DC Bureau - Investigative Journalism, Environmental News, and National Security Stories That Matter

Worldwide phytoplankton levels are down 40 percent since the 1950s, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The likely cause is global warming, which makes it hard for the plant plankton to get vital nutrients, say researchers who described their results as both staggering and disturbing.

The hydroxyl radical packs a powerful oxidative punch in the atmosphere, but chemists don't fully understand its chemistry in your home or office. The reactive species may produce irritants and play a role in "sick building syndrome." Now researchers report the first measurements of hydroxyl radicals in two real-life indoor settings.