Latest news with #WashingtonUniversity
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Map reveals states polluted with toxin that may cause autism... do you live in one?
California and Oregon are America's hotspots for dangerous air toxins that may lead to autism, a study suggests. Researchers at Washington University of St Louis collected 25 years' worth of data on submicron (PM1) air pollution, particles less than one millionth of a meter wide and one-sixth the size of human blood cells. While scientists have long tracked the health effects of its cousin fine particulate matter (PM2.5), emitted in the air via fossil fuels, PM1 has largely flown under the scientific radar. Though little-known, PM1 has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks, lung cancer and dementia. Health agencies are reportedly conducting a series of studies to find out if environmental pollution can lead to autism, which has surged in the US over the last two decades. In the new study, a map reveals concentrations of PM1 were highest in the Los Angeles, Phoenix and Portland areas, along with parts of Idaho, New Mexico and Texas. Less densely populated states without crowded cities, such as Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming had the smallest concentrations. The researchers did not provide exact numbers, but the data suggests larger cities in the western US along the west coast and south are the most at risk of harmful pollutants like PM1. They also said the new report could be one of the first to look specifically at PM1. Jay Turner, study co-author, said: 'When EPA first promulgated a fine PM air quality standard in 1997, there was considerable discussion about regulating PM 1 or PM 2.5. 'For numerous reasons, including but not limited to the lack of health impact studies for PM1 compared to studies for PM2.5, the latter was chosen. 'This study provides a comprehensive, nationwide dataset to examine PM1 impacts on health.' California, which had higher concentrations of PM1, also has one of the highest rates of autism in the country, according to the CDC's latest data. An April report from the agency found one in 19 children in California have been diagnosed with autism, 48 percent higher than one in 31 nationwide. However, the report only looked at children ages four through eight, so it's unclear how many older children and teens were diagnosed. Nationwide, autism rates have surged from about one in 150 in the early 2000s. Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced earlier this year a series of studies that will look into 'environmental toxins' he believes could be causes, including pesticides and food additives, and promised 'there will be an answer for the American people' by September. Particulate matter has been shown in recent studies to raise the risk of autism by triggering inflammation in nerve tissue and possibly passing from mom to placenta to fetus in utero. In the new study, published Monday in The Lancet Planetary Health, researchers calculated PM1 levels based on measuring seven components found in PM2.5: sulphate, ammonium, nitrate, organic matter, black carbon, dust and sea salt. These pollutants can come from natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, wildfires and dust storms, as well as human-generated sources like construction sites, burning fossil fuels and vehicle emissions. Chi Li, first study author and research assistant professor, said: 'Putting the seven species together, we can calculate the total PM1 concentration over the country.' PM1 levels were calculated based on biweekly estimates from 1998 through 2022. In addition to areas like California and Oregon, parts of the Midwest and eastern US like Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania also appeared to have higher concentrations of PM1, according to the map. The researchers said natural disasters like wildfires may have contributed to elevated levels. A 2020 study found the area burned by wildfires in California has doubled in the last 20 years compared to the two decades before that. More urban areas like Los Angeles and Portland also produce more PM1 due to higher traffic, construction and a greater concentration of densely packed buildings. Randall Martin, a professor of energy environmental and chemical engineering at WashU, said: 'These data offer new information to advance understanding of how to improve air quality and health.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Investigating Small Orange Objects Coating Surface of the Moon
Over half a century ago, Apollo astronauts encountered something surprising littering the desolate lunar surface: a vast number of tiny orange beads. As Universe Today reports, scientists have long proposed that these beads, each smaller than a grain of sand, date back to over three billion years ago, when volcanic eruptions on the now-inert natural satellite were still commonplace. The theory goes that material launched up by lunar volcanoes would solidify into tiny drops in the freezing vacuum of space, surviving without any erosion or weather for billions of years. Decades later, researchers have now used high-tech microscopic techniques to get a much more detailed look at these tiny orange beads. Using electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, and a host of other techniques, the team found that each glass bead tells a different story, fleshing out a geologically active history rife with violent volcano explosions. "We've had these samples for 50 years, but we now have the technology to fully understand them," said Ryan Ogliore, Washington University professor of physics and coauthor of a paper set to be published in the journal Icarus, in a press release. "Many of these instruments would have been unimaginable when the beads were first collected." Ogliore also found that some of the beads are reminiscent of natural processes that take place on Earth. "The very existence of these beads tells us the Moon had explosive eruptions, something like the fire fountains you can see in Hawaii today," Ogliore said. However, their shape, color, and chemical composition are unsurprisingly completely different thanks to their extraterrestrial origin. The team had to go to great lengths to make these measurements. Since the tiny Apollo samples can easily react with oxygen and other elements in Earth's atmosphere, the researchers had to protect them from air exposure at every step. But thanks to their detailed analysis, the history of our planet's satellite is slowly coming into focus. The research tells a complex story of the Moon's evolution, "like reading the journal of an ancient lunar volcanologist," according to Ogliore. More on the Moon: Scientists Say There's Over a Trillion Dollars of Platinum Waiting to Be Extracted From the Moon's Craters
NDTV
3 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Shiny Orange Glass Beads On Reveals Moon's Explosive Past
The Moon is covered with small and shiny glass fragments that range in colour from bright orange to yellow-green. The fascinating bead-like materials were discovered during the Apollo mission and were brought back to Earth along with other Moon samples to study their composition, structure, and formation processes. But scientists have now revealed the mystery behind them. The beads were formed some 3.3 to 3.6 billion years ago and provide insights into the Moon's volcanic history. Their analysis would help scientists understand the geological evolution of our natural satellite. "They're some of the most amazing extraterrestrial samples we have," quoted Ryan Ogliore, an associate professor of physics in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. "The beads are tiny, pristine capsules of the lunar interior," Ogliore added. This orange glass is a type of volcanic glass found particularly in the Taurus-Littrow valley, where Apollo 17 landed, researchers revealed after studying small details. They used advanced technologies that were not available earlier, such as atom probe tomography, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. "We've had these samples for 50 years, but we now have the technology to fully understand them. Many of these instruments would have been unimaginable when the beads were first collected," Ogliore added. The findings of the study, led by Thomas Williams, Stephen Parman and Alberto Saal from Brown University, were published in Icarus. Each bead is less than 1mm across and contains elements like iron, magnesium and titanium. Scientists revealed that they were formed when magma was ejected during volcanic eruptions and rapidly cooled. "The very existence of these beads tells us the moon had explosive eruptions, something like the fire fountains you can see in Hawaii today," he said.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
How Nest turned a $24,000 idea into a global movement supporting women artisans
In 2005, Rebecca van Bergen was a graduate student in social work at Washington University when she won $24,000 in a school innovation contest. That seed money sparked the creation of Nest Inc., a nonprofit that empowers women artisans globally by providing training, funding, and market access. From its modest beginnings, Nest has grown into a force in the artisan economy. It now supports creators in 125 countries and 47 U.S. states, helping women transition from informal craft work to sustainable business ownership. Nest's network includes around 3,000 handcraft businesses and has reached more than 345,000 entrepreneurs — mainly women — with grants and coaching on skills like pricing and financial management. 'Most people still have an aunt or grandmother who knits or crochets or made them clothes,' van Bergen said. 'It's still pretty deeply embedded in our societies. It's income-generating, and it also preserves cultures.' Van Bergen's first break came in 2010 when Nest partnered with FEED Projects, fashion designer Lauren Bush's social enterprise. That relationship opened doors to collaborations with Amazon, Etsy, and West Elm. Over the years, Nest's mission has attracted support from funders like the Oak and Moody's foundations — as well retailers like Tory Burch and now totaling 25 companies, which purchase and sell the artists' goods. From an initial team of two, Nest has grown to 33 staff members, with net assets of $6 million and annual revenue of $7.2 million in 2025 — nearly double its 2019 revenue. It doesn't take a cut of artisan sales, relying instead on grants, program service revenue, fundraising events, and individual donations. The organization has received more than $10 million in grant funding since 2017, according to tax information from Cause IQ, which collects nonprofit data. Domestic expansion In recent years, Nest has expanded domestically, providing funds and training artists in all but three U.S. states. Among the artisans is Stef Ratliff, who was born and raised in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky. She creates custom pottery and art through her KYARTRAT business. Though she had painted trophies for the Americana Music Awards for more than a decade — and created a custom guitar for Grace Bowers at this year's Grammys — Ratliff struggled to run a sustainable business until joining Nest and working as a community manager identifying Appalachian artists. 'I did a business consultation program with them (that) focused on marketing,' she said. 'It taught me I can make the greatest pot or painting of all time, but if I don't present them in the right light, no one is going to see them properly.' Working with Nest and connecting to Etsy through a joint program called Uplift Makers was fundamental to setting up an Etsy shop for KYARTRAT, Ratliff said. 'We're all reaching new customers through Etsy,' she said, referring to Nest's eastern Kentucky group of 100 artisans. 'That's huge for Appalachia,' Ratliff said. 'I would never have thought to sell my pottery through Etsy because I felt like a lot of people don't really care about southern stories and Appalachian stories. I didn't think they really cared about history.' Preserving craft, creating markets Nest's mission is rooted in van Bergen's own experience watching her grandmother and great-grandmother sew and quilt. The organization focuses on traditional crafts like basket weaving, ceramics, and candle-making, which are both income-generating and culturally meaningful. Globally, the handcraft market is valued at $906.8 billion and a vital source of employment, especially for women, according to the data service Research and Markets. Nest helps artisans tap into this market by connecting them to brands like GAP, Ralph Lauren, Target, and Amazon. In 2021, Nest partnered with Etsy to launch the Uplift Makers Program to support six heritage craft communities, including Gullah basket weavers from South Carolina, quilt makers from the Gee's Bend area of Alabama's rural Black Belt region, Afghan refugee craft business owners throughout the United States, Indigenous artisans from the United States and Canada, artisans from Oaxaca, Mexico, and craft makers from Appalachia. Etsy supported the Gee's Bend quilters with a $50,000 grant and has since helped over 140 U.S. artisans generate more than $1 million in sales. Recently, Nest received a $300,000 grant from the Mastercard Impact Fund to bolster its work with Appalachian artisans. Meeting the moment Nest has adapted to economic shifts and policy changes over the years. During the pandemic, it prioritized financial literacy and business development. Now, it's monitoring global trade policies — like tariffs — that could affect both artists and their retail partners. Nest intentionally chose not to pursue microlending, which was popular among development groups in the early 2000s but sometimes left borrowers in debt. Instead, the organization focuses on partnerships with groups like Indego Africa, which works with over 700 artisans in Ghana and Rwanda. That partnership has helped connect Ghanaian craftswomen to retailers like Tory Burch, which sells their hand-woven straw tote bags for close to $500. 'Those partnerships are super valuable, both to us and to our partners, because the size of those orders tends to be quite large. It could be anywhere from 300 items to 1,500 items,' said Sara Wohlers, Indego Africa's director of marketing and communications. 'That creates a lot of consistent work for our partners, and consistent income.' Empowering rural U.S. artisans As Nest shifts to more U.S.-focused work, it is helping women who face similar economic barriers. Among them is Cynthia Main, a Kentucky-based woodworker who has participated in Nest's Makers Future Fund, a program that provides professional coaching with a $5,000 grant. Main owns Sunhouse Craft, where she sells handmade brooms, dustpans, and other goods. Despite Berea's status as Kentucky's folk arts capital, its economy has suffered from industrial closures and persistent poverty — nearly 1 in 5 residents lives below the poverty line. Main said Nest helped her overcome many financial and retail obstacles and build a broader client base for her products. She used her $5,000 grant to attend her first wholesale trade show in New York. That exposure helped double her company's annual profits, from $120,000 to more than $240,000. 'I just think the work that Nest is doing is so important,' Main said. 'I can't stress enough how being in a rural place, there's not a lot of help, or a lot of people who understand the uniqueness of a handmade business, and their advice has been so spot on.' ______ Stephanie Beasley is a senior writer at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, where you can read the full article. This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists track 25 years of submicron air pollution particles across US skies
Air pollution is a serious and often underestimated health threat in the U.S. It is linked to over 50,000 premature deaths each year. Tiny particles in the air, like PM2.5, can get embedded into a person's lungs and bloodstream, leading to chronic heart and lung problems. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter that is smaller than 2.5 micron. While scientists have studied these particles for decades, far less is known about PM1— even smaller at under 1 micron—whose effect on human health could be equally lethal, if not more. A new study from Washington University in St. Louis, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, has mapped 25 years of PM1 air pollution across the United States. The findings offer a starting point for identifying which pollutants regulators should target to improve public health. The research also builds on the university's expertise in satellite sensing and atmospheric modeling. According to Chi Li, research assistant professor at the university's Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group and lead author of the study, the new estimates will help researchers better understand the impact of submicron particles. These tiny particles often come from direct emissions, like black carbon from diesel engines or smoke from wildfires. They can also form indirectly when pollutants such as sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides are released from fuel combustion and coal burning. Rather than being made of a single substance, air particles are usually mixtures of various materials layered together. Li noted that larger particles are often dominated by components like mineral dust, which are more difficult to regulate or reduce. The researchers estimated PM1 levels by analyzing the known composition of PM2.5 particles, which include seven main components such as sulfate, nitrate, and mineral dust. By combining these elements, the team was able to calculate PM1 concentrations across the US. The study lays the groundwork for deeper analysis of where these tiny particles tend to concentrate, how they form, and what impacts they have on both human health and the environment. PM1 pollution particles may be more harmful because they can penetrate deeper into the body, slipping past natural defenses. These submicron particles are at least six times smaller than a blood cell. According to Jay Turner, the James McKelvey Professor of Engineering Education and co-author of the study, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first set air quality standards for fine particulate matter in 1997, there was significant debate over whether to regulate PM1 or PM2.5. Due to limited health impact research on PM1 compared to PM2.5, the EPA chose to focus on PM2.5. However, the new dataset revealed encouraging insights: pollution regulation has significantly reduced PM1 levels across the contiguous U.S. from 1998 to 2022, largely due to environmental policies like the Clean Air Act. But this progress has slowed since 2010, mainly because of increasing wildfire activity. Although countries like China have gotten a head start in tracking PM1, U.S. can catch up with the help of this comprehensive nationwide dataset. The next step will entail collaboration with epidemiologists to assess how exposure to these tiny particles relates to various health outcomes.
