Designing microbe factories for sustainable chemicals
The science is clear: fossil fuels are harmful to the environment. So why is it so difficult for us to stop using them? Economic reasons are at least part of the answer. From our energy grid to the manufacturing of certain textiles and other products.....»»
Enhancing fire safety: The emergence of PA-DAD as a sustainable flame retardant for epoxy resin composites
Epoxy resin (EP), an essential material in various applications such as adhesives, coatings, and composites, faces challenges due to its intrinsic flammability and dense smoke production, posing threats to safety and property. To address these issues.....»»
Decreases in social disparities in air pollution during lockdown suggest the need for sustainable policies
Is everyone equally affected by environmental pollution? This is the essence of 'environmental justice,' a concept that originated in the United States during the 1970s. It revolves around the idea of ensuring fairness and equity in environmental iss.....»»
Scientists develop catalyst designed to make ammonia production more sustainable
Ammonia is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world, and is used in a great many manufacturing and service industries. The conventional production technology is the Haber-Bosch process, which combines nitrogen gas (N2) and hydrogen gas.....»»
New research shows unintended harms of organic farming
Organic farming is often touted as a more sustainable solution for food production, leveraging natural forms of pest control to promote eco-friendly cultivation......»»
Yeast uses plastic waste oils to make high-value chemicals
Polyolefins are a type of plastic that is resistant to breaking down. This makes this plastic—a kind found in everything from grocery bags to car bumpers—hard to recycle. In a new study, scientists have discovered a potential solution, the yeast.....»»
Researchers find evidence of 68 "forever chemicals" in food packaging around the world
A team of environmental scientists with the Food Packaging Forum Foundation, based in Zürich, has found evidence of 68 "forever chemicals" in food packaging used around the world. For their study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Tec.....»»
Researchers develop 3D-printed wood from its own natural components
Researchers at Rice University have unlocked the potential to use 3D printing to make sustainable wood structures, offering a greener alternative to traditional manufacturing methods......»»
Suppliers are churning out innovative concepts for vehicle interiors
Suppliers are designing innovative seats, infotainment systems and other technologies for EV interiors to help automakers differentiate their models......»»
Cellulose fibers are emerging as a sustainable option for wrapping everything from foods to electronics
Attention supermarket shoppers in Belgium, France and Luxembourg: a test to cut waste from plastic packaging of foods is coming to nearby stores......»»
Is food waste the key to sustainable, plastic-free diapers and sanitary pads?
Once thrown away, disposable items such as diapers and sanitary pads can take hundreds of years to decompose, because their absorbent parts and waterproof layers contain plastics and other synthetic polymers. But now, researchers are replacing these.....»»
Transforming wood waste for sustainable manufacturing
Lignin, a complex organic polymer, is one of the main components of wood, providing structural support and rigidity to make trees strong enough to withstand the elements. When transforming wood into paper, lignin is a key ingredient that must be remo.....»»
The hands-on drive for sustainable living in Europe
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment......»»
Tropical plants beat drought by interacting with specific microbes, study shows
Plant-soil-microbe interactions play a crucial role in processes that take place in the soil directly around plant roots, or the rhizosphere, and these processes contribute to nutrient cycling and metabolite turnover in the environment. Amid the wate.....»»
Mercedes to trial humanoid robots for ‘low skill, repetitive, demanding’ jobs
Mercedes-Benz is collaborating with Texas-based robotics specialist Apptronik with a view to deploying its Apollo robot at its auto factories......»»
Opinion: Ultra-fast fashion is a disturbing trend undermining efforts to make the whole industry more sustainable
Since the 1990s, fast fashion has enabled everyday people to buy the latest catwalk trends. But the sheer volume of garments being whipped up, sold and soon discarded is contributing to a global sustainability crisis......»»
Investigating the many flavors of edible ants
Insects are typically unwelcome visitors to a picnic, but they could be a flavorful, nutritious and sustainable addition to the menu. Eating insects is common in some parts of the world, and some species are even considered delicacies......»»
Revealing environmental exposure to liquid crystal monomers from digital displays
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are synthetic organic chemicals used in manufacturing liquid crystal displays (LCDs) present in numerous digital electronic devices. As the use of digital electronics, such as computers and smartphones, becomes increasi.....»»
Improving education and human security for vulnerable refugee children
"Access to education" is recognized as a fundamental human right and is listed as one of the United Nations' sustainable development goals to achieve by 2030. Quality education unlocks opportunities and gives individuals the freedom to make livelihoo.....»»
Effective policies needed to curb hormone-disrupting chemicals: Study
Without smart policymaking, banning harmful chemicals like bisphenols and phthalates—common ingredients in plastics manufacturing—can result in a game of regulatory whack-a-mole where chemicals of similar toxicity or that have not been rigorously.....»»
A new approach to producing high-performance plastics from agricultural waste
In our rapidly industrialized world, the quest for sustainable materials has never been more urgent. Plastics, ubiquitous in daily life, pose significant environmental challenges, primarily due to their fossil fuel origins and problematic disposal......»»