Since its invention more than 100 years ago, plastic has become increasingly ubiquitous in the environment, from the depths of the ocean to within algae beneath Arctic sea ice. Tiny microplastics have been detected floating high in the atmosphere above the French Pyrenees, as well as in human blood. Plastics persist in the environment because […]
Artificial light has made night streets safer for humans and is a convenience, but at what cost to wildlife? Artificial light at night (ALAN) can disrupt the circadian rhythm of wild animals, interfering with sleep and migratory patterns. It can lead species like moths, sea turtles and frogs dangerously astray and make animals more vulnerable […]
A coal plant in Jefferson County, Alabama has topped the list of worst greenhouse gas polluters in the U.S., according to data recently released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This latest annual recognition is the eighth consecutive time for the notorious Alabama Power facility in Jefferson County, called the James H. Miller Jr. […]
A group of environmental organizations has produced the Global Plastic Laws Database, which is launching ahead of the next round of the United Nations Plastic Treaty negotiations in November. The Global Plastic Laws Database will track plastic-related legislation around the world and allow researchers to study laws relating to all cycles of plastic production and […]
According to a new study, life on our planet is “under siege” from humans and its “vital signs” have been pushed to the limit. As wildfires rage and record temperatures cause everything from coral bleaching to widespread drought and water shortages, the international team of scientists who declared a climate emergency back in 2019 have […]
Humans love portable electronics, from the Walkman in the 1980s to the disposable vapes and handheld, miniature fans of today. Over the years, as demand for these electronic gadgets has soared, they have gotten cheaper, leading to an enormous amount of waste. In the past year, 471 million small, inexpensive everyday electronics like headphones and […]
Groundwater is carrying a significant portion of the pollutants coming into the Great Barrier Reef, a recent study has found. According to the study, previously unquantified nitrogen and phosphorus have been discharging into and impacting the reef system, and researchers have now found that groundwater is responsible for about one-third of new nitrogen and two-thirds […]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced $1.2-billion to finance two direct air capture projects to be built in Texas and Louisiana. These two sites, when fully operational, aim to pull about two million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air, or the equivalent of the annual emissions of 70 airplanes, 450,000 gas […]
Microplastics are everywhere. They have been found inside fish at the bottom of the ocean, in the Pyrenees mountains and on Arctic sea ice, but how they are transported remains largely a mystery. A new study by Japanese researchers has confirmed the presence of microplastics in clouds, where they are likely to be having effects […]