With the federal shutdown into its second week, specific real estate sectors will feel a far-reaching impact, CNBC reported. When the government shuts down, home sales and apartment rentals are delayed due to the federal flood insurance program no longer being able to issue new policies; IRS might not process tax transcripts or income verification documents as quickly; and the Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veteran Affairs, and Department of Agriculture might slow or suspend their mortgage processing. However, the impact to commercial real estate (CRE) is widespread, although, not quite as immediate. A government shutdown delays government data on the economy, which, in turn, causes financial uncertainty and impacts investor confidence, particularly in small businesses. According to a post from the Commercial Real Estate Alliance (CREA), potential ramifications include: Reduced demand for CRE as businesses and government agencies delay or cancel leasing and development projects. Greater difficulty for CRE investors and developers to obtain financing and conduct transactions amid uncertainty and market volatility. Delayed approvals of permits or other government sign-offs necessary for CRE development projects. Reduced consumer spending, which can hurt retail and other CRE sectors. Additionally, CREA said a shutdown of the General Services Administration could delay or cancel government leases, negatively impacting the office and retail real estate sectors. A shutdown of the Small Business Administration could make it more difficult for small businesses to obtain loans, dampening demand for CRE. Still, the impact of this year’s shutdown on real estate depends on its length. A more prolonged shutdown could see the economy shrink in the fourth quarter.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a study of Oregon’s largest school district to evaluate its efforts in improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and mitigating airborne disease transmission found that most classrooms did not comply with IAQ standards. Children, who often spend more than six hours daily in schools, have high respiratory rates relative to their body weight and reduced ability to filter airborne particles, making them particularly vulnerable to degraded IAQ. While children typically exhibit less acute and severe COVID-19 symptoms than adults, degraded air quality in classrooms leads to an increase in absenteeism and decreased academic performance. Furthermore, because children contribute to community transmission, especially when school is in session, enhanced IAQ measures are critical during periods of heightened airborne illness exposure risk. These efforts also protect educators and school staff, who may face a higher likelihood of severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study evaluated room- and building-level airflow during the 2022–23 school year, one year after the return to in-person learning in the fall of 2021. According to the report, 27% of classrooms met the 62.1 standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)—while only 11% complied with the more stringent Standard 241. Based on the study’s analysis, its authors provide insight into strategies that can guide future district-wide IAQ improvement efforts. Key outcomes highlight the importance of: Setting clean airflow goals at the room level and presenting compliance metrics clearly, without obscuring areas of need. Establishing an IAQ action plan to adjust room-level goals and implementation strategies as guidance for schools continues to evolve. Developing a thorough understanding of portable air cleaner (PAC) technologies, capabilities, and limitations. Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of district building infrastructure, including space usage and occupancy patterns. Engaging with organizations (like ASHRAE) to improve the usability and impact of standards by better accounting for the complexity and varied use of school spaces. Equitably distributed clean air is essential for fostering a healthy and productive learning environment in schools. School districts across the country could also consider adopting a continuous IAQ monitoring program (such as those implemented by Boston Public Schools in Massachusetts and Montgomery County Schools in Maryland) to assess the effectiveness of current IAQ efforts and inform more strategic resource distribution.
Each year, Global Handwashing Day highlights one of the simplest and most effective public health practices: washing hands with soap and water. Celebrated annually on October 15, this worldwide event reminds people that consistent hand hygiene is critical to preventing the spread of infectious diseases and protecting community health. This year’s theme, Clean Hands Are Within Reach, reinforces that handwashing is both a personal responsibility and a global health priority According to the Global Handwashing Partnership, regular handwashing at key times–such as after using the restroom, before preparing food, or after caring for someone who is ill–can cut diarrheal disease nearly in half and reduce acute respiratory infections by almost a quarter. These benefits are especially important in protecting children under five, who are most vulnerable to preventable illnesses caused by unsafe hygiene practices. Medical experts emphasize that soap and water remain the gold standard for reducing the spread of germs that cause illnesses such as influenza and other common viruses. But when it comes to norovirus—one of the most contagious stomach bugs—handwashing is the only effective defense. Unlike alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which do not work against norovirus, vigorous washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds provides the friction and rinsing action needed to dislodge and flush away viral particles. “Handwashing, using soap and warm water, is an easy and effective way to reduce the spread of disease-causing organisms like norovirus,” said medical microbiologist Michael P. McCann, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Saint Joseph's University. “Given the ease with which some of these organisms can be spread on solid surfaces, in food, and by other means, handwashing is something that everyone should do after activities like using the restroom." Findings from Bradley’s Healthy Handwashing Survey™ 2025 survey reinforce both progress and challenges: 93% said handwashing is important to maintain their health. 81% always wash their hands after using a public restroom. 45% admitted to sometimes rinsing with only water—with men more likely than women to skip the soap. 85% of women reported always washing their hands in public restrooms, compared with 77% of men. Women also take extra precautions to avoid germs, such as using paper towels to touch restroom surfaces. 84% said that an unkempt restroom negatively impacts their perception of a business, underscoring the importance of well-stocked, hygienic facilities that support handwashing.
Common household items like cleaning products, candles, cribs, and makeup emit formaldehyde—a colorless, odorless chemical that has been found to be a risk to human health. But new, low-cost technology designed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) could lower these risks by making indoor air quality (IAQ) sensors last longer and catch unsafe formaldehyde levels sooner. Air quality sensors typically use MXene, a class of compounds that is good at storing energy and sensing gases. But the compound is highly susceptible to oxidation, particularly when exposed to air and/or humidity, which poses a major challenge for MXene-based air quality monitors. Researchers were able to lengthen the lifespan of the air quality sensor by using a unique polymer coating that extends the sensor’s half-life by more than 200% and enables it to regenerate when its performance begins to degrade. CMU researchers, led by Professor of Mechanical Engineering Reeja Jayan, used a technique that vaporizes specific materials, causing them to form a nano-coating on the cold sensor in a way similar to condensation coating the outside of an ice-cold drinking glass on a hot day. Without the coating, the MXene sensor lasted for a little over two months. But when the polymer layer was applied, the sensor ran for more than five months. Shwetha Sunil Kumar, a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering, said the coating also made the sensors better at detecting formaldehyde. The team further found that by adding humidity to the sensor at the end of its life, it regained about 90% of its sensing ability. Jayan is confident that these materials could be deployed to other devices to enhance lifetime and performance. She is currently developing similar technology to extend the life and safety of batteries.