A study by the American Chemical Society finds that melamine cleaning sponges release trillions of microplastic fibers monthly as they wear down during use, with an estimated 1.55 trillion fibers entering water systems globally and potentially accumulating in the food chain.
New York City is distributing $5 million in congestion pricing revenue to incentivize small businesses to shift deliveries to overnight hours (7 p.m.–6 a.m.), aiming to move 62,000 daily truck trips off daytime streets by 2040. The program funds equipment like noise-reducing devices, security systems, and cargo bikes to enable overnight operations and reduce daytime traffic congestion.
A Tokyo school has tracked Mt. Fuji's visibility from its rooftop since 1963, recording 22 visible mornings in 1965 versus 170 in 2023, suggesting improved air clarity over decades. The observatory also logs first snow on Mt. Fuji's summit since 1894, creating a 61-year dataset that reveals seasonal and long-term patterns in atmospheric conditions.
The US Environmental Protection Agency announced the repeal of 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards that limited greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas-fired power plants, eliminating requirements for 90% carbon capture by 2039. The Trump administration's move reverses Biden-era protections estimated to prevent 1,200 deaths and 360,000 asthma attacks annually while saving businesses $370 million in regulatory costs.