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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
In the 1830s, America imported autumn olives from eastern Asia to stop erosion and reclaim mines; now the plant infests much of the United StatesAutumn olive, introduced from Asia, was used for erosion control and land restoration. This shrub's nitrogen-fixing ability and rapid growt...
NASA satellites compared the Aral Sea between 2000 and 2014; river diversion left its eastern basin as exposed desertNASA's satellite images illustrate a dramatic transformation of the Aral Sea from 2000 to 2014, driven by the diversion of rivers for agric...
A PhD student used shredded baby diapers in a prototype Indonesian house; 27% of its non-structural concrete blocks contained diaper waste, totaling about 3,700 poundsAn extraordinary house in Indonesia has creatively utilized nearly 3,700 pounds of discarded diapers. This unique construction method incor...
RMIT engineers mixed 1% recycled cigarette butts into fired-clay bricks, and the bricks matched standard strength while cutting firing energy by 10%In Melbourne, engineers are pioneering a groundbreaking technique to integrate discarded cigarette butts into building bricks. This eco-fri...
In 2024, South Dakota State University researchers turned banana peels into biodegradable film; it reached 31.3 MPa tensile strength and lost more than half its weight in moist soil within three weeksScientists at South Dakota State University have transformed banana peels into a plastic-like film that is biodegradable and breaks down in...
As climate change warms the Himalayas, disasters like the Nepal floods are becoming more frequentRecent flash floods in Nepal and China killed over one thousand people. High mountain glaciers are melting, increasing flood frequency and ...
In 2012, Chicago’s Railroad Retirement Board found new life for 3,200 pounds of electronics through reuse and recycling; the effort lifted waste diversion nearly 10%The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board successfully recycled over 3,200 pounds of electronic waste. This achievement was driven by federal prog...
In 2022, Maryland engineers turned crab-shell chitosan into a zinc-battery electrolyte; after more than 1,000 cycles, the zinc anode still delivered 99.7% coulombic efficiencyInnovative researchers are turning leftover crab shells into essential components for batteries. Packed with chitosan, these shells can cre...
Psychology explains why people litter even when they know it is wrong: A 2022 study finds good attitudes may not be enough, while personal control, connection to nature and social pressure shape the decision to stopPsychology of littering: Littering behavior is often influenced by a combination of perceived control and social signals rather than merely...
In 1996, West Virginia's BRWA and WVWRI developed a plan to treat Swamp Run’s acid mine drainage. 28 years later, 2 projects had dramatically improved the stream’s pH with lasting gainsSwamp Run in Upshur County, West Virginia, faced decades of water quality problems caused by acid mine drainage from buried coal refuse lef...
The receipt in your hand looks harmless, but its heat-sensitive coating can contain chemicals that transfer to skin, raising fresh questions about repeated everyday exposureMany receipts are printed on heat-sensitive thermal paper, which contains chemicals like BPA and BPS. This poses a risk as exposure can occ...
In 2019, RMIT researchers fired clay bricks mixed with treated sewage sludge; a 25% biosolids batch cut firing energy by 48.6% while passing strength testsResearchers are exploring ways to recycle sewage sludge into building materials. Mixing biosolids into clay significantly cuts the energy n...
In 2026, scientists tracked 4,581 animals across 37 species; more than 65% changed their behaviour simply when humans were nearbyResearchers tracking 4,581 animals across 37 species in the US found that more than 65% changed how they used space when humans were nearby...
In 1946, imported beetles were released against toxic St. Johnswort in northern California; by 1957, the weed had fallen to less than 1% of its former abundanceBy the 1940s, European Klamathweed had established itself as a major rangeland threat in California. To combat this invasive species, leaf ...
How a student turned waste glass into an ‘oyster home’ and won Rs 1.2 lakh awardA Florida high school student, Delaney Peterson, has explored an unusual way to support oyster reef restoration, by turning discarded glass...
Supreme Court to hear plea on ethanol labelling at petrol pumps on August 31The Supreme Court will hear a petition on August 31 regarding ethanol labelling. The plea seeks mandatory disclosure of ethanol percentages...
UAE has turned desert sand into construction bricks using a new eco-friendly method developed by scientists that doesn't need additional heat to harden and could reduce cement importsResearchers in the UAE have developed construction bricks using abundant desert sand and alkali-activated binders instead of conventional P...
Before the first server hums: India needs an impact test for the AI ageBefore advancing with AI infrastructure in India, it is crucial to conduct thorough impact assessments. Large data centres have high demand...
UKMTO says tanker struck by unknown projectile off Saudi Arabia's YanbuA tanker sustained damage from an unknown projectile near Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port. The vessel experienced a fire on its main deck, but al...
California beach closed after 58-foot fishing boat carrying 1,000 gallons of diesel runs aground at Point Reyes National Seashore - What we know so farA fishing vessel ran aground at Point Reyes National Seashore early Friday. Approximately one thousand gallons of diesel fuel were aboard t...