PFAS-contaminated fertilizer from biosolids is causing severe health issues for farmers and livestock in Johnson County, Texas, with investigation findings showing dangerous contamination levels. The fertilizer, produced by Synagro from municipal wastewater-treated sewage sludge, contained high levels of PFAS chemicals that affected soil, water sources, and caused animal deaths. Environmental experts warn this is a national crisis threatening the U.S. food supply, with calls for federal regulation of PFAS in biosolids.
A job seekers sharing format guideline for professional networking and employment opportunities. The format includes essential fields like location, remote preferences, relocation willingness, technical skills, CV details, and contact information. Direct communication is restricted to genuine job seekers and employers.
Hiring guidelines for job postings, emphasizing location requirements (REMOTE/ONSITE), direct company hiring without recruiters, and active position filling commitments. Links to job search tools and related hiring threads are provided for enhanced job seeking efficiency.
The Department of Defense is terminating numerous grants under the Minerva Research Initiative, which funds social science research for national security. Dozens of researchers studying topics like violent extremism, disinformation, and climate change threats have had their funding cut, signaling a possible end to the 15-year-old program. The initiative's $46.8 million funding supported crucial research on security challenges, from AI applications to drug cartels.
Cornell University announces an immediate hiring pause across all positions due to financial uncertainties and potential federal funding cuts. A new position control process requires all hiring requests to be evaluated as mission-critical by deans and vice presidents, with final approval from a central committee reporting to the provost. The pause affects all employment types including staff, faculty, contractors, and temporary appointments.
A Department of Energy (DOGE) employee Jordan Wick has been publicly sharing sensitive work-related code on GitHub, including a Twitter DM downloader and geospatial data analysis tools for undersea cables and critical minerals.
Government access to personal data through tech giants has dramatically increased, with Meta, Google, and Apple sharing details of 3.16 million accounts over the past decade. The US government made nearly 500,000 data requests to Google and Meta in the last measured 12 months, exceeding all other 14 Eyes Alliance members combined. These companies' business models prevent them from implementing strong privacy protections, as they rely heavily on user tracking for revenue.
DOGE's widespread disruption of federal agencies has resulted in significant staffing cuts, program terminations, and institutional knowledge loss across multiple sectors. The organization's actions have impacted critical areas including cybersecurity, scientific research, social services, and international aid programs. The consequences of these cuts are expected to have long-lasting effects on government operations and public services.
A key FDA advisory panel meeting for selecting next winter's flu vaccine strains has been unexpectedly canceled, raising concerns about US vaccine policy effectiveness and decision-making processes. The cancellation's implications could impact vaccine preparation timelines and public health readiness for the upcoming flu season.
A massive power outage in Chile affected 8 million homes across 14 regions, disrupting transportation, internet, and mobile services. The government declared a state of emergency and implemented a curfew while investigating the cause of the blackout, which stemmed from a disrupted high-voltage transmission line. By Wednesday, 90% of affected areas had power restored, though 220,000 customers remained without electricity.