Science & the Public
Where scienceand society meet
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Humans
When Not to Flush
Toilets are not where we should be disposing of unwanted medicines.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
Antidepressants Aren’t for Fish
Antidepressants can play potentially dangerous mind games with fish.
By Janet Raloff -
Humans
What an Acid Bath!
One fallout of space shuttle launches can be a transient change in water pH.
By Janet Raloff -
Earth
It’s Night: Why’s It So Light?
We're wasting scads of energy while much of the world sleeps.
By Janet Raloff -
Humans
College: It’s What We Make It
College experiences differ more within than between colleges, a new survey reports.
By Janet Raloff -
Ecosystems
Costs of Choked-Up Waters
Scientists tally the economic toll of fertilizing pollutants on water quality.
By Janet Raloff -
Agriculture
A Mushrooming Advance
Human skin isn't the only thing that makes vitamin D upon exposure to the ultraviolet radiation.
By Janet Raloff -
Chemistry
From Aerators to Rust — New Lead Risks
Rusty water and other unusual sources of toxic risks in home drinking water.
By Janet Raloff -
Chemistry
Faucets Destined for Brassy Changes
Although new standards poised to take effect in a few years will reduce the lead-leaching risk from drinking water faucets, showerheads and many other water dispensers around will remain unregulated.
By Janet Raloff -
Tech
Lead-free? Faucets are anything but
Featured blog: Users of brand-new buildings on a major university campus were surprised to discover high concentrations of lead in the water. Faucets were the culprit.
By Janet Raloff -
Chemistry
Holey Copper Pipes!
Engineers are homing in on germs and other surprises behind the development of tiny holes in home water pipes.
By Janet Raloff -
Health & Medicine
About McCain’s Melanoma
The Republican presidential hopeful faces a small but lingering risk of cancer recurrence.
By Janet Raloff