It isn’t easy being a food dye named FD&C Green No. 3. That’s because on April 22, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an initiative to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the US food supply by the end of 2026.

The world relies on plastics for endless beneficial uses, but alarming amounts of plastic waste are polluting oceans and waterways, and there’s growing evidence that microplastics are showing up in millions of human bodies. And, because many plastics are built to last, they can take decades or even centuries to disintegrate.

Day after day, the Sun provides the heat and light that allows life to flourish on Earth. Its powerful rays impact the wind, clouds, ocean currents, and countless other essential activities on the planet.