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• Scientists found unusually high concentrations of nickel, manganese, and cobalt in marsh soils near Vistra Corp.’s (NYSE $VST) energy storage facility in Moss Landing, California, after a lithium-ion battery fire burned for several days.
• The company had said that no harm to the public from chemical exposure had been detected, citing air quality tests conducted by the EPA and a third-party consultancy.
• People living close to the fire site report symptoms ranging from burning eyes and sore throat to headaches and nosebleeds. Several say they have experienced a “metallic taste.”
• The investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing. An emergency response plan published by Vistra shows the company may have significantly underestimated the risk of a fire at its facility.
• Monterey County officials have declared a state of emergency and started collecting soil and water samples in the area around the Vistra facility to test for toxins. Residents have started taking their own soil samples and are planning to send them to an independent lab for testing.
• A bill introduced in the California State Assembly in response to the fire aims to put stronger restrictions on battery storage facilities in the state. If passed, it could derail Vistra’s 600-megawatt project near San Luis Obispo.

Astronomers have taken a crucial step in showing that the most massive black holes in the universe can create their own meals. Data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) provide new evidence that outbursts from black holes can help cool down gas to feed themselves.