Tag: Sustainability

Waste from sugar production can remove harmful pesticides from the water. Meanwhile, a Swiss-based startup has developed a new smart system for the farming industry which limits their use in the first place. The team’s precision field sprayer reduces the use of pesticides by up to 95%. Cameras mounted on the device scan the field sections underneath while driving,...

Some test animals do get a happy ending after all. Better still, a US research team wants to ensure animal testing can be bypassed in sustainable and cost-effective ways with the help of marine red seaweed, known as Pacific dulse. Following cleaning and drying of the seaweed the US team used an anionic surfactant to remove all its cells,...

Some loudspeakers double as air purifiers. But what about analogue loudspeakers sitting gathering dust? Well, according to a Danish startup, it's time they received a new lease of life. The team's crowdfunded battery-powered box provides access to the digital world with a stereo port for two-wire audio cables. An in-built Bluetooth connection allows the box to be coupled with digital...

Waste from wine production can be put to good use. But wine left in opened bottles is generally discarded after 3 days because of oxidation or loss of quality. That's $1.5 billion dollars of wine wasted each year in America alone. Enter a female founder and her startup's patented new solution. Her innovation comprises a silicon stopper lid and...

Optimised shipping routes lead to reduced emissions. CO2 emissions can also be spiked by algae on ships’ hulls and changes in flow behaviour. Now, a startup in Singapore is specialising in the removal of algae on container ships and other types of vessels. A robot inspects the extent of the damage, using patented technology to generate clear images even...

Probiotics can strengthen coral's immune system. But suncream worn by swimmers often damages it. Enter a research team in Singapore and its coral-friendly UV protection agent made from camellia and sunflower pollen. Their shells, after all, are not only extremely tough biopolymers but also naturally UV-resistant. The team removed the inner contents of the flower’s pollen and made their...

Renewable energy can be stored as heat in sand. Silica, meanwhile, is making energy savings possible in the cold chain network. Certainly for the transportation of vaccinations, enzymes and even DNA. Knowing that biologically active molecules in medical substances are thermally unstable and prone to decomposition when temperatures fluctuate, a UK-based startup has developed a new solution: to encase...

A foam-based pressure bandage helps treat serious wounds. When bones break badly, medical practitioners often use metal plates or 3D-printed implants. Now, a research team in South Korea has developed an easy-to-use glue stick instead. The stick is made from biodegradable plastic, which melts at low temperatures, a phosphate mineral occurring naturally in bones and antibiotics. Using a modified...