Flood risks rise as federal wetlands protections disappear: SC needs help, senators told
South Carolina's landscape is pockmarked with wetlands that have historically gotten in the way of developers seeking to build shopping malls, hotels and housing communities......»»
Study exposes global "blind spot" in human rights protections for dissidents
Intensifying coercive tactics used by repressive states to silence critics abroad requires the set-up of specialist transnational rights protection offices, says a new paper by researchers at Lancaster University and Central European University in Vi.....»»
Networked friendships may lower loneliness, research suggests
Loneliness is on the rise in the U.S., with a third of Americans reporting they've experienced "serious loneliness" in recent years. Lonely people are twice as likely to become depressed, and loneliness is a key risk factor for self-harm and suicide,.....»»
Scientists develop AI tool for personalized phage therapy as a targeted alternative to antibiotics
With the rapid development of antibiotics in the 1930s, phage therapy—using viruses known as bacteriophages or phages to tackle bacterial infections—fell into oblivion. But as the current rise in antibiotic resistance is making it increasingly di.....»»
Earth to bid farewell to its temporary ‘mini moon’ on Monday
A so-called “mini moon” that’s been orbiting Earth for the last couple of months is about to disappear off into our solar system again......»»
10 best Ridley Scott movies, ranked
Ridley Scott is a talented director who can provide engrossing character studies told against incredible settings, from Alien to Blade Runner......»»
Saturday Citations: Sweaty, remarkable humans; ocean level rise projections; closeup of a star in another galaxy
Since we last spoke, researchers at the University of Birmingham have defined the precise shape of a single photon (spoiler: roundish). Economists worry that Trump's grandiose deportation plans could lead to a recession. And astronomers report that t.....»»
Ancient fish-trapping network supported the rise of Maya civilization
The Maya were landscape engineers on a grand scale, even when it came to fishing. On the eve of the rise of the Maya civilization, people living in what’s now Belize turned a wh.....»»
Discovery of van Hove singularities could lead to novel materials with desirable quantum properties
Strong interactions between subatomic particles like electrons occur when they are at a specific energy level known as the van Hove singularity. These interactions give rise to unusual properties in quantum materials, such as superconductivity at hig.....»»
Educating young people about social media could be far more effective than a ban—Finland can show us how
The federal government's proposed social media ban for under-16s has sparked widespread debate, affecting millions of young Australians, their families and educators. But will it actually work?.....»»
DOJ indicts Phillips 66 for Southern California refinery allegedly dumping industrial wastewater into sewer
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles voted to indict Texas-based oil refiner Phillips 66 for allegedly dumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater from its Carson refinery into the Los Angeles County sewer system and then failing.....»»
Feds release options for future of Colorado River as negotiations between states stall
Federal officials released a range of scenarios on Nov 20 that could be used to manage the over-allocated and shrinking Colorado River as time for the seven basin states to reach an agreement grows short......»»
Piedmont power line plan: Environmental groups worry of "unintended consequences"
On Nov 20 some Maryland environmental groups formally entered the fray over the Piedmont power line proposal, issuing a letter that calls for the project to receive a stringent environmental review through a federal law......»»
Broadcast police communications may pose privacy risks, especially to Black men
Police radio transmissions contain personally identifiable information that could pose privacy risks for members of the public, especially Black males, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State and the University of Chicago......»»
School did nothing wrong when it punished student for using AI, court rules
Student "indiscriminately copied and pasted text," including AI hallucinations. A federal court yesterday ruled against parents who sued a Massachusetts school district for punish.....»»
FCC chairwoman announces departure, paving way for Republican majority
Rosenworcel had to lead agency without Democratic majority for most of her term. Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced today that she will lea.....»»
Researchers investigate health risks of potentially toxic elements in surface water in Tarim River Basin, China
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in surface water in arid areas can pose a serious threat to natural environment and human health......»»
Infrastructure and communication challenges can be barriers to food safety in the low-moisture food industry
Low-moisture foods such as dried fruits, seeds, tree nuts and wheat flour were once considered to carry minimal microbial risks. However, the increased number of outbreaks linked to bacteria-contaminated low-moisture foods has resulted in product rec.....»»
Staggering temperature rise predicted for the Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East and North Africa, which already include some of the hottest and driest spots on Earth, are undergoing accelerated climate change and will reach warming thresholds two to three decades earlier than the rest of the world, a new study re.....»»
Self-driving vehicle rules set to loosen under Trump, report says
The Trump transition team plans to make a federal framework for self-driving vehicles a top priority for the transportation department, according to a report......»»
5 charged in “Scattered Spider,” one of the most profitable phishing scams ever
Phishing attacks were so well-orchestrated that they fooled some of the best in the business. Federal prosecutors have charged five men with running an extensive phishing scheme t.....»»