Scientists collected tiny plastic fragments that float in three coastal areas, each with a different mix of ships and tourists. They focused on polyethylene pieces because it is common in the sea. Using a technique that shines infrared light onto the plastic, they recorded how the molecules vibrate.
Air quality today is a different beast than it was decades ago. While the government has cut back on lead and sulfur dioxide, new dangers have taken center stage: tiny particles from factories, cars and power plants; ozone that forms under the sun; and smoke that travels far beyond its source. The
Back in 1949, most Americans didn’t believe moon rockets would ever work. Only 15% thought humans could reach the lunar surface within fifty years. Even in 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the public was still cautious. About 40% guessed humans might land on the moon by 1980, but anothe
Kansas ended the 2025-26 basketball season with a ranking of 20th in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, moving every week in a way that showed just how unpredictable the season was. The team started out as a preseason top-19 contender but wandered into and out of the rankings, reaching as high as ni
The study looked at six different amine‑rich pollutants that often show up in sewage sludge. These chemicals have various types of nitrogen groups—primary, secondary, tertiary and even quaternary ammonium. Researchers found that the first reactions these pollutants undergo are mainly adding a hydrox
Shrimp farming is booming along tropical coasts, but scientists still argue over whether these operations leak harmful metals into nearby mangrove swamps. A recent study took a close look at Todos os Santos Bay in Brazil, where shrimp ponds sit right next to mangroves. Researchers tested mud from th
Big cities often promise excitement, but they also bring dirty air. Now a large study in the UK is asking if breathing that air for years might harm the nerves in our bodies. Scientists tracked thousands of adults over time to see whether heavy exposure to tiny floating particles and gases from traf
Scientists recently found traces of PFOS, a long-lasting chemical, inside honey and the bees that make it. These substances stick around in nature for years, building up in the environment and even inside living things. For bees, even small doses can mess with their growth. Young bees exposed to PFO
The upcoming April 12 election in Hungary has turned into a close contest, with the centre‑right Tisza party pulling ahead of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz. Two recent opinion polls show Tisza gaining ground, but many voters still have not made up their minds. In a survey by the 21 Re
Scientists tested water in Brazil’s Protected Areas and found pesticide pollution almost everywhere. Samples from streams inside conservation zones and outside showed high traces of farm chemicals. The study tested 46 substances and spotted 15 types, including common herbicides, insecticides, and fu
