Environment
News and analysis of environmental issues and green technology.
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Study points to ship hull coatings as a major source of microplastic pollution
When we hear about microplastic particles polluting the ocean, the usual suspected sources are degraded plastic goods and synthetic textile fibers. A new study, however, suggests that much of the blame lies with hull coatings on ships. -
Ancient tree tells chaotic tale of Earth’s magnetic field reversal
An ancient tree fossil has offered scientists a peek into a moment 42,000 years ago when the Earth’s magnetic field went haywire. The study paints a picture of environmental chaos, influencing everything from an increase in cave paintings to the extinction of the Neanderthals. -
Supercomputer-developed AI predicts tsunami flooding in real-time on a PC
Teams tasked with managing tsunami risks may soon have a powerful new tool at their disposal, in the form of a new AI model that enables near real-time predictions of how these events will shape the flooding of coastal areas. -
Coca-Cola to test market paper bottle prototype in limited trial
The Coca-Cola Company has announced it will be trialing a paper bottle prototype in a limited run of 2,000 later this year. The test sales of the plant-based beverage AdeZ will be conducted in Hungary through the e-grocery retailer Kifli.hu. -
Climate change may be pushing great white shark nurseries northward
The great white shark may be one of the ocean's top predators, but it's still affected by climate change, just like any other animal. That's what's indicated by a new study, which shows that young great whites in California are moving to the north. -
Fossil fuel pollution caused 8.7 million deaths in 2018, study finds
While much of the criticism surrounding the burning of fossil fuels focuses on the long term impacts to the health of the planet, it can also have devastating short-term effects on the health of the human population, a new study has found. -
Artificial intelligence software detects ocean plastics from the air
As millions of tons of plastic wash into the ocean everyday, scientists have their work cut out for them in trying to keep tabs on its whereabouts, but an algorithm that can detect and quantify marine litter through aerial imagery could help. -
Elon Musk throws $100 million at carbon removal in biggest XPrize yet
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has stumped up $100 million for a new XPrize competition that takes aim at the problem of carbon pollution, with hopes of unearthing technologies that can remove it from the atmosphere and ocean. -
Scientists engineer stronger road material using recycled face masks
Scientists at RMIT University are continually coming up with ways to work recovered waste items into high-performing road materials. The latest is made with help from shredded face masks and they claim it offers some unique engineering advantages. -
Trash trap gets to work removing plastic waste from Vietnam's Red River
Removing the vast amounts of plastic waste already polluting our oceans is going to need tackling in a number of ways. But the flow of plastic from rivers also needs to be stopped, and that's what Vietnam's trash traps are designed to do. -
World's fastest growing plant offers genomic clues for next-gen crops
Scientists at the Salk Institute hope to tackle climate change and food security by unraveling the genomic architecture behind various plant species, and have gleaned some valuable new lessons from the fastest-growing example we know of. -
Food waste converted into bacteria-boosting liquid fertilizer
Everyone already knows that compost made from food scraps helps plants to grow. Now, however, scientists have fermented food waste to create a liquid fertilizer that boosts the number of beneficial bacteria within the plants themselves, and in their soil.