The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken emergency action to halt the use of a dangerous pesticide linked to serious health risks in unborn babies. The pesticide, dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), also known as Dacthal, has been banned effective immediately due to the imminent hazard it poses to pregnant women and their developing fetuses.1 As the … Read more
American farmers are bracing for a financial storm as the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts the most dramatic plunge in farm income ever recorded.1 This grim forecast has sent shockwaves through rural communities, leaving many to wonder if the backbone of America’s food supply can weather the storm. The USDA’s latest projections paint a stark … Read more
The quest for sustainable and efficient power solutions has become paramount in the Internet of Things (IoT), where billions of devices are expected to be connected by 2030. A recent study by the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights that the energy consumption of IoT devices could reach 1,700 Terawatt hours (TWh) by 2030, surpassing the … Read more
Have you ever looked up at a power line and wondered why the birds perched there aren’t bursting into flames? It seems counterintuitive, right? After all, those lines carry enough electricity to power entire neighborhoods. Yet, these feathered friends seem perfectly content to rest on them without a care in the world. Power lines are … Read more
Yang, K., Pan, T., Ferhat, N. et al. A solar-driven atmospheric water extractor for off-grid freshwater generation and irrigation. Nat Commun 15, 6260 (2024)
According to the UN World Water Development Report 2024, roughly half of the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. With global water demand increasing by nearly 1% annually since the 1980s, innovative solutions are crucial.1 Researchers have developed a device that can extract up to 3 quarts of clean … Read more
Florida’s iconic citrus industry is in crisis. A devastating bacterial disease called citrus greening has ravaged the state’s orange groves, with a staggering 75% of Florida’s oranges lost since the disease first appeared in 2005, and grapefruit production has plummeted by 85%.1 As farmers and researchers race to find a cure, one emerges from obscurity: … Read more
In 2020, Appleton, Wisconsin, made headlines as the first U.S. city to officially adopt “No Mow May,” a movement encouraging residents to let their lawns grow wild during the month of May. The initiative aimed to support early-season pollinators by providing vital food sources.1 However, as the practice gained popularity, Appleton found itself navigating the … Read more
A conservation effort in California is underway to save one of the state’s most endangered birds: the tricolored blackbird. Once numbering in the millions, this unique species has faced a perilous decline. But now, thanks to an unprecedented collaboration between conservationists, farmers, and government agencies, there could be a brighter future for this often-overlooked bird. … Read more
Pangolins, the elusive and enigmatic scaly mammals, are facing an existential crisis. These gentle creatures, found in Africa and Asia, play a vital role in their ecosystems. However, they are the most heavily trafficked mammal on Earth. Recent studies estimate that pangolins are being poached at a rate of one every three minutes.1 Despite their … Read more
Have you ever stopped to admire the beautiful flowers and foliage of a tulip tree? Scientists have discovered that the wood of tulip trees is unlike any other, with a unique structure that makes it exceptionally efficient at capturing and storing carbon. This finding has the potential to transform the way we approach carbon sequestration … Read more
