Citrus waste converted to biopolymers using cavitation
The citrus industry generates a substantial amount of waste, primarily peels and seeds, which are often underutilized despite their rich cellulose and pectin content. Conventional pectin and cellulose extraction methods are energy-intensive and gener.....»»
Zero-waste synthesis of new supramolecular materials with remarkable mechanical properties
Researchers from Japan have unlocked the potential of tannic acid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene oxide by using them to synthesize strong and smart supramolecular gels in a zero-waste process. These gels exhibit remarkable characteristi.....»»
On-pack information about expiration dates can change food waste behaviors in households
Misunderstanding of expiration date marking (use-by or best-before) has been identified as one of the causes of food waste at the household level. In a recent study, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research investigated whether extra on-pack information c.....»»
Google says it can’t fix Pixel Watches, please just buy a new one
With no official repair program and no parts, broken Pixel Watches are just e-waste. Enlarge / The Pixel Watch. It's a round little pebble. (credit: Ron Amadeo) Google makes a big deal out of its partnership with iFixit.....»»
11 months after launch, Google’s Pixel Watch still has no path to repair
With no official repair program and no parts, broken Pixel Watches are just e-waste. Enlarge / The Pixel Watch. It's a round little pebble. (credit: Ron Amadeo) Google makes a big deal out of its partnership with iFixit.....»»
Urban parks built on former waste incineration sites could be lead hotspots, study finds
For much of the last century, many cities across the United States and Canada burned their trash and waste in municipal incinerators. Most of these facilities were closed by the early 1970s due to concerns about the pollution they added to the air, b.....»»
Table salt offers a safe, inexpensive and reusable pathway to recovering useful products from plastic waste
Muhammad Rabnawaz, an associate professor in Michigan State University's School of Packaging and recent inductee into the National Academy of Inventors, has always believed that the most brilliant solution is also the simplest......»»
Nudging food delivery customers to forgo the fork drastically cuts plastic waste, study shows
In 2021, more than 400 million metric tons of plastic waste were produced worldwide, and it is predicted that the world's plastic waste growth will continue to outpace the efforts to reduce plastic pollution in the coming decades......»»
New research sheds light on how harmful fungi could become helpful and reduce food waste
Mold and diseases caused by fungi can greatly impact the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. However, some fungi benefit their hosts by aiding plant survival. Colletotrichum tofieldiae (Ct) is a root mold that typically supports continued plant devel.....»»
Not burning, drowning: Why outdoor festivals like Burning Man are reeling from extreme weather
Climate activists lined the road to this year's Burning Man festival in Nevada to call out the "privileged mindset" of the Silicon Valley types who flock there—and the waste involved in creating a temporary city in the desert......»»
SMART-BARN: A cutting-edge technology lab to study large animal groups
Researchers from the Cluster of Excellence Center for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior (CASCB) and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior have converted a former barn into a cutting-edge technology lab for complex behavioral analysis. I.....»»
The firms hoping to cut down on wasted cosmetics
By tailoring cosmetics to the individual some firms are hoping to cut waste in the cosmetics industry......»»
Space junk in Earth orbit and on the moon will increase with future missions—but nobody"s in charge of cleaning it up
There's a lot of trash on the moon right now—including nearly 100 bags of human waste—and with countries around the globe traveling to the moon, there's going to be a lot more, both on the lunar surface and in Earth's orbit......»»
Space junk is on the rise, and no one is in charge of cleaning it up
There are at least 100 bags of human waste on the surface of the Moon. Enlarge / An artist's conception of space junk orbiting Earth. (credit: imaginima) There’s a lot of trash on the Moon right now—including nearly.....»»
Q&A: Year-round school—difference-maker or waste of time?
Contrary to how it sounds, "year-round" school usually doesn't mean students going to school throughout the year—or for more days than other students. Often it just means switching up the calendar so that there's not such a long summer break. Below.....»»
Need a cheap vacuum? This Bissell is $25
The Bissell 3-in-1 Stick Vacuum, a corded vacuum that can be converted into a handheld vacuum, is currently available for a very affordable $25 from Walmart......»»
A promising bacterial suicide gene against citrus Huanglongbing and canker
Huanglongbing (HLB), caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CaLas), is the No. 1 killer of citrus trees worldwide. HLB causes billions of dollars in annual economic losses to the global citrus industry......»»
At Japanese nuclear plant, controversial treated water release just the beginning of decommissioning
At a small section of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant's central control room in northeastern Japan, the treated water transfer switch is on. A graph on a computer monitor nearby shows a steady decrease of water levels as treated radioactive waste.....»»
Scientists develop sustainable method to produce lactic acid for industrial food production with waste jackfruit seeds
Scientists from NTU Singapore have developed a sustainable and more effective technique for making lactic acid by using discarded jackfruit seeds. Lactic acid plays an indispensable part in the industrial production and preservation of nearly all the.....»»
Chemists successfully use light to regulate structural conversion of chiral molecules
A team of chemists from the University of Münster have developed a novel concept in which a mixture of molecules that behave like mirror images is converted to a single form using light as external energy source. The conversion has applications in t.....»»
Recycling the non-recyclable: New epoxy resin resists flames and reduces waste
Empa researchers have developed an epoxy resin that can be repaired and recycled, in addition to being flame-retardant and mechanically strong. Potential applications range from coating for wooden flooring to composites in aerospace and railways......»»