At a crowded town square in western Pennsylvania on Feb. 2, the world’s most famous groundhog—Punxsutawney Phil—did not cast a shadow, which legends say indicated that spring should arrive early this year.
Meanwhile, recent research suggests that athletes playing on artificial turf are likely exposed to higher levels of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, reports The Guardian. Funded by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which advocates against artificial turf, the small study found high levels of PFAS on the skin of six-year-old soccer players and their coach after they played on the fake grass fields. Though the potential risks of this exposure have not yet been determined, public health experts stressed caution.
