In his early days as President, Trump signed several executive orders focusing on energy and climate policies. The mix of orders shows a bunch of confusing moves. Trump wants the U. S. to lead in mining things like lithium and rare earth elements, which are key for making batteries, strong magnets,
Imagine you're following the story of antibiotic resistance genes as they travel through a wastewater treatment plant. These genes, both inside (intracellular) and outside (extracellular) of bacteria, have different fates. When wastewater arrives at the plant, it carries a mix of these genes. Some a
Wastewater treatment plants have grit chambers where tiny particles, called aerosols, float around. These particles can have bacteria and other chemicals. In a study of nine plants in China, researchers found different amounts of aerosols. They found 160 to 432 micrograms per cubic meter of total pa
Imagine trying to predict how many people have COVID-19 by looking at their wastewater. Sounds a bit strange, right? But that's exactly what scientists did in Italy's Veneto region during the pandemic. They checked for tiny bits of the virus's genetic material (RNA) in wastewater and compared it wit
Imagine being stuck in space for over seven months. That's the reality for some NASA astronauts, who finally got a chance to step outside for a spacewalk. Astronaut Suni Williams, the commander of the International Space Station, ventured out on a spacewalk on January 16, 2025. She and her fellow as
Bitcoin, the top dog in the cryptocurrency world, has a big problem: it uses a ton of energy and isn't kind to the environment. The proof-of-work system it runs on is to blame. As Bitcoin grows, mining it becomes more popular, especially in places where energy and money costs are low. Researchers de
After the collapse of Steward Health Care, which led to the closure of two hospitals and the loss of patient lives, Massachusetts has taken a big step. A new law aims to keep private equity out of local healthcare. This isn't about banning private equity, but making sure they can't squeeze money out
A recent fire at a huge battery storage facility in Moss Landing, California, is raising questions about the safety and future of renewable energy. The fire, which forced the evacuation of 1, 200 people and closed Highway 1, has local officials concerned. Some compare it to the Three Mile Island acc
Fox has decided to bring back the crime series "Murder in a Small Town" for a second season. This show, starring Rossif Sutherland and Kristin Kreuk, is based on the award-winning Karl Alberg book series. The first season used a few books from the series, and there are still plenty more stories to e
Imagine if we could tackle two big problems at once - energy waste and water scarcity. That's where nuclear power plants (NPPs) come in. Did you know that NPPs produce a lot of heat that's often wasted? This heat, known as waste heat, can be used to drive desalination systems. Desalination is the pr
