chemistry

Can a microbe in soil alter your brain chemistry to improve your mood?

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Is soil really an antidepressant? Cavan Images/Alamy There are so many colourful claims out there when it comes to gardening, but there is one in particular that has been doing the rounds recently: “Soil is an antidepressant.” According to this idea, espoused through countless social media posts, Mycobacterium cows– a microbe naturally found in soil … Read more

Wastewater treatment plants funnel PFAS into drinking water

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A wastewater treatment plant in California Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Wastewater treatment facilities are a major source of PFAS contamination in drinking water in the US – they discharge enough of the “forever chemicals” to raise concentrations above safe levels for an estimated 15 million people or more. They can also release long-lasting prescription drugs into … Read more