Forever chemicals persist through waste incineration, researcher finds
PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," present in municipal solid waste can survive the high temperatures of waste incineration and continue to spread into the environment via residues from waste-to-energy plants......»»
Peaches spread across North America through Indigenous networks, radiocarbon dating and document analysis show
Spanish explorers may have brought the first peach pits to North America, but Indigenous communities helped the ubiquitous summer fruit really take root, according to a study led by a researcher at Penn State......»»
"e-Drive": New gene drive reverses insecticide resistance in pests... then disappears
Insecticides have been used for centuries to counteract widespread pest damage to valuable food crops. Eventually, over time, beetles, moths, flies and other insects develop genetic mutations that render the insecticide chemicals ineffective......»»
Low levels of common contaminants but high levels of other elements in waters linked to abandoned lithium mine
Lithium ore and mining waste from a historic lithium mine located west of Charlotte, North Carolina, are unlikely to contaminate surrounding waters with common pollutants such as arsenic and lead, according to a new study......»»
Hubble finds sizzling details about young star FU Orionis
In 1936, astronomers saw a puzzling event in the constellation Orion: the young star FU Orionis (FU Ori) became a hundred times brighter in a matter of months. At its peak, FU Ori was intrinsically 100 times brighter than our sun. Unlike an exploding.....»»
Origin of life research finds RNA can favor both left- and right-handed proteins
The mystery of why life uses molecules with specific orientations has deepened with a discovery that RNA—a key molecule thought to have potentially held the instructions for life before DNA emerged—can favor making the building blocks of proteins.....»»
Math-selective US universities reduce gender gap in STEM fields, analysis finds
Nationally, men in colleges and universities currently outpace women in earning physics, engineering, and computer science (PECS) degrees by an approximate ratio of 4:1. To better understand the factors driving these gaps, NYU researchers analyzed ba.....»»
Race-blind college admissions harm diversity without improving quality, study finds
Critics of affirmative action in higher education have argued that the policy deprives more qualified students of a spot at a university or college. A new study by Cornell researchers finds that ignoring race leads to an admitted class that is much l.....»»
How anti-obesity drugs are linked to food waste: 1 in 4 users report an increase in discarding food
Taking anti-obesity drugs has led some U.S. adults to throw away more food than they tossed before starting the medications, a new study has found......»»
Support for carbon pricing higher than expected, finds study
Viewed by many experts as one of the most effective tools of climate policy, carbon pricing seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, however, only 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions are subject to this climate tax, as it is seen as un.....»»
Quack-like underwater sounds off the coast of New Zealand in the "80s may have been a conversation, researcher says
Mysterious, repeating sounds from the depths of the ocean can be terrifying to some, but in the 1980s, they presented a unique look at an underwater soundscape......»»
Increasing complexity challenges strategic management, researcher finds
The changes in society and the phenomena surrounding us are becoming more unexpected and interconnected than ever before. This increasing complexity challenges strategic management, making it harder to predict trends and developments. According to a.....»»
Larger pay increases and better benefits could support teacher retention, survey finds
Larger pay increases and better benefits could help keep K-12 teachers in the teacher workforce, finds a new, nationally representative RAND survey......»»
R sounds are rough, and L sounds are smooth: Cross-cultural study finds these associations may be universal
People around the world associate a trilled R sound with a rough texture and a jagged shape, and an L sound with a smooth texture and a flat shape, according to the findings of a new study. Researchers believe this association may be more universal t.....»»
Study finds 90% of drink spiking goes unreported in UK
Only one in 10 drink spiking incidents are reported to police, according to research published today by Drinkaware and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)......»»
Light-based technology is safe and effective for mitigating fungal contamination of cereal grains, study finds
Fungal contamination of cereal grains poses a substantial threat to food security and public health while causing hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses annually. In a new study, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.....»»
Manatees might be relatively recent arrivals to Florida, study finds
New research suggests that while manatees are an indelible part of Florida's seascape, they might also be relatively new residents in the Sunshine State......»»
"Will you buy fewer plastic bottles?" A simple question can change our behavior
The bottled water market has seen explosive growth—up 73% over the last decade—making it one of the fastest-growing industries globally. However, this growth comes at a significant environmental cost. Plastic waste, greenhouse gas emissions from.....»»
US, China must collaborate on carbon dioxide removal, report finds
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions alone might not be enough to reach climate action goals: The world's two biggest emitters—the United States and China—must cooperate to accelerate the development of methods that actively remove carbon dioxide fr.....»»
It"s been 100 years since we learned the Milky Way is not the only galaxy
On Sunday November 23, 1924, 100 years ago this month, readers perusing page six of the New York Times would have found an intriguing article, amid several large adverts for fur coats. The headline read: Finds Spiral Nebulae are Stellar Systems: "Dr......»»
Study finds CEOs" decisions can be haunted by memories of past recessions
The economy, we're often reminded, is cyclical. But we all hope our careers won't be. That means those of us who make it to the very top—CEOs, for instance—may be unduly influenced by memories of prior economic go-rounds......»»