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3 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
In Australia, regional Victoria and South Australia are experiencing drought conditions that experts are calling the worst in decades. According to 9News, this is prompting agricultural communities to seek emergency government support, and they are warning of economic collapse. The drought is crippling food production across two of Australia's major agricultural regions. Victoria and South Australia are home to substantial portions of the country's lamb, wine grape, and horticultural production.
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3 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
A California mother filed a lawsuit against WaterWipes after independent testing found microplastics in baby wipes marketed as pure and made with only two simple ingredients, reported Law360. Devery Merlo from San Jose, California, claims WaterWipes misleads parents who want safer products for their children. The company markets its baby wipes as the purest, made from just water and fruit extract.
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3 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have discovered a natural defense mechanism that could help us predict and combat microplastic pollution in waterways, according to a news release. Their research shows that biofilms — slippery films created by tiny organisms — act like nature's cleanup crew by preventing microplastics from settling into riverbeds and coastal sediments.
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4 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
A Reddit user shared their surprise that a restaurant offered a pickle slice that was wrapped in plastic. The post was shared with the r/Anticonsumption community. It showed the small pickle piece in clear plastic packaging typically reserved for takeout orders. "Never seen this one before," read the title. "At a restaurant, eating in."One commenter noted that several restaurants do this, and that they assumed it was for customers to take home.
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4 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
A New Jersey high school student is proving that young voices can drive change in the fight for pollution-free air and healthier communities, reported TAPinto Hackensack. Josephine Lee, an 11th grader at Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, earned honorable mention in the World of 8 Billion International Student Video Contest, which attracted thousands of entries from teens across 67 countries and 45 U.S. states.
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4 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
A new low-temperature process is making lithium sulfide, an important ingredient for solid-state batteries, cheaper and safer to produce, reported Interesting Engineering. Traditional lithium-ion batteries come with risks. They use liquid components that can leak or catch fire, creating safety concerns for drivers and device users. Solid-state batteries are a solution. They replace those risky liquids with solid materials that won't leak or cause thermal runaway.
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5 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
One mom learned that switching from car commutes to e-bike rides changed her family's trips into wildlife-spotting adventures that strengthened emotional connections, reported The Atlantic. An e-bike is an electric bicycle that combines pedal power with battery assistance. Unlike regular bikes, e-bikes have motors that help riders tackle hills and longer distances. The bikes come in many styles, from sleek single-rider models to cargo versions with bench seats and storage compartments.
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5 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
Oklo, a Santa Clara, California-based nuclear technology company, received a boost when President Donald Trump signed executive orders to expedite nuclear energy approval and strengthen America's nuclear supply chain, per Business Wire. The executive orders direct government agencies to work more efficiently as customers and supporters of new energy technologies. They focus on modernizing how companies license, fuel, and build advanced nuclear power to meet growing energy demand.
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6 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
New research reveals that microscopic particles lurking in your food and drinks could disrupt your body's ability to process sugar and damage your liver, the American Society for Nutrition reported via News Medical. Scientists at the University of California, Davis, gave mice daily doses of polystyrene nanoparticles, the same type of plastic found in food packaging. After consuming these tiny particles for weeks, the mice showed glucose intolerance and liver injury.
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6 days ago | 
thecooldown.com | Leslie Sattler
New York City's pension funds now require their asset managers to submit real net-zero plans by June 30 or risk losing their business entirely, reported Fast Company. This covers nearly $300 billion worth of investments managed by hundreds of firms, including BlackRock, which handles almost $60 billion of the city's pension money. The new rules mean asset managers must show clear plans to reduce their carbon footprint across all business operations.
