Environ News | Environ News – Environ Information

discoveries

10/30/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Finnish startup creates new type of fabric that they hope will eventually compete with cotton

From the forests of Finland comes a new product made from the most common waste material of the wood industry. A startup company is turning wood pulp into a fabric that could become a viable alternative to cotton, an article in Fast Company stated. Spinnova set up its brand new factory in Jyväskylä. The city […]

10/27/2018 / By Janine Acero

Agricultural areas surrounded by natural habitat buffers show reduced negative impact on wildlife, new study finds

A comparative study reveals that manicured citrus orchards and reclaimed orchard forests in Stann Creek, Belize have similar abundance and diversity in herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians) as natural habitat areas. Researchers Russell Gray and Dr. Colin Strine of Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand found that herpetofaunal communities have little sensitivity to agricultural lands as […]

10/24/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Looking at alternative approaches to pest control

In response to the devastating huanglongbing disease sweeping through California’s citrus orchards, researchers are testing a biological control program. They are using two wasps from Asia that are natural enemies of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), an invasive species of insect that spreads the bacteria responsible for the disease. The study was supported by the University of California Riverside. […]

10/16/2018 / By Michelle Simmons

The environmental impact of dying: Current burial practices have a huge carbon footprint – are eco-friendly solutions on the horizon?

Have you ever thought of how you want to be buried when you die? If you want to save money and save the Earth at the same time, consider having a natural burial. Today’s traditional burial practices are harming the environment with the chemicals and materials used in the process. The funeral industry in the […]

09/26/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Scientists attempt to investigate how biodiesel byproducts can be used for green chemistry

A Swedish research team has received the green light and the greenbacks to conduct a new study. The team will be looking for a new way to take the waste produced by the biodiesel production process and turn it into useful materials, an article in Chalmers Chemistry and Chemical Engineering News stated. The concept of […]

08/14/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Unexpected discovery could pave the way to more efficient biofuels and bioproducts

An ordinary yet important enzyme might be the key to unlocking even more riches out of plants. In an article on News Wise, Tennessee-based researchers announced that the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase could make it much easier to turn plants into valuable biofuels and bioproducts. Amino acids are vital for both plants and the organisms […]

06/19/2018 / By Carol Anderson

Novel recycling process turns discarded hard disk drive magnets into new material

With the rise of technology also comes the rise of electronic waste across the globe. It may seem as if these unused materials are easier to discard than typical garbage, but the truth is, it’s really difficult to do so due to the high levels of toxic chemicals. To address this problem, the U.S. Department of […]

06/18/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers use graphene to make new and improved concrete

British researchers have succeeded in modernizing concrete with graphene. In a New Atlas article, they reported that the improved concrete is stronger, better at keeping water out, and reduces carbon dioxide pollution by cutting back on cement. Graphene is a sheet of interconnected carbon atoms with the thickness of a single atom. So far, it is the strongest […]

06/03/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Oil companies in Saudi Arabia use nanotechnology for petroleum extraction to minimize environmental pollution

There are few greater oxymorons than “environment-friendly oil company,” especially if said company is the biggest example in the world. But Saudi Aramco is trying to do just that, using nanotechnology to max out the petroleum from its oil wells while minimizing environmental pollution, an article in Nanowerks stated. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) professor Nancy Burnham […]

06/03/2018 / By Vicki Batts

Engineers have figured out a way to reduce plastic landfill, and you won’t believe how they’re doing it

Humans have generated an enormous amount of plastic waste over the last few decades – there is no question about that. It’s estimated that between 1950 and 2015, a staggering 8.3 billion tons of plastic was produced. And, as one might expect, a sad majority of it has ended up in landfills. The question of what […]

1 of 2