In the heart of Iowa, a battle is brewing between farming and nature. Farmers have been draining wetlands to grow crops, but this has left birds that migrate in the spring with fewer places to rest. To tackle this issue, scientists are looking at how man-made wetlands can help. These wetlands are n
Scientists have created a new type of membrane that can quickly and efficiently separate oil from water. This is a big deal because oily wastewater is a major problem in many industries, and current solutions often fall short due to something called membrane fouling. That's when oil sticks to the me
Mining does more than just extract resources. It also leaves behind a mix of materials that can affect the environment. One of these is slurry, a thick mixture used in grouting to fill gaps in the earth. But what happens when this slurry interacts with groundwater? Recent research sheds light on thi
In a recent study, the Pocotaligo River in Sumter, South Carolina, was found to have the highest levels of PFAS contamination among 22 waterways tested across the United States. PFAS, known as "forever chemicals, " are synthetic substances that persist in the environment and the human body, posing s
In the quest to make tomatoes tougher against dry spells, scientists have turned to some unusual allies: fungi and natural plant boosters. The focus was on two Italian tomato varieties, Principe Borghese and San Marzano nano. The team used high-tech plant scanning to see how these tomatoes fared und
The Curiosity rover has sent back some fascinating pictures from Mars. These images show strange patterns on a mountain. Scientists think these patterns might tell us about water on Mars a long time ago. Mars is a dry, dusty place now. But it wasn't always like this. Long ago, rivers, lakes, and ma
Water pollution is a big problem. Scientists are always looking for new ways to clean it up. One recent discovery is a special material called Mn-Co-BTC@MOF/S-MXene. It's made by combining different chemicals and has been tested to see how well it can remove lead from water. This material was check
Groundwater pollution is a big deal, and understanding how it happens is crucial. A recent study tackled this by looking at how nitrate nitrogen moves from soil to groundwater. They came up with a new way to model this process, which is especially important because it doesn't always happen in a stra
Mars is full of surprises, and the latest one is a set of strange, web-like structures spotted by the Curiosity rover. These formations, called "boxwork, " stretch up to 12 miles wide and look like giant spiderwebs from above. They are made up of mineral-rich ridges that crisscross each other, and s
California is stuck in a money fight. The state just approved a huge $325 billion budget, but the arguments are far from over. Lawmakers have until Friday to finalize things before the new budget kicks in on July 1. Proposition 36 is one of the big fights. Voters approved it last year. It's about b
