Students Trial Paid Recycling
Students at New College Lanarkshire are now being financially rewarded for recycling cans and plastic bottles as part of a new trial designed to test how incentives influence sustainable habits. How the Trial Works and Why It Matters The month-long trial, which runs across the college’s Motherwell, Coatbridge and Cumbernauld campuses, offers students a 20p […]
UCLA Polymer Device Cools Without Fans or Refrigerants
A small, flexible cooling device developed by UCLA scientists can continuously reduce surrounding temperatures by up to 16°F, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional air conditioning. A Compact, Solid-State Breakthrough in Cooling Researchers at UCLA have unveiled a new cooling technology that operates without refrigerants, fans or compressors. Instead, it uses layers of flexible polymer […]
New Homes 3D Printed From Soil
Japanese housing firm Lib Work has completed the country’s first 3D-printed house made primarily from soil, a development that could reshape how homes are built and raise important questions about cost, practicality and sustainability. Who Is Behind the Project? Lib Work, based in Kumamoto Prefecture, is a housing developer known for pushing new ideas in […]
Turning Waste & Microbes Into Food
A Hamburg–Lisbon startup is turning agricultural waste into protein powder using microbes, producing vegan dog treats today and working towards reshaping tomorrow’s food system. MicroHarvest MicroHarvest was founded in 2021 by Katelijne Bekers, Luísa Cruz, and Paulo Teixeira, and operates between Hamburg and Lisbon. The company specialises in microbial fermentation, a process that uses bacteria […]
Desktop Fusion Reactor Breakthrough
A Seattle startup has taken a significant step toward creating a portable nuclear fusion device, operating its compact reactor at 300,000 volts for extended periods, a key technical breakthrough that could transform the clean energy landscape. Who Is Avalanche Energy? Avalanche Energy is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington, founded in 2018 by […]
Robots Cut Pesticide in Strawberry Farming
A new wave of farm automation is aiming to cut chemical use in food production, led by California-based TRIC Robotics, whose UV-powered robots are helping strawberry growers tackle pests and disease without pesticides. Tackling One of the Dirtiest Fruits on the Shelf Strawberries may be a consumer favourite, but they’re also among the most chemically […]
New Industry Powered By EV Battery Recycling
As electric vehicle usage expands, the race is on to recycle their batteries and recover scarce materials like lithium, nickel and cobalt, thereby cutting emissions and easing dependence on mining. A New Phase In the EV Revolution With global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) topping 14 million in 2023, a 35 per cent increase on […]
Funding To Replace Microplastics in Cosmetics
Cellugy, a Danish industrial biotech company, has received €8.1 million in EU funding to scale up production of EcoFLEXY, a biodegradable cellulose-based material designed to replace microplastics in everyday cosmetics. A Hidden Threat Microplastics, (i.e. tiny plastic particles under 5mm), are now found in everything from toothpaste and moisturiser to shower gels and makeup. These […]
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 […]