USTA

Nov 20 2025SCIENCE

Maize's Secret Weapon: How Tiny Fungi Fight Pollution

Maize, a staple crop, faces a big problem: antimony (Sb) pollution. This harmful substance sneaks into the soil and messes with the plants, making them grow poorly and reducing their nutritional value. But here's a twist: tiny fungi called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) might just be the heroes maize needs. These fungi team up with maize roots, creating a symbio...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 20 2025ENVIRONMENT

A Seattle Designer's Fight Against Fashion Waste

In the heart of Seattle, a designer is on a mission to change the fashion game. Janelle Abbott, a 35-year-old creative force, is tackling the fashion industry's waste problem head-on. Her studio is a treasure trove of reclaimed textiles, ready to be transformed into unique, sustainable fashion pieces. Abbott's journey began in her childhood, surrounded by the clothi...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 19 2025ENVIRONMENT

A Big Step for Green Manufacturing: Schneider Electric's Eco-Friendly Breakthrough

Schneider Electric has made history by becoming the first company to earn the ECOLOGO Certification for an industrial product. This certification is a big deal because it shows that Schneider's PowerPacT Molded Case Circuit Breakers meet strict environmental and health standards. The ECOLOGO Certification is not just about looking green; it means the product has gone...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 19 2025BUSINESS

A Klimt Painting Makes a Splash at Auction

A painting by Gustav Klimt just made headlines. It sold for a whopping $236. 4 million at Sotheby's in New York. This makes it the second most expensive painting ever sold at an auction. The painting is a portrait of a young woman. She is wearing a fancy Chinese dragon robe. It was painted between 1914 and 1916. The painting was part of a bigger collection. It belon...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 16 2025EDUCATION

Bright Minds Shine: U. S. Students Secure Prestigious Rhodes Scholarships

In a remarkable achievement, 32 American students have been selected as 2026 Rhodes Scholars, showcasing their dedication to various fields such as housing, health, sustainability, and prison reentry programs. Among the winners are five students from U. S. military academies and three each from Yale University, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of T...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 13 2025TECHNOLOGY

How CAD Software is Changing the Game for Designers

CAD software has become a game-changer in various fields like architecture, engineering, and space exploration. It's not just about drawing blueprints anymore; it's about creating digital twins that can be tested and validated before anything physical is built. This saves time, money, and resources. In the past, designers relied on drafting boards and pencils, which...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 13 2025BUSINESS

Sustainability Shines: Bakelite's Green Achievements

Bakelite has just earned a Gold Medal from EcoVadis, a big deal in the world of sustainability. This puts them in the top 5% of over 130, 000 companies worldwide. What’s driving this success? Bakelite has been busy making changes. They’ve installed solar panels in the UK, Spain, and Finland. In the Netherlands, they added a steam turbine. Plus, they’re reusing water...

reading time less than a minute
Nov 12 2025ENVIRONMENT

Election Campaigns: A Hidden Source of Microplastic Pollution

Elections are a big deal, and campaigns use lots of banners and posters to get their message out. But what happens to all that stuff after the votes are cast? It turns out, these campaign materials might be a sneaky source of microplastic pollution. Scientists gathered some campaign banners and a poster that had been hanging around in cities for over a month. They c...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 11 2025ENVIRONMENT

Cities and Nature: Small Steps for Big Change

Nature is in trouble. Everywhere, from plants to big animals, many types of life are disappearing. People are a big reason why this is happening. We cut down forests, pollute the air, and change the climate. But cities and buildings can help fix this. Think about bees and bugs. They need places to live and food to eat. Buildings can have green roofs. These are roofs...

reading time less than a minute
Nov 11 2025ENVIRONMENT

The Hidden Costs of Our Energy Choices

People are talking about the big power lines and the harm they cause to nature. Irene Gilbert's story shows us that even "clean" energy isn't as clean as we think. We need to use less energy, not just find new ways to make it. The idea of a "clean" energy future sounds good, but what does it really look like? Huge solar farms, giant wind turbines, and massive batter...

reading time less than a minute