You might think that places in Greece set aside for protection are overflowing with unwanted plants. Guess what? Researchers split Greece into small squares to check this out. Surprisingly, they discovered that areas with more protected spots actually have slightly fewer invasive plants. Why's that?
President Joe Biden has decided to ban future offshore oil and gas development in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This includes areas off the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. He explained that this move is to protect these
2024 and 2023 have been neck and neck in the race for Baton Rouge's hottest year ever, tying at an average temperature of 72. 5°F. This record goes back to 1893, making it a pretty big deal. While 2024 didn't see as many scorching days as 2023, with only 6 days reaching triple-digit heat compared to
You know how heavy metals like lead and mercury can be really bad for our environment and health? Well, scientists are coming up with clever ways to spot these troublemakers. They're using special color-changing reagents that are easy on the wallet and great at pinpointing heavy metals. Plus, they'r
Industrial wastewater often contains harmful pollutants like p-chlorophenol (4-CP) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). Scientists are looking for ways to clean up this mess and create energy at the same time. They've been experimenting with a type of plant called Leersia hexandra and a clever system c
Coral reefs, the underwater cities of the ocean, are facing a sneaky threat: microplastics. These tiny plastic particles, less than 5 millimeters in size, are becoming increasingly common in our seas. Scientists wanted to figure out how different amounts of these microplastics affect reef-building c
Climate change is shaking up water treatment plants, especially in places like Tehran. Scientists are worried about a green algae called chlorophyll-a, which can cause problems in water quality. To understand how climate change affects water flows, experts used a model called SDSM. They looked at th
In Moscow, scientists have been investigating the tiny particles of dust that float in the air, specifically those smaller than 1 micron, called PM1. This dust is found in traffic zones, residential parking areas, and parks. They discovered that the types of metals and metal-like substances, or MMs,
Did you know that some plastics can soak up heavy metals like a sponge? Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) mulch is designed to replace conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch in farming. The goal? To cut down on plastic waste and microplastics in soil. But it turns out, these tiny plastic bits can al
Imagine what happens when you toss a disposable face mask into a landfill. Scientists have been looking into this, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in mask use. They found that these masks can break down over time, releasing tiny pieces called microplastics and harmful chemicals
