Tag: Climate

A breakfast omelette made from sweet lupins? That’s possible. Now, a German research team is upping the ante with a sustainable palm oil substitute, which could also be used to produce vegan cheese. The main ingredient is corn stover, mixed with a single-celled fungal strain. Fermenting the combination produces an oil which is almost identical in composition to palm...

Team spirit can be strengthened through volunteer work. A company’s attitude to sustainability is increasingly important for prospective employees. Now, using a platform created by an American startup, small- and medium-sized companies can analyse their carbon footprint with a view to making improvements. First, accounting data is uploaded. This gives information on purchases, expenditures and other transactions. Using additional...

An Indian startup is creating smog-free zones. Whales and mini-shrimps sequester CO2 on the ocean floor. And now, a thumbnail-sized, sustainable energy storage device developed by scientists at Cambridge University offers fresh hope for the environment. When charging, the supercapacitor’s negatively charged electrode absorbs CO2 from the air, which is bound in an electrolyte housing the second electrode. During...

Implanted visual cells help the retina regenerate. Meanwhile, a Brazilian marine biologist is working on regenerating entire coral landscapes. Her secret? Probiotics. As well as being good for our gut, the living microorganisms make coral more resistant too. After treatment with the helpful bacteria, around 40% of coral reefs were able to withstand the influence of heat, oil and...

This food seemingly appears out of thin air. Alongside CO2, methane is a significant factor in global warming. Now, a Californian company has finalised their process to create a biomaterial for cutlery, sunglasses and bags from the gas. They employ microorganisms to manage the conversion which occurs in a reactor that runs on renewable energies. Methane from landfill sites,...

Artificial intelligence has helped create new kinds of beer. The brewing process could be more sustainable. Now, a Dutch startup has developed a blue drink that won’t make you feel blue the morning after. The new lemonade is made from Spirulina, an algae that is rich in Vitamins C and B2, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium and chlorophyll....

People with disabilities can check where their needs are enshrined in law and what support is available when travelling. Now, the city of Asheville, North California, has launched a Climate Justice Data Map with the aim of handling local climate threats better. Clicking on a neighbourhood or typing in an address leads to a risk assessment on a scale...

Our heart can power a pacemaker and body heat fitness trackers. Why not use wasted heat from warm water pipes in a similar way? Pipes are round; generators that convert heat into electricity, generally flat. Cue a research team from Penn State, and its new manufacturing process for flexible generators. A dozen strips, each holding 6 current transformers, were...