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How CAFOs affect Escherichia coli contents in surrounding water sources

Lieberman et al. | Feb 24, 2023

How CAFOs affect <i>Escherichia coli</i> contents in surrounding water sources
Image credit: CDC

Commercial Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) produce large quantities of waste material from the animals being housed in them. These feedlots found across the United States contain livestock that produce waste that results in hazardous runoff. This study examines how CAFOs affect water sources by testing for Escherichia Coli (E. coli) content in bodies of water near CAFOs.

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The effect of economic downturns on the frequency of mass shootings

Bhupathi et al. | Jul 11, 2025

The effect of economic downturns on the frequency of mass shootings

Researching gun violence and mass shootings in the U.S. is difficult due to the lack of consistent data collection. Some studies have linked mass shootings to personal financial stress, but little formal research exists on the impact of broader economic conditions. This study hypothesized an inverse relationship between mass shootings and economic performance, using the S&P 500 and unemployment rate as indicators.

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Redefining and advancing tree disease diagnosis through VOC emission measurements

Stoica et al. | Mar 27, 2025

Redefining and advancing tree disease diagnosis through VOC emission measurements

Here the authors investigated the use of an affordable gas sensor to detect volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions as an early indicator of tree disease, finding statistically significant differences in VOCs between diseased and non-diseased ash, beech, and maple trees. They suggest this sensor has potential for widespread early disease detection, but call for further research with larger sample sizes and diverse locations.

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Don’t Waste the Medical Waste: Reducing Improperly Classified Hazardous Waste in a Medical Facility

Hemani et al. | Jun 20, 2018

Don’t Waste the Medical Waste: Reducing Improperly Classified Hazardous Waste in a Medical Facility

Hemani et al. tackled the problem of rampant hospital waste by implementing staff training to help inform hospital workers about proper waste disposal. The authors observed a significant increase in proper waste disposal after the training, showing that simple strategies, such as in-person classroom training and posters, can have a profound effect on limiting improper waste handling.

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