Microplastics are tiny bits of plastic that are causing big problems in our rivers and streams. These tiny pieces come from various sources, and one major way they end up in water is through stormwater runoff. This is the water that flows over the ground during rainstorms, picking up pollutants alon
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, jails faced a unique set of problems. These places have short stays and lots of people coming and going. This made it hard to control the spread of the virus. People in jail were at high risk of getting very sick. A recent effort looked into using two meth
The world of water splitting has seen a significant breakthrough with the development of a unique material. This material combines several metals and oxides to create a powerful catalyst. This catalyst can efficiently split water and even seawater into hydrogen and oxygen. The process is not only ef
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
