The Cool Down

Cat owner fears giant, vivid spider is dangerous, learns it's a harmless 'wasp spider'

A greenhouse sighting in the Benelux left one pet owner uneasy after they noticed a spider that seemed unusually big and ...
The Cool Down

Florida nears hurricane peak with the Atlantic stuck in 'a tropical graveyard'

Florida and the rest of the United States are moving deeper into the heart of hurricane season, but the Atlantic Ocean has ...
The Cool Down

China study finds aggressive EV driving can wear batteries 2.5 times faster

Using a year of real-world data from 15 EVs in Guangzhou, researchers at Shanghai Dianji University estimated that, over ...
The Cool Down

PVC boosts 'forever chemical' uptake in crops, while tire-wear particles suppress it, study finds

In pak choi, the researchers saw PFAS, often called forever chemicals, rise in the plant under exposure to one widely used ...
The Cool Down

New Jersey officials press 'Polluters Pay' bill to raise $50 billion for flood defenses

Supporters say the Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable Act would generate $50 billion over 20 years for ...
The Cool Down

In California, Oakland's 'compostable' bags are trash, even when they're certified

In Oakland, California, "compostable" bags end up in the trash, meaning shoppers may be paying extra for specialty liners ...
The Cool Down

California county sues plant company after 50 workers allege years of unpaid wages

San Mateo County is suing Cal Coast Orchids after workers accused the plant company of wage theft and other labor violations.
The Cool Down

British secondhand booksellers see mystery bulk buys of obscure titles, suspect AI

British secondhand book dealers say an unusual buyer is changing the market, placing large orders for old, obscure titles.
The Cool Down

Earthjustice and Sierra Club urge FAA to keep ban on overland supersonic flights

Earthjustice and the Sierra Club moved to block any return of overland commercial supersonic flights, warning federal ...
The Cool Down

Philadelphia neighbors say 12 raccoons have become 'new kids on the block' in vacant row home

Neighbors on Philadelphia's Argyle Street say an abandoned property has turned into a raccoon colony and want the building to ...
The Cool Down

Appalachian Power seeks up to 800 MW of Virginia energy storage to shore up grid, with bids due Sept. 30

Appalachian Power is testing the market for a large new block of energy storage in Virginia, seeking as much as 800 megawatts ...
The Cool Down

Across the eastern US, extreme rain is consolidating into bigger, less frequent storms

Flood risk in the eastern United States could be shifting in a concerning way that makes severe rainfall harder to handle.