Scientists have captured fungal spores cruising in the inhospitable environment of the stratosphere, much higher than commercial aircraft fly. When brought back to the lab, the researchers found that some of the spores — including pathogens of plants and people — had survived intercontinental trips and could be cultured in Read more…
Plastic producers have pushed “advanced recycling” as a salve to the plastic waste crisis despite knowing for years that it is not a technically or economically feasible solution, a new report argues. Advanced recycling, also known as chemical recycling, refers to a variety of processes used to break plastics into Read more…
Switzerland will hold a national referendum on the introduction of electronic identity cards after opponents of the legislation secured enough signatures to force a public vote. The Federal Chancellery confirmed Wednesday that 55,344 valid signatures were submitted against the Federal Act on Electronic Identity passed last December. The proposed e-ID Read more…
The Trump administration plans to eliminate the Energy Star program — a long-standing EPA initiative that has saved Americans over $500 billion in energy costs since 1992. “The organization states that the average American saves about $450 per year on energy bills by choosing appliances that have been Energy Star-certified,” Read more…
Apple said a majority of its devices shipped into the U.S. in the June quarter will originate in India and Vietnam, a move to allay investor concerns about the impact of tariffs on its operations. The company was among the hardest-hit of the tech giants last month because of its Read more…
The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to block California from implementing plans to block new sales of gas-powered vehicles in a decade. In a 246-164 vote, members approved House Joint Resolution 88, which seeks to withdraw a waiver granted by the Environmental Protection Agency to California during the Biden Read more…
Widespread power outages were reported Monday in parts of Spain, Portugal and France, affecting critical infrastructure like airports and causing transportation disruptions. The interruption was due to a problem in the European electricity grid. The blackout also affected regions of Spain and France, due to faults in very high voltage Read more…