Did you know that some plastics can soak up heavy metals like a sponge? Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) mulch is designed to replace conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch in farming. The goal? To cut down on plastic waste and microplastics in soil. But it turns out, these tiny plastic bits can al
Imagine what happens when you toss a disposable face mask into a landfill. Scientists have been looking into this, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in mask use. They found that these masks can break down over time, releasing tiny pieces called microplastics and harmful chemicals
A massive winter storm is sweeping across the United States, affecting over 60 million people in 30 states. The storm is linked to a polar vortex, a cold air system usually huddled over the North Pole. This time, it's making its way south, bringing snow, ice, and severe cold to many regions. Some s
When it comes to hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), doctors often talk about how the shape of the hip joint can affect outcomes. While there's a lot of focus on how the hip socket (acetabular version) and thigh bone (femoral version) are positioned, less is known about
Complementary feeding is a vital stage in a child's growth, but poor hygiene can lead to malnutrition and illness. In Ethiopia, there's not much data on how mothers of kids aged 6-24 months handle hygiene during this time. To fill this gap, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis
On January 6, 2021, Donald Trump pressured Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the Electoral College votes. Pence said no, and that was the end of their useful relationship. Now, Trump is choosing key people for his second term. He wants folks who will do what he says, no matter what the rules are
You know how wheat bran is great for managing blood sugar levels? Well, it turns out that what happens to it during digestion can change its effectiveness. Scientists decided to see exactly how much the digestive process alters wheat bran's power to lower blood sugar. They looked at how well it bind
Imagine meeting a 12-year-old who loves math more than playing games. That's Suborno Bari. He's not your average kid. At four, he was already solving math problems that stumped his dad, a mathematician. By seven, he was giving university lectures in India! Now, he's a college student at New York Uni
Did you know that wild rice could be a game-changer in feeding the world? As our planet's climate goes through big changes, it's becoming crucial to save and use wild rice varieties. These are like the grandparents of the rice we eat, with special traits that could help rice crops survive tough cond
Have you heard about Streptococcus suis? It's a sneaky bug that's caused some serious problems in pigs, leading to major losses for the farming industry. Yet, its threat to humans was often overlooked, even after a big outbreak in Sichuan, China, that left people very sick. Scientists in Zhejiang P
