In August 2024, a PFAS-containing firefighting foam spill at Brunswick Executive Airport caused quite a stir. Many public figures jumped to conclusions, blaming the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) for negligence. However, the facts tell a different story. The MRRA has been working
Iowa's tree cover has taken a big hit. It's gone from 20% to just 4% in Central Iowa. Storms, bugs, and building have taken their toll. But there's hope. The One Million Trees Central Iowa Initiative wants to change this. Trees do more than look pretty. They clean the air, cool the streets, and eve
Viruses are everywhere. They are the most common living things on our planet. Yet, we know very little about them. A new project called VIRE is changing that. It is like a big map of viruses from all over the world. This map includes over 1. 7 million viral genomes. These genomes come from more than
Scientists are now looking at the big picture of health. They are not just focusing on genes. Instead, they are studying everything around us that might cause disease. This new area is called exposomics. It is like a map of all the things we come into contact with in our lives. Most diseases are no
Lithium-ion batteries are powering our green energy future, but there's a hidden cost. Every year, China alone produces over 10 million tons of lithium slag (LS) from smelting lithium mica. While we focus on extracting lithium, we're ignoring the environmental risks posed by other harmful substances
A major change is coming to Pittsburgh’s North Side. Next week, a $740 million project will start turning an old, empty parking lot into a lively entertainment area. The ceremony kicks off at 1 p. m. on Monday and will last until 3 p. m. at 929 Beaver Ave. in the Chateau neighborhood. The project,
In recent times, two big companies have been under the microscope for causing pollution in New York. The Goodyear plant in Niagara Falls and Great Lakes Cheese have both been linked to environmental issues that have caught the attention of local politicians and regulators. The Goodyear plant has be
Gasoline spills are a big problem. They can pollute the air and even cause explosions. This is because gasoline evaporates quickly, releasing harmful chemicals. But predicting how fast this happens is tricky. Different places, like cities or countryside, have different conditions. Wind, temperature,
Eels, those slippery and ancient creatures, are in big trouble. They are not just creepy-crawly things that make some people squirm. They are also a big deal in the world of sushi and seafood. But their numbers are dropping fast. Since the 1980s, some eel species have seen their populations shrink b
The world is waking up to the plastic waste problem. Advanced recycling technologies are stepping in to help. These methods break down plastic waste into useful materials. This can create new products, reducing the need for new plastic. The market for these technologies is growing fast. It is expect
