Renewable energy technologies like solar panels and EV batteries rely on 'forever chemicals' (PFAS), sparking a debate as the EU proposes broad bans while the chemical industry pushes back over climate goals.
New EU rules under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation take effect, banning high levels of PFAS in food packaging and sparking concern among small businesses over administrative burdens and costs.
Actor Michael Sheen investigates alleged industrial dumping of toxic PCBs by chemical giant Monsanto across Wales in a new BBC documentary, following residents affected by rare cancers.
Originally conceived as a power canal, the Love Canal site in Niagara Falls became a toxic waste dump, leading to a catastrophic environmental disaster in the 1970s and the creation of the federal Superfund program.
US mattress recycling programs have recovered 650 million pounds of materials from over 17 million discarded mattresses, addressing landfill issues and machinery damage. While 18 million mattresses are discarded annually, most end up in landfills due to limited specialized facilities, despite 80% recyclability.
Europe faces severe disruption as record low water levels on the Rhine and Danube hinder cargo transport, forcing industries like chemicals, oil, and steel to reduce output. Nuclear power plants in Hungary and Romania have shut down reactors, increasing reliance on imports and raising power prices, while Serbia's fuel and grain shipments are also affected.
RMIT University scientists developed a reusable magnetic material that removes over 95% of micro- and nanoplastics, heavy metals, and drug residues from water within an hour. The cost-effective technology, showing early promise against PFAS, is being tested for commercial deployment in Australia, the US, and Europe.
New research from North Carolina State University reveals that widespread backyard insecticide spraying in the eastern U.S. is causing Asian tiger mosquitoes to develop resistance to chemicals like pyrethroids. Genetic markers for resistance were found in 84% of sampled residential blocks in Wake County, NC, with higher prevalence in wealthier areas.
A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study found 25 human-made contaminants in Maui corals, weakening their resilience to heat and ocean acidification. The research highlights how agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical chemicals embedded in coral tissues deplete nutrient reserves, suggesting metabolome monitoring as an early warning system.
New research from NC State University reveals that widespread backyard insecticide spraying in the eastern U.S., particularly in wealthier areas of Wake County, North Carolina, is causing Asian tiger mosquitoes to rapidly develop genetic resistance to pyrethroids, making them harder to control and raising public health concerns.
Scientists found endangered Carnaby's black cockatoos in Western Australia's Wheatbelt are consuming dangerous levels of agricultural pesticides from spilled grain. This contamination, including neurotoxic chemicals, is linked to a mysterious paralysis syndrome and prompts calls for stricter Australian pesticide regulations and improved grain handling practices.
A Murdoch University study found endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoos in Western Australia's Wheatbelt are regularly exposed to high levels of agricultural pesticides, with 80% of seed samples contaminated. The findings suggest a link to a mysterious paralysis syndrome in the birds and have prompted calls for a review of Australia's pesticide regulations.
Zhang Zhidong, known as "Brother Wang" or the "king of fentanyl," is accused of being a key link between Chinese chemical manufacturers and Mexican drug labs. Arrested in Mexico in 2024 and extradited to the US in 2025, he allegedly ran a global enterprise supplying cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Zhang, a Peking University graduate, denies the charges.
Scientists report a potential 50% drop in average male testosterone levels over 50 years, fueling concerns about a male reproductive crisis. While some link this to environmental factors, others point to obesity and diabetes as primary drivers, highlighting ongoing debate and the need for more research.
The Andean leaf-eared mouse (Phyllotis vaccarum) lives at altitudes above 6,700 meters, making it the highest-dwelling mammal. Researchers studied its physiology and genomics, finding adaptations for cold, low oxygen, and processing toxins from plants, which could inform human medicine for conditions like heart problems and cancer.
Residents in Thornton-Cleveleys, near Blackpool, are concerned about PFOA contamination linked to the AGC Chemicals Europe plant. A study found higher-than-expected kidney cancer rates, and soil and produce contamination has led to restrictions and potential legal action.
Two New Jersey men, Sean Tighe and Juan Rodriguez, have been sentenced for their involvement in a drug trafficking organization that imported over a metric tonne of fentanyl analogues from China into the US. The group used wire transfers and bitcoin to pay for the drugs.
A new analysis by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer) reveals a 51% rise in US chemical accidents since 2021, with deaths and injuries up 20%. This occurs as the Trump administration seeks to dismantle federal disaster management systems, despite strengthening measures by the Biden administration.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed SpudCell, a synthetic system built from chemicals that mimics key life behaviors like eating, growing, copying genetic material, and dividing. While not strictly alive, it's the first to integrate these functions into a complete life cycle in a lab, marking a significant step in synthetic biology.
Six 'space balls' found on a Queensland beach are likely from a foreign rocket body that re-entered the atmosphere. The Australian Space Agency is working with international authorities to confirm the source, while experts explain the objects are pressurized fuel vessels.
A new analysis shows a 57% rise in chemical accidents between 2021-2025, with aging infrastructure and deregulation increasing risks for nearly 150 million people living near hazardous facilities. Historically underserved communities are most vulnerable.
Six mysterious objects, suspected to be space debris possibly containing hazardous chemicals, have washed ashore on beaches in north Queensland, Australia. Experts believe they could be 'space balls' from rocket launches, though a marine origin is also possible.
Scientists at the University of Minnesota have created 'SpudCell,' a lab-made system from lifeless chemicals that mimics core behaviors of living cells, including growth and division. While not fully alive due to reliance on external components like ribosomes, it marks a significant step in bottom-up synthetic biology.
US Park Police released footage seeking a person in connection with alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 19. This follows reports of algae blooms, peeling paint, and dead birds at the site, alongside political claims of vandalism, despite a recent refurbishment.
