Imagine tiny plastic particles, smaller than a grain of sand, scattered throughout the soil. These microplastics, or MPs, are becoming a big issue worldwide. Soil is like a long-term storage box for MPs because they find their way in through various routes and take a long time to break down. It's im
Climate shifts and global tensions are making Europe's power grid resilience a hot topic. One clever solution is voluntary demand response, which helps balance power supply and demand during energy shortages or surplus from renewables. An open data service called Interoperable Recommender is making
Ever wondered what affects ozone levels in the air we breathe? Let's dive into a study done in the Upper Silesian region. Back in 2019, ozone was linked to a shocking 365, 000 premature deaths worldwide, and 16, 800 in the European Union alone. So, what's causing these dangerous ozone spikes? Resea
In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, annual plants face a tough challenge: they need to time their germination just right to survive. This task is even harder with changing rainfall patterns due to climate change. Scientists studied 10 annual plant species in this desert to understand how they cope w
Greater sage-grouse, native to Colorado and Wyoming, face harsh winters. For these birds, finding the right place to hang out becomes crucial. Researchers found that sage-grouse don't just hibernate or reduce their activity in winter. Instead, they actively seek out cozy spots with plenty of sagebru
Imagine playing cricket on the beach with your friends. The sun is shining, the sand is warm, and everything seems normal. That’s what Yusuf, now a motor rickshaw driver, was doing when a huge earthquake under the ocean caused a massive tsunami to strike the coast of India. It was December 26, 2004,
Ever wondered how the weather affects the health of dairy cows? Scientists in Mexico's northern desert are using a tool called the temperature-humidity index (THI) to figure that out. The THI helps us understand how hot and humid conditions stress out cows. Researchers looked at four years of daily
In 2023, Canada faced its most devastating wildfire season ever, with over 15 million hectares burned. This was more than double any previous record. The fires led to massive evacuations and terrible air quality all the way to the northeastern United States. Using climate models, scientists found th
Ever wondered how we can turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into something useful, like fuel? This is where copper (Cu) comes in. As a unique element in the periodic table, Cu can convert CO2 into valuable products such as ethylene (C2H4) and ethanol (C2H5OH). But Cu isn't perfect—it has low activity and poo
Antibiotics in our water bodies are a big problem. They harm aquatic life and can make us sick. Scientists have been looking into how to break down these drugs in water. One way is by using a special material called a photocatalyst. This material can use light to break down pollutants like antibioti
