Hunting down toxic substances in sludge
Analytical chemists Gabriela Castro Varela and Alexandros Asimakopoulos are hunting for toxic and unregulated chemical substances in the sewage sludge that is a by-product from the water treatment plants of Trondheim municipality......»»
Millions in the US may rely on groundwater contaminated with PFAS for drinking water supplies
Approximately 71 to 95 million people in the Lower 48 states—more than 20% of the country's population—may rely on groundwater that contains detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, for their drinking.....»»
X-ray spectroscopy study maps ultrafast charge delocalization in aqueous environments
The movement of electron density is a subject of interest for chemists worldwide, as substances interact through electrons. These processes are ultrafast and traditionally require time-resolved experiments at the attosecond level to study and describ.....»»
Researchers in a lab near Lake Erie study how toxic algae can damage health
Steven Haller remembers the look of fear on people's faces when toxic algae in Lake Erie made it into his community's water supply 10 years ago, shutting it down for two days......»»
Gone in a flash: Lake Mohave"s toxic algae bloom may soon let up
Riley Rackliffe follows the stinky green blobs as they travel across Lake Mohave. The aquatic biologist leads a two-man team for the National Park Service, dipping a long stick into the reservoir's problem areas and sending off samples to the Souther.....»»
Smile 2 and Trap are horror movies for a pop-obsessed world
Brat summer is over, but it looms large over Smile 2 and Trap, two thrillers set against the backdrop of toxic pop fandom......»»
New study sheds light on lily toxicity in cats—outpatient treatment may be viable option
A study published recently in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association has revealed new insights into the treatment of cats exposed to toxic lilies, offering hope for pet owners facing this common household hazard......»»
Forever chemicals found in bottled and tap water from around the world
Researchers found 10 'target' PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances)—chemicals which do not break down in nature—in tap and bottled water available for consumption in major cities in the UK and China. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane s.....»»
"Getting high" in Paleolithic hunting: Elevated positions enhance javelin accuracy but reduce atlatl efficiency
A recent experimental study led by Kent State University and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History suggests that hunting from elevated positions significantly increases the performance of thrown javelins while potentially decreasing the effectivene.....»»
New technologies could help destroy persistent "forever chemicals"
Scientists and engineers are developing new ways to destroy per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) efficiently and sustainably. This class of chemicals is known as "forever chemicals" because PFAS persist and accumulate in the environment, anima.....»»
Evolution in real time: Scientists predict—and witness—evolution in a 30-year marine snail experiment
Snails on a tiny rocky islet evolved before scientists' eyes. The marine snails were reintroduced after a toxic algal bloom wiped them out from the skerry. While the researchers intentionally brought in a distinct population of the same snail species.....»»
Study proposes that proteins can compartmentalize and form droplets inside cells
In physics, a system composed of two substances can be modeled in accordance with classical mixture theory, which considers the fraction corresponding to each constituent and the interactions among constituents. Examples include the coexistence of hi.....»»
New plant-based glitter shows no harm to soil organisms
Plastic pollution is everywhere. Each year, over 368 million metric tons of plastics are produced with over 13 million metric tons of it ending up in the soil where it can be toxic to wildlife......»»
Red milkweed beetle genome offers evolutionary insights into plant-insect interactions
Studying the secrets of how the common red milkweed beetle can safely feed on a toxic plant helps illuminate the ecological, evolutionary and economic impact of insect-plant interactions from a genomic perspective......»»
Spectroscopy study determines how catalysts remove dangerous nitrogen oxides
Catalysts belonging to the zeolite family help to remove toxic nitrogen oxides from industrial emissions. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have now discovered that their complex nano porous structure is crucial. Specifically, individual.....»»
Nissan dealership sues after toxic chemical fire forced 3-day closure
Conyers Nissan, located less than 3 miles from a fire that released dangerous levels of chlorine, is seeking class-action status to represent thousands of affected businesses......»»
Unveiling a new technique for preparing ionic liquid-based membranes for mixture separation
Separating mixtures into their constituent substances is essential in many fields. For example, mixture separation plays a key role in the petrochemical industry, as well as in chemical purification and synthesis plants. Moreover, separating mixtures.....»»
Sludge sequencing: High-throughput single-cell method reveals novel species and genetic diversity
Activated sludge is essential for removing contaminants from wastewater, and understanding the diverse microbial communities it harbors has been a significant task. Traditional methods fail to capture the full spectrum of microbial interactions. Due.....»»
Novel detection technology alerts health risks from TNT metabolites
Recently, a research group from the Hefei lnstitutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed an approach that can facilitate rapid detection of both positive and negative ions of four toxic metabolites derived from 2,.....»»
US finalizes rule to remove lead pipes within a decade
President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday finalized a rule mandating the removal of the nation's remaining lead pipes within a decade, a move aimed at preventing millions of people from being exposed to the toxic metal linked with childhood dev.....»»
How a witch-hunting manual and social networks helped ignite Europe"s witch craze
The sudden emergence of witch trials in early modern Europe may have been fueled by one of humanity's most significant intellectual milestones: the invention of the printing press in 1450......»»