Language can be deceptive, especially misnomers : words that don’t accurately describe what they refer to. For example, dry cleaning does in fact use liquid solvents, just as pea nuts  are actually legumes and koala bears are actually marsupials. Some misnomers  may be relatively harmless, but language can also be used to influence perceptions or mislead the public. In those cases, we run the risk of overlooking key issues or making choices based on inaccurate perceptions, so

Data Centers are large facilities containing computer servers used for data storage, data analytics, generative AI, and streaming services. Data centers represent health risks for their neighbors. These risks are especially high from hyperscale data centers powered by fossil fuels, such as those proposed for some parts of Pennsylvania . Listed below are some of the top problems data centers impose on nearby communities.     Noise Pollution Data centers cause noise pollution

For a more consolidated presentation of this information to share with concerned stakeholders, check out this fact sheet , which is free to use and distribute. According to a 2017 analysis, half of all the plastic ever produced  was created between 2000 and 2015. Further analysis indicates that this number is likely an underestimation , and plastic production has continued to grow in the meantime, outpacing the rate of effective waste management. While plastic recycling progr

As greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, raise global temperatures, the climate zones that contain the spread of certain diseases are becoming more fluid. Consequently, pathogens that thrive in warmer climates are spreading to new territories and putting more people at risk for infectious diseases. Let’s take a look at some of the effects global climate change may have on vector ecologies and the spread of new diseases among ill-prepared communities.   What is

Pipelines and compressor stations leak. In fact, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration recorded 27,175 incidents in 2025 .  But did you know that routine maintenance of shale gas infrastructure releases dangerous emissions too?   Pipeline Maintenance Pipelines transport petroleum products, shale gas, and even carbon dioxide from extraction sites to processing plants and, eventually, end-users. Owing to the volatile nature of the materials transported in p