Wildfires don’t just burn farmland − they can contaminate the water farmers use to irrigate crops and support livestock

Just like fires can contaminate municipal water systems by melting pipes, farms’ and ranches’ water supply systems are at risk. A first-of-its-kind study after the Maui fires explores the harms.

Andrew J. Whelton, Professor of Civil, Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University • conversation
Aug. 13, 2024 ~9 min

Are nail salon chemicals bad for health?

An expert digs into the mysteries around fragrance chemicals and how to better protect nail salon workers' health.

Alden Woods-U. Washington • futurity
July 30, 2024 ~9 min


Trees don’t like to breathe wildfire smoke, either – and they’ll hold their breath to avoid it

An unplanned experiment when wildfire smoke rolled through Colorado shows how trees keep some of the smoke out.

Mj Riches, Postdoctoral Researcher in Environmental and Atmospheric Science, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
July 30, 2024 ~8 min

Some artificial sweeteners are forever chemicals that could be harming aquatic life

Artificial sweeteners aren’t metabolised by the human body, so they are excreted – and that’s where the environmental problems begin.

Alan Goddard, Reader in Biochemistry, Aston University • conversation
July 12, 2024 ~5 min

A new way to miniaturize cell production for cancer treatment

A chip the size of a pack of cards uses fewer resources and a smaller footprint than existing automated manufacturing platforms and could lead to more affordable cell therapy manufacturing.

Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology • mit
July 9, 2024 ~7 min

PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ can be absorbed through human skin, says research

A new study sheds light on how important exposure to PFAS chemicals via the skin might be and indicates which chemical structures might be most easily absorbed.

Stuart Harrad, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, University of Birmingham • conversation
July 5, 2024 ~6 min

Scientists use computational modeling to guide a difficult chemical synthesis

Using this new approach, researchers could develop drug compounds with unique pharmaceutical properties.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
June 27, 2024 ~7 min

PFAS ‘forever’ chemical laws need an overhaul – recent court rulings highlight the loopholes

A more precautionary approach is required for the regulation of PFAS chemicals, otherwise industries will continue polluting the environment without breaking any laws.

Beth Parker, Professor, School of Engineering, University of Guelph • conversation
June 25, 2024 ~7 min


Technologies enable 3D imaging of whole human brain hemispheres at subcellular resolution

Three innovations by an MIT-based team enable high-resolution, high-throughput imaging of human brain tissue at a full range of scales, and mapping connectivity of neurons at single-cell resolution.

David Orenstein | The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory • mit
June 17, 2024 ~12 min

A smarter way to streamline drug discovery

The SPARROW algorithm automatically identifies the best molecules to test as potential new medicines, given the vast number of factors affecting each choice.

Adam Zewe | MIT News • mit
June 17, 2024 ~8 min

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