Lithium mining impacts local waters
Researchers found elevated metal concentrations in surface waters and groundwater downstream of lithium-containing hard rock processing…
Category: Sustainability
Using bacteria to fight fungal brown rot
Scientists compared the effectiveness of traditional chemical fungicides and newer biological fungicides in killing the fungus responsible…
Upcycling polystyrene with sunlight and sulfur
Researchers in China developed a rapid, solar-driven process that transforms waste polystyrene and excess sulfur into chemicals used in…
Biofertilizers change plants’ natural microbes
Scientists tested how mixtures of plant-growth-promoting bacteria affect the microbial communities of different sunflower varieties for use…
Turning carbon dioxide into fuel with nanostructures
Scientists designed an electrocatalyst infused with bismuth metal that helps convert CO2 to formate, providing a scalable new way to recycle…
Scientists probe plant-based soil cleanup
Researchers tested plant-based soil remediation methods and found that adding beneficial microbes to copper-contaminated soil improved…
New packaging can warn you when meat has spoiled
Scientists designed color-changing carbon dot biosensors that can detect spoiled meat in sealed packages in real-time.
Unzipping bamboo to make better plastics
Scientists developed a recyclable plastic from bamboo that is stronger and more biodegradable than conventional petroleum-based products.
Is the most profitable fertilizer level also safe for the environment?
Researchers in the midwestern US measured how much nitrogen corn plants used versus how much remained in the soil, to help farmers maximize…
Fungi could reshape the next generation of smart materials
Scientists dispersed living fungal fibers into mixtures that can act as self-stabilizing emulsifiers, tunable films, and fast-responding…