Tag: Water

In Italy, tomatoes have a life after dinner. Chocolate is another cherished Italian staple. Yet, instead of using cocoa, a regional startup began looking to carob for a more sustainable alternative. Sweet and high-in-fibre, the legume also works against free radicals in the body. The carob tree thrives in the dry, southern Italian climate. If used, 2,400 litres of...

Interbreeding plants intelligently helps to create new GMO-free food products. In some parts of the world, clean drinking water is also in short supply. Which is why a woman's Toronto-based startup is eschewing time consuming trial-and-error experimentation in its bid to provide clean water for all. To do so, they are combining quantum chemistry with artificial intelligence. Their system...

Wood waste can help remove microplastics from water. Glyphosate, a widely-used and hazardous herbicide, is increasingly present in water, too. Now, a research team from Brazil, where over 170 tonnes of these pesticides are used annually, is on the lookout for a sustainable removal. Waste from sugar production, it seems, might just hold the key. First the team shredded...

Sawdust combined with a layer of tannic acid is helping to make water clean. Now, a US-based research team has, likewise, used tannic acid to create a natural alternative to oil-based glues. Mixing it with the protein zein from maize kernels, they discovered that the formulation grew stronger underwater, irrespective of the water’s salinity. This was due to a...

Illuminated nets are helping to reduce bycatch. On land, in countries like Peru, Bolivia or Oman, nets are hung to catch water droplets from fog. But what if the air itself is polluted? Cue a Swiss research team, which has coated the metal wiring of its nets with a mix of polymers and titanium oxide. The polymers ensure the...

Sawdust can be 3D printed into kitchen utensils or cars parts. Now, a Canada-based research team has found a new use for the waste wood, combining it with a layer of tannins. These natural plant compounds, found in berries, tea and coffee, have anti-inflammatory properties and can even filter out UV rays. Aware that tannins also trigger multiple reactions...

Peat fires can be quickly extinguished using natural surfactants. A magnetic sponge, meanwhile, could help clean oil slicks in the ocean. Recycled hair, it transpires, could do the job too. That’s thanks to the work of a female founder from Kiel, who knows how good hair is at absorbing oil and pollutants. Once her startup has collected hair waste...

With the right light, plants grow better. But too much light can have a negative impact on the health and daily rhythms of both people and animals. To say nothing of the bulb waste. Ever since observing bioluminescent marine bacteria, a female founder from France has been working to produce more environmentally-friendly city lamps. Talk about a bright idea… Her startup’s...