By John Vibes According to a new study published in the journal Science, researchers recently discovered 1.9 million pieces of microplastic in an area of about 11 square feet. The sample was taken in the Mediterranean Sea, and researchers say that its the highest concentration…
By Giles Harrison, University of Reading It’s difficult to imagine quite how alarming it would have been for the world’s meteorologists monitoring the atmosphere during the nuclear tests in the 1950s and early ’60s. The radioactivity released in the Arctic and South Pacific test sites…
Elevated blood levels of toxic chemicals found in pesticides, nonstick cookware, and fire retardants have been tied to an increased risk for celiac disease in young people, new research shows. According to NYU Grossman School of Medicine researchers who led the study, people with the…
By Patricia Burke “The future depends on what we do in the present.” – Gandhi Back in late December of 2013, while many Massachusetts residents were focused on the holiday season, the Dept. of Public Utilities published its order 12-76: D.P.U. 12-76-A December 23, 2013,…
By John Vibes You may have recently heard something about “murder hornets”, an invasive species to the United States that has been making headlines this month. The real name for this insect is the “Asian giant hornet” but in typical fashion, it has been given…
By Anthony McLennan Danish beer brand Carlsberg has designed what they claim is the first-ever beer bottle made from paper. The paper beer bottle has not been put into production yet, but there are two working prototypes. “We are working on developing the world’s first…
‘Artificial leaf’ concept inspires Rice University research into solar-powered fuel production Rice University researchers have created an efficient, low-cost device that splits water to produce hydrogen fuel. The platform developed by the Brown School of Engineering lab of Rice materials scientist Jun Lou integrates catalytic…
By Elias Marat Authorities in a Spanish coastal town have been forced to apologize after they sprayed a local beach with bleach in a clumsy attempt to protect residents from the coronavirus. The apology from officials in the fishing village of Zahara de los Atunes,…
By Mayukh Saha Plastic pollution has been haunting the planet for a long time. We may have realized the devil that plastic is quite recently, but we are also trying to bring the use of plastic to a halt. In Australia, a teenager has taken…
Trees, shrubs and woody vines are among the top food sources for honey bees in urban environments, according to an international team of researchers. By using honey bees housed in rooftop apiaries in Philadelphia, the researchers identified the plant species from which the honey bees…
Food wrapping, fishing gear and plastic waste continue to reach the Antarctic. Two new studies into how plastic debris is reaching sub-Antarctic islands are published this month (April 2020) in the journal Environment International. New findings include analyses of some of the longest continuous datasets…
By Jake Anderson When it comes to cosmology, astronomy, and physics, there is no shortage of off-the-wall arguments and hypotheses. While new discoveries from the early moments of the Big Bang and quantum and particle physics continue to amaze us and fill in the gaps…
By John Vibes A creative organization called “Company New Heroes” and the biotechnology company “Krown Design,” have teamed up to create an incredible building made of mushrooms, which they call the “The Growing Pavilion.” The structure was built for Dutch Design Week, and was created…
By Mayukh Saha Shneel Malik has created a modular wall system using algae and ceramic tiles which are supposed to purify pollutants from water. She is an Indian architect and a doctoral candidate from the Bartlett School of Architecture. Indus (the filter) contains ceramic tiles…
Op-Ed by Patricia Burke A few years back, when my elderly aunt passed away, we were clearing her belongings out of her home, and we found many animal-themed items that she had received over her years of supporting the local SPCA (Society for the Prevention…
By Anthony McLennan A Polish business called Biotrem is offering a unique solution to help fight plastic pollution with their disposable, biodegradable tableware made from unprocessed wheat bran. Biotrem’s product is an alternative to disposal tableware manufactured from plastic or paper. Plastic and paper products…
By Jade Small In March 2019, an amazing discovery was made on New Zealand’s North Island. An ancient tree, the first and perhaps only specimen that exists, shows evidence of a reversal of Earth’s magnetic field. The Agathis Australis, known as a Kauri tree in…
By Anthony McLennan Platio Solar, a Budapest-based company, has come up with an innovative solution for alternative energy – solar pavers made from recycled plastic which can be built into driveways or pavements. According to the company’s website, a 20-square-meter system is able to generate…
By Anthony McLennan It’s one of the biggest challenges facing humanity: how to stop the tide of plastic pollution that is suffocating our planet. Now, a French company called Carbios has developed a mutant enzyme formula which can break down plastic into a pristine recyclable…
By Steven Murawski, University of South Florida and Sherryl Gilbert, University of South Florida Over the decade since the Deepwater Horizon spill, thousands of scientists have analyzed its impact on the Gulf of Mexico. The spill affected many different parts of the Gulf, from coastal…
