"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Ghost Forests
07/01/26
“How can saltwater intrusion seriously harm forests?”
Saltwater damages freshwater trees. Consequently, saltwater intrusion into coastal forests leads to wide swaths of destruction, leaving Ghost Forests in its wake. Sea-level rise from climate change is already leading to a proliferation of ghost forests. Ghost forests are an increasingly common sight in the U.S. Southeast.
Hypertrophic Lakes
06/30/26
“What is the highest level of algal contamination for lakes?”
A lake’s trophic state index determines its algal power. Lakes at the highest end of the index (above 70) are classified as Hypertrophic Lakes. Hypertrophic lakes have very poor water quality and low water visibility. Algal overgrowth can be so intense that animals die off en masse from lack of dissolved oxygen.
Drainage Media
06/29/26
“How can we use permeable material to improve drainage systems?”
Drainage systems transport water from one place to another. Sometimes, drainage systems will need additional material to improve performance and prevent soil clogging. This usually consists of Drainage Media composed of permeable material, such as crushed stone or plastic media with voids, surrounding the drainage system to assist with infiltration into nearby soil.
Trophic State Index
06/28/26
“How can we quantify algal bloom intensity?”
Algal blooms in water bodies result from high nutrient load and strong environmental conditions. The associated biological productivity can be measured by the Trophic State Index. The trophic state index captures the amount of light striking the surface of a water body, the concentration of particulate matter, and the physical measuring depth to determine the algal bloom intensity.
Sewer Manholes
06/27/26
“How can we inspect and maintain sewer systems from above ground?”
Sewer systems are the foundation of water and wastewater infrastructure for billions of people. Like any piece of infrastructure, they will break down from time to time. What makes repairing them challenging is their underground location. To access them without breaking down the entire system, people have built vertical shafts called Sewer Manholes. Sewer manholes are typically placed at the junctions of different sewer pipes since these are the most failure points in the system. In fact, manholes themselves act as the junction.
Pipe Fittings
06/26/26
“How can we connect different sections of pipe?”
Pipes come in separate sections. Sometimes they have different sizes, different shapes, or proposed directions. So how can we connect them together? Well, what if we used small adapters called Pipe Fittings to serve as connection points? Pipe fittings can make these connections to hook pipes together, even with different geometries or directions. Pump fittings connect pumps to pipes. Pipe fittings are vital components to modern plumbing.
Why Saltwater Kills Freshwater Trees
06/25/26
“Why does saltwater kill freshwater trees?”
Trees require water to live. However, saltwater is toxic to trees not adapted to it. Saltwater impedes roots’ ability to absorb water, is toxic to plant cells, damages roots, and hurts oxygen delivery to trees. This is Why Saltwater Kills Freshwater Trees.
Capturing Stormwater for Groundwater Recharge
06/24/26
“How can we recharge groundwater with stormwater?”
It can be difficult to replenish a drained aquifer. Giving more water to it means taking water from somewhere else. However, sprmwater adds extra water to a local system. By capturing it, we can direct it to aquifers to replenish them. This is how Capturing Stormwater for Groundwater Recharge can work. People use a wide range of methods to accomplish this, from green infrastructure to injection wells. Managers must ensure that the stormwater is free of pollutants before storing it in aquifers to prevent contamination.
Image credit: https://oldcastleinfrastructure.com/
Pump Fittings
06/23/26
“What are the components of a pump that connect it to pipes?”
Pumps can move massive amounts of water through a plumbing system. However, they require physical connection to piping systems. This comes in the form of Pump Fittings. Pump fittings include flow meters, check valves, strainers, and more!
Isaac's Science Blog 