Pollution

  1. Environment

    Plastic goes missing at sea

    A survey of the world’s oceans finds far less polymer trash than expected, and researchers don’t know where the rest of the plastic is.

    By Sam Lemonick
  2. Environment

    Triclosan may spoil wastewater treatment

    Common antimicrobial could make microbes more drug resistant and less efficient at breaking down sewage sludge in municipal treatment plants.

    By Beth Mole
  3. Agriculture

    Fertilizer produces far more greenhouse gas than expected

    Farmers’ overuse of nitrogen-based fertilizers may explain previously puzzling high emissions of nitrous oxide.

    By Beth Mole
  4. Health & Medicine

    Health risks of e-cigarettes emerge

    Research uncovers a growing list of chemicals that end up in an e-cigarette user’s lungs, and one study finds that an e-cigarette’s vapors can increase the virulence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.