New method for recycling polystyrene

Ocean trash and overflowing landfills have drawn widespread attention to the plastic waste that we put into our environment. In response, communities around the world work hard to reduce, reuse, and recycle. But what does it mean for something to be re…

Saturn V was loud but didn’t melt concrete

Abundant internet claims about the acoustic power of the Saturn V suggest that it melted concrete and lit grass on fire over a mile away, but such ideas are undeniably false. Researchers used a physics-based model to estimate the rocket’s acoustic leve…

Optimization of human small intestinal organoids

Researchers have improved human small intestinal organoids — miniature versions of the small intestine. This will help them to better study the functioning of the small intestine during health and disease. Specifically, the researchers managed to deve…

Detecting nanoplastics in the air

Large pieces of plastic can break down into nanosized particles that often find their way into the soil and water. But they also float in the air, where their presence is less understood. As a step toward better understanding airborne nanoplastics, res…