Analysis reveals composition of mysterious black balls on beaches
An environmental agency says black balls that washed up on Sydney beaches aren't tar, but a "complex composition" of "mixed waste."
Pollution
Finalist for Prince William's Earthshot Prize already brightening lives
See how one of the 15 finalists for Prince William's 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards is already helping people live their dreams.
Mysterious white blobs washing up on Canadian beaches stump experts
White blobs of "a mystery substance" dotting beaches across Canada's far northeast Newfoundland and Labrador province spark an investigation.
"Mysterious black balls" close 2 popular beaches in Australia
A local mayor says the balls littering two beaches in the Sydney area could be "tar balls," which form when spilled oil clumps together with debris in the water.
Where plastic pollution ends up
The world is struggling to manage growing piles of plastic waste, and a new report is bringing to light the problem of burning plastics. Annually, the world produces 440 million tons of plastic each year, but the majority of plastic is often tossed in the trash. CBS News senior national and environmental correspondent Ben Tracy has more.
LEGO to scale up use of renewable plastics in its bricks
The legacy toy company is increasing the certified renewable or recycled materials that go into its bricks in an effort to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
Seine river pollution delays Olympic men's triathlon
Runoff from heavy rain in Paris has left the Seine river unsafe for swimming, risking the schedule of 2024 Olympic events slated for the iconic waterway.
India lost its vultures, and scientists say humans have paid the price
Scientists say a common painkiller used on cattle wiped out India's vultures, resulting in half a million human deaths in just 5 years.
Canadians worry a U.S. company may be emitting toxic gas into their air
Residents of a Toronto suburb tell CBS News they're worried a U.S. company may be emitting a cancer-causing gas in their community.
Paris mayor goes for a swim to show Seine river safe for the Olympics
Mayor Anne Hidalgo declared the Seine river "exquisite" after taking a long-promised dip to show its water is safe for the Paris Olympics.
Critics call out plastics industry over "fraud of plastic recycling"
Only 5 to 6% of plastic waste produced in the U.S. is actually recycled. A new report accuses the plastics industry of a decades-long campaign to "mislead" the public about the viability of recycling.
Seine remains contaminated ahead of Olympics
A nasty controversy is brewing in Olympic waters with one month until the Paris opening ceremony. Les Carpenter, Olympics reporter for The Washington Post, joins CBS News to explain why the city's iconic Seine River is still falling short of the requirements needed before athletes dive in.
Parisians threaten to poop in the Seine to protest pollution ahead of Olympics
"Because after putting us in sh*t it's up to them to bathe in our sh*t," a website for the protest says.
How dangerous are microplastics?
A large amount of human-produced plastic waste degrades into microplastics: small particles that linger in the environment and can be consumed by animals and people. Microplastics spread through water, air, and even the human bloodstream. Matthew Campen, director of the University of New Mexico's Center for Metals in Biology and Medicine, joins CBS News to explain the possible health risks from microplastic exposure.
How drug pollution is threatening animals
A new study from 17 international scientists found that active pharmaceutical ingredients -- the part of medications that help make them effective -- are having increasingly negative impacts on animals and ecosystems across the world. The authors are calling on drug makers to design more sustainable products with environmental impacts in mind. Karen Kidd, one of the study's authors, joins CBS News to unpack the findings.
Study: Pollution poses global health threat
A new report says pollution is a greater global health threat than war, terrorism, addiction or disease. According to data from a coalition of researchers, pollution was responsible for 8.8 million premature deaths between 2015 and 2022. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder joins to unpack the findings.
Map shows "forever chemical" water contamination hotspots worldwide
Study finds cancer-linked PFAS chemicals prevalent in drinking water sources across the globe, including many far over regulatory limits.
Worst U.S. cities for air pollution ranked by lung association
This 2024 "State of the Air" report warns efforts to reduce emissions are undermined by extreme heat, drought and wildfires caused by climate change.
Tire toxicity faces fresh scrutiny after salmon die-offs
Tires emit huge volumes of particles and chemicals as they roll along the highway, and researchers are only beginning to understand the threat. One byproduct of tire use, 6PPD-q, is in regulators' crosshairs after it was found to be killing fish.
Group says Paris Olympics swimmers facing "alarming levels" of bacteria
A water charity says it has found "alarming levels" of dangerous bacteria in the Seine River just months before the Paris Olympics.
EPA sets strict emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses
Officials said the standards will help clean up some of the nation's largest sources of planet-warming greenhouse gases.
Supreme Court seems skeptical of EPA's "good neighbor" rule on air pollution
The Supreme Court's conservative majority appears skeptical of the federal government's argument that the Environmental Protection Agency should be allowed to continue enforcing its anti-air-pollution rule in 11 states.
1 in 4 Americans breathes bad air today — and it's getting worse
Air quality is worsening across much of the U.S., exposing millions of people to health problems and threatening the U.S. economy.
Do nanoplastics carry health risks?
An average liter of bottled water contains nearly a quarter-million pieces of nanoplastic, according to a new study. Microplastics researcher Jaime Ross joins CBS News to talk about how these tiny fragments may affect the body.
Millions of tiny plastics flood Spain's coast after falling from ship
Dozens of 55-pound bags of the tiny plastic pellets known as nurdles, which are known to be a major source of microplastic pollution, have washed up in northwest Spain in recent weeks.
Co-pilot stabs pilot, tries to crash passenger jet en route to Israel, Netanyahu says
Hegseth says he's cutting generals and admirals by 20%, ousting "woke"
Details emerge in case of former Cornell student alleging rape by frat members
Live
Iran says it's considering ceasefire counterproposal
Investigation
Stats don't support Flock's claim of solving 1 million crimes
Election denier Kurt Olsen steps down from "grand conspiracy" case
Passengers recount terrifying attempted hijack of Dubai-to-Israel flight
ASU hockey coach put on leave after player collapsed during workout
