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A plump larva the length of a paper clip can survive on the material that makes Styrofoam. The organism, commonly called a “superworm,” could transform the way waste managers dispose of one of the most common components in landfills, researchers said, potentially slowing a mounting garbage crisis that is exacerbating climate change. In a paper released last week in the journal of Microbial Genomics, scientists from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, showed that the larvae of a darkling beetle, called zophobas morio, can survive solely on polystyrene, commonly called Styrofoam. The findings come amid a flurry of research...

Pipe bombs were left outside the Republican and Democratic headquarters The buildings, just blocks from each other, are less than half a mile from Capitol FBI released image of hooded suspect, wearing mask and gloves carrying object Comes after 81 arrested over riots at Capitol Wednesday which left five dead - another 36 suspects are being sought over vandalism, looting and inciting riot The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information about pipe bombs which were discovered at the Republican and Democratic committee headquarters in DC. The agency released an image today of a hooded suspect wearing a mask,...

The MAGA rioter who put his feet up on Nancy Pelosi's desk has been arrested along with a man who brought 11 Molotov cocktails, two handguns and an assault rifle to the Capitol on Wednesday. The DoJ announced on a call with reporters on Friday afternoon that 15 people had been charged including Richard Barnett, 60, who was seen putting his feet on Speaker Pelosi's desk and leaving a threatening note on it on Wednesday. Barnett, who proudly referred to himself as a white nationalist on social media, was charged with unlawful entry. He was taken into custody at his...

Maine has become the first state to ban single-use food and drink containers made from polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill into law Tuesday. The Natural Resources Council of Maine says Maine’s the first state to enact such a ban. […] Supporters say the law will reduce litter in lakes, rivers and coastal waters. It takes effect in 2021. …

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WTVD) -- McDonald's worker Yasmine James remains on leave after a brawl with a customer, allegedly about a straw, was caught on camera. The viral video shows the customer, Daniel Taylor, reach over the counter and grab James by the shirt. James responded by punching Taylor several times. He is facing battery charges. James said she's not physically hurt, but emotionally scarred after being left to defend herself. "I didn't have any control over my body when he grabbed me," James said. "Like, I'm scared. Like, why are you grabbing me? I just didn't understand his intentions."...

City to ban foam takeout, delivery food containers in environmentally friendly push The ban, which will start July 1, covers foam take-out containers, packing peanuts and plastic cups. New Yorkers’ beloved foam takeout and delivery food containers will soon be products of a bygone era. Mayor de Blasio — finishing off an initiative begun by his predecessor — will announce a ban on the environmentally unfriendly material Thursday, according to The New York Times. The ban will start July 1 and cover foam packing peanuts as well as plastic foam cups and takeout containers. City Hall declined to comment when...

In early November, the Albany County legislature voted 24-12 to forbid the use of styrofoam containers by county businesses with more than 15 locations nationally and at least one locally. Yesterday, it was signed into law. This bill thus allows the continued usage of styrofoam by the majority of Albany businesses, but responds to an apparent wave of Albany County citizen displeasure with the menace of local corporations with at least 14 locations nationally and at least one locally that maybe sell soup. […] Of course, New York State will suffer an immediate economic hit. In addition to the extra...

New York City Major Michael Bloomberg is claiming one more casualty before he officially ends his reign as overreaching “Nanny,” with the City Council debating a ban on plastic-foam takeout containers. The City Council’s sanitation committee is gearing up for a hearing on the future of the takeout containers set to take place Monday, The Associated Press reported. Members of the board are contemplating proposals to either ban the containers outright or explore options to recycle them.

It becomes a difficult task for those in power to resist the lure of acquiring even more power. The more they have, the more they want. No such example exists greater than that of New York City mayor-king Michael Bloomberg. This is the man who brought into existence the absurd and absurdly named National Salt Reduction Initiative, an incentive-based program designed to reduce the amount of salt in restaurant and prepackaged food. This is the man who, last year, banned the sale of sugary drinks, like sodas, in more than 16-oz containers. Why? Because what’s good for Bloomberg is what’s...

Autocracy: Still pulsing with the power from outlawing big servings of sweet drinks, Michael Bloomberg now wants to run Styrofoam out of his city. Clearly, he believes that everyone has to live exactly as he wants them to live. During Thursday's State of the City address, New York Mayor Bloomberg called for a ban on Styrofoam food packaging. It's all a part of his crusade to eliminate smoking, sugary drinks, salt and other items he doesn't like — and, hence, thinks no one else should have. So what comes next, Mr. Mayor? What's the target after Styrofoam? Beef? Eggs? Cheese?...

We all saw it coming and now it’s happening — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is going to announce an official ban on styrofoam containers in his State of the City address today. Just to clarify once again, uppercase Styrofam is a trademarked product used in insulation, while what we all know as styrofoam is really extruded polystyrene. Moving on! The ban on styrofoam is part of a larger program the mayor has planned for his last year in office, which will also include more recycling, a curbside food-composting pilot program and more electric vehicles cruising the city streets. His...

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has fought against smoking, big sugary drinks and salty food during his tenure, is setting his sights on a new foe: Styrofoam. Bloomberg plans to use part of his Thursday State of the City address to push for a ban on Styrofoam food packaging. He also will call for initiatives that would increase the number of parking spaces for electric cars and begin recycling more plastics and food waste "One product that is virtually impossible to recycle and never bio-degrades is Styrofoam ... something that we know is environmentally destructive and that may...

Dems: Congress's Styrofoam cups could cause cancer By Jordan Fabian - 03/08/11 11:04 AM ET A group of Democrats complain Styrofoam cups in the House cafeteria could contain carcinogens. In a letter to Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) and other Republican leaders, the nine Democrats say the Styrofoam cups and other dining materials could hold chemical components that could cause cancer. The Democrats are upset with the switch to Styrofoam from recyclable materials put into place when Democrats ran the House. The letter asks Boehner to reconsider the switch away from recyclable to polystyrene-based foam containers, and warns that the health...

Dems: Congress's Styrofoam cups could cause cancer A group of Democrats complain Styrofoam cups in the House cafeteria could contain carcinogens. In a letter to Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) and other Republican leaders, the nine Democrats say the Styrofoam cups and other dining materials could hold chemical components that could cause cancer. The Democrats are upset with the switch to Styrofoam from recyclable materials put into place when Democrats ran the House. The letter asks Boehner to reconsider the switch away from recyclable to polystyrene-based foam containers, and warns that the health of visitors to the Capitol could be compromised.

When Barack Obama delivered his 44-minute acceptance speech in August among the majestic columns of Denver, it was apparent his would be an expansive presidency. Some wondered whether his solutions for a very long list of problems was too ambitious. On Tuesday, before Congress, he made clear across 52 minutes that the economic downturn would not deflect him from his Denver vision...

OAKLAND, Calif. -- A proposed strategy for reducing ocean litter calls for a statewide ban on foam food containers, fees for using plastic and paper bags, and making producers responsible for the collection and disposal of packaging. The California Ocean Protection Council announced its plans (PDF [319KB]) earlier this month and voted on actions for preventing and reducing waste that could end up in the ocean. The state council also aims to change producer and consumer behavior with its three recommendations for reducing packaging waste: adopting extended producer responsibility, prohibiting certain items and charging fees for items that commonly become...

WASHINGTON -- Conservatives, who reputedly have lumps of coal where their hearts should be, have fallen in love. So have many people who are not doctrinal conservatives. The world is a sweeter place because Sarah Palin has increased the quantity of love, but this is not a reliable foundation for John McCain's campaign. The tech bubble was followed by the housing bubble, which has been topped by the Palin bubble. Bubbles will always be with us, because irrational exuberance always will be. Its symptom is the assumption that old limits have yielded to undreamt-of possibilities: The Dow will always rise,...

Monday was one of the most unusual days I have experienced on the campaign trail to date. The looming hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico turned months of planning for the GOP Convention upside down and last minute changes were being made due to the storm. We were all very concerned for the entire region. I love New Orleans and I can't even imagine how difficult it must have been for those residents to once again be displaced by the evacuations. What made this day bearable for me was having my entire family together - something that rarely happens with...

Immortal Styrofoam Meets its Enemy By Robert Roy Britt LiveScience Managing Editor posted: 07 March 2006 09:27 am ET There's an old joke that if you were reincarnated, you might want to come back as a Styrofoam cup. Why? Because they last forever. Ba-dum-bum. Despite being made 95 percent of air, Styrofoam's manufactured immortality has posed a problem for recycling efforts. More than 3 million tons of the durable material is produced every year in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Very little of it is recycled. Help may come from bacteria that have been found...