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Category Archives: Environmental Law

Free wildfire app Watch Duty overwhelmed with new LA resident and firefighter users

Washington Post [unpaywalled]: “Struggling to keep track of fast moving wildfires and the latest evacuation zones, residents of Los Angeles are rushing to download a free app called Watch Duty. The company said it had gained more than 1.6 million new users since Tuesday, the vast majority in LA County. It’s Apple’s most downloaded free… Continue Reading

Microplastics Are Widespread in Seafood We Eat, Study Finds

Newsweek – “Microplastics and other human-made particles are widespread in the seafood that we eat and could be damaging our health. A recent study by scientists at Portland State University (PSU)’s Applied Coastal Ecology Lab investigated particle pollution in nine species of seafood in Oregon. “If we are disposing of an utilizing products that release… Continue Reading

NIST Database Can Help Increase Recycling of Textiles and Clothing

“You have a bag of heavily used clothes that can no longer be donated taking up space in your closet, so you drop it off at your local recycling center. But what happens to that bag of clothes? You might assume that the clothes would get broken down and reused to make new products. https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/01/nist-database-can-help-increase-recycling-textiles-and-clothing… Continue Reading

13 dramatic photos that capture the beauty of marine sanctuaries

Be in awe of our National Marine Sanctuary System.”A majestic humpback whale, dramatic coastlines, and a coral reef ecosystem shine in the NOAA and and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s ‘Get Into Your Sanctuary’ photo contest. The winning photos celebrate the National Marine Sanctuary System, which encompasses more than 629,000 square miles and includes 17 national… Continue Reading

Purging Old Clothes? Here’s How to Responsibly Donate and Repurpose Your Castoffs

WireCutter: “If you have piles of old clothes and shoes languishing in your home, figuring out what to get rid of is just half the dilemma. You also have to decide how to unload those castoffs. When it comes to this type of purge, balancing every consideration—what’s practical, moral, and sustainable—can be stressful. Do national… Continue Reading

The Internet Is Not Forever

Zeit Online: “The Internet is forever. At least, that was the promise — and the threat — of the digital age, echoed across browsers, clouds, and platforms. A silent warning accompanied every upload: be careful what you post — this will last forever. But with each passing day, it becomes increasingly clear how deceptive that… Continue Reading

LLRX December 2024 Articles and Columns

December 2024 – LLRX.com® – the free web journal on law, technology, knowledge discovery and research for Librarians, Lawyers, Researchers, Academics, and Journalists. Founded in 1996. January 1, 2025 is Public Domain Day: Works from 1929 are open to all, as are sound recordings from 1924 – by Jennifer Jenkins. AI in Finance and Banking,… Continue Reading

62 Fascinating Facts of 2024

The New York Times:  Each day, Times Insider editors scour the newspaper for the most interesting facts to appear in articles. This year, tidbits about grudge-holding crows, the first-ever first kiss and George Washington’s dentures enlightened, informed and entertained us… 21. In the United States, more than 60 percent of the work force lives paycheck… Continue Reading

24 Things That Made the World a Better Place in 2024

Wired [unpaywalled] : “Let’s face it—2024 has felt at times like a relentless conveyor belt of doom. The climate crisis is still gaining momentum, COP underlined the lack of consensus on what to do about it, and attempts to create a plastics treaty failed. Political violence rose to the surface in the US, and there… Continue Reading

The Most Detailed Map of Cancer-Causing Industrial Air Pollution in the US

ProPublica: “It’s not a secret that industrial facilities emit hazardous air pollution. A recent ProPublica analysis shows for the first time just how much toxic air pollution they emit — and how much the chemicals they unleash could be elevating cancer risk in their communities. ProPublica’s analysis of five years of modeled EPA data identified… Continue Reading

Insurers Are Deserting Homeowners as Climate Shocks Worsen

The New York Times – Without insurance, it’s impossible to get a mortgage; without a mortgage, most Americans can’t buy a home…Without insurance, you can’t get a mortgage; without a mortgage, most Americans can’t buy a home. Communities that are deemed too dangerous to insure face the risk of falling property values, which means less… Continue Reading