DNA Finds Pollutants in Green-Glowing Water Test

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December 22, 2020

Dear Reader,

Andrea Thompson, substituting for Sunya. We have a varied round-up today, that ranges from using DNA to create a test that could potentially detect pollutants more rapidly, to a discovery of what may be the farthest galaxy from Earth in the universe. We also take a look back at the major climate stories from the year, and how you can travel safely in the age of COVID.

Andrea Thompson, Associate Editor, Sustainability
@AndreaTWeather

Biology

DNA Finds Pollutants in Green-Glowing Water Test

Bacteria inspire a new pollution-monitoring setup

By Susan Cosier

Climate

The Top Five Climate Stories of 2020

From raging wildfires to a pending shift on U.S. climate action, the year was a notable one for climate change

By Andrea Thompson

Space

Let's Search for Alien Probes, Not Just Alien Signals

"Multi-messenger" SETI would broaden the quest to find celestial companions

By Avi Loeb

Public Health

Evaluating COVID Risk on Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Stay safer on different forms of transportation

By Sophie Bushwick,Tanya Lewis,Amanda Montañez

Space

Scientists Think This May Be the Farthest Galaxy in the Universe

GN-z11's light signatures helped researchers estimate its distance from Earth

By Chelsea Gohd,SPACE.com

Natural Disasters

A Running List of Record-Breaking Natural Disasters in 2020

The year has already seen many extremes, from California's and Colorado's largest wildfires to a tropical cyclone boom

By Andrea Thompson

Policy & Ethics

Congress Passes Major Climate Legislation in Year-End Omnibus

The bill calls for phasing down emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, a potent greenhouse gas

By Nick Sobczyk,Geof Koss,E&E News
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