Using microbes to get more out of mining waste
Researchers have developed a new mining technique which uses microbes to recover metals and store carbon in the waste produced by mining. Adopting this technique of reusing mining waste, called tailings, could transform the mining industry and create.....»»
New salmon habitat created by melting glaciers could be threatened by mining claims, study finds
Thousands of salmon on the West Coast of North America are finding their way into new streams left behind as glaciers retreat. But a new study suggests mining companies are too keen on the newly exposed mineral deposits beneath the shrinking glaciers.....»»
Researchers review miniaturized electrochemical sensor technologies for rapid heavy metal detection
Heavy metals (HMs) are metals with high densities and atomic weights. Originating from geological processes or human activities, including mining, industrial production, and petrochemical plants, they are toxic to humans and animals and considered as.....»»
GM partners with Komatsu on hydrogen fuel cells for mining vehicles
The first prototype built with technology from GM's Hydrotec hydrogen fuel cell unit will be tested mid-decade at a Komatsu R&D facility in Arizona, the companies said......»»
Investigating microfiber pollution
The fashion industry is facing several growing social and environmental sustainability issues; from clothing textile waste to the prospect of widespread microfiber pollution (MSF). For the latter, we struggle to even define the problem. While we know.....»»
Polyethylene waste could be a thing of the past
An international team of experts undertaking fundamental research has developed a way of using polyethylene waste (PE) as a feedstock and converted it into valuable chemicals, via light-driven photocatalysis......»»
Using machine learning to optimize volatile fatty acid production in riboflavin-mediated sludge fermentation
Waste activated sludge (WAS) is the most yielding byproduct in municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs), and its disposal poses secondary pollution that severely threatens the environment. Producing volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from WAS is a prom.....»»
Study shows how it"s possible to phase out fossil fuels without sacrificing electoral popularity
A new study by UCL researchers shows how it's possible to phase out fossil fuels without sacrificing electoral popularity—even in coal mining regions......»»
Study: Why a spritz of water before grinding coffee yields less waste, tastier espresso
"It turns out you can’t cut corners if you want to achieve excellence.” Researchers demonstrate how adding a splash of water reduces static electricity when grinding coffee. Credit: University of Oregon.....»»
Method for containing toxins from mine waste could protect drinking water, prevent cancer
Imagine an abandoned mine site, surrounded by dead trees and dotted with dark, red ponds with no signs of aquatic life. This is the result of mine waste left in the environment that gets weathered by water and air. With exposure to the elements over.....»»
Sulfur-cycling microbes could lead to new possibilities in river-wetland-ocean remediation
Nutrient cycles such as the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur cycles are critical processes that free up elements essential to life by recycling them through our water, air, and soil. Sulfur, specifically, is an integral element in producing a.....»»
Using clay to combat eternal toxins: Scientists clarify basis for innovative PFAS filter made of clay
PFAS filters available for industrial waste are usually made of activated carbon. As this is comparatively expensive, researchers are looking for alternative filter materials for the so-called "eternal toxins," whose hazardous residues only degrade v.....»»
Study shows unexpected expansion of rare earth element mining activities in Myanmar-China border region
As the demand for rare earth elements increases world-wide, so too do the mining activities associated with rare earth element extraction. Rare earth elements are listed as 15 elements on the periodic table constituting what is known as the lanthanid.....»»
Detoxifying gold mining
Jacqueline "Jackie" Gerson knows very well how "artisanal gold mining" sounds to people who haven't heard the phrase before......»»
New model allows for learning and prediction of microbial interactions
A tiny but prolific world of microbes encompasses everything around us, both inside and out. Microbiomes, which are comprised of diverse communities of microbes, play a pivotal role in shaping human health, yet the intricacies of how different microb.....»»
Minimalist or maximalist? The life of a microbe a mile underground
If you added up all the microbes living deep below Earth's surface, the amount of biomass would outweigh all life within our oceans......»»
A showdown over deep sea mining is taking place in the Pacific
Activists from Greenpeace International have boarded a ship that is conducting deep sea mining research in the Pacific Ocean, vowing to occupy the vessel until it abandons the expedition......»»
The T-shirt chewing enzyme ready to tackle plastic waste
A French start-up is ready to use an enzyme which can break down plastic on an industrial scale......»»
The t-shirt chewing enzyme ready to tackle plastic waste
A French start-up is ready to use an enzyme which can break down plastic on an industrial scale......»»
Sensitive ecosystems at risk from mine waste, finds study
Nearly a third of the world's mine tailings are stored within or near protected conservation areas, University of Queensland research has found. A study led by UQ's Bora Aska, from the Sustainable Minerals Institute and School of the Environment, sai.....»»
Plastic waste in the water might be stopping, or interrupting, some shrimp-like creatures from reproducing
In a unique study, published in the journal Environmental Pollution,the ability of "shrimp-like" creatures to reproduce successfully was found to be compromised by chemicals found in everyday plastics......»»