New Atlas

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Cotton waste finds new life as eco-friendly plastic

Ben Coxworth June 14, 2019

When a cotton gin is used to separate cotton fibers from their seeds, a lot of lint is produced as a waste product. Currently, much of that cotton lint is just burned or put in landfills. Thanks to recent research out of Australia, however, it may soon be converted into biodegradable plastic.

PhD candidate Abu Naser Md Ahsanul Haque (left), Dr. Maryam Naebe and associate research fellow Dr. ...

Environment

MAPHEX cleans up cow manure to make eco-friendly fertilizer

Ben Coxworth April 10, 2018

Livestock manure may seem like a relatively "green" form of crop fertilizer, but unfortunately it's full of phosphorous that pollutes waterways when it's carried off the land in runoff water. That's why scientists have developed a phosphorous-removal system known as MAPHEX.

The current mobile version of MAPHEX is made to service small and medium-sized dairies, although a ...

Science

When life gives you manure, make paper

Ben Coxworth March 22, 2018

Paper is typically made from cellulose fibers derived from wood, and wood isn't plentiful in places where there aren't many trees. In the near future, however, that may not be a problem, as scientists have devised a method of making paper from cow and even elephant manure.

Elephant dung (left), along with paper made from it

Environment

The story of how discarded orange peels turbocharged a Costa Rican forest

Rich Haridy August 22, 2017

Sixteen years after a controversial biodegradation plan allowed 1,000 truckloads of orange peels to be unloaded onto a barren, deforested area of Costa Rican land, researchers have found a lush, overgrown forest with richer soil and more tree species than the adjacent land that was untreated.

On the right is the lush forest that was loaded with orange peel waste and on ...

Health & Wellbeing

Milk chocolate gets the benefits of the dark side

Ben Coxworth October 31, 2016

Soon you may no longer have to choose between better-tasting and better-for-you. Scientists have developed a method of boosting the antioxidant levels of milk chocolate up to those of its dark counterpart, while also putting a waste product to new use.

Thanks to a new additive, milk chocolate and dark chocolate may soon be equally as good ...

Electronics

Cheap, high-performance green battery runs on rotten apples

Dario Borghino February 22, 2016

Researchers have used defective apples to produce a cheap and high-performance electrode for a sodium-ion battery, with applications including grid storage, portable electronics and electric cars.

A new carbon-based material for sodium-ion batteries can be extracted from apples

Environment

Air-purifying filter made from peanut shells

Ben Coxworth January 8, 2016

Peanut shells are generally considered to be a worthless agricultural byproduct. That could be about to change, however, as scientists have developed an air-purifying filter that utilizes the shells.

These things may be good for more than just compost

Good Thinking

Rice husks may find use in cheaper, greener, longer-lasting particleboard

Ben Coxworth May 27, 2015

In tropical countries such as the Philippines, there are plenty of rice husks ... and also plenty of termites. A group of engineering students recently decided to use the former to address the latter, by creating termite-resistant particleboard from rice husks.

Examples of different types of particleboard made from rice husks

Environment

Lawn clippings used to make eco-friendlier fireplace logs

Ben Coxworth November 16, 2012

A chemist is making eco-friendly fireplace logs from lawn clippings.

A chemist is making cleaner-burning fireplace logs from lawn clippings (Photo: Shutterstock)

Environment

Biodegradable fast food containers made from waste straw

Ben Coxworth April 19, 2012

A Hong Kong company is selling 100% biodegradable fast food containers, made from waste straw left over after wheat harvesting.