Plastic waste has some economic benefit for developing countries
For decades, wealthy nations have transported plastic trash, and the environmental problems that go with it, to poorer countries, but researchers have found a potential bright side to this seemingly unequal trade: plastic waste may provide an economi.....»»
Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products
Researchers have developed a way to make one type of plastic material more durable and less likely to shed dangerous microplastics. Their study has identified a secure way to attach chemical additives to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The work is publishe.....»»
ULA hasn’t given up on developing a long-lived cryogenic space tug
On Friday's launch, United Launch Alliance will test the limits of its Centaur upper stage. The second flight of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, planned for Friday morning.....»»
Outdoor businesses and venues could benefit from boosting birdsong sound biodiversity
Visitors to vineyards enjoyed their tours more when they heard enhanced sounds of diverse birdsong, new research has found. The findings from the University of East Anglia suggest that outdoor businesses could improve their customer experience by inv.....»»
More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: Why urban mining"s time has come
Pollution and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss are creating a triple planetary crisis. In response, UN Environment Program executive director Inger Andersen has called for waste to be redefined as a valuable resource instead of a problem......»»
Wastewater bacteria can break down plastic for food, yielding new possibilities for cleaning up plastic waste
Researchers have long observed that a common family of environmental bacteria, Comamonadacae, grow on plastics littered throughout urban rivers and wastewater systems. But exactly what these Comamonas bacteria are doing has remained a mystery......»»
Geological surveys shed light on the formation mystery of Uruguay"s amethyst geodes
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz that has been used as a gemstone for many centuries and is a key economic resource in northern Uruguay. Geodes are hollow rock formations often with quartz crystals, such as amethyst, inside......»»
Apple Search Ads expands to Turkey and 20 additional countries
Apple Search Ads is continuing its expansion into new geographic segments, following a successful rollout to Brazil earlier this year. Starting today, developers can start buying Apple Search Ads for placement in Turkey, and 20 additional countrie.....»»
Bacteria-derived enzyme shows potential for polyethylene biodegradation
Every year, 400 million tons of plastic products are produced worldwide, half of which are single-use items discarded within a year. In particular, non-biodegradable plastic waste, which takes over 500 years to decompose naturally, is mostly treated.....»»
Scientists Figured Out How to Recycle Plastic by Vaporizing It
A new technique could prevent tons of waste in the future—if it can scale......»»
A Lawsuit From Backers of a ‘Startup City’ Could Bankrupt Honduras
The country faces a wave of claims after it repealed a law allowing for special economic zones. Chief among them is an American company looking to build a semi-autonomous “startup city” called Próspera......»»
NASA prepares for Lunar Terrain Vehicle testing
When astronauts return to the moon as part of NASA's Artemis campaign, they will benefit from having a human-rated unpressurized LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) that will allow them to explore more of the lunar surface, enabling diverse scientific discov.....»»
Climate shocks associated with higher rates of intimate partner violence against women
Countries affected by severe climate change may also have a higher prevalence of violence against women, finds a new study led by UCL researchers......»»
Developing novel chiral capsule tools for advanced optical technologies
Chirality is an essential property in biology; the molecular building blocks of some of the most important biological structures, including DNA and proteins, are chiral. When a molecule is said to be chiral, it means that it is distinguishable from i.....»»
Why plastic bottles in the EU now have their caps attached
You may have bought a drink recently and noticed something odd: the once removable cap is now tethered to the bottle by a small strip of plastic......»»
Poor countries recycle far more imported plastic than previously thought—but it"s not enough
Countries like Malaysia import many metric tons of plastic waste from Europe each year, paying a few pennies per kilo. This might seem strange, but according to Kai Li, it makes sense......»»
Facing backlash, EU moves to delay deforestation rules
The European Commission on Wednesday proposed to delay by a year a ban on imports of products driving deforestation that has faced pushback from countries around the world......»»
Can music help plants grow? Study suggests sound may boost plant-promoting fungus
Playing a monotonous sound stimulates the activity of a fungus that promotes plant growth, according to a study released on Wednesday, raising the possibility that playing music could benefit crops and gardens......»»
Q&A: UN security council needs major changes—permanent seats for African countries is just one
Recently, the US ambassador to the United Nations announced America's support for the creation of two new permanent UN security council seats for African states. Gary Wilson, a scholar of international law and relations—specifically issues related.....»»
Seven years on, study reveals #MeToo"s unexpected impact on consumer behavior
Seven years after actor Alyssa Milano's tweet launched the #MeToo movement into the global consciousness, attitudes towards sexual harassment and assault have shifted in many countries. A new study shows that the movement's impact doesn't stop there......»»
Developing artificial muscles to give weakened people their strength back
Researchers have succeeded in making artificial muscle fibers from rubber thread, paving the way for sewing the muscles into a blouse and giving renewed strength to the wearer......»»