The project starts with rice straw, a waste product that scientists turn into tiny particles. By mixing these particles with zinc and lignin—two natural substances—they create a new material called Zn‑LSF. Next, the team embeds this hybrid into a common plastic known as polyurethane. They test se
Recent research has revealed that zooming in on the climate picture can change how we see future rainstorms. Scientists compared a global model, which looks at the whole planet in broad strokes, with a regional model that focuses on Southeast Asia’s islands and surrounding seas. The regional v
The state of mental health treatment in South Carolina is more than a public health issue; it’s an economic emergency. Every year, the United States loses about $343 billion because people with serious mental illnesses are forced into jails or emergency rooms instead of receiving proper psychiatric
The new design of Connecticut Avenue is meant to make the area safer and easier for walkers, but many little stores in Dupont Circle are feeling the pinch. The $37 million plan, run by the District Department of Transportation, has turned parts of the street into a maze of construction zones and clo
In the Nordic region, doctors have noticed that some jobs carry a higher chance of laryngeal cancer than others. This type of cancer, which affects the voice box, makes up nearly one‑third of all head and neck cancers. Two habits—drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes—are known to increase the risk
A growing number of Americans now see certain authoritarian governments as better on human rights than their own country. Polls show this shift is especially strong among younger Democrats, who view Iran, Israel, and even China in similar negative ways—or sometimes even favor China over the U. S. Th
Lawmakers squared off this week over future funding for the nation’s main pollution watchdog, the EPA. Democrats argued the agency is abandoning its job to keep air and water clean, warning that half-funding requests would gut state programs that test wells, treat wastewater, and track cancer-causin
Most college students juggle classes, jobs, and bills, but many also worry about where their next meal will come from. A survey in Chicago found that 60% of students at one college campus struggled with food insecurity—meaning they sometimes ran out of food or couldn’t afford enough. That’s higher t
Before the next big election season, a warning is going around about fake fundraising groups calling themselves PACs. These groups often pretend to support political causes but actually pocket most of the money they collect. With fundraising reaching a peak during midterm elections, these scams beco
Elections used to have a basic rule: the people picking leaders, not the other way around. But a recent Supreme Court decision just tore up that idea when it comes to drawing voting districts. By striking down Louisiana’s congressional map, the court removed one of the last tools keeping extreme ger
