PAC

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 2026BUSINESS

How AI is reshaping jobs in unexpected ways

A well-known tax software company in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, just let go of 170 workers. That’s about 9% of its total staff. The company, called Vertex, explained they’re shifting focus to AI tools. They want to become more automated and efficient. But this move isn’t sitting well with local

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May 14 2026HEALTH

Weather‑Driven Lung Infection Threatens 1, 000 Lives Annually

Valley fever is a lung disease caused by spores from the fungus Coccidioides, which thrives in dry soil across parts of the southwestern United States and south‑central Washington. The illness can be fatal, with up to 1, 000 deaths reported each year. A study in Phoenix showed that the risk of infe

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May 14 2026SCIENCE

How Fast Should You Really Drive to Save Gas?

Driving faster than 55 mph can drain your wallet faster than you think. Most cars guzzle gas the most when pushed beyond this speed. The difference is noticeable—going from 45 mph to 75 mph can make a car burn 25% more fuel. That’s like buying four gallons of gas and only getting three. Why? The mai

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May 14 2026TECHNOLOGY

A Tiny Chip That Could Change How We Explore Space

Space missions face a big problem: their computers are slow and outdated. Most current chips, like the RAD750, rely on old technology that struggles with modern tasks. That’s where a new NASA-Microchip project comes in. They’ve created a small but powerful processor called HPSC, designed to handle t

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May 13 2026ENVIRONMENT

Dust storms hit Illinois roads, raising safety concerns

Illinois is seeing more dust storms these days, and they’re not just an annoyance—they’re a serious danger. Strong winds can lift dry soil from farm fields, creating sudden walls of dust that reduce visibility to almost zero. These storms can appear quickly, turning highways into risky zones for dri

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May 13 2026TECHNOLOGY

Big wireless companies get more airwaves from a deal approved by regulators

A big change is happening in how phones connect to the sky and ground. The group that oversees communication rules in the US just said yes to a deal where one company hands over a huge chunk of its airwave rights to two other firms. The price tag? 40 billion dollars. SpaceX, famous for sending rock

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May 13 2026EDUCATION

Canvas struggles after hack: What students and schools are still facing

Last week, a hacking group called Shinyhunters reportedly breached the Canvas online learning platform. The company behind Canvas, Instructure, managed to get the service back online after making a deal with the hackers. But even though Canvas is running again, many users are still dealing with prob

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May 13 2026BUSINESS

Why Roller Rabbit Got Away with Staying in Nantucket

Nantucket has a rule to protect its small-town charm: no big chain stores. But Roller Rabbit, a trendy sleepwear brand, found a loophole. Instead of closing up, it rebranded as a "general store, " selling other brands alongside its own. Now, locals are frustrated because this seems like a sneaky way

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May 13 2026ENVIRONMENT

Big Tech’s Hot New Problem: Utah’s Looming AI Factory

In Utah’s quiet Hansel Valley, a single project is forcing the country to face the messy reality of AI. Spread across 40, 000 acres—an area bigger than many cities—the proposed Stratos AI campus isn’t just a collection of servers. It’s a power-guzzling monster that could drain more electricity than

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