Video by The Atlantic – “Can you see the stars at night? Only a few centuries ago, the Milky Way was visible from almost anywhere in America. Today, more than 99 percent of the population in the continental U.S. live in light-polluted areas. It’s impossible to see the Milky Way in more than two-thirds of… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Category Archives: Environmental Law
Wastewater COVID-19 National and Regional Trends
CDC – “Wastewater (sewage) can be tested to detect traces of infectious diseases circulating in a community, even if people don’t have symptoms. You can use these data as an early warning that levels of infections may be increasing or decreasing in your community. About CDC’s Wastewater Program (NWSS) How Wastewater Monitoring Work Continue Reading
The Best Inventions of 2023
TIME: “Every year for over two decades, TIME editors have highlighted the most impactful new products and ideas in TIME’s Best Inventions issue. To compile this year’s list, we solicited nominations from TIME’s editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields—such as AI, green energy,… Continue Reading
Does your home’s drinking water contain lead?
Fast Company: “Millions of Americans are at risk of lead exposure in their drinking water. Last week, in an effort to reduce that risk, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to require water systems across the country to replace lead service lines—the pipes that carry water from a city’s main line into a home… Continue Reading
CDC revamps wastewater COVID data reporting
CIDRIP: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently unveiled new wastewater data tracking dashboard to make it easier to track local and national trends, even by variant. Wastewater tracking is one of the early indicators health officials use to gauge the activity of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. Called the National Wastewater Surveillance Program,… Continue Reading
Discarded toys are creating an e-waste disaster. Here’s how to stop it.
Grist – Toys that move, make noise, and light up are winding up in landfills — but they could be recycled, with better policies. “…According to a recent report by the WEEE Forum, a multinational nonprofit organization focused on the management of “waste electrical and electronic equipment,” the world threw out more than 7 billion… Continue Reading
ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder
“Find rebates and special offers near you on ENERGY STAR certified products. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. EPA helping you save energy and money while protecting the environment.” Continue Reading
DOT interactive map shows various transportation noise levels for any area in US
‘The DOT has an interactive map that shows various transportation noise levels for any area in the U.S. It’s imperfect: anyone who lives in LA can tell you that the dark gray areas are NOT actually < 50db, but if you’re planning on moving to an area, it can help you figure out road, airport… Continue Reading
Bright satellites are disrupting astronomy
Via Prof. Sam Lawler @[email protected] – Nature article non paywalled. “The summary: astronomers spent a lot of time asking SpaceX and other large satellite operators to pretty please make their satellites fainter and/or use fewer satellites. And then BlueWalker 3 was launched by some tiny company and is one of the brightest things in the… Continue Reading
A free, public database of virtual power plants in the United States
Jim Moran – VPP Data: “The public database of U.S. VPPs is available here. Background – The goal of this database is to track all Virtual Power Plant (VPP) activity in the United States – all planned, active and ended pilots and programs and their VPP software platforms, trade allies, and incentives offered. The key… Continue Reading
Recycling won’t solve the plastic problem. Here’s what will.
Sarah J. Morath is a professor of law and associate dean for international programs at Wake Forest University – The Hill: “There is no shortage of news about plastic’s ubiquity or its harms. Microplastics are in clouds, drinking water, playgrounds and our blood. Marine mammals are entangled in and ingest plastic at alarming rates. Plastic… Continue Reading
Education Department lists schools under investigation for ‘possible discrimination’ based on shared ancestry
The Hill: “The Department of Education released a list of higher education and K-12 institutions that are under investigation for alleged shared ancestry violations Thursday as part of the Biden administration’s effort to address reports of rising discrimination in schools. “Hate has no place in our schools, period. When students are targeted because they are–or… Continue Reading
