Cyanobacteria, those tiny green plants in water, can make drinking water smell and taste bad. They do this by releasing a chemical called 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB). Even a tiny bit of MIB can ruin the water's quality. But how and when these plants release MIB is still a mystery. Scientists did some
Microplastics, those tiny bits of plastic, are everywhere. They float in the air and settle on the ground. But how do they get around? It turns out their shape and size play a big role. In a recent study, scientists looked at how these tiny plastic pieces move through the air and land in Shanghai.
Iceland, known for its icy landscapes and volcanic activity, has recently seen something unusual: mosquitoes. These tiny insects, which are rare in Iceland, were found near the capital, Reykjavik. An expert in insects, Matthías Alfreðsson, confirmed that three mosquitoes were collected. They were fo
The first half of the year has been a costly one for the United States, with weather disasters causing over $100 billion in damage. This is the most expensive start to any year on record. Fourteen separate disasters each caused at least $1 billion in damage. This is a stark reminder of the increasin
Extreme weather events in the first half of 2025 have caused unprecedented damage in the US, totaling a staggering $101 billion. This alarming figure comes from a revived climate-disaster database, once managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which was abruptly discont
AI is often criticized for its high energy use, but it also offers solutions to environmental problems. Data centers powering AI use a lot of electricity, and this demand is expected to rise. However, AI can help reduce energy waste and pollution in various ways. One area where AI shines is in maki
Forest restoration is a hot topic, especially in places like the Mediterranean. The European Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) has set some big goals, but there's a catch. The indicators they use to measure success might not be the best fit for everyone. That's where a recent study comes in. A gr
The U. S. has been a major contributor to carbon emissions for centuries. To tackle this, it's crucial to understand what influences these emissions. Three key factors are government spending, economic growth, and population density. First, consider government spending. When the government invests
Solar panels are a big deal for clean energy, but what happens when they get old? That's where tiny helpers called microbes come in. These little guys can actually help us pull out valuable stuff like copper and aluminum from old solar panels. It's called bioleaching, and it's a fancy way of saying
British Columbia is making a big change. It wants to stop new crypto mining projects from using its power grid. This decision is part of a bigger plan to focus on other industries that use clean energy and create more jobs. The government thinks this will help the economy grow and meet climate goals
