The world of wastewater treatment just got a new superhero. It is a closed fixed-bed bacteria-algae biofilm reactor. This is a fancy name for a system that uses tiny living things to clean up water polluted with phenol. Phenol is a harmful chemical found in many industrial wastewaters. This new syst
A small jet had a rough landing in North Bend, Oregon. The incident happened early Monday morning. The jet, a HA-420 built by Honda, was flying from St. George, Utah. It was headed to the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. The plane skidded off the runway around 6 a. m. local time. It ended up in th
Groundwater pollution can strike suddenly, and finding the source quickly is crucial. A new method combines two algorithms to tackle this problem. This mix of tools can pinpoint where pollution started, how much was released, and when it happened. The first tool, called EnKF, narrows down the searc
The Yellow River, often called the birthplace of Chinese culture, has seen big changes in its environment. This is mostly because of fast city growth, which has led to more wastewater going into the river. This has changed how the water flows and its quality. The Dahei River, a key part of the Yell
The construction industry is facing a major challenge. Concrete, the most used human-made material, is a big polluter. It releases lots of carbon dioxide and relies on sand from coasts and rivers, which can harm the environment. But there's a new hope on the horizon. A team of researchers has come u
Wastewater treatment plants are home to a vast and largely unknown world of tiny organisms. These plants use a process called activated sludge to clean water. This sludge is teeming with diverse microorganisms, many of which have never been studied before. Most research has focused on bacteria and v
Freshwater mussels are vital to the health of rivers and lakes. Yet, they often go unnoticed. A group of experts decided to change that. They gathered specialists in mussel reproduction. The goal? To understand what these experts think about measuring mussel health. This isn't just about science. It
In the United States, there is a push to switch from traditional air conditioning systems to evaporative cooling. This change is driven by the desire to cut down on energy use and reduce the strain on the power grid. However, this shift is not as straightforward as it seems. There are other environm
Gadolinium, a heavy metal, has been quietly making its way into our waterways. It's a rare earth element that's quite toxic in its Gd3+ form. To make it safe for use in MRI scans, it's bound to other molecules. However, once it's used, it's not so easy to get rid of. Wastewater treatment plants stru
In the heart of Columbus, Ohio, a silent battle is unfolding in the city's waterways. This battle is not fought with weapons, but with tiny, invisible warriors known as Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, or CPE for short. These superbugs have become a significant threat in hospitals, but they
