Hazy vistas in national parks

Ozone pollution in US national parks is nearly the same as in large cities [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 19 July 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant that causes eye irritation and breathing problems, damages plants, and contributes to haze and smog. Regulations have cut ozone levels nationwide in recent decades, but a new study by economists David Keiser, Gabriel Lade and Ivan Rudik shows that it’s still a concern – even outside urban areas. Reviewing data from 33 national parks – places where travelers expect fresh air and clear vistas – they found, to their surprise, that the parks averaged [nearly as many bad ozone days annually]( as major U.S. cities. During a recent trip to Europe, President Trump suggested the European Union is one of America’s biggest foes, particularly in terms of trade. His words [ignore the immense benefits]( Americans have reaped thanks to close economic and military ties maintained over the past six decades, writes Gregory Wright, an economist at the University of California, Merced. Treating the EU like a foe and going to war over trade will likely lead to a future of lower living standards for Americans and more conflict, he argues. The U.S. healthcare system is plagued by outdated records stored in different formats by different companies. Every doctor’s office, insurer, pharmacy, and other health provider has its own copies of patients’ files, with information that may be old, irrelevant or inaccessible. A new effort in the U.S. to fix those problems using blockchain technologies [could learn useful lessons from Estonia and Sweden to improve medical care](. Jennifer Weeks Environment + Energy Editor Top stories A clear day at Acadia National Park in Maine. John Marino [Ozone pollution in US national parks is nearly the same as in large cities]( David Keiser, Iowa State University; Gabriel E. Lade, Iowa State University; Ivan Rudik, Cornell University US national parks protect some of America's most spectacular outdoor settings. But new research shows that ozone pollution levels in the parks are roughly as bad as in major cities. Trump and Merkel: Friends, foes or frenemies? AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais [The US is a whole lot richer because of trade with Europe, regardless of whether EU is friend or 'foe']( Greg Wright, University of California, Merced The president, who called the European Union a 'foe' following a series of meetings in Europe, may not realize just how much Americans have gained from their relationship with Europe. Finding ways to link health care data in a secure and confidential way. 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