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A wide new report reveals disturbing levels of PFA contamination in waterways across the United States, raising urgent questions about the country’s water supply safety. The study, conducted by the WaterKeeper Alliance in collaboration with a local Waterkeeper Group and the Hispanic Access Foundation, found that 98% of the water levels tested contained Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a group of toxic and long-term industrial chemicals associated with significant health risks. Part of the National Water Monitoring Initiative, the report highlights the broad nature of PFAS contamination, particularly from the biosolid-treated agriculture sector, particularly in areas downstream from the Wastewater Treatment Plant…
Jun 30, 2025Ravie LakshmananCybersecurity / Hacking News Ever wonder what happens when attackers don’t break the rules—they just follow them better than we do? When systems work exactly as they’re built to, but that “by design” behavior quietly opens the door to risk? This week brings stories that make you stop and rethink what’s truly under control. It’s not always about a broken firewall or missed patch—it’s about the small choices, default settings, and shortcuts that feel harmless until they’re not. The real surprise? Sometimes the threat doesn’t come from outside—it’s baked right into how things are set up. Dive…
This work was originally published in Mark Tillpac’s Subsack. Do your town or town swim? Many urban areas are located on the coast, lakes and rivers, and swimming in clean, safe open water can be (potentially) a fun and useful public practice. City swimming can provide shelter from the city heat. It can also promote exercise, relaxation and social connection while supporting important life skills. Additionally, urban swimming encourages efforts to maintain and strengthen ecosystems, while also attracting visitors and new residents to a variety of locations. The city’s open water swimming has deep historical roots. Benjamin Franklin, for example,…
Spotify’s Discover Weekly Playlist, which shares new listening recommendations every Monday, is getting an update. Ten years after Discover Weekly’s debut (yes, we feel old too), Spotify Premium users will see new controls at the top of their playlists, allowing them to push recommendations to specific genres. So if you’re primarily listening to rock from the 80s, but are beginning to develop a soft spot for K-Pop, you can choose a different genre filter and push the algorithmic curation in the right direction. Image credit: Spotify This feature is intended to give users a little more control over the new…
Name: Monomacos CrownWhat it is: A series of enamel gold panelsHometown: Ivanka Puri Nitre, village in Central Slovakia You might like it When it was made: between AD 1042 and 1050Related: Assyrian swimmer: sculpture of a 2,900-year-old soldier crossing a river using inflatable goat skinWhat it tells us about the past:In 1860, as farmers were plowing fields in central Slovakia, he unearthed a spectacular panel of gold Byzantine crowns. For more than a century, experts have debated whether it belongs to the 11th century ruler Constantine IX Monomacus, and whether the crown belongs to the way that it reached the…
The UK-US trade agreement is now in effect today, significantly reducing US export tariffs for the UK’s automobile and aerospace sector. Automotive and aerospace manufacturers will benefit from significant tariff cuts when exporting to the US after their groundbreaking trade contracts are in effect, potentially saving thousands of jobs. The UK is the only country to secure this contract with the US, reducing car export fees from 27.5% to 10%, saving manufacturers hundreds of millions of people each year, and protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs. At the same time, the aerospace sector is seeing the removal of 10% tariffs…
The idea of animals that can count or do maths may sound like viral news stories or tiktok videos. However, the sense of quantity, sometimes called “numbers,” appears in the surprising variety of species.So which animals can count and understand simple mathematics?”Many species (land and sea life) including insects, mollusks, lizards, birds and many types of mammals (land and sea life) told Live Science via email. This ability has the evolutionary advantage of helping animals find more food, so they help them stay alive and pass on genes. You might like it For example, studies have shown that bees (APIS…
In a pioneering public science initiative, researchers at the University of Southampton invite UK citizens to help tackle antibacterial resistance (AMR), one of the biggest medical threats of our time. At the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London, they are beginning a national hunt for bacteriophages – microscopic viruses that infect and kill bacteria – form the basis of a powerful alternative to antibiotic failure. Through practical participation, visitors will become part of cutting-edge scientific efforts that could shape the future of phage therapy and change the trend in the global battle with AMR. Commenting on the Landmark Initiative,…
AI-enhanced quality assurance is revolutionizing manufacturing by providing greater accuracy, efficiency and sustainability through real-time defect detection, automated processes and predictive maintenance. However, challenges remain regarding data quality and ethical considerations. Today’s manufacturing industry is looking for quality. Deficiencies are costly due to rising costs and reduce sustainability efforts. AI-enhanced quality assurance can provide unprecedented levels of accuracy, efficiency and waste reduction. However, this technology is transformative, but it can take some time to become completely effective. The role of quality assurance in modern manufacturing. Many business leaders recognize that quality control has become an important part of today’s manufacturing…
In an age defined by climate change, biodiversity loss, and degradation of natural resources, Earth observation has emerged as the basis for environmental protection. With satellite technology, remote sensing, and advanced data analytics, Earth observation allows scientists, policymakers and conservationists to monitor and respond to environmental change on a global scale. From tracking shrinking forests to monitoring ocean health, this technology is revolutionizing how we understand and protect our planets. See nature from orbit At its core, Earth observation involves collecting data about Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems, primarily using satellites. These space instruments provide bird’s-eye views of the…