Warning About UK’s “Fast Tech” Habit
A surge in cheap, short-lived electronics is fuelling a growing e-waste crisis in the UK, according to new research from sustainability group Material Focus. What Is Fast Tech And Why Does It Matter? The term “fast tech” refers to low-cost, mass-produced electrical items such as mini-fans, earbuds, LED lights, charging cables, and novelty gadgets like […]
First Artificial Eclipse Made Using Satellites
A pioneering European mission has successfully engineered an artificial total eclipse in orbit, unlocking new insights into the Sun’s outer atmosphere and showcasing precision spaceflight powered by sustainable innovation. World-First In a world-first achievement for orbital science, the European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled the first results from its ambitious Proba‑3 mission to create a […]
Town Heated By World’s Largest Sand Battery
A small municipality in Finland is switching off fossil fuels and switching on a new era of green heating, thanks to an innovative sand-based energy storage system. Pornainen Turns to Thermal Storage to Ditch Oil and Gas The Finnish town of Pornainen, just over an hour from Helsinki, has become the first community to heat […]
Wireless Charging Roads
Electric roads that wirelessly charge vehicles as they drive are now moving beyond demonstration and into real-world usage, offering a glimpse of a transport future with fewer cables, faster charging, and lighter electric vehicles. Global Trials Are Shaping the Next Phase of EV Infrastructure Mainly based in the US at present, from city buses in […]
New ‘Meat’ From Fermented Fungi & Oats
Swedish startup Millow is using dry fermentation to create scalable, low-impact meat substitutes that could reshape the future of food production. A New Approach to Protein Production Millow, a foodtech company based in Gothenburg, has launched its first commercial-scale factory to produce a new kind of meat alternative. Its method combines oats and mycelium (the […]
Ancient Bacteria Powers New Green Chemical Facility
A startup with roots in Denmark and Germany is now using ancient bacteria and Texan emissions to make low-carbon chemicals, thereby offering a novel alternative to fossil-fuel-based manufacturing. A Biotech Startup With Climate Ambitions Founded in 2021, ‘Again’ is the brainchild of Danish researchers and German entrepreneur Max Kufner. It positions itself as the world’s […]
Fallen Leaves Make Sustainable Paper
A Ukrainian company is reimagining urban waste by transforming fallen leaves into eco-friendly pulp and packaging paper, thereby cutting carbon, saving water, and leaving forests untouched. Growing Without Cutting Down Trees Releaf Paper, based in Kyiv, Ukraine, is exploring an alternative approach to sustainable packaging by turning urban leaf litter into recyclable paper products. Launched […]
Low Carbon ‘Superwood’ With Steel-Like Strength
A new sustainable building material that’s stronger than steel and made from ordinary timber is about to go into mass production, and it could change the face of construction forever. From The Lab to the Launch of ‘Superwood’ In 2018, materials scientist Liangbing Hu and his team at the University of Maryland developed a method […]
Will Robots Solve The Housing Crisis?
As Europe faces a worsening housing shortage, a new generation of construction robots is being pitched as a solution, but how realistic is the idea, and what does it mean for sustainability, workers, and the industry as a whole? Rethinking the Way We Build Housing shortages aren’t new, but in parts of Europe (including the […]
Google Training 130,000 Electricians & Apprentices
Google says the future of AI depends on a new generation of electricians and that’s why it’s investing massively to train them. A Different Kind of Skills Shortage As artificial intelligence (AI) systems grow ever more powerful, so too does their appetite for energy. From data centres to new-generation processors, it seems that the infrastructure […]
UK Pilot Scheme To Extract CO₂ From Seawater
A pioneering new facility in Weymouth, Dorset, is taking an innovative approach to tackling climate change by extracting carbon dioxide directly from seawater. Why? While most climate efforts focus on cutting emissions or capturing carbon from the air, the SeaCURE project, developed by scientists from Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the University of Exeter, is […]
Bubbles Protect Offshore Wind Farm Marine Life
In a UK first, energy giant RWE has successfully trialled bubble curtain technology at its Sofia Offshore Wind Farm to protect marine life from the noise generated during offshore wind construction. A Breakthrough for British Waters This kind of system, already in use across parts of Europe, is designed to dramatically reduce the impact of […]