Search Results - environmental

Minimizing Food Waste in Europe Leads to Significant Environmental Footprint Reduction

Crédit: Science KU Recent research indicates that European food consumption relies heavily on global resources, primarily imported from non-European countries. The food supply chain, starting from the primary agricultural sector, experiences food loss and waste until it reaches European consumers. Marianne Thomsen, a professor of sustainable food systems at the University of Copenhagen, suggests that halving...

A New Method Can Make Plastics More Environmentally Friendly

Plastic bottles   A new technique has been developed by researchers that changes polyethylene (PE), the most widely generated plastic, into polypropylene (PP), the second most produced plastics. Upcycling plastic efficiently to remove waste The purpose of this process is to decrease greenhouse emissions. "The world needs more and better options for extracting the power and molecular value...

Scientists Alarmed by Unprecedented Coral Death in the Great Barrier Reef

Credit: Pixabay Australian research revealed on Tuesday that certain areas of the Great Barrier Reef have experienced the highest recorded coral mortality, with scientists concerned that other parts of the reef may have been affected in the same way. Coral Mortality and Environmental Stressors on the Great Barrier Reef However, the Australian Institute of Marine Science reported...

RoBoa Slinks Through Disaster Areas that are Too Perilous for Other Robots

The soft-bodied RoBoa can snake its way through collapsed buildings in search of survivorsRoBoa/ETH Zurich When disaster strikes, drones and robots can search for survivors in dangerous zones. The student team at ETH Zurich designed the RoBoa to slither through debris that would stop other robots. Developed at the Autonomous Systems Lab, RoBoa aids rescue teams...

Bourbon Distilleries: A New Source of Renewable Energy

After the mash is used to make bourbon, a leftover substance called stillage remains. New research shows that this waste product could have a new life as a source of natural gasDepositphotos In Kentucky, the demand for bourbon is expected to double over the next five years, while the state’s cattle population has reached its...

AI Could Contribute Millions of Tons of E-Waste, Warn Scientists

Credit: Depositphotos AI has rapidly advanced in replicating human activities, such as holding conversations, creating art, and producing videos. However, a study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Reichman University warns that AI could also contribute to environmental waste. With the growing popularity of generative AI like ChatGPT, researchers estimate these systems could add 1.2...

Electrochemical Reactor Extracts 97.5% of Lithium From Geothermal Sources

Geothermal pools, like the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park seen here, contain ample amounts of lithiumDepositphotos Lithium-ion batteries power everything from vapes to electric cars, but they rely on hard-to-extract lithium. A new electrochemical reactor from Rice University promises to make lithium harvesting safer and more efficient. Lithium-ion batteries dominate the market due to...

A Million Were Struck by This Mysterious Disease Before It Vanished

A patient with encephalitis lethargica in 1925. (Public Domain Mark/Wellcome Collection) In the film Awakenings, Robert De Niro's character laments, "People have forgotten what life is all about" after he revives from a 30-year shutdown state. This film, based on Dr. Oliver Sacks' true story, explores the lives of individuals impacted by encephalitis lethargica, or "sleepy...

Electricity Generated From Styrofoam Static And Wind Energy

The new patch creates harvestable static electricity when exposed to an air currentRMIT Styrofoam’s Potential for Generating Static Electricity If you’ve ever had packing peanuts stick to your clothes while unboxing a delivery, you already know that Styrofoam generates a lot of static electricity. A new invention is now using this property to create a sustainable...

High School Students Publish Impossible Proofs of Pythagoras Theorem

Credit: Pixabay What started as a bonus question in a high school math competition has led to an astonishing 10 new proofs of the ancient Pythagorean theorem. It has long been considered impossible to use trigonometry to demonstrate a theorem that is foundational to trigonometric principles, as this creates a logical fallacy of circular reasoning by...