for its potential to boost human health. When towns grow and forests disappear, people lose daily contact with a wide range of microbes that once lived in soil and plants. This loss may be linked to the rise o

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May 16 2026ENVIRONMENT

Water Fight Brewing Over Colorado River Use

The U. S. government just stepped into a messy water battle with a bold plan that could change how seven states share the Colorado River. For two decades, these states followed an old agreement that’s now falling apart as drought and overuse drain the river dry. The new proposal aims to slash water

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May 16 2026ENVIRONMENT

How everyday products are getting a greener makeover with captured carbon

A Finnish company and a Texas-based chemical giant are teaming up to turn factory fumes into useful stuff. SharpCell Oy, which makes soft, fluffy materials used in wipes, diapers, and even table covers, now uses chemicals created from captured CO2 instead of regular oil-based ingredients. Celanese,

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May 16 2026ENVIRONMENT

How nature’s helpers can restore damaged coastal areas

Coastal wetlands act like nature’s quiet protectors, soaking up storm waves and holding soil in place. But over time, human activities and rising seas have weakened these natural barriers, leaving them less able to bounce back. Scientists noticed that young marsh plants often fail to take root becau

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May 16 2026ENVIRONMENT

Stay Safe and Smart This Summer in Colorado’s Wild Places

Colorado’s summer rush is on, with trails filling up and lakes buzzing with boats and paddlers. But the state’s wild beauty comes with real risks. Sudden storms can roll in while you’re miles from help. Rivers fed by melting snow stay dangerously cold even in July. And every year, lives are lost bec

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May 16 2026ENVIRONMENT

What we know so far about Maine’s lumber mill fire chaos

A fire tore through a century-old lumber mill in Searsmont on Friday morning, sending thick smoke over Route 131 and forcing emergency crews to deal with explosions inside the site. The blaze erupted just after 10 a. m. and raged for hours, turning a place that’s been family-run since the 1800s into

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May 15 2026ENVIRONMENT

How tiny plastic bits in cow poop could harm beetle families

Scientists tested how plastic pollution in cow dung affects a common beetle species known for cleaning up animal waste. They found that when cow manure contains tiny plastic pieces—even in small amounts—it can seriously harm beetle babies. The beetles’ larvae struggled to survive when exposed to hig

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May 15 2026ENVIRONMENT

How Alaska’s Changing Seasons Explain Why You Should Care About Wildfires

Alaska doesn’t ease into wildfire season gradually—it jumps in fast. While the state still fights leftover winter melts in March and early April, the real shift happens as snow disappears and spring winds kick in, turning last year’s dry grass into kindling. Most Alaskans know the risks by now: one

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May 14 2026ENVIRONMENT

River Watch: Spotting City and Farm Pollution

A new system has been set up to tell the difference between pollution that comes from a city and pollution that comes from farms or factories. The idea is to help people fix the river faster by knowing exactly where bad water is coming from. The project was tested on the Sile River in Treviso,

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May 14 2026ENVIRONMENT

Florida Stops Sloth Imports After Tragic Deaths at Closed Orlando Zoo

Florida has put a temporary hold on bringing sloths into the state after many of the wild‑caught animals died at a now‑closed attraction in Orlando. The two‑month pause was ordered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to stop new imports while it reviews rules for keeping these a

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