Tiny robots, smaller than the width of a human hair, are no longer just a dream. They are real and have the power to change the world. But why aren't we seeing them everywhere yet? The journey of these micro and nanorobots started with a famous lecture and a sci-fi movie. Now, they are used in medicine and cleaning up the environment. But there are big hurdles to ove...
In Taiwan, esophageal cancer is a serious health issue. It's tough to treat and often has poor outcomes. Scientists are now looking into how certain chemicals in our environment might play a role in causing this disease. One group of chemicals, called organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), has caught their attention. These chemicals are used to make things less fl...
Delhi, a city known for its heavy pollution, has seen some good news lately. Over the past decade, the amount of tiny, harmful particles in the air, called PM2. 5 and PM10, has been going down. This drop is thanks to new eco-friendly tech and stricter rules on industries, even though there are more vehicles on the road than ever before. The biggest improvements happ...
In Hong Kong, nurses' views on their work settings in public hospitals were recently studied. Over a year, nurses from 71 different wards in four hospitals shared their thoughts. They filled out surveys every three months, and the number of participants varied from 604 to 865 each time. The surveys focused on five key areas. Four of these areas scored above 2. 5 on ...
Plastic is everywhere. It's in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. But what happens when these tiny plastic bits, called microplastics, find their way into our bodies? Scientists wanted to find out. They looked at samples from different organs of people who had passed away. They used special tools to see if microplastics were hiding there and...
A lawsuit has been filed against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by a former student and an instructor. They claim the university did not take action against antisemitism on campus after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel. The instructor, Lior Alon, and the former student, William Sussman, both Jewish, say the school ignored a rise in hatre...
In small towns across China, wastewater treatment plants are having a tough time. These plants use special ponds called ecological combination ponds (ECPs) to clean water. But when the water coming in changes a lot, it's hard to adjust the settings. This leads to too much air being pumped in and too many chemicals being used. The goal is to remove nitrogen from the w...
Over the past 40 years, Bulgarian babies have been getting smaller. This isn't just a random thing. It's a sign of bigger changes happening in the country. First, let's talk about weight. In the 1980s, the average baby boy weighed about 3447 grams at birth. By 2020, that number dropped to 3335 grams. For girls, it went from 3321 grams to 3179 grams. That's a noticea...
Scientists are always looking for ways to make drug delivery more effective. One big challenge is getting drugs to release quickly and efficiently once they reach their target. A recent study tackled this problem by designing smart molecular structures that speed up drug release. The key idea is to use a two-part system. The first part, called core-1, is designed to...
Hazmat incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials require careful handling. The goal is to stop the spread of contamination and prevent harm to people and the environment. While wet decontamination is the go-to method, it's not always practical. Cold weather and limited resources can make it difficult to use. This is where dry decont...