Tracking health threats, one sewage sample at a time
Researchers in Virginia Beach, Va., show how they test wastewater for signs of COVID-19, and how they're preparing to look for other health threats.
sanitation
Flying toilets! Sobering stats! Poo Guru's debut! Yes, it's time for World Toilet Day
November 19 is World Toilet Day, created by the U.N. in 2013. At issue: Billions of people do not have access to a safe toilet. But how do you get the world to pay attention to this forgotten problem?
Typhoid mutated to beat antibiotics. Science is learning how to beat those strains
The ancient disease is still a killer. And even though there are new drugs, there's a growing rate of antibiotic-resistance cases. Here's a look at the latest strategies to tame typhoid.
It's World Toilet Day! Time for quirky signs (thanks, readers) ... and serious talk
Let's take time off from pondering the pandemic to enjoy some toilet humor courtesy of signage sent in by our audience — and also to think about how lucky we are if we have a safe toilet.
Weeks-Old Garbage Is Stinking Up New Orleans. Residents Had A Trash Parade In Protest
In New Orleans, some residents are still living with the trash from Hurricane Ida, more than three weeks after the storm. Residents and city officials are outraged at the delays in trash pickups.
'Waste' Activist Digs Into The Sanitation Crisis Affecting The Rural Poor
In 2017, a study reported one in three people in one rural Alabama county had been exposed to hookworm. Catherine Coleman Flowers says the study reveals big gaps in sanitation in rural America.
The New Coronavirus Can Live On Surfaces For 2-3 Days — Here's How To Clean Them
A new study measured the life span of the novel coronavirus on surfaces. Here's what they found, plus expert advice for cleaning the stuff you touch.
Toilet Signs Give The Scoop On Pee And Poop
In honor of World Toilet Day, here is a sampling of toilet etiquette signage. It's hard to argue with advice like: "Please use a toilet finely."
Even Researchers Were Shocked By How Tough Life Is For Sanitation Workers
In lower-income countries, snakes, cow carcasses and collapsing walls are among the hazards faced by this critical but long-ignored group of workers.
In Rome, Uncollected Trash Festers In Scorching Heat
Doctors have warned of health risks from tons of garbage rotting in the Italian capital's streets during the summer's hot spells.