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Jan 17 2025SCIENCE

Repurposing Old Batteries: A New Life for Spent Graphite

Did you know that old batteries could have a second life? Scientists have found a cool use for the graphite inside spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This graphite is special because it has a lot of oxygen-rich groups on its surface. These groups help the graphite absorb microwaves really well. To

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Jan 17 2025POLITICS

Washington DC's Makeover: Trump's Plans for His Second Term

As President-elect Donald Trump gears up for his second term, he's set his sights on revamping Washington DC. He's not happy with the state of the capital and wants to make some big changes. One of the main issues he's focused on is crime. In 2023, it spiked in DC, and Trump isn't having it. He thin

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Jan 17 2025POLITICS

Pete Hegseth's Hearing: A Unique Case

Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense was unusual. He wasn't sworn in to tell the truth, and the FBI report on him wasn't shared with the full committee. This raised eyebrows, especially since his qualifications aren't stellar. He's led small organizations and a small group of

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Jan 17 2025SCIENCE

How Marine Life Copes with Heat Waves in the Intertidal Zone

Climate change is bringing more heat waves to both land and sea. While many habitats are affected, the intertidal zone is unique because it experiences both atmospheric and marine heat waves. But how do creatures living in this zone handle these extreme temperatures? First, let's look at what cause

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Jan 17 2025SCIENCE

Tiny Plastics, Big Problems: How Nanoplastics Hurt Zebrafish Brains

You know those tiny pieces of plastic that pollute our oceans and rivers? They're not just a problem for the environment, but also for the creatures living in it, like zebrafish. We found out that when these little plastic bits, called nanoplastics, are very small (about 20 nanometers), they can do

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Jan 16 2025ENTERTAINMENT

Civilization VII: A Fresh Start for Veterans and Newcomers

Creating the seventh Civilization game is no easy task. With six previous entries, each with its own unique flavor, the challenge lies in making it distinct enough to attract new players while keeping it familiar for long-time fans. This week, I spent 15 hours playing Civilization VII, set for relea

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Jan 16 2025ENVIRONMENT

Cleaning Up After the Fire: A Massive Task Ahead

Imagine your town has just faced one of the worst fires in recent history. Homes, businesses, and cars are reduced to ash. The cleanup is going to be a huge job. More than 12, 000 structures were destroyed in the blazes that swept through Los Angeles. And that's just the beginning. The EPA and Cali

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Jan 16 2025ENVIRONMENT

Unlocking the Power of Slow-Release Fertilizers in Modern Farming

Farming is a big deal in any country's economy. To grow plants well and get more crops, farmers need to water their fields and give the soil the right nutrients. With more people in the world, we need more food. So, farmers use synthetic fertilizers to help plants grow faster. But these fertilizers

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Jan 16 2025SCIENCE

Fish Tanks Reveal Clues about Brittle Bones

Brittle bone disorders, or FBDs, can cause people to break bones easily. Scientists are trying to figure out which genes are responsible for these conditions. One way they are doing this is by studying zebrafish. These tiny fish share many bone-building genes with humans. Researchers used a tool cal

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Jan 16 2025HEALTH

The True Cost of Rotator Cuff Surgery: A Closer Look at Efficiency and Expenses

Rotator cuff repair, a common outpatient surgery, can put a real dent in healthcare budgets. To better understand these costs, a recent study used a method called time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC). This approach helps healthcare systems make smart decisions about where to trim costs. The st

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