Mongolians fight plastic pollution in vast steppe
Mongolian herder Purev Batmunkh sighs as he picks through waste strewn across a field—the refuse of an unsightly and deadly waste pollution problem affecting swathes of the steppe......»»
The Amazon rainforest as a cloud machine: How thunderstorms and plant transpiration produce condensation nuclei
The rainforest in the Amazon basin transpires vast amounts of gaseous isoprene. Until now, it was assumed that this molecule is not transported far up into the atmosphere, as it rapidly declines when exposed to light conditions. The CAFE-Brazil measu.....»»
Scientists exploit photo-induced chirality in thin films to improve authentication tech
In today's world, the fight against counterfeiting is more critical than ever. Counterfeiting affects about 3% of global trade, posing significant risks to the economy and public safety. From fake pharmaceuticals to counterfeit currency, the need for.....»»
Delhi"s annual air pollution has become a human-made calamity
Delhi's air pollution is so bad that it's sometimes hard to discern anything more than a few meters in front of you. And it is affecting people's health. Breathing is uncomfortable, and one of us (Komali) developed rashes and red eyes on a recent tri.....»»
Can plastic-eating insects help with our microplastic problem?
Plastic pollution occurs in every ecosystem on the planet and lingers for decades. Could insects be part of the solution?.....»»
Nationwide assessment finds urban areas face higher cancer risk from air pollution
New research builds on scientific understanding of how air pollution and cancer risk are distributed throughout the U.S. Air pollution, often resulting from industrial or vehicle emissions, can travel for hundreds of miles and impact the health of co.....»»
From HR to work/life balance—How working life has (and hasn"t) changed since ancient Rome
While powerful figures tend to take up the most space in our history books, the vast majority of people in the ancient world were regular working class folks, and most people's lives revolved around the daily grind. A new book sheds light on working.....»»
Desertification talks open in Saudi Arabia as experts fire warning
UN talks aimed at halting the degradation and desertification of vast swathes of land start in Saudi Arabia on Monday after scientists fired a stark warning over unsustainable farming and deforestation......»»
Plastic pollution talks: the key sticking points
Divisions between countries have stalled negotiations on the world's first treaty to tackle plastic pollution, after a terse week of talks in South Korea's Busan......»»
Australia banning social media use by kids; 9to5Mac readers want the same in the US [U]
Update: Australia has now voted to ban social media use by children under the age of 16. In a 9to5Mac reader poll on the issue, the vast majority of you thought the US should do the same – see the end of the piece. The impact of social media use.....»»
Calls for extension as plastic treaty negotiations falter
Delegates seeking the world's first deal to curb plastic pollution began openly advocating for an extension of talks on Sunday, accusing a handful of nations of obstructing an ambitious agreement......»»
The farm fires helping to fuel India"s deadly air
Blazing flames light the sky as Indian farmer Ali Sher burns his fields to clear them for new crops, a common but illegal practice that is fueling deadly pollution killing millions......»»
Why is a global treaty on plastic pollution dividing the world?
What on earth to do about all the plastic polluting the oceans, the food supply, even our bodies?.....»»
A tax on new plastic would slash waste—if built into the global treaty on plastics
Earlier this week, the mining magnate Andrew Forrest made headlines calling for a global "polymer premium"—or plastic tax—to be placed on every ton of newly manufactured plastics. A tax like this could form part of the Global Plastic Treaty being.....»»
Showdown looms on plastic treaty days before deadline
Diplomats warned Friday of a looming showdown in negotiations to reach the world's first deal to curb plastic pollution, after a new draft text emerged littered with competing visions and ongoing disagreements......»»
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......»»
Air pollution from fires linked to 1.5 million deaths a year
Air pollution caused by fires is linked to more than 1.5 million deaths a year worldwide, the vast majority occurring in developing countries, a major new study said on Thursday......»»
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.....»»
Is there enough land on Earth to fight climate change and feed the world?
Capping global warming at 1.5°C is a tall order. Achieving that goal will not only require a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, but also a substantial reallocation of land to support that effort and sustain the bios.....»»