ENVIRONMENTAL

Apr 09 2025ENVIRONMENT

Plastic Pieces in Our Waters: How City Design and Land Use Affect Pollution

Microplastics are tiny bits of plastic that are causing big problems in our rivers and streams. These tiny pieces come from various sources, and one major way they end up in water is through stormwater runoff. This is the water that flows over the ground during rainstorms, picking up pollutants alon

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Apr 08 2025SCIENCE

Chlorine: Friend or Foe in Our Everyday Products?

Chlorine is a chemical that is used in many everyday products. It is a key ingredient in making medicines, plastics, pesticides, and cleaning products. However, it is also very toxic and can be dangerous to handle. This raises an important question: Is chlorine really necessary, or can we find safer

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Apr 08 2025ENVIRONMENT

Stinky Situation: Holly Hill's Battle Against Unbearable Odors

Holly Hill, South Carolina, is in a standoff with a waste treatment facility. The issue? A smell so strong that it's driving residents indoors and ruining their quality of life. The culprit? Synagro's Waste Recycling Facility, which has been under the microscope for its pungent emissions. The town

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Apr 08 2025ENVIRONMENT

Landowners in Hot Water for Cutting Down Trees on Their Own Land

In Wauwinet, Nantucket, a couple has found themselves in a sticky situation. Paula and Matthew Dacey, owners of 14 Plover Lane, have been slapped with a hefty fine. The reason? They cut down half an acre of vegetation on their own property. This might sound surprising, but there is a strict rule aga

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Apr 08 2025ENVIRONMENT

The Fight Against Filtered Cigarette Waste in Santa Cruz County

The push to ban filtered cigarettes in Santa Cruz County is gaining traction, but there are still hurdles to overcome. This effort is not new. It has been around for over a decade. The main issue is that the current ban only covers unincorporated areas, leaving four cities where filtered cigarettes

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Apr 08 2025ENVIRONMENT

Oil and Fish Waste: A Hidden Link in Marine Pollution

The ocean is full of tiny particles that can mix with oil spills. This mix can create something called marine oil snow. This snow can sink and harm sea life. One big question is how fish waste, or fecal pellets, play a role in this process. The study looked at how different types of oil and fish

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Apr 06 2025TECHNOLOGY

How to Make AI Work for Us and the Planet

In the 1940s, a company started making cooking oil in a small town in India. Today, that company, Wipro, is a giant in the tech world. It operates in 167 countries and has nearly a quarter of a million employees. The company's focus has shifted from cooking oil to IT and now to AI. Kiran Minnasandra

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Apr 06 2025RELIGION

Faith Leaders: Key Players in the Green Movement

Faith leaders have a big part to play in pushing for a greener planet. They shape how people see the world, what they value, and how they behave in groups. This influence can either boost or hinder efforts to protect the environment. However, experts are divided on how much religion actually helps i

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Apr 06 2025ENVIRONMENT

Tracking Down Pollution in Groundwater: A Smart New Approach

Groundwater pollution can strike suddenly, and finding the source quickly is crucial. A new method combines two algorithms to tackle this problem. This mix of tools can pinpoint where pollution started, how much was released, and when it happened. The first tool, called EnKF, narrows down the searc

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Apr 06 2025ENVIRONMENT

Floods and Farm Pollution: A Wake-Up Call

Floods are becoming more common and more severe. This is due to climate change. These floods can cause big problems. They can spread harmful substances into water supplies. These substances are known as contaminants of emerging concern or CECs. Antibiotics are a big part of this problem. They

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