The Taj Mahal’s iconic marble dome and soaring minarets require regular cleaning to maintain their dazzling appearance, and scientists now know why. Researchers from the United States and India are pointing the finger at airborne carbon particles and dust for giving the gleaming white landmark a brownish cast.

If first-year Georgia Tech student Grace Brosofsky has her way, all of the landscaping across the Tech campus will be maintained without using any chemical herbicides in the coming years. And the whole idea grew out of a conflict between her parents over how to best keep their north Georgia lawn weed-free.

The Water Environment Federation has recognized Professor John Koon’s contributions to water quality with a lifetime achievement award. Koon accepted the award at the federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) this week in New Orleans.

With more than 10 million service points, India’s rural drinking water system provides a real monitoring headache for public health officials. To help address the challenge, a three-continent research consortium is evaluating a novel environmental crowdsourcing technique that relies on 53-cent test kits and the nation’s ubiquitous mobile phone service.