Digging into solid waste incineration ash, scientists found that current methods to measure heavy metals and elements like calcium (Ca) and aluminum (Al) weren't cutting it. Why? Because the structure of the ash, especially the silicon dioxide (SiO2), was tough to break down. Using hydrofluoric acid
Imagine the 1960s and '70s, when cars filled up with gas that seemed ordinary but hid a serious threat: lead. This harmful substance, invisible to the eye, damaged the brains and nervous systems of children born between 1966 and 1970. Fast forward to today, and we're still grappling with the fallout
Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are everywhere, especially in low-income areas. But how much do people know about the risks? Researchers in Malawi set out to find out. They talked to people from cities, towns near cities, and rural areas. They wanted to know what people thought about getting infect
Oil spills are a big problem for our planet's water bodies. They hurt marine life and can last for a long time. People have been trying different ways to clean them up, like physical methods, heating, using living organisms, and chemicals. But these don't always work well. Chemical dispersants are p
When it comes to making fluorinated materials, hexafluoropropylene oxide oligomer acids (HFPOs) are becoming the go-to option. These substances are popping up more often in aquatic environments, including in zebrafish habitats. But what do we know about their safety? Not much, it turns out. This stu
Christmas trees, real or fake? It's a tricky choice for eco-conscious folks. Real trees are natural and can be recycled, but cutting them down isn't great. Fake trees last longer, but they're often made of toxic plastic. Experts don't agree on which is better. Tim O'Connor from the National Christma
Have you ever thought about what happens to all the plastic we throw away? A lot of it ends up in the air we breathe as microplastics. These tiny plastic pieces, less than 5 millimeters in size, are everywhere, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains. They come from things like old tires, f
After years of gridlock, there's finally a glimmer of hope in international plastic treaty talks. A large group of countries is pushing hard for a production cap to be included in the treaty. But not everyone is on board, and some nations are trying to water down the agreement. The talks in Busan, S
Ever wondered how we can make wastewater treatment plants work more efficiently? Scientists have come up with a clever way to predict changes in water quality, which is really important for managing the process and reducing pollution. They combined something called convolutional bi-directional gated
Imagine if you could juice up your phone while drinking water at the same time. Scientists have come up with two materials, CP1 and CP2, made from lead. CP2 is super speedy in moving electrons, which makes energy production quicker and eco-friendlier. While both materials look promising, CP2 could b
