Plastics Are Devastating the Guts of Seabirds
New research shows that seabirds’ ingestion of the pollutant scars their insides—a new disease called “plasticosis”—and may disturb their microbiomes......»»
Surge in identity crime victims reporting suicidal thoughts
Identity theft can have great financial impact on the victims, but the experienced emotional, physical and psychological impact can be even more devastating, according to the 2023 Consumer Impact Report from the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC).....»»
How bacteria ship cellular cargo by "surfing" along proteins
Bacteria live in nearly every habitat on Earth including within soil, water, acidic hot springs and even within our own guts......»»
Line-scan Raman micro-spectroscopy provides rapid method for micro and nanoplastics detection
Microplastics—plastics particles smaller than 5 mm in size—have caused an environmental pollution issue that cannot be ignored by our society. Raman spectroscopy technology, with its non-contact, non-destructive and chemical-specific characterist.....»»
Plastic waste can be used as raw material for detergents, thanks to an improved catalytic method
We've managed to accumulate so much plastic trash that it's daunting to think about what could be done with the tons upon tons of nonbiodegradable waste. And as much as we are trying to scale back our dependence on single-use plastics, we continue to.....»»
Extreme Australian bushfires pose serious threat to global climate, scientists warn
The increasing number of extreme bushfires around the world, as currently seen in Canada and Greece and previously during the Australian Black Summer, could exacerbate climate change and further disrupt Earth's systems, leading to devastating impacts.....»»
Transforming flies into degradable plastics
Imagine using insects as a source of chemicals to make plastics that can biodegrade later—with the help of that very same type of bug. That concept is closer to reality than you might expect. Researchers describe their progress to date, including i.....»»
Recycling study demonstrates new possibilities for a circular plastics economy powered by renewable energy
Despite efforts across the globe to move toward a circular plastics economy, more than three quarters of the 400 metric tons of plastic produced worldwide each year still ends up as waste......»»
Maui wildfires point to a long, painful road ahead, disaster recovery expert says
The devastating wildfires that swept quickly through the Hawaiian island of Maui this week have claimed the lives of at least 36 people. The wind-whipped flames left the historic town of Lahaina, known as a site of Hawaiian cultural heritage, in ruin.....»»
New recycling process could find markets for "junk" plastic waste
Although many Americans deposit their plastic trash into the appropriate bins each week, many of those materials, including flexible films, multilayer materials and a lot of colored plastics, are not recyclable using conventional mechanical recycling.....»»
Apple to donate to Maui and Hawaii relief and recovery efforts
Wildfires broke out on the island of Maui, causing devastating damage, and Apple CEO Tim Cook has pledged that the company will donate to the relief and recovery efforts.Image from the Red CrossA deadly combination of drought and high winds set wides.....»»
Researchers develop method for upcycling plastic waste into soap
A team led by Virginia Tech researchers has developed a new method for upcycling plastics into high-value chemicals known as surfactants, which are used to create soap, detergent, and more. The work was published in Science......»»
Telling stories of our climate futures is essential to thinking through the net-zero choices of today
It has been a year of devastating climate impacts with humanity around the world experiencing a bitter taste of what climate scientists have been warning about for years. The dire prospect is that we are on the precipice of a "new abnormal.".....»»
Capacity and vulnerability analysis of flood risk
The increasing frequency and intensity of flooding events worldwide due to climate change have drawn attention to the pressing issue of flood risk management. The loss of life can be devastating, particularly in less developed and more vulnerable par.....»»
Breakthrough polymer research promises to revolutionize recycling
A team of researchers led by Brent Sumerlin, the George B. Butler Professor in the University of Florida Department of Chemistry, has made a breakthrough with the potential to transform how we recycle plastics. Their innovative approach to working wi.....»»
Water-stressed Iraq dries up fish farms
Iraqi villager Omar Ziad gazes at the cracked and barren earth where his fish farm once stood, lost to water conservation efforts during a devastating four-year drought......»»
Putting starch into bio-based polymer makes bioplastics more compostable
Researchers from Michigan State University's top-ranked School of Packaging have developed a way to make a promising, sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics more biodegradable......»»
Exploring an eco-friendly enzyme to create key chemical building blocks
Using energy from light to activate natural enzymes can help scientists create new-to-nature enzymatic reactions that support eco-friendly biomanufacturing—the production of fuels, plastics, and valuable chemicals from plants or other biological sy.....»»
Development of atactic C-C main chain polymer with a high melting point
Polymers with carbon–carbon (C-C) bonds (C-C polymers) in the main chain skeleton such as polyethylene and polypropylene are important industrial materials and are utilized as common plastics......»»
Making renewable, infinitely recyclable plastics using bacteria
Plastic waste is a problem. Most plastics can't be recycled, and many use finite, polluting petrochemicals as the basic ingredients. But that's changing. In a study published in Nature Sustainability, researchers successfully engineered microbes to m.....»»
Scientists observe driver of chemical reaction in plastics industry for first time
Now, here is a strange thing. One of the most important drivers of perhaps the largest industrial chemical reaction has never been observed in over 100 years of study......»»