blog posts

• The invisible chemical in the air that could be raising Parkinson’s risk

  by Laura BarnesOct 24, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: American Academy of Neurology, 10/3/25

  A massive nationwide study has linked long-term exposure to the industrial chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) with a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease in older adults. Researchers examined over 1.1 million people, finding that those living in areas with the highest outdoor TCE levels faced a 10% greater risk of developing Parkinson’s.

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• Scientists find hidden brain damage behind dementia

  by Laura BarnesOct 23, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 10/6/25

  A University of New Mexico scientist is revealing what might be one of the most overlooked causes of dementia — damage in the brain’s tiny blood vessels. Dr. Elaine Bearer has created a new way to classify these changes, showing that many people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s also suffer from vascular damage that quietly destroys brain tissue. Even more surprising, she’s finding microplastics inside the brain that appear linked to inflammation and memory loss. 

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• The invisible plastic threat you can finally see

  by Laura BarnesOct 22, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: Universitaet Stuttgart. 9/10/25

  Researchers in Germany and Australia have created a simple but powerful tool to detect nanoplastics—tiny, invisible particles that can slip through skin and even the blood-brain barrier. Using an "optical sieve" test strip viewed under a regular microscope, these particles reveal themselves through striking color changes.

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• Scientists made plastic that eats carbon

  by Laura BarnesOct 21, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: University of Copenhagen, 9/5/25

  A team of chemists has discovered how to transform PET plastic waste into BAETA, a material that captures CO2 with remarkable efficiency. Instead of ending up as microplastics in the environment, discarded bottles and textiles could become tools to combat climate change. The method is energy-friendly, scalable, and potentially lucrative, offering industries both sustainability and practicality.

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• Biochar’s secret power could change clean water forever

  by Laura BarnesOct 20, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: Shenyang Agricultural University, 9/26/25

  Scientists found that biochar doesn’t just capture pollutants, it actively destroys them using direct electron transfer. This newly recognized ability accounts for up to 40% of its cleaning power and remains effective through repeated use. The discovery opens the door to cheaper, greener, and more efficient water treatment methods worldwide.

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• First comprehensive review of plastic pollution in the Amazon reveals contamination poses urgent health risks

  by Joy ScrogumOct 17, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: Phys.org, 10/1/25

  In a study published in the journal Ambio, researchers examined 52 peer-reviewed scientific papers on plastic found in the Amazon since 2000, particularly in fauna, fish, sediment and water. More than 90% of the research was concentrated in Brazil along the main Amazon River channel, and the most frequently reported microplastic fragment size was less than five millimeters. The findings make for troubling reading. Plastic contamination is not limited to a few spots; it's widespread across the basin. The review found plastic fragments and litter in the water, river sediments, and among plants and wildlife, including birds, fish and mammals. The most alarming discovery was the threat to human health. Researchers found that two-thirds (66%) of the studied animals (mostly fish) that contain plastic are regular food sources for local communities. This high level of contamination puts many people at risk of ingesting plastic fragments, especially microfragments.

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• Microwave technique allows energy-efficient chemical reactions

  by Joy ScrogumOct 16, 2025 1:30 pm

  Source: University of Tokyo via Phys.org, 10/10/25

  Some industrial processes used to create useful chemicals require heat, but heating methods are often inefficient, partly because they heat a greater volume of space than they really need to. Researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, devised a way to limit heating to the specific areas required in such situations. Their technique uses microwaves, not unlike those used in home microwave ovens, to excite specific elements dispersed in the materials to be heated. Their system proved to be around 4.5 times more efficient than current methods.

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• Microplastics in the placenta linked to increased risk of miscarriage

  by Joy ScrogumOct 15, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: Environmental Health News, 10/3/25

  In a recent study published by eBioMedicine, researchers found that women with higher levels of microplastics in their placenta were at an increased risk of experiencing spontaneous miscarriage in the first trimester. 

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• Microplastics found to change gut microbiome in first human-sample study

  by Joy ScrogumOct 14, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: EurekAlert, 10/6/25

  New research presented at UEG Week 2025 shows that microplastics – plastic particles smaller than 5mm commonly found in the environment – can alter the human gut microbiome, with some changes resembling patterns linked to depression and colorectal cancer. 

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• Advocates raise alarm over Pfas pollution from datacenters amid AI boom

  by Joy ScrogumOct 13, 2025 9:00 am

  Source: The Guardian, 10/4/25

  Advocates are particularly concerned over the use by datacenters of PFAS gas, or f-gas, which can be potent greenhouse gases, and may mean datacenters’ climate impact is worse than previously thought. Other f-gases turn into a type of dangerous compound that is rapidly accumulating across the globe. Two kinds of cooling systems are used to prevent the semiconductors and other electronic equipment stored in datacenters from overheating. Water cooling systems require huge volumes of water, and chemicals like nitrates, disinfectants, azoles and other compounds are potentially added and discharged in the environment. Many centers are now switching to a “two phase” system that uses f-gas as a refrigerant coolant that is run through copper tubing. In this scenario, f-gas is not intentionally released during use, though there may be leaks, and it must be disposed of at the end of its life.

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