The EF2 tornado that hit Knoxville on Aug. 7, 2023, was accompanied by thunderstorms and straight-line winds that meteorologists warn can be just as dangerous as the tornado itself. Geographer Kelsey Ellis, local broadcast meteorologists and Logan Korn, a student who rode his motorbike through the storm, talk about that day's events, and the challenges of communicating tornado risk to the public.

Kudzu is an invasive species in Knoxville, Tennessee. It's edible, and can be used in soap, but the city spends a lot of time and effort just trying to get rid of it.

Knoxfill, which is Knoxville's only refillery, and Vitriform3D, a new glass collection and recycling company, are two of the startups trying to help consumers inch toward sustainability.

Tick-borne diseases, native and invasive species are on the rise in East Tennessee. Researcher Richard Gerhold is an expert in parasites.

Synchronous fireflies come once a year in just a few regions. Appalachia is one, and only a select few get to view them in the Smokies each year.

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public feedback through June 27 on proposed rules to limit emissions of ethylene oxide, a gas used by sterilizers like DeRoyal in New Tazewell, Tennessee. Some nearby residents are worried for their health, and a cancer cluster study is underway.

In October of 2022, representatives of the US Environmental Protection Agency visited the city of New Tazewell, Tennessee, to discuss updated information on Ethylene oxide, known as ETO. ETO is used to sterilize medical equipment, food, and various products and is a known carcinogen. The compound is emitted by a sterilization plant in New Tazewell, Tennessee, owned by DeRoyal Industries. WUOT’s Jacqui Sieber has the story.