Who Should Pay to Clean Up ‘Forever Chemicals’?
“Forever chemicals” are harming people and wildlife and should be removed from the soil and water, but who should pay to do that? Witnesses at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing Wednesday didn’t agree on the answer. The chemicals, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are used in all kinds of household and […]
Deadly Bacteria in U.S. Soil Not Tied to Lab Leak, Aromatherapy
The melioidosis-causing bacteria recently detected in U.S. soil samples is not likely related to a 2014 “lab leak” in Louisiana, nor to a recent outbreak sparked by an aromatherapy product, experts said. Genetic sequencing indicated the strain of Burkholderia pseudomallei detected in southern Mississippi is from the Western hemisphere, similar to isolates found in the […]
‘Flash droughts’ coming on faster, global study shows
Just like flash floods, flash droughts come on fast — drying out soil in a matter of days to weeks. These events can wipe out crops and cause huge economic losses. And according to scientists, the speed at which they dry out the landscape has increased. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, The […]
What Foods Contain Listeria? What Is, Symptoms, Prevention
Listeria is a bacterium that is commonly found in soil and water, which may contaminate the following foods. Foods that contain Listeria include the following: All animals’ meat, while still uncooked or undercooked Well-cooked ready-to-eat foods such as deli meats and hot dogs (while they undergo other processes such as slicing) Raw fish and shellfish […]
Warmer soil stores less carbon
Global warming will cause the world’s soil to release carbon, new research shows. Scientists used data on more than 9,000 soil samples from around the world, and found that carbon storage “declines strongly” as average temperatures increase. This is an example of a “positive feedback,” where global warming causes more carbon to be released into […]