Turning wood into plastic
Efforts to shift from petrochemical plastics to renewable and biodegradable plastics have proven tricky—the production process can require toxic chemicals and is expensive, and the mechanical strength and water stability is often insufficient. But.....»»
Biologists find nanoplastics in developing chicken heart
Nanoplastics can accumulate in developing hearts, according to a study published in Environment International by biologist Meiru Wang from Leiden University. Her research on chicken embryos sheds new light on how these tiny plastic particles pose a t.....»»
Q&A: Plastic waste is a global problem, but carbon recycling can help
Heavy industries such as aviation and chemical manufacturing contribute to about 20% of overall U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and will continue to depend on fossil fuels......»»
Philippines deploys river rangers in battle against plastic
Using a long-handled net, Ronnel Narvas scoops up discarded plastic soft drink bottles, shopping bags and palm-sized sachets as he wades through a foul-smelling tributary in the Philippine capital Manila......»»
What’s Turning Cape Cod’s Water ‘Pea-Soup Green’?
Cape Cod’s water is turning “pea-soup green”—and after decades of scientific detective work, we know why......»»
Proposed Plastics Law Could Slash Wasteful Packaging
A law proposed in New York State seeks to reduce plastic packaging, ban certain plastic chemicals and mandate that producers of packaged consumer goods fund the recycling or disposal of what they sell.....»»
Big brands are "failing to curb plastic sachet use"
Small plastic sachets commonly used in low- and middle-income countries must be phased out and packaging reuse systems promoted, urge campaigners and waste pickers, as new analysis reveals major corporations have failed to curb their use......»»
Ambitious targets are needed to end ocean plastic pollution by 2100, analysis finds
A collaboration between researchers at Imperial College London and GNS Science, suggests that reducing plastic pollution by 5% per year would stabilize the level of microplastics—plastics less than 5 mm in length—in the surface oceans......»»
Cathie Wood Is Loading Up on This Innovative Growth Stock
Cathie Wood Is Loading Up on This Innovative Growth Stock.....»»
A research team is developing a method to recycle more plastics
Despite consumer efforts to sort and separate recyclables, most plastic bottles still end up in the landfill. Standard recycling methods to sort, shred and remake plastics are limited to just type-1 and type-2 plastics—basically only soda bottles,.....»»
Sustainable, high-performance paper coating material could reduce microplastic pollution
Plastic pollution presents a global challenge that must be solved. In particular, packaging accounts for 30–50% of the total plastic consumption. While paper packaging is eco-friendly, it lacks crucial functionalities like moisture resistance and s.....»»
Researchers introduce programmable materials to help heal broken bones
Natural materials like bone, bird feathers and wood have an intelligent approach to physical stress distribution, despite their irregular architectures. However, the relationship between stress modulation and their structures has remained elusive......»»
Researchers analyze how a chemical process could help recycle a common plastic waste
Researchers at Virginia Tech are exploring processes that might greatly increase the recycling of one of the world's most-produced plastics......»»
Alaska"s rusting waters: Pristine rivers and streams turning orange
Dozens of Alaska's most remote streams and rivers are turning from a crystal clear blue into a cloudy orange, and the staining could be the result of minerals exposed by thawing permafrost, finds new research in Communications Earth & Environment......»»
Plastic-greenhouse agriculture: A novel soil profile design for global sustainability and enhanced crop production
A research team has developed a novel conceptual framework for designing plastic-greenhouse soil profiles that cater to the needs of smallholder farmers. The soil profile includes four functional layers: a soil mulch layer for preventing evaporation,.....»»
How Black teachers lost when civil rights won in Brown v. Board
Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision that desegregated public schools, stands in the collective national memory as a turning point in America's fight for racial justice. But as the U.S. observes its 70th anniversary, Brown also rep.....»»
Study finds saying "please" may not be so polite in everyday requests
By kindergarten age, most children have been taught that "please" is a magic word. "Please" is an expression of politeness that shows courtesy and respect, turning a potential demand into a request that will—poof!—magically be granted......»»
The tide is turning against a controversial term accused of covering up deaths in police custody
Updated medical guidance on "excited delirium," the controversial term accused of covering up deaths in police custody, including that of George Floyd, is being brought forward before its scheduled date of October 2025, reports The BMJ......»»
Study shows how avocado pruning residues can be used produce more sustainable food packaging
Although plastic allows food to be packaged safely and hygienically, its extensive use constitutes a significant environmental challenge due to its limited recyclability and short shelf life. Thus, industry and the scientific community have been look.....»»
Evolutionary history shapes variation of wood density: Study
Ecology and evolutionary biology suggest that closely related species are more likely to exhibit morphological and functional similarities compared to distantly related species. Each tree species represents a unique genetic reservoir and is a product.....»»
Tiny pieces of plastic pose one of the biggest threats to Chicago River wildlife and water quality
Wendella engineer Miguel Chavez climbed down a ladder and over a small dock to pull up a trap floating in the Chicago River near the Michigan Avenue Bridge. The size of a standard garbage can, the trap is designed to collect trash and can hold up to.....»»