Antineutrino detection gets a boost with novel plastic scintillator
How do you find and measure nuclear particles, like antineutrinos, that travel near the speed of light?.....»»
Plastic in the ocean and on our plates: What are the risks to human health?
It's no secret: when we savor a delicious piece of fish or a platter of seafood, we're not just consuming valuable omega-3s and vitamin D. Alongside these benefits come less appetizing elements—countless micro- and nano-plastics......»»
Car tires shed a quarter of all microplastics in the environment. Urgent action is needed
Every year, billions of vehicles worldwide shed an estimated 6 million tons of tire fragments. These tiny flakes of plastic, generated by the wear and tear of normal driving, eventually accumulate in the soil, in rivers and lakes, and even in our foo.....»»
At plastic treaty talks, no united front for industry
Is virgin plastic production vital or completely unsustainable? For the industry lobbyists at UN talks on plastic pollution, the answer is far from unanimous......»»
Five fairness flaws the UN"s new plastics treaty must change
The UN's new plastics treaty is about to be finalized—marking a crucial opportunity to form an international agreement to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. Plastic waste is ubiquitous—damaging human health and livelihoods, as well as ecosystem.....»»
These two Apple products are popular gifts, but two others lack holiday bump
The holiday season is upon us, and Apple would have you believe that its products make the perfect gifts for your loved ones. A new CIRP report reveals, however, which Apple products tend to get gifted and which ones miss out on a holiday boost......»»
Chinese island plastic pollution turned into artistic omens
As storm clouds gathered on a forgotten beach in China's Miaodao islands, artist Fu Junsheng picked his way through piles of plastic waste washed up along the shoreline, looking for inspiration......»»
"Very, very slow": plastic treaty talks grind forward
Negotiations on a first global treaty to curb plastic pollution are moving "very, very slowly", diplomats and observers told AFP on Wednesday, threatening the chances of reaching an agreement......»»
Submarine canyon plastic accumulation is driven by turbidity currents, simulation study shows
Plastic pollution is an ever-pressing concern for the health of our ocean ecosystems and their inhabitants, with estimates of over 10 million metric tons of plastic litter entering the marine realm each year. While evocative images often highlight su.....»»
Smart agriculture technology attaches directly to underside of leaves for monitoring plants
With growing concerns over climate change and overpopulation, we urgently need to boost agricultural productivity. With the goal of creating a way to easily tell whether a plant is thriving or dying, a leaf-mounted sensor was created by researchers a.....»»
iPhone 16 ban: Apple offers $100M investment in Indonesia, govt wants more [U]
Apple has responded to an iPhone 16 ban in Indonesia by offering a ten-fold boost to its manufacturing investments in the country – from $10M to $100M. Update: The Indonesian government has said that it expects more – see the end of the piece......»»
Observations detect the lowest mass ratio contact binary to date
Astronomers from China and South Korea report the detection of a contact binary system with an extremely low mass ratio of only 0.0356. The newfound system, which received the designation TYC 3801-1529-1, is therefore the lowest mass ratio contact bi.....»»
Deep divisions on display at plastic pollution treaty talks
A final round of talks on a treaty to curb plastic pollution opened on Monday, with deep differences between nations emerging almost immediately......»»
Plastic pollution talks must not fail: UN environment chief
Talks to agree the world's first treaty to curb plastic pollution cannot fail and must tackle both production and consumption, the UN's environment chief told AFP on Monday......»»
New transformer-based AI model enhances precision in rice leaf disease detection
Rice is one of the world's most essential food crops, but its production is constantly threatened by leaf diseases caused by pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. These diseases, which manifest as spots or blotches on leaves, can severely i.....»»
"Existential challenge": plastic pollution treaty talks begin
A final round of talks on a treaty to curb plastic pollution opened on Monday, with deep differences between nations emerging almost immediately......»»
"Easy, convenient, cheap": How single-use plastic rules the world
Each year the world produces around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste, much of it discarded after just a few minutes of use......»»
SpaceX wants to significantly boost number of Starship launches in 2025
SpaceX could significantly increase the number of Starship launches in 2025 as it readies the vehicle for crew and cargo trips to the moon and beyond......»»
Time is running out for a treaty to end plastic pollution—here"s why it matters
On March 2, 2022, delegates to the UN environment assembly adopted an ambitious resolution to develop the text of a new treaty by the end of 2024 to end plastic pollution. With 24 days of formal negotiation between almost 200 countries completed, spr.....»»
Nano-patterned copper oxide sensor provides rapid ultra-low hydrogen detection
Hydrogen is becoming an increasingly popular choice as we shift towards cleaner energy. It can be burned like traditional fuels, producing only water as a byproduct, and can generate electricity when used in fuel cells. However, as hydrogen productio.....»»
Algorithmic management raises concerns over worker autonomy
In more and more workplaces, important decisions aren't made by managers but by algorithms which have increasing levels of access to and control over workers. While algorithmic management can boost efficiency and flexibility (as well as enabling a ne.....»»