Water treatment plants produce a byproduct called drinking water treatment residuals (DWTRs). This stuff is usually seen as waste, but it turns out it's pretty good at trapping metals and other chemicals. Researchers in Wyoming and Oregon tested DWTRs to see if they could help clean up metal-contam
Imagine a vast, beautiful area with five massive lakes. This is the Great Lakes Basin, a treasure trove of freshwater. But there's a hidden danger lurking in these waters. Chemicals of emerging concern, or CECs, are sneaking in and causing trouble for the plants and animals that call this place home
SpaceX is pushing forward with plans to transform a Texas area into a new city called Starbase. This move comes after a local county approved an election that will let nearby residents decide if they want to establish Starbase as a municipality. The proposed city is located near Boca Chica Beach, cl
Imagine trying to find out if water is safe to drink or if soil is contaminated. Scientists have been using special tests for a long time. These tests look for certain enzymes, like β-D-glucuronidase, which are often found in harmful bacteria. The usual methods involve watching these enzymes break d
Plants are strong, they have to be to deal with bugs and weather. They have a secret weapon called phenolic compounds, which act like natural armor. The amount of this armor can change based on where a plant lives. For example, a plant at the base of a mountain might make more phenolic compounds to
In the grand scheme of things, bacteria are tough. They can survive in places that would make most other organisms cringe. One such place is an old mine heap in Tarnowskie Góry, Poland. This isn't your average backyard. It's an extreme environment, and it's here that scientists found two new types o
Ever wondered how the body tries to rein in rogue cells? Breast cancer cells have a tough time getting out of control when hanging around healthy mammary cells. This is because of something called mitochondrial transfer. So, imagine if you will breast cancer cells getting a new lease on lif
Eco-design is a big deal in the world of manufacturing. It's all about creating products that are kinder to the environment, and it's catching on fast. Governments are throwing their weight behind it, setting up rules and incentives to make sure manufacturers get on board. These incentives can be en
One of the key facts regarding how we experience the natural world is that droughts are notably disruptive and impact many things from the environment to how we live our daily social lives. First things first, droughts are very complex. This is especially true when we attempt to monitor them and an
Scientists are on a roll to make sustainable, high-performance materials. They are working on materials that can emit light for a long time even at room temperature. These are called organic ultralong room temperature phosphorescence, or OURTP, but that's a mouthful. So let's call it "glow in the d
