Category Archives: Science/Nature

Science/Nature

Space shuttle equipment

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By: Yohan Lee

What is the space shuttle? The space shuttle was the first reusable spacecraft and since it could be flown again it helped reduce the cost of each launch. It could take off in a vertical take off and could land like a plane.

The space shuttle was built by NASA and during earlier space missions such as the Apollo program, NASA had to build 15 different Saturn V rockets. But for the space shuttle, NASA only had to build 5.

The first space shuttle launch was on April 12, 1981 and the final landing was on July 21, 2011. The space shuttle fleet flew over 135 missions. Some of the space shuttles are in museums in California, New York, Florida, and Washington D.C.

In early 2011 you could see the space shuttle on top of a 747 before it was retired.

Here are some of the technical specifics of the space shuttle.

COMPONENTS

Orbiter:

In the cabin it contained living quarters, workstations, and controls for up to seven astronauts. The space shuttle had a payload bay for carrying satellites, scientific equipment, and components for the International Space Station. The payload could be found on top of the space shuttle. There were three powerful engines used during liftoff, fueled by the external tank.

Thermal Protection System:

The Thermal Protection System was made of heat resistant tiles and blankets that protected the orbiter from the heat during reentry.

Canadarm:

A Canadarm is a long robot arm and it was used for manipulating payloads, assembling structures in orbit, and capturing satellites.

External Tank:

The External Tank was the huge orange fuel tank located at the bottom of the space shuttle. It was made out of an aluminum-lithium alloy to minimize weight. It was used to fuel the space shuttle during its launch into space, then it would detach from the space shuttle and burn up in the atmosphere.

Solid Rocket Boosters:

The Solid Rocket Boosters are the long white rockets that were attached to the fuel tanks. They were used for an additional set of thrust for takeoff before they detached. They were made out of aluminum and ammonium perchlorate. They were also fitted with a parachute for an ocean landing so NASA could reuse that rocket.

Orbital Maneuvering Systems:

The Orbital Maneuvering Systems was a small engine that allowed the space shuttle to make small adjustments in space. 2 of them could be found at the back of the space shuttle.

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Science/Nature

NASA’s Artemis program

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By: Karl Salkowski

(Image credit: freerangestock)

NASA is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA was created on October 1st, 1958 after president Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act. NASA is a government agency of the United States, and it is responsible for U.S. space exploration, space technology, Earth and space science, and aeronautics research.

In total, 24 astronauts have made the journey from earth to the moon. Half of those astronauts only orbited the moon while the other half landed on it. Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were the first two people to walk on the moon. It’s been over 50 years since anyone has walked on the moon, but why is that?

The main reason is money. Building these rockets was incredibly expensive and NASA relied heavily on funding from the government. Once the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 was a success and the U.S. had won the space race, NASA faced major funding cuts. Originally, there were 20 Apollo missions, but due to a lack of funds the last 3 were canceled.

Since then NASA has focused on other projects. One notable example being the International Space Station. However, one of NASA’s new projects aims to land humans back on the moon.

NASA’s Artemis program consists of 4 main parts: an uncrewed flight test around the moon, a crewed flight test around the moon, sending humans to explore the region near the lunar south pole, and finally establishing a scientific base on the moon. These missions will aptly be named Artemis I, II, III, and IV respectively. With these missions, NASA’s goal is both to “explore the moon for scientific discovery and to inspire a new generation of explorers” according to Nasa.gov.

Artemis I launched 2 years ago and was a huge success for NASA and its partners. However, the crewed mission (Artemis II) which was slated to launch in late 2025 has now been delayed to April 2026. Artemis III also suffered delays and is currently being projected to launch no-earlier than mid 2027.

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Local, Science/Nature

Minnesotan winter activities and climate change

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By: Gabriella Bell

Minnesota is most commonly recognized for its drastic weather changes, harsh summers and winters alike. It’s also known for its diverse range of winter activities such as hockey, skiing, ice fishing, and more. Although in order to partake in these recreational hobbies, the most important factor is for there to be cold enough weather, and most importantly snowfall. In Minnesota this would normally never be much of a problem, however as of recent years, data is demonstrating that climate change is having a severe impact on not only these winter sports, but also local wildlife as well as our environment.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, worldwide climate change is also leading to a warmer Minnesota. Their stats represent an increase in the daily minimum temperature of 7.3f in the northern regions of Minnesota, 6f in the central regions, and 4.9f in the southern regions (per data from 1895-2021).

Another major impact that climate change has is in our ice cover, with an observed 10-15 days less as of these past few years. With these changes, it is ultimately impacting Minnesota fish as well, considering they are losing necessary days of ice cover, which protect them from the harsh winters. With the lack of ice, it is also contributing to the inability to begin and prolong ice fishing, ice skating and other ice-related activities that many people participate in during our Minnesota winters. Along with this unpredictable ice cover, it’s affecting the amount of flooding that the state receives, as the ice forms and then melts soon after. It then continues to follow this repeating cycle throughout the winter months until late spring.

Another factor is the inconsistent snowfalls that have been recently scattered across the winters. One of Minnesota’s most notable aspects is their snow! Not only does this affect the ability to play certain winter sports such as skiing or snowmobiling, but it also impacts the enjoyment of participating in them as well.

Per stats from the EPA, carbon dioxide levels across the world have risen over 40% since the late 1700’s, which is what’s contributing to the immense amount of climate changes worldwide, as well as in Minnesota. Not only is this a serious issue which is affecting our environment, but Minnesota’s winters are progressively growing to be much shorter, warmer and unpredictable than ever before.

As a unified community I believe that we can make changes in our lives, even small ones, in order to begin to help the restoration and conservation of our Minnesota winters, as well as the environmental health of our world.

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Science/Nature

Climate change’s effects on Alaska

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By: Siri David

Photo by Tomu00e1u0161 Malu00edk on Pexels.com

Alaska is a prime example of climate change and the effects from it. Alaska has been facing these effects for more than 50 years. The environment there is changing everyday and there is only so much time left to be able to save it.

The state has warmed 3 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, in the summer and 6 degrees in the winter. This seems like a small change but it is actually a lot, and makes a big difference. The state has seen a lot of changes like glaciers shrinking, shores eroding, wildfires, and insects breaking out. These are all effects of climate change, and effects that are likely to continue rising.

These things are happening because of the earth getting warmer. Since the late 1700’s the amount of carbon dioxide that humans put into the atmosphere has increased by 40 percent. Along with that, heat trapping greenhouse gasses also increase at a fast rate. Both of these things cause humidity to increase which causes more rain in areas but can also cause droughts in other areas.

More carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere also affects the oceans. Carbon dioxide mixed with water forms a carbonic acid which means that the ocean is more acidic. The ocean temperature has also been getting warmer which is why it feels like countries that are really cold face the most effects of climate change.

Whether it feels like it or not the world is suffering and we need to help it. There are a lot of big and little things we can do to help the environment and specifically Alaska. The smaller things include turning off lights when you leave a room, not letting your water run for longer than needed, and trying to walk/bike places more.

A larger thing you can do to make a difference is donating to organizations that work to clean up trash and the environment. If you don’t have the money for that you can personally work to clean up your community.

Something that I think really really does help is speaking up about it and staying updated on what is happening. Along with that, I think teaching people about what is happening to one of the most beautiful states in our country is so important and something we should all take action to fix.

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Getting To Know/History, Science/Nature

What is the X-59?

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By: Yohan Lee

Imagine flying at the speed of sound and cruising over public places whilst not hearing the sound barrier over you. Well, today I’m going to talk about the X-59 and the history of it.

The X-59 was built by NASA and Lockheed Martin. They both came together to try to build a supersonic aircraft that is quiet when flying over you. The X-59 development began in 2016 and the first machined part was made in 2018, then was revealed to the public on January 12, 2024. The X-59 was built in Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California.

What is supersonic? Supersonic is a loud sound of an object going over 700 miles per hour. Think of a whip and whipping it. That crackle is exceeding over 700 miles per hour. That crackle is a mini sonic boom. But the X-59 just can’t fly at 700 miles per hour or Mach 1. The X-59 can fly at Mach 1.42 or 940 miles per hour. When the X-59 flies over you at Mach 1 you would only hear a tiny thud. That little thud is about 75 db or just below a jet flying over you at 1000 feet which is about 106 db.

The reason why NASA and Lockheed Martin are trying to quiet the sonic boom is because it’s illegal to fly supersonic over the public for 3 main reasons. They don’t want to startle people thinking we’re going to war, it might kill someone or an animal (out of shock or knocking them over), and it can cause property damage as in breaking windows.

So, how can the X-59 achieve going over Mach 1 while barely hearing the sonic boom? Well, it starts with the nose of the aircraft. The X-59 has a sharp nose that cuts through the air making the aerodynamics much better and thus making the X-59 fly faster. The same goes for the delta wings. The reason why the X-59 has delta wings is because it reduces the effects of the shock waves and makes the sonic boom a quieter sonic boom thump.

The X-59 engines are the f414-GE-100 which are the same engines that are used for the F/A-18E/F/G. But the gears are the same gears that the F-16 uses.

The X-59 comes about 100 feet in length and 30 feet in width. The nose takes up half of the size and since the X-59 nose is long you can’t see much throughout the window. So, that’s why the X-59 is equipped with a camera at the end of the nose to see in front of the nose and to see the other side. The X-59 is equipped with 3 screens, one of them is the camera and the other two are for your basic flight instruments which tell what your plane is doing. Since the X-59 just came out, a lot of stuff is still classified.

So, how can it change aviation? Well, NASA and Lockheed Martin are planning to make a quiet supersonic plane and redesign it to be a commercial plane so we civilians can fly over Mach 1 at 700 miles per hour. For a regular flight from a 737, it takes 5 hours to get to California to Florida flying at a speed of 587 miles per hour. But when you’re flying the X-59 it would only take 3 hours flying at 700 miles per hour.

Why are NASA and Lockheed Martin working together to make the X-59? NASA has its team called QUESST which brings Lockheed Martin and NASA together, and under QUESST is The Quiet Crew. The Quiet Crew is a group assigned specifically to design and fly the X-59. Lockheed Martin collects data and helps build the X-59 since NASA doesn’t own many F-16s and F-18s, and again, the X-59 uses the F-18’s engines and F-16’s gears.

Before NASA had an idea to make the X-59 and convert it to a commercial airplane, the Concorde was the first ever super sonic commercial airliner. The United Kingdom and France made the Concorde in 1969. There were only two airliners who flew the Concorde and it was British Airways and Air France. The Concorde unfortunately retired on November 26, 2003, due to high maintenance and fewer people flying the Concorde since each ticket cost $10,000. Plus, the Concorde was super loud which caused many people to not like the Concorde. The Concorde could fly 2 times faster than the speed of sound or 1,354 miles per hour due to the Concorde having 4 Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 engines. Something interesting is that the X-59 and the Concorde had some similarities. They both had a long and sharp nose, delta wings and had stabilizers.

NASA said that the X-59 is going to come out in mid-2030 and hopefully in the future we will have a supersonic commercial airplane. And this is why the X-59 is going to change aviation.

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Science/Nature

Top 5 poisonous plants (not in order)

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By: Cleo Newton

Poisonous plants can look like any other plant if you don’t know which is which. According to Britannica.com, the following are considered to be the world’s most poisonous plants.

Water Hemlock

This plant looks a lot like the Water Parsnip (Sium suave), they’re both made up of clusters of small, white flowers. The Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) is the deadliest plant in North America and is closely related to the Poison Hemlock. What makes this plant so deadly is the cicutoxin it’s infused with, especially so in the roots. If you eat this plant, the poison will rapidly generate symptoms that are potentially fatal. Symptoms such as abdominal cramps, nausea, convulsions and death are common. Those who survive eating a Water Hemlock usually have lasting tremors or amnesia.

Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)

The Deadly Nightshade has shiny black berries and dull green leaves. The sweet berries this plant produces are very poisonous and it’s usually children and unknowing adults that eat these berries. The leaves, roots and berries of this plant contain atropine and scopolamine. Consuming this plant will cause the involuntary muscles in the body to be paralyzed, including the heart. Touching this plant can cause skin irritation.

White Snakeroot

Like the Water Hemlock, this plant has a cluster of small white flowers. These flowers contain a toxic alcohol called trematol. Directly ingesting this plant causes death. You can even die if this poison indirectly makes its way into your body. Eating the meat and/or drinking the milk from poisoned livestock can pass the toxin onto the consumer. Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, weakness, abnormal acidity of the blood and death.

Castor Bean (Ricinus communis)

The Castor Bean is widely grown as an ornamental plant; it’s an attractive plant to Africa. Castor oil comes from processed Castor seeds, which naturally contain the poison ricin. Ricin is so deadly that it only takes one or two seeds to kill a child. It takes up to eight to kill an adult. What ricin does is that it impedes the synthesis of proteins in cells, and can cause severe vomiting, seizures, diarrhea, and death. Most of these deaths are caused by the accidental consumption by kids and pets.

Photo by Plantpool images on Pexels.com

Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Like the Castor Bean, this plant is also grown as an ornamental plant. All parts of this plant are poisonous. Oleander contain cardiac glycosides called oleandrin and neriine. Eating this plant can cause diarrhea, erratic pulse, vomiting, coma, seizures, and death, while coming into contact with the sap or leaves of Oleander can irritate the skin. Like the White Snakeroot, this plant is so toxic that people have fallen ill from indirectly ingesting the poison. People have become sick from eating the honey made from bees that visited this flower. Luckily, Oleander isn’t as commonly consumed as it’s very bitter.

After reading this article, I hope you’ve learned a bit more about poisonous plants.

Editorials/Student Voice, Science/Nature

Risks of rising temperatures

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By: Siri David

Photo taken by me

In Saint Paul there is a very huge risk with heat rising. The number of the hottest days keeps increasing yearly. This is a huge issue. In the past there was an average of no more than seven days a year that reached higher than 91.2^F. By 2050 it is estimated that there will be up to an average of 36 days a year that reach over that temperature of 91.2.

With temperatures rising this fast there are a lot of health concerns for people. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are things that can happen to the human body when in the heat for too long. These are a few signs of heat exhaustion: getting light headed, weakness, heavy sweating, and muscle cramps are all really common signs. Heat stroke signs are: dry mouth, hot skin, vomiting, confusion, and seizures.

These are really important things that you need to make sure you’re aware of as temperature rises. If these signs are happening try to get into a cooler setting as soon as possible. If that is not possible try putting water on your neck and wrists, because that will help your body cool down faster.

There are a lot of ways, as humans though, we can work to decrease heat rising so fast. Conserving energy is really important. That means doing little things like turning off all the lights when you leave, not letting your water run for longer than needed, and driving less can also help a lot. Doing these things helps conserve energy.

Another thing that can help out a lot is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This means trying to use renewable energy sources like solar and hydro powers instead of using fossil fuels. Using electrical vehicles can also help out a lot.

Taking little or larger steps like these can really help the environment, and stop the climate from getting so warm so fast. This is a task that takes all of us one community at a time.

Science/Nature

Glaciers

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By: Samson Belihu

Image created with AskAI

Glaciers – they are massive, slow moving bodies of ice that form over centuries from accumulated snow.
They are vital indicators of climate change, as they respond sensitively to temperature variation. Unfortunately, global warming has led to significant glacial decline, impacting ecosystems, sea level, and global water patterns.

Causes of Glacier Melting

Rising global temperatures are causing glacial melting. Average global temperatures have increased due to greenhouse gas emission from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and industrial progress. This warming accelerates the melting of glaciers, particularly in the polar and mountain regions.

Warmer ocean waters also contribute to the melting of glaciers. This is mostly happening in Greenland and Antarctica, which could potentially lead to flooding.

Consequences of Glacier Melting

Melting glaciers contribute to sea level rise, which threatens coastal communities and ecosystems. The increased glacial melting also impacts water supplies. Many regions rely on glacial meltwater for drinking water. As glaciers shrink, communities soon will face water shortages impacting agriculture.

Restoration Efforts

There are several organizations and companies that are focused on restoring glaciers, and the oceans temperature such as: Arctic Ice Project, Greennova Foundation, Mountain Wilderness, etc.

These groups are trying to slow glacial retreat through active intervention. For instance, some projects involve the application of reflective materials on glaciers to increase their albedo and reduce melting. Albedo is a measure of how much sunlight is reflected off of a surface, and it is important for glaciers because it helps regulate the earth’s temperature.

Some companies also research and monitor the changes of glaciers over time. There are also organizations that are working to raise awareness about the importance of glaciers and the big impact they have on climate change.

The melting of glaciers is a massive issue that is caused by climate change, with high consequences for our ecosystems, communities, and global sea levels. Many companies and organizations have stepped up to help with the restoration and conserve these glaciers, which hold many histories that many scientists have not gotten their hands on. There is hope to negate some of the impact of climate change on glaciers, and preserve them for the future generations.

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Science/Nature

The science of pollination

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By: Trump Vang

Pollination is the process by which animals can transfer pollen from a male flower to a female flower. It produces most of the natural things that we eat today; everything from fruit to vegetables are all produced by this process, and it’s integral to our food resources today. Even some non-edible applications, such as seeds, are important for reproduction and the spread of species. Nonetheless, pollination is an important part of nature, though some may wonder what happens behind the title and definition of pollination. What is the Science of Pollination?

All pollination happens due to flowers. Their ability to produce pollen to spread to one another, allows for this process to happen as well as all of its side effects. What is in a flower though? Well there are two main structures within the flower. They’re specifically known as the stamen and the pistil. While the stamen produces the important pollen, the pistil contains genetic information in its ovaries. When pollen comes in contact with the pistil, the process of fertilization starts, and the plant starts to produce seeds for reproduction. 

Now, how does the pollen come in contact with the pistil? Well there are a few different ways that this can occur: wind can disperse pollen and birds, plus insects, can spread them from flowers. Wind is unpredictable, so plants are forced to adapt to the style of animals. Most plants will provide animals the benefit of nectar, a sweet substance, in exchange for having them spread their pollen.

All flowers have different structures, though the pollination happens in the same way. Usually, the animal comes in contact with the flower and attempts to get some of the nectar at the back of the flower. Through this process, pollen is able to get stuck on the animal and stays there until they pass it onto a pistil; this happens in the same process in which they attempt to get nectar from the flower. These processes allow for plants to get pollinated and spread their species.

While providing food (nectar) is the most common way for the process of pollination, there are other ways that plants have adapted to get pollinated. Some plants use visual cues, scents, mimicry and entrapment to get animals to pollinate their flowers. One example of these methods are found in the set of plants known as the Orchid. Often these plants will use scents to lure in their pollinators, just to trap them within their intricate designs. As the organism attempts to escape, it can run into the pollen that the flower’s produce, allowing for population to occur. After a while, the Orchid opens, and the bug is freed from its confines. There are reasons for why these plants differ in their requirements, but for the Orchids it comes in saving their energy in having to make nectar, and ensuring that their pollen is spread properly.

The first ever pollinators most likely passed pollen from one plant to another by accident. Ever since then, both parties in pollination have developed to coexist with one another and thrive together. From bugs like beetles to animals such as bats, they all are effective pollinators, and allow for plants to properly reproduce. The most popular pollinator is the common honeybee which pollinates around 80% of all flowering plants.

With global warming on the rise, pollination is becoming harder and harder. With the warming climates, plants are blooming earlier, which inhibits animal’s time to pollinate them. This change in time throws off all pollinators, leaving us with decreased pollination and starvation. Alongside this, regular pollutants are hurting plants and their pollinators, affecting their reproduction and pollination ability. Taking steps against pollution and global warming is integral to the safety of pollination. Pollination is an important part of our world and the science behind it allows for the world to grow and develop in its own way.

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Local, Science/Nature

Poor air quality in St. Paul, Minnesota: What causes it and how should you deal with it?

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By: Audrey Vlaminck

Image taken from Wikimedia Commons

Minnesota’s Air Quality Index reached record highs in the summer of 2021, creating serious risk of negative health impacts for everyone exposed, not just those with sensitivities. Despite the gradual return to the normal range in St. Paul and surrounding areas, going into this year’s wildfire season, residents should remain mindful of the dangers that air quality pollution poses.

Air quality is measured through the Air Quality Index which gives a number to the amount of pollution present, ranging from green (0-50 AQI – Safe to breathe) to maroon (301+ AQI – Hazardous, avoid physical activity outdoors if at all possible. People in high risk groups should remain indoors). This index is extremely useful as it can help warn people of the current risk, and can help people in sensitive groups make educated decisions on the amount of exposure they’re going to be experiencing. Bad air quality can cause shortness of breath and other respiratory problems that have a greater impact on people who have health issues that already impact their breathing.

This bad air quality comes from a variety of factors, but St. Paul is affected a lot by wildfire smoke mostly coming from Canada, as well as more local ozone pollution. While the negative effects of breathing in large amounts of smoke are pretty well known, the dangers of ozone levels are talked about a lot less. Ozone in the atmosphere helps to protect the Earth from radiation, and is extremely helpful. Ground level ozone however, forms when smog and other organic compounds react with each other in high temperatures. Contributors to this type of pollution include vehicles, paints and solvents, factories, and other fossil fuel burning activities. When inhaled, this ozone can cause similar health issues to smoke exposure, such as coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and even asthma.

These pollutants and their impacts on the overall Air Quality Index are bad on their own, but they are made much worse by climate change. Hotter weather and longer, drier summers cause wildfires to become more common and be much more destructive when they do happen, causing much more smoke to be produced. Ozone pollution is also worsened by higher temperatures, as they create an environment that is easier for the reactions producing it to happen. An increase in pollution from actions that burn fossil fuels that accelerate climate change also worsen ozone, as they provide more material to react with. Overall, climate change has a direct impact on air quality and the factors that cause it.

Experts predict that this summer’s air quality will be nowhere near as bad as it was last summer due to a milder early wildfire season as well as much less of a drought. Despite this hopeful news, those living in the Twin Cities area should remain conscious of the Air Quality Index and be on the watch for alerts as a drought later on in the summer is not out of the question.

When air quality is bad it is advised to reduce your time spent outdoors, especially intense exercise or any other activity that would cause you to be breathing harder. When inside, make sure to close your doors and windows and run an air filter if you have access to one. If you must go outside, certain types of masks can help reduce the amount of pollution particles you breathe in. Doctors recommend a properly fitting N95 or KN95 mask specifically for this type of filtration.

As climate change progresses, emissions from burning fossil fuels get worse and dry seasons become hotter and longer. This will result in a continuous decline of air quality due to an increase of direct pollutants such as exhaust and smog as well as other factors like ground level ozone and wildfire smoke. While we should not give up in our efforts to reduce this pollution and reverse its effects, these periods of bad air quality have become frequent enough that everyone should know how to read an Air Quality Index score as well as know how to minimize negative health effects when the air becomes harmful.

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