Microbes are everywhere, even in freezing places like glaciers. Some of these cold-loving microbes have special proteins called CryoRhodopsins, or CryoRs for short. These proteins are like tiny sensors that help the microbes detect ultraviolet (UV) light. What makes CryoRs unique is a special amino
Long Island is bracing for significant changes due to a new budget bill that has just been approved. This bill is set to impact various aspects of life, from taxes to healthcare, the environment, and immigration. The bill includes a temporary increase in the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, whi
Digging up old bones and teeth might not sound exciting, but they hold secrets about our past. These secrets are hidden in tiny clues called isotopes. Isotopes are like fingerprints that tell us about the food people ate, the water they drank, and even the air they breathed. Scientists study these
Nature is full of surprises, and one of them is how quickly animals can adapt to new environments. Take the fish Neosalanx brevirostris, for example. Scientists wanted to know how this fish could quickly adjust to living in freshwater after spending time in saltwater. They looked at the genes of fo
Deep in the Florida Everglades, a new detention center has opened its doors. This facility, nicknamed \"Alligator Alcatraz, \" has started housing immigrants. The name is a nod to the infamous Alcatraz Island, known for its harsh conditions. The center is part of a broader effort to enforce immigrat
Cities are more than just concrete and steel. They have a vibe, a feel, and a quality that can make or break how people live and behave. But how do you measure that? A recent study used a mix of street-level photos and computer smarts to rate the quality of urban environments across the U. S. The fo
Every day, people in Brussels are surrounded by unseen threats. These threats are not from criminals or dangerous animals. Instead, they come from the environment. Noise, tiny particles in the air, and magnetic fields are just a few examples. Together, these factors cause a big problem. They are lin
Europe is feeling the heat, and not in a good way. Record-breaking temperatures are causing chaos across the continent. In Portugal, thermometers hit a scorching 115°F in some areas. Italy is seeing a surge in hospital visits due to heat-related illnesses, with several tragic deaths from heatstroke.
People are getting more worried about PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. These chemicals stick around in the environment and end up in our food. Understanding how they get into our diet is important to keep us safe. A recent study looked at how PFAS can enter our food. It found that old
Scientists have created something cool: new tools that can spot harmful metals in water. These tools are special because they can tell the difference between zinc, cadmium, and mercury. Plus, they do this in water, which is a big deal. What makes these tools even better is that they are easy and ch
