Biodegradable electronics may create microplastics, scientists warn
Electronics designed to disappear after use sound like a perfect solution to the world’s growing e-waste problem.
Known as transient or biodegradable electronics, these devices...
Your laundry is polluting the ocean—Scientists say this new filter can help
Every time we wash our clothes, tiny plastic fibers are released into the water.
These fibers come mainly from synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon...
Engineers find a way to watch desalination membranes clog in real time
As freshwater shortages worsen around the world, desalination—turning seawater into drinkable water—is becoming increasingly important.
But the technology that powers most desalination plants has a...
Hot, humid weather may increase risk of kidney failure
People living in Australia's hot and humid northern regions are more likely to suffer from kidney failure than those living in cooler and less...
Ancient “living rocks” absorb carbon day and night in South Africa
Along the coast of South Africa, strange rocky formations quietly grow in places where life seems unlikely to survive.
These structures, known as microbialites, look...
Scientists turn mussel shell waste into a sustainable abrasive for jeans
A surprising new study suggests that discarded mussel shells—usually thrown away as food waste—could help make the fashion industry more sustainable.
Researchers from the University...
How used coffee grounds can remove toxic metals
Millions of people start their day with a cup of coffee, but few think about what happens to the used coffee grounds afterward.
Most of...
How Mars controls Earth’s climate
Earth's climate has swung between ice ages and warmer periods for millions of years, driven by subtle changes in our planet's orbit and axial...
Could microplastics be fueling Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?
Scientists are warning that tiny plastic particles called microplastics might be damaging our brains and increasing the risk of serious diseases like Alzheimer's and...
Starving penguins off South Africa face a devastating 95% decline, study finds
African penguins living off the coast of South Africa have suffered a catastrophic population collapse over the past two decades, largely because they have...