Sustainability

Did Humans Really Kill Most of the Animals and Plants? We may be the most successful land mammal, but pound for pound, plants and bacteria still have us beat.

September 4, 2018September 12, 2018 Gina Riggio

We may be the most successful land mammal, but pound for pound, plants and bacteria still have us beat.

Detecting Toxins Produced by Algae A portable tool for detecting the cyanobacteria toxin responsible for harmful algal blooms in drinking water sources may be soon on its way

August 14, 2018August 13, 2018 Mary Sabuda

Harmful algal blooms are becoming an increasing problem in areas around the world, including the Great Lakes, where drinking water is obtained from surface water sources, such as lakes and rivers. When agricultural nutrients and urban waste runoff enters these READ MORE

Three For The Price of One: Testing Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Growing multiple species in one system saves water, reduces effluent waste, and produces more food

June 11, 2018June 13, 2018 Erica Curles

Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) may be the future of aquaculture. Compared to traditional farms that only grow one species, IMTA farms produce multiple edible products and provide increased sustainability. These integrated systems use the waste products from one species to READ MORE

One Man’s Waste Soot is Another Man’s Rechargeable Battery Unwanted marine vessel engine soot may be an ideal ingredient for rechargeable lithium ion battery anodes

May 2, 2018May 3, 2018 Mary Sabuda

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are important in our lives as we use them frequently in our smartphones, laptops, tablets, power tools, and electric vehicles. They are even used to help power the Mars Curiosity rover! Typically, graphite, the form of carbon READ MORE

Are Pink Salmon the Key to Better Fish Farming? Pink salmon experience less intestinal damage from eating soy than other salmon species

April 25, 2018 Erica Curles

In the aquaculture industry, one of the most important and most costly parts of raising fish, especially carnivorous fish, is providing them with the ideal feed for growth and health. Fish meal, which is essentially ground up smaller fish, is READ MORE

Smart Farms Should Clean Their Greens No foodborne illness outbreaks have yet been associated with microgreens, but recent research suggests that there is still a risk.

January 23, 2018 Gina Riggio

Microgreens are a specialty crop that is growing in popularity. It is most often served as a garnish, flavoring, or embellishment on dishes at upscale and gourmet restaurants. Microgreens are primarily grown by small climate controlled operations run by just READ MORE

Edible Food Packaging May Cut Down on Waste Edible films made from fruits and vegetables are making the future of preserving food look delicious and nutritious

December 17, 2017December 14, 2017 Erica Curles

Have you ever been pre-occupied and taken a bite out of something, only to get a mouthful of plastic wrap or paper lining? Well in the future, that bite could be as edible and maybe as delicious as the food READ MORE

Compostable Flower Pots Made From Pineapple Waste This new material reduces the need for plastics and adds nutrients to soil, while adding economic value to what was previously thrown away!

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017 Namrata Dave

When life gives you lemons, sell them and buy a pineapple. Davin Turney couldn’t have put it any better. The versatile pineapple is a powerhouse of nutrients, and even its rugged skin and leaves have found applications ranging from renewable READ MORE

Saving Sushi: Groundbreaking Progress in Bluefin Tuna Farming Controlled fertilization of bluefin tuna eggs opens the door to many potential improvements through selective breeding.

November 12, 2017November 12, 2017 Erica Curles

Do you love tuna sushi? Did you know that the number of tuna in the ocean has gone down drastically due to overfishing? The law of supply and demand tells us that as the availability of fish decreases, the price READ MORE

New Study Elaborates on What Aquarium Owners Already Know Aquarium owners know that the right bacteria are critical for a healthy fish tank. But which bacteria are the right ones?

June 21, 2017June 23, 2017 Gina Riggio

Researchers in Germany and Switzerland used next generation sequencing to study an active aquaponics system. They sampled a biofilm from the side of the tank, the fish excrement, the plant roots, and the inside of the tank filter, called a biofilter.