Science

How Best to Rid the World’s Oceans of Plastic?

How Best to Rid the World’s Oceans of Plastic?

The Ocean Cleanup, the Dutch foundation aiming to eliminate ocean plastic, unveiled Thursday a major design update to its highly vaunted cleanup system and announced that the technology will be deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the first half of 2018, two years ahead of schedule. Boyan Slat, the 22-year-old founder and CEO […]

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    Even Your Sea Salt Contains Microplastics

    Even Your Sea Salt Contains Microplastics

    Sea salt may be healthy and rich in minerals, but a new study found it is also rich in plastic. Sea salt has gained some popularity in the past few years for mega health benefits like increased energy and immunity, and improved skin and dental health. But, a team of researchers tested 17 sea salt […]

    30 Anti-Protest Bills Introduced in U.S. Since Election Day

    30 Anti-Protest Bills Introduced in U.S. Since Election Day

    By Andy Rowell Since Donald Trump was elected, there has been an assault on the pillars of what many would be considered a free and fair democratic society: the right to protest and the right to free speech. As millions stand up for science, for women’s and LGBT rights and for the climate, the authorities […]

    EPA Puts Politics Over Science

    EPA Puts Politics Over Science

    By Genna Reed Right now, the Trump administration is taking a backdoor approach to putting politics over science. There is a full-on assault afoot to strip away the independence of advisory committees at several government agencies. The reason? A renewed interest in shaping policies to fit particular political positions rather than having a basis in […]

    EPA Fires Scientists

    EPA Fires Scientists

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cleaned house on its scientific review board last week, dismissing at least five scientists on its 18-member Board of Scientific Counselors. The scientists, including professors of natural resource sociology, told multiple outlets they were surprised to receive notices that they would not be asked to renew their tenure on […]

    Field Test of GMO Algae Sparks Outrage

    Field Test of GMO Algae Sparks Outrage

    Scientists from the University of California at San Diego and Sapphire Energy released results Thursday from the first open-pond trials of genetically engineered microalgae. The study, along with research and development of genetically modified (GMO) algae for biofuels, is occurring ahead of adequate regulatory oversight, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s process to establish and […]

    How the Solar Industry Is Getting Ready for the Great American Eclipse

    How the Solar Industry Is Getting Ready for the Great American Eclipse

    This August, Americans will have a rare opportunity to see a total solar eclipse from their homeland, but it will also be a misfortune for solar arrays nationwide. The Great American Solar Eclipse, as scientists and enthusiasts are referring to it, will be Aug. 21 and people from across the globe are expected to be […]

    22-Year-Old Raises $21.7 Million to Rid Pacific Ocean of Plastic

    22-Year-Old Raises $21.7 Million to Rid Pacific Ocean of Plastic

    The Ocean Cleanup—the ambitious Dutch venture devoted to ridding the world’s oceans of plastics—announced this week that it has raised $21.7 million in donations since last November. This latest round of funding brings The Ocean Cleanup’s total funding since 2013 to $31.5 million and allows the startup to initiate large-scale trials of its cleanup technology […]

    Stephen Hawking: We Have 100 Years to Find a New Planet

    Stephen Hawking: We Have 100 Years to Find a New Planet

    Humans have 100 years to find a new planet, or else become extinct, renowned physicist Stephen Hawking says in an upcoming BBC series. Expedition New Earth, to air this summer, shows Hawking drastically changing a prediction he made last November at Oxford University Union, when he said, “I don’t think we will survive another 1,000 […]