The US is losing its battle against the bulge. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that Americans are heavier than ever before. The CDC defines obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30, and a shocking 20% of Americans meet that criteria, with the Midwest … Read more
Ozone gas is reducing the growth of tropical forests — leaving an estimated 290 million tonnes of carbon uncaptured each year, new research shows. The ozone layer in the stratosphere shields our planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation — and protecting it is one of the major successes of environmental action. But ozone at ground level … Read more
Each additional day of exposure to wildfire smoke and other extreme forms of dirty air boosts risk of mental illness in youth a little more, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study of 10,000 9 to 11 year olds. “We found that a greater number of days with fine particulate air pollution levels … Read more
Just one bag of Cheetos can be “world changing.” A parkgoer at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico recently dropped a bag full of Cheetos at the caverns. That one bag of the dusty orange snack made a “huge impact” on the cave’s ecosystem, the park said in a Facebook post. A parkgoer at … Read more
Black mold, busted air conditioning, uncooked chicken and paint in the eggs – shocking conditions not from a migrant shelter, but military barracks here in the US. The men and women who protect the country often endure tough conditions in makeshift accommodations overseas, but they are also being subjected to awful lapses in service where … Read more
Gentlemen, start your ovens! A popular thin-crust pizzeria in northern New Jersey has taken food-truck culture to the next level by outfitting a pair of Tesla Cybertrucks with two-tier ovens to fire up pies on the go — and they certainly take the fast lane. Food trucks have long claimed parking spots on the nation’s … Read more
Well that stinks. The city sprayed “Christmas”-scented perfume around the Gowanus Canal — but it’ll take a lot more than holiday cheer to neutralize the stench seeping from the notorious polluted Brooklyn waterway. During the odorous operation, which began in February and ended last month, the city Department of Environmental Protection unleashed the Yuletide and … Read more
NEW YORK — The unofficial end to summer is upon us, and millions of people across the U.S. have packed up and are headed out of town for the Labor Day holiday weekend. But travelers beware — severe weather could put the brakes on some end-of-season travel plans. Data from AAA shows an increase in domestic travel over the Labor Day holiday weekend this year, so … Read more
Testing for levels of microplastic contamination in marine plankton aims to help develop new ways to assess and manage the rising global pollution problem, Flinders University experts say. Researchers examined the effects of five different chemical digestive aids on common plastics using low, medium and high levels of zooplankton and have published the results in … Read more
The Big Apple is set to sizzle Wednesday with temperatures soaring into the mid-90s — before thunderstorms are expected to roll in and usher in a cold front. New York City temps are forecast to peak at 94 degrees but the humidity will raise the heat index to around 101 degrees at the hottest part … Read more