Forgotten oil and gas wells linger, leaking toxic chemicals
Rusted pipes litter the sandy fields of Ashley Williams Watt's cattle ranch in windswept West Texas. The corroded skeletons are all that remain of hundreds of abandoned oil wells that were drilled long before her family owned the land. The wells, una.....»»
Southern California study finds high levels of airborne plasticizers
A new study documents how Southern Californians are chronically being exposed to toxic airborne chemicals called plasticizers, including one that's been banned from children's items and beauty products......»»
In storms like Hurricane Helene, flooded industrial sites and toxic chemical releases are a silent and growing threat
Hundreds of industrial facilities with toxic pollutants were in Hurricane Helene's path as the powerful storm flooded communities across the Southeast in late September 2024......»»
Return to sender: Waste stranded at sea stirs toxic dispute
Amid the scorching heat at the Albanian port of Durres, 102 containers set sail for Thailand in early July, sparking a high-seas drama that highlighted the perils of the global waste trade......»»
AI trained on evolution"s playbook develops proteins that spur drug and scientific discovery
A new artificial intelligence model developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin paves the way for more effective and less toxic treatments and new preventive strategies in medicine. The AI model informs the design of protein-based t.....»»
Thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado are leaking toxic water, but Congress finally has a solution in sight
Polluted water leaking from thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado's mountains is turning wetlands orange and dumping toxic dissolved metals in the headwaters of many of the state's rivers......»»
This 2004 sci-fi thriller has been largely forgotten. Is it still worth remembering in 2024?
In 2004, Julianne Moore starred in a sci-fi thriller that's been largely forgotten. Is it worth remembering, and watching, in 2024?.....»»
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is real, and it’s coming to PC too
After leaking last week, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has been officially announced for PlayStation 5 and PC......»»
The internet can be toxic—but there are also online oases where mutual care flourishes
The internet can be a toxic place. Disinformation, hate speech and trolling are not just abundant—they are encouraged by the economy of clicks which governs many online platforms. There are no good clicks, no bad clicks, only clicks. By that metric.....»»
This forgotten Ridley Scott action thriller is better than you remember (and no, it’s not Blade Runner)
From Alien and Blade Runner to 2024's Gladiator II, Ridley Scott has directed some great movies. This 1989 film isn't one of them, but it's still worth a look......»»
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......»»
A toxic chemical was blamed for killing thousands of Teesside crabs, but a study explains why pyridine isn"t the culprit
In October 2021, thousands of dead and dying crabs and lobsters washed up along 45 miles (70km) of coastline in north-east England. This mass-mortality event coincided with the redevelopment of one of the UK's largest ports at Teesside......»»
Tiny robots and AI algorithms could help to craft material solutions for cleaner environments
Many human activities release pollutants into the air, water and soil. These harmful chemicals threaten the health of both people and the ecosystem. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes an estimated 4.2 million deaths annu.....»»
Over 3,600 food packaging chemicals found in human bodies
More than 3,600 chemicals used in food packaging or preparation have been detected in human bodies, some of which are hazardous to health, while little is known about others, a study said Tuesday......»»
Volkswagen dropping in-house U.S. auto loans, giving business to Wells Fargo
Volkswagen will cease to write U.S. Audi and VW auto loans through its in-house captive finance company and instead refer that business to Wells Fargo starting in April. It will also start to refer U.S. Ducati motorcycle loans to Wells Fargo at some.....»»
Using sunlight to turn greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals
McGill University researchers have harnessed the power of sunlight to transform two of the most harmful greenhouse gases into valuable chemicals. The discovery could help combat climate change and provide a more sustainable way to produce certain ind.....»»
Exploring ternary metal sulfides as electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction reactions
One of the most promising avenues for actively reducing CO2 levels in the atmosphere is recycling it into valuable chemicals via electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions. With a suitable electrocatalyst, this can be achieved under mild conditions and.....»»
New method to break down forever chemicals uses nanoparticles and ultrasound
What do firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, water-repellent textiles and pesticides all have in common? They all contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS—human-made chemicals that don't break down naturally. It's no wonder, then, tha.....»»
Enzyme-inspired catalyst puts chemicals in right position to make ethers
Taking inspiration from enzymes, chemists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a catalyst to simplify the synthesis of ethers, key functional components of many drugs, foods, personal care items and other consumer goods. The catal.....»»
Catalyzing environmental cleanup: A highly active and selective molecular catalyst and electrified membrane
Some chemicals create environmental problems; others, fortunately, can help clean them up. Chemists from Yale University and their colleagues have developed an electrochemical catalyst and membrane that offers an efficient and sustainable way to trea.....»»
Zeolite catalyst method uses microwaves to convert waste cooking oil into useful chemicals
Researchers from Kyushu University have revealed that a zeolite material called Na-ZSM-5 is effective in improving the chemical conversion of biomass into olefins—a precursor chemical that makes everything from plastics to pharmaceuticals—using m.....»»