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Ammonium nitrate

A man is shown walking on the street with a white bandage around his head with security officers standing nearby.

Mourning and anger amid devastation after Beirut explosion; One-third of Afghanistan may have had COVID-19; 75-years since Hiroshima bombing

Top of The World

Many Lebanese are turning toward anger and frustration over corrupt Lebanese officials for the presence of a warehouse full of ammonium nitrate at the center of a massive explosion. And, in Afghanistan, the country’s health minister said an antibody survey revealed almost one-third of the nation may have been infected with the coronavirus. Also, with Hiroshima marking the 75th anniversary of the 1945 nuclear blast on Thursday, the survivors were a diminished presence due to the threat of the coronavirus and their old age.

A view of Beirut's port is shown, flattened from an explosion and smoke rising from the rubble

Beirut blast kills at least 100, injures thousands; Security restrictions in Kashmir; Can artificial crowd noise match up?

Top of The World

Investigation uncovers little regulation of fertilizer plants

Environment

Scientist makes breakthrough on effort to create non-explosive fertilizer

Environment

In West, Texas, a town grieves as it tries to pick up the pieces

Global Politics

IEDs in Afghanistan costing U.S. billions, despite being dirt-cheap to build

IEDs have taken hundreds of U.S. lives in Afghanistan and Iraq and the U.S. military is spending billions to try and combat them. But they’re also trying to go after the fertilizer that fuels the explosive devices.

Breakthrough on Effort to Create Non-Explosive Fertilizer

Conflict & Justice

The fertilizer ammonium nitrate is cheap, abundant, and highly detonable. It’s a key ingredient in many IEDs. Recently, a team in New Mexico has come up with a way to make the fertilizer less explosive.

The Living on Earth Almanac

Facts about… an ammonium nitrate induced shipping disaster.