Under the Lens Archives

Under the Lens: How to stay safe amid harmful algal blooms

July 8, 2025

A closer look at algal blooms: the risks they pose, and what to watch out for and avoid.…

Under the Lens: Microplastics in the environment and our bodies

March 27, 2025

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous in the environment. This includes the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe.…

Under the Lens: Modeling the challenge of stormwater management in Milwaukee

December 13, 2024

Managing stormwater is going to be an increasingly difficult task in Wisconsin. Climate change is causing wetter conditions generally, and more frequent, intense…

Under the Lens: Launching the Environmental Health Initiative

September 27, 2024

By Kayla Rinderknecht, Population Health Service Fellow & Dr. Paul Mathewson, Science Program Director From the air we breathe to the water we…

Under the Lens: The Truth About Natural Gas

August 26, 2024

Long pushed as a cleaner energy source, natural gas is no more natural than coal or oil. Discover why continued reliance on this fossil fuel will mean disaster for our climate and health.…

Under the Lens: Environmental benefits of solar farms extend beyond cleaner air

June 20, 2024

Large scale solar development is rapidly expanding in Wisconsin. Utility-scale solar (USS) farms are large, ground-mounted solar arrays that produce electricity for the…

Under the Lens: What we know about PFAS contamination in Wisconsin’s drinking water

March 19, 2024

What is the extent of PFAS contamination in Wisconsin's drinking water? This column looks at two sources of information to provide some insight into that question.…

Under the Lens: Mitigating bird and bat mortality at wind farms

December 19, 2023

Comparing the impact of wind turbines with other contributors to contributors to bird and bat mortality One of the main environmental concerns associated…

Under the Lens: Hazardous Air Pollutants in Wisconsin

October 3, 2023

Over half of people of color in Wisconsin cities live within one mile of a facility that emits Hazardous Air Pollution. By Paul…

Under the Lens: Visualizing Ammonia Air Pollution

June 27, 2023

It’s summer, and in Wisconsin, that means peak season for dangerous ammonia air pollution. A new analysis of satellite imagery by Clean…