The University of Idaho is making a bold move to tackle wildfires with a $1. 4 million boost from the National Science Foundation. This cash injection will fund nine new doctoral researchers, who will dive into the science of fire physics, mitigation, and forest regeneration. The goal? To make rural communities more resilient to wildfires and other natural disasters....
The Hanjiang River in China is facing a hidden problem: tiny plastic particles. These small bits, called microplastics, are less than 500 micrometers in size. They are everywhere in the river and can harm aquatic life. A recent study used advanced technology to find out more about these microplastics. The study found a lot of these tiny plastics in the river. On ave...
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have become a hot topic in research lately. Scientists are digging deep to understand how these chemicals affect our health. They are found almost everywhere, from the food we eat to the water we drink, even in the air we breathe. These chemicals can sneak into our bodies through many ways, and their effects can be quite ...
Reservoirs are like big bathtubs collecting water, but over time, they also collect a lot of mud. This mud can cause big problems. In China's Three Gorges Reservoir, even though less mud is coming in each year, there's still a huge amount already there. The same issue is happening in smaller reservoirs around the area. This mud isn't just any old dirt. It's got some...
Radiocesium, a radioactive isotope, behaves differently in various soils. This was shown in a study that looked at 57 soil samples from Taiwan. These samples came from different climates, land uses, and altitudes. The study found that radiocesium sticks to soil in varying amounts. The amount of sticking, or adsorption, was measured using a value called the distri...
Microplastics, tiny particles smaller than 1 mm, are everywhere. They come from factories making plastic and from bigger plastic waste breaking down over time. These tiny bits of plastic behave differently in the environment because of their small size and unique surface chemistry. Think of it like how a tiny droplet of water behaves differently than a big wave. The ...
Imagine kids trading their school desks for muddy boots. They're not in a classroom but on a farm, exploring rows of lettuce, carrots, and other yummy vegetables. This isn't just a fun day out; it's a lesson on nutrition and environmental science. For over two decades, the HEAL Project has taken kids from San Mateo County schools on this unique adventure. The two-ac...