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Pollution

Earth

Global Air Pollution Drop, Electronic Skin and Brain Machines

A month’s worth of cool science stories, summed up

Alistair Jennings, Contributor

Earth

Deep Ocean Currents Carry Plastic Microfibers Into Seafloor Hot Spots

Researchers discover hot spot off the coast of Italy with up to 1.9 million pieces of plastic per square meter.

Joshua Learn, Contributor

Earth

Microplastics are Seemingly Everywhere, Even in the Remote Frozen North

New research finds plastic particles in Arctic snow, in amounts that surprise scientists.

Rodrigo Pérez Ortega, Contributor

Culture

'Metal Pirates' Are Scrapping Parts From Sunken World War II Wrecks

The fate of battleship remains may rest in the hands of countries that don't own the ships.

Joshua Learn, Contributor

Earth

Contact Lenses Flushed Down Toilets Pollute Oceans

What goes down our drains could harm the environment.

Sofie Bates, Contributor

Technology

Refrigeration Research Seeks to Ditch Toxic, Polluting Gases

So-called plastic crystals could open new avenues in the quest to make refrigerators with only solid components.

Brian Owens, Contributor

Earth

Smoke from Wildfires May Increase Violent Crime and Asthma Attacks

Researchers saw spikes in hospital visits, inhaler refills and violent crime in areas inundated by wildfire smoke.

Nala Rogers, Staff Writer

Picture of desalination plant in Dubai

Earth

Making Salty Water Drinkable Also Makes Brine

Desalination's leftovers may negatively affect oceans and ecosystems.

James Gaines, Contributor

Image shows shadowy figures and barrels of radioactive waste.

Technology

Plutonium and Its Discontents

For 75 years, scientists have been trying to devise a way to make a vast supply of radioactive and chemically dangerous waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation safe.

Valerie Brown, Contributor

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