Our Planet

What Can Be Done About Microplastics?

Microplastics are small plastic particles five millimeters or less in size. They come from commercial and product development and the breakdown of larger plastics. In addition, individuals and corporations have a hand in microplastics blanketing our planet.

Microplastics are small but mighty – and not in a good way. As tiny as these particles are, they can cause serious harm to our environment and our health. Let’s look at this in more detail below.

10 amazing Uranus facts [the most underrated planet in the solar system]

Uranus photo by the Hubble Space Telescope (2004)

Uranus looks like a featureless blue-green marble from space. Because of this, most people consider the gas giant “boring” and as a result, it receives the least attention from science enthusiasts. But, actually, the planets in our solar system are all fascinating in their own way, and each one has unique features that make it worth studying. Uranus has a number of interesting features and it is an important part of our solar system. It offers many opportunities for scientific discovery.

With a radius of 25,362±7 km (about 15,760 miles), Uranus is the third-largest planet in the solar system, after Jupiter and Saturn. It’s the fourth, behind Neptune, by mass, though.

Its average distance from the Sun is roughly 20 AU (3 billion km or 2 billion miles, see notes 1). 1 Uranus year is about 84 earth years. One day on Uranus takes about 17 hours and 14 minutes.

Here are the 10 amazing facts about Uranus, (probably) the most underrated planet in the solar system.

10 Biggest Spiders in the World

Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) is the biggest spider in the world

Here are the top 10 biggest spiders in the world, based on leg span:

What are the Dangers of Pharmaceutical Drug Production?

Most people know illicit drug production poses many dangers. Flammability, improper disposal, and toxic fumes are just a few, especially in drugs like methamphetamine. But what about other drugs like pharmaceuticals? Are these drugs entirely safe, or do they come with their share of production dangers? Here’s what you need to know.

9 Myths and Facts About Environmental Toxins

Learning about environmental toxins can be frightening, but there’s also a lot of misinformation about what they are and how they affect humans. By definition, environmental toxins are substances that can negatively affect our health and include a variety of chemicals or organisms including carcinogens, BPA, and volatile organic compounds.

Given the wide range of substances out there, it’s not surprising that there’s a lot to unpack when you hear people discussing different toxins. What’s an exaggeration or piece of misinformation and what’s fact? Here are 9 myths and facts about environmental toxins you should know.

Spirit Rover landed on Mars on January 4, 2004

Artist imagination of Spirit Rover on the Martian surface

On January 4, 2004, NASA’s Spirit Rover landed on Mars. It was a robotic Mars exploration vehicle, and with its twin Opportunity, studied the history of climate and water at sites on Mars where conditions may once have been favorable to life. Operational from January 4, 2004, to March 22, 2010, Spirit far outlasted her planned 90-day mission.

The first soft landing on the far side of the Moon was performed on January 3, 2019, by China’s Chang’e 4

Panorama of the far side of the moon (cropped)

On January 3, 2019, China’s lunar lander and rover Chang’e 4 achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon in the history of humanity’s space exploration. It’s a space exploration success no nation or space agency (including NASA) has accomplished even as of January 2023.

How long do great white sharks live?

Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) can live for a very long time, with an estimated lifespan of 70 years or more. However, it is difficult to determine the exact lifespan of the great whites because they are not easy to study in the wild. And they cannot be kept in captivity, they start to weaken when they are put in a pool or a tank – even a big one. They constantly run into the glass until they get exhausted and die.

How many elephants are left in the world? [2023]

Elephants are wonderful creatures for many reasons! They are intelligent and social animals that form close bonds with one another and live in complex family groups. They are also highly adaptable and can survive in a variety of different habitats, from the savannas of Africa to the rainforests of Asia. In addition, they play important roles in their ecosystems as keystone species, meaning that their presence can have a significant impact on the overall health and balance of their habitats. Finally, elephants have unique and fascinating biology, including their large size, long lifespan, and remarkable memory.

Sponge City Concept can be an answer to increased flood and water crisis

Modern panoramic skyline of Chongqing, China, a sponge city

Sponge City is a concept in urban planning and design that aims to make cities more resilient to flooding and other natural disasters by designing urban areas to absorb, store, and use water more efficiently. This can be achieved through a variety of strategies, including green infrastructure, permeable pavement, and rainwater harvesting systems.