Scientists have found a new way to make fabrics repel liquids without using harmful chemicals. This new method is inspired by the tiny springtail insect. The springtail has a special skin structure that helps it stay dry. Researchers copied this structure to create a coating that can be applied to fabrics. The coating is made by mixing a special chemical called octa...
Lead poisoning is a serious issue, and health experts in La Crosse County are stepping up efforts to ensure kids are safe. With Child Wellness Month and National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week underway, the focus is on educating families about the risks. Older homes with lead-based paint are a major source of lead exposure. But lead can also be found in water, soil,...
Farmers are always looking for ways to grow better crops. One cool way to do this is by using special substances on seeds before planting. These substances can help seeds grow stronger and protect them from bad things in the environment. Think of it like giving seeds a superpower boost! Scientists tried this out on barley and wheat seeds. They used a mix of stuff li...
Dust from mining can be bad for the environment and our health. The problem is, the stuff we use to stop dust, called suppressants, isn't always good for all types of dust. They don't stick well, and the crust they make isn't strong. So, scientists did some experiments to find out what makes a good suppressant. They found that some liquids stick better than others. A...
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're finding ways to make these reagents even better by tweaking their s...
Picture this: cleaning up oil wastewater in a simpler way. Typically, you'd use two methods - adsorption and flotation. But scientists in Brazil decided to combine these into one. They created a special material called biochar and tested it on real oil wastewater from local wells. This new method proved effective, removing up to 83. 89% of the oil and grease. It even...