Discussions, summarized

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• Hacker News1Corporation for Public Broadcasting ceasing operationsThe Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced its closure after losing federal funding. The organization, which has supported public media for nearly 60 years, will wind down operations by September 2025, with a small team remaining until January 2026 to manage the transition and financial obligations.Impact on local stations:Rural PBS/NPR stations rely heavily on CPB funding (up to 50% of budget) and many will likely shut down, while urban stations with strong donor bases will survive. This widens the urban-rural divide in public media access.CPB's role and structure:CPB primarily distributes congressional funding through grants rather than creating content directly. Programs like NOVA and Frontline receive funding through this system but are produced independently.Educational value:PBS/NPR provide trusted educational content, especially children's programming, with minimal bias and no commercial influence. Critics argue there is some political bias, but supporters value the educational mission.
• Reddit science1Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.Using scented products indoors, such as flame-free candles and wax melts, can create significant indoor air pollution comparable to car exhaust. Research by Purdue University found these products release nanosized particles that can penetrate deep into lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, posing serious respiratory health risks.Misleading title scope:Discussion about how study only focused on wax melts but title suggests all scented products, with debate about whether findings could logically extend to other scented itemsHealth concerns from chemist:A chemist's perspective against using scented products leads to sharing of personal health impact stories, from COPD to cancer cases, and debate about necessity of artificial scentsAir purification solutions:Discussion of HEPA filters and other air purification methods as solutions, with debate about effectiveness against different types of pollutants like VOCs and nanoparticles
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