pollution

Changes in land-use across Southeast Asia over the past 15 years are worsening air quality and contributing to thousands of excess deaths each year, according to a study led by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore).

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 25 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41561-026-01992-5 The dominant control of soil nitrogen retention changes at a threshold of around 700 mm precipitation, according to an analysis of soil nitrogen and biogeochemical measurements from 31 sites across the United States.

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 25 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41561-026-01998-z Soil viruses greatly influence the carbon sequestration processes associated with anaerobic methane oxidation, according to analyses of carbon flows in paddy soil.

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 25 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41561-026-01985-4 Carbon dioxide outgassing from the ocean associated with the passage of tropical cyclones has declined in recent decades and may switch to being a net sink of CO2 under high-emissions scenarios, according to an analysis of observational records.

US officials hope damaged tank at California aerospace site will relieve pressure and avert blast risk A damaged chemical tank in southern California cracked over the weekend, which authorities were hopeful would relieve pressure and reduce the risk of an explosion. Some 50,000 residents in Garden Grove, a city of roughly 170,000 about 40 miles (60km) south of downtown Los Angeles, have been evac…

Microplastics have been found inside women's ovaries, and they may be hijacking your hormones. Here's what the science says and what you can do about it.

Sulfoxaflor (SXF), a novel sulfoximine insecticide, has been widely used as a substitute for traditional neonicotinoids (NEOs) to control piercing-sucking pests in agriculture. However, its environmental persistence, high mobility in water and soil, and potential toxicity to non-target organisms (e.g., honeybees, aquatic invertebrates) as well as the toxic risks of its long-lasting metabolites (e…

Excess phosphorus discharge remains a major cause of eutrophication, yet wastewater treatment plants often struggle to meet stricter discharge limits without heavy chemical use. A new study introduces a low-dose, slow-release lanthanum strategy that strengthens the biological engine already operating inside treatment reactors.

Ozone-based water treatment is widely used to remove pollutants, odors, color, and pathogens, yet one of its most important chemical engines has remained uncertain: how efficiently ozone reactions generate hydroxyl radicals (*OH), the highly reactive species that drive advanced oxidation.

Wildlife officials said they found oiled birds after a pipe ruptured in East Los Angeles on May 22, 2026.

South Gate residents have been asked to shelter in place as industrial fire rages at a tire recycling facility.

Definition of green facilities made in 2022, before release of ChatGPT, says Action to Protect Rural Scotland A Scottish government policy designed to encourage datacentres to build in Scotland could lead to a massive volume of carbon emissions being ignored, according to an analysis by a Scottish charity. “Green datacentres” are at the heart of Scotland’s ambitions to develop economically. Enshr…

Orange County fire official says a potential crack found on a pressurized chemical tank in Garden Grove might alleviated internal pressure, reducing risk of a catastrophic explosion.

One California town is in a state of emergency and 50,000 people are under an evacuation order as a malfunctioning chemical tank at an aerospace plant is overheating and could leak or explode.

An analysis found that Climate TRACE may substantially underestimate city vehicle CO2 emissions, raising concerns about data accuracy in climate policy. Some of the world’s most widely used climate emissions estimates could be missing far more pollution than anyone realized. A new study from Northern Arizona University reports that the global greenhouse gas emissions database [...]

Lee Zeldin says ‘low-volume release’ of flammable chemicals is most likely amid fears of explosion at Orange county facility near Disneyland Government officials in Orange county, California , have warned that an overheated chemical tank “will fail” and could result in a chemical explosion in the area, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator said on Sunday. “We’re being told that the ta…

A new study reveals that preteens living in areas with high air pollution show slower brain and cognitive development compared to their peers. These findings highlight the potential physical and mental impact of neighborhood air quality.

A listing of 28 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 17, 2026 thru Sat, May 23, 2026. Stories we promoted this week, by category: Climate Policy and Politics (6 articles) What the US Would Lose If It Eliminates the National Center for Atmospheric Research 'I think there's a great loss for the wrong reasons. There's no good reason…