Fines for breaking US pollution laws can vary widely among states—the disparity may violate the Constitution
It's expensive to pollute the water in Colorado. The state's median fine for companies caught violating the federal Clean Water Act is over US$30,000, and violators can be charged much more. In Montana, however, most violators get barely a slap on th.....»»
Freedom of information: To what extent are public archives accessible?
In 2000, the Council of Europe issued a Recommendation aimed at improving access to archives in the member states. Together with the Vera and Donald Blinken Open Society Archives (OSA Archivum) in Budapest, Fraunhofer ISI evaluated how these recommen.....»»
The bigger the student loan, the smaller the chance of getting good grades
If you are a student living on a loan in the United States, you are less likely to get good grades than your debt-free fellow students. The bigger your student loan, the poorer you perform......»»
From the coast to the deep sea, changing oxygen levels affect marine life in different ways
Earth's atmosphere maintains a constant level of oxygen, whether it is a wintry, rainy day or hot summer. Across the ocean, oxygen concentrations vary enormously between different places and over time. Sometimes oxygen levels change within the course.....»»
Manipulating the geometry of the "electron universe" in magnets
Researchers at Tohoku University and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency have developed fundamental experiments and theories to manipulate the geometry of the "electron universe," which describes the structure of electronic quantum states in a manner math.....»»
Breaking boundaries in tiny labs: New technology using sound waves has implications for nanoparticle manipulation
Acoustofluidics elegantly merges acoustics with fluid mechanics, enabling precise manipulation of fluids and particles on both micro and nanoscales. This interdisciplinary field plays a crucial role in biomedicine, tissue engineering, and nanoparticl.....»»
Concern grows as bird flu spreads further in US cows: 32 herds in 8 states
Experts say the US is not sharing as much data on the outbreak as it should. Enlarge / Greylag geese sit on a field and rest while a cow passes by in the background. (credit: Getty | Daniel Bockwoldt) Researchers aroun.....»»
Mangrove blue carbon at higher risk of microplastic pollution
Earth's oceans and coastal ecosystems are a major sink for carbon storage, known as blue carbon. Sequestration of carbon is vitally important in the fight against climate change as it 'locks away' this molecule, alleviating pressure on greenhouse gas.....»»
A leader in US seaweed farming preaches, teaches and builds a wider network
Bren Smith and his GreenWave organization are helping lay the foundations for a generation of seaweed-growing farmers in the United States, while working to build a network of producers and buyers......»»
Negotiations on global plastic treaty to resume in Canada
Negotiators from 175 countries are meeting from Tuesday in Canada to nail down a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution with many sticking points to be resolved five months after the last round of talks in Kenya......»»
Giant galactic explosion exposes galaxy pollution in action
A team of international researchers studied galaxy NGC 4383, in the nearby Virgo cluster, revealing a gas outflow so large that it would take 20,000 years for light to travel from one side to the other......»»
Planet sees 10 straight months of record-breaking heat
Californians have had weekend after weekend of cool, stormy weather and the Sierra Nevada has been blessed with a healthy snowpack. But the reality is that even the last few months have been more than 2 degrees hotter than average......»»
Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
Climate change caused by CO2 emissions already in the atmosphere will shrink global GDP in 2050 by about $38 trillion, or almost a fifth, no matter how aggressively humanity cuts carbon pollution, researchers said Wednesday......»»
Hospital prices for the same emergency care vary up to 16X, study finds
Hospitals' "trauma activation fees" are unregulated and extremely variable. Enlarge / Miami Beach, Fire Rescue ambulance at Mt. Sinai Medical Center hospital. ] (credit: Getty | Jeffrey Greenberg/) Since 2021, federal la.....»»
Chinese EV makers won’t get subsidies from Mexico after US pressure
Mexico has offered generous incentives for automakers in the past. Enlarge / The Chinese automaker BYD has every other electric vehicle maker worried. (credit: John Keeble/Getty Images) The United States has won an impor.....»»
Big Tech can’t hoard brainwave data for ad targeting, Colorado law says
Neural data can reveal health, mental states, emotions, and cognitive function. Enlarge (credit: PM Images | DigitalVision) On Wednesday, Colorado expanded the scope of its privacy law initially designed to protect biome.....»»
Cops can force suspect to unlock phone with thumbprint, US court rules
Ruling: Thumbprint scan is like a "blood draw or fingerprint taken at booking." Enlarge The US Constitution's Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination does not prohibit police officers from forcing a suspec.....»»
Fourteen years after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, endemic fishes face an uncertain future
The 2010 Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon was the largest accidental oil spill in history. With almost 100 million gallons (379 million liters) of oil combined with dispersants suggested to remain in the Gulf, it is one of the worst pollution events.....»»
States sue to block U.S. rules curbing tailpipe emissions in cars, light trucks
Republican attorneys general from 25 states on Thursday sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to block rules intended to reduce planet-warming emissions from cars and light trucks and encourage electric vehicle manufacturing, arguing the agen.....»»
Coal train pollution increases health risks and disparities, research warns
Trains carrying loads of coal bring with them higher rates of asthma, heart disease, hospitalization and death for residents living nearest the rail lines, according to a new study from the University of California, Davis......»»
Polystyrene microplastics shown to enhance invasion of exotic submerged macrophytes
Submerged macrophyte invasions and microplastic pollution are major challenges in the context of global change and pose a serious threat to aquatic environments. The presence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems alters plant function, sediment micr.....»»