Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants – substances or forms of energy – into the natural environment that cause harm. While it can occur naturally, pollution typically refers to human-caused sources such as industrial activity, transportation, agriculture, or waste mismanagement. It includes air, water, soil, noise, light, thermal, radioactive, and plastic pollution, among others. Pollution has wide-ranging effects on ecosystems and human health, contributing to biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and increased mortality, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Image: Rustic Cooking on Open Flame
Study finds widespread burning of plastic for cooking and heatingScience

Study finds widespread burning of plastic for cooking and heating

Research sheds new light on the prevalence of burning plastic as an everyday energy source, uncovering serious international health, social equality and environmental concerns Summary:…
SourceSourceJanuary 11, 2026 Full article
Graphic news (s. climate, science, nature)
France pushes back plastic cup ban by four yearsNews

France pushes back plastic cup ban by four years

Paris, France | AFP The French government on Tuesday postponed a ban on plastic throwaway cups by four years to 2030 because of difficulties finding alternatives.…
SourceSourceDecember 30, 2025 Full article
Image: Refuel, Petrol, Fuel (s. oil demand)
EU weakens 2035 combustion-engine ban to boost car industryNews

EU weakens 2035 combustion-engine ban to boost car industry

Brussels, Belgium | AFP The EU on Tuesday walked back a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars seen as a milestone in the fight…
SourceSourceDecember 16, 2025 Full article
Image: AI art of Earth - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: December 15, 2025Science

Climate Science Digest: December 15, 2025

Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press roundup (December 15, 2025), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges. In brief:…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskDecember 15, 2025 Full article
Graphic news (s. climate, science, research, scientists. emission targets, floods, environment)
Vietnam’s capital chokes through week of toxic smogNews

Vietnam’s capital chokes through week of toxic smog

Hanoi, Vietnam | AFP Toxic smog has blanketed Vietnam's capital for more than a week, blotting out the skyline and leaving residents wheezing as Hanoi's air…
SourceSourceDecember 11, 2025 Full article
Image: Recycling symbol and environmental balance (AI Gen.)
How air travel and renewable power differ in their air quality impactsClimate

How air travel and renewable power differ in their air quality impacts

Cutting air travel and purchasing renewable energy can lead to different effects on overall air quality, even while achieving the same CO₂ reduction, new research…
SourceSourceDecember 9, 2025 Full article
Satellite Image: Hurricane Harvey near its peak intensity while approaching Texas on August 25, 2017
Toxic floods heighten climate anxiety in vulnerable communitiesScience

Toxic floods heighten climate anxiety in vulnerable communities

Major storms are spreading industrial contaminants across entire neighborhoods, raising concerns about future well-being, especially in communities of color, according to new research from Rice…
SourceSourceDecember 2, 2025 Full article
Image: white bird, plastic pollution, beach
How climate change intensifies the dangers of microplastic pollutionClimate

How climate change intensifies the dangers of microplastic pollution

Increased toxicity from plastic pollution in a warmer climate is highly likely to be affecting whole ecosystems, with potentially disproportionate impacts on apex predators such…
SourceSourceNovember 30, 2025 Full article
Satellite Image: Huelva estuary, Spain
Image of the day: Colours shaped by the Huelva estuaryNews

Image of the day: Colours shaped by the Huelva estuary

The colours shaped by the Huelva estuary form a distinctive pattern along the southwest coast of Spain, where the Tinto and Odiel rivers converge before…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskNovember 29, 2025 Full article
Image: Thousands of people gather in the southern Tunisian city of Gabes to demand the closure of a chemical plant
Thousands gather to urge closure of Tunisia chemical plantNews

Thousands gather to urge closure of Tunisia chemical plant

Gabes, Tunisia | AFP Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Gabes in southern Tunisia on Friday, calling for the closure of facilities at an ageing chemical factory…
SourceSourceOctober 31, 2025 Full article
Image: AI art of Earth - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: October 30, 2025Science

Climate Science Digest: October 30, 2025

Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press daily roundup (October 30, 2025), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges. In…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskOctober 30, 2025 Full article
Image: medicine, pills, medicaments
Wastewater plants fail to remove common drugsScience

Wastewater plants fail to remove common drugs

Common antidepressants, antibiotics and allergy drugs are being discharged into waterways, as conventional treatment fails to remove them Summary: Municipal wastewater treatment plants are failing…
SourceSourceOctober 13, 2025 Full article
Image: AI art of Earth - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: October 1, 2025Science

Climate Science Digest: October 1, 2025

Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press daily roundup (October 1, 2025), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges. In…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskOctober 1, 2025 Full article
Sunset over Oil Platform
Heatwaves worsened by major carbon producersClimate

Heatwaves worsened by major carbon producers

In brief: According to ETH Zurich climate researchers, greenhouse gas emissions from major fossil fuel and cement producers are significant contributors to the occurrence and…
SourceSourceSeptember 19, 2025 Full article
Satellite Image: Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland
UK’s largest lake ‘dying’ as algae blooms worsenNews

UK’s largest lake ‘dying’ as algae blooms worsen

Ballyronan, United Kingdom | AFP | Muser NewsDesk For the third year running toxic blue-green algae blooms that look like pea soup and smell like rotten…
SourceSourceSeptember 15, 2025 Full article
Image: AI art of Earth - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: September 6, 2025Science

Climate Science Digest: September 6, 2025

Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press daily roundup (September 6, 2025), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges. In…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskSeptember 6, 2025 Full article
Satellite Image: Lake Suchitlan, El Salvador
Image of the day: Lake Suchitlan covered by invasive water lettuceNews

Image of the day: Lake Suchitlan covered by invasive water lettuce

World Lake Day was marked on 27 August with a reminder of the challenges facing lakes worldwide, including El Salvador’s Lake Suchitlan. Once known for…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskAugust 27, 2025 Full article
Image: tourists in Antarctica
Surging tourism is polluting Antarctica, scientists warnScience

Surging tourism is polluting Antarctica, scientists warn

Santiago, Chile | AFP | Muser NewsDesk Soaring numbers of tourists and expanding research projects are increasingly polluting Antarctica, scientists warned Wednesday, a fresh blow for…
SourceSourceAugust 21, 2025 Full article
Image: Large amount of plastic bottles in a cage
Plastic pollution treaty talks end without dealNews

Plastic pollution treaty talks end without deal

Talks aimed at striking a landmark treaty on tackling the scourge of plastic pollution ended Friday with no consensus on a last-ditch proposal aimed at…
SourceSourceAugust 15, 2025 Full article
Graphic news (s. climate, science, research, scientists. emission targets, floods, environment)
Last chance saloon for global plastic pollution treatyNews

Last chance saloon for global plastic pollution treaty

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP Negotiators trying to secure a global agreement on tackling the scourge of plastic pollution have less than 24 hours to salvage a…
SourceSourceAugust 14, 2025 Full article
Image: Plastic pollution. bird, environment
Momentum sagging at UN plastic pollution treaty talksNews

Momentum sagging at UN plastic pollution treaty talks

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP Talks on forging a landmark treaty to combat the scourge of plastic pollution were stumbling Saturday, with progress slow and countries wildly…
SourceSourceAugust 10, 2025 Full article
Plastic pollution - oceans
UN starts new bid to forge plastics treaty amid ‘global crisis’News

UN starts new bid to forge plastics treaty amid ‘global crisis’

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP Nations must step up and resolve the global plastics crisis, the head of UN talks told negotiators from 180 countries gathered in…
SourceSourceAugust 5, 2025 Full article
Image: Turn off the plastic tap
UN Plastics Treaty: Will the negotiations in Geneva finally achieve a breakthrough?News

UN Plastics Treaty: Will the negotiations in Geneva finally achieve a breakthrough?

From 5 to 14 August, representatives from over 170 countries as well as from science, civil society and industry are meeting in Switzerland continuing the…
SourceSourceAugust 4, 2025 Full article
Image: AI art of Earth - climate change effects (s. science, climate, Muser)
Climate Science Digest: July 28, 2025Science

Climate Science Digest: July 28, 2025

Explore the latest insights from top science journals in the Muser Press daily roundup (July 28, 2025), featuring impactful research on climate change challenges. In…
Muser NewsDeskMuser NewsDeskJuly 28, 2025 Full article