Detecting harmful substances in our food is crucial for our health. One such substance is megestrol acetate (MA), which can linger in food and the environment, causing potential harm. Scientists have come up with a clever solution using tiny particles called upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and a special dye called neutral red (NR). These nanoparticles are like tin...
In Brazil's Para state, the Haidar shipwreck remains a ticking time bomb. This isn't just any old ship; it's a disaster waiting to happen. Ten years ago, this vessel sank near Vila do Conde port, taking 5, 000 cattle to their watery graves and spilling 700, 000 liters of oily mess into the sea. The problem? The ship is still there, full of oil, diesel, fuel, and lub...
Venice recently saw its famous Grand Canal turn green. This happened because of a protest organized by climate activists, including Greta Thunberg. The group used a harmless dye to make a statement about climate change. They also hung banners and walked through crowds to get attention. This wasn't just in Venice. Other Italian cities like Milan and Bologna saw simila...
Climate change is not just about rising temperatures and weird weather. It's also about how these changes might be affecting our health in sneaky ways. Scientists are starting to think that climate change could be linked to things like Alzheimer's disease. How? Well, it's all about stress on our bodies and brains. Our environment is full of things that can cause str...
In Belem, Brazil, Marina Silva, the country's environment minister, received a standing ovation at the COP30 climate summit. Her speech was emotional, and she raised her fist in defiance, declaring that progress, though modest, had been made. The summit was a mix of triumph and frustration, as delegates celebrated increased funding for developing nations but lamented...
The Iron Bowl is just around the corner, set for November 29 at 6:30 PM CST. This year, the action will unfold at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium. While the weather might not be a major factor, it's definitely going to be cold. The National Weather Service predicts a high of just 55 degrees in Auburn on game day, with partly sunny skies. But as the game progresses, tem...
In the southern Barents Sea, tiny creatures are making a big impact. These are zooplankton, the small animals drifting in the ocean. They are super important for fish and shellfish. This area is a hotspot for fishing. So, understanding zooplankton here is crucial. A recent study looked at these tiny creatures in the summer. They found 44 different types of zooplankt...
Enxhi Qirici, a former Boston police officer, recently won a $1 million verdict against the Boston Police Department. She claimed her colleagues made inappropriate comments about her personal life and relationship. The jury did not agree that her firing was due to discrimination or retaliation, but they did find that she faced a hostile work environment. Qirici, who...
In Erie, it's not uncommon to find unusual animals in the water. Last year, there was talk of an alligator in Lake Erie, and this summer, a freshwater jellyfish was seen near Presque Isle. But in mid-November, something even more unexpected happened: an axolotl was found swimming in Walnut Creek. This rare salamander, usually found in Mexico, was rescued and taken to...
Studying viruses in water is tricky. But now, there's a new method that makes it easier. It's called Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (NDRS). This method helps find RNA viruses in water. Researchers came up with a special way to use NDRS. They tested different tools to find the best ones. Flye was great for single virus sequences. Unicycler worked best for mixed sequen...