-
New Study Reveals Severe Freshwater Scarcity for Lithium Mining
New research led by UMass Amherst hydrologists reveals a stark underestimation of freshwater availability in South America’s “Lithium Triangle,” consisting of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. This region is home to more than half of the world’s lithium resources, a vital component for batteries powering the global transition to a low-carbon economy. The study, published in…
-
Insecticides May Lead to Increased Weed Problems
Insecticides used to safeguard crops from pests may inadvertently lead to increased weed growth, according to new research. The study, published in the journal PeerJ, compared preventive insecticide use at planting with an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, which only uses insecticides when a significant insect threat is present. The researchers also evaluated the impact…
-
MIT Engineers Develop Breakthrough Spray Technology to Enhance Agricultural Efficiency
Reducing the amount of agricultural sprays used by farmers could decrease polluting runoff, while at the same time cutting farmers’ costs and perhaps enhancing productivity. A team of researchers at MIT and a spinoff company they launched has developed a system to do just that. Their technology adds a thin coating around droplets as they…
-
Breakthrough in Material Science Paves Way for Efficient CO2-to-Fuel Conversion
Researchers led by North Carolina State University have developed an innovative material that could significantly advance technologies for converting atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuel, offering a potential breakthrough in the quest for renewable energy solutions. The team engineered a new class of materials called metalcones, designed to transform CO2 into methanol — a liquid…
-
Study Finds Family Businesses More Committed to Sustainability
Family-owned businesses are leading the charge in environmental sustainability, according to a recent study from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M), conducted in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) and Universidad de Salamanca. The research, published in the Journal of Business Ethics, underscores the vital role that family enterprises play in advancing green practices and…
-
Innovative Recycled Cement Reduces Emissions Without Compromising Strength
Engineers at the University of São Paulo and Princeton University have introduced a revolutionary method for recycling cement waste into a sustainable, low-carbon alternative that matches traditional Portland cement in strength and performance. This innovative process could substantially reduce the massive carbon footprint of the cement industry, which is responsible for approximately 8% of global…
-
Sustainable Meat: Can ‘Better’ Mean Less in Our Diets?
Finnish consumers who buy natural pasture-raised beef have varied perspectives on sustainable meat consumption, a new study reveals. Researchers from the University of Helsinki and the Stockholm Resilience Center at Stockholm University set out to explore whether the concept of “less but better” meat truly reduces overall meat intake. The study, published in the journal…
-
New Approach to Secure Water Supplies on Pacific Islands
Researchers from Flinders University are urging for an urgent review of bore-field operations to protect freshwater resources on Pacific islands such as Kiribati, where rising sea levels pose a critical threat to local water supplies. “These atoll islands have the most threatened fresh groundwater on Earth and are relied upon by some of the most…
-
New Study Finds Microplastics Could Be Fueling Antimicrobial Resistance
Microplastics — tiny shards of plastic debris — pervade our planet. They infiltrate food chains, accumulate in oceans, gather in clouds and on mountains, and even find their way inside our bodies at alarming rates. As scientists race to uncover the consequences of such widespread plastic contamination, a team from Boston University (BU) has made…
-
Rising CO2 Threatens Space Sustainability, Says New Study
Greenhouse gas emissions aren’t just heating up the Earth’s surface; they’re also impacting space. Researchers led by MIT have discovered that these emissions are altering the environment of near-Earth space, potentially reducing the number of satellites that can operate safely in the coming decades. Published in Nature Sustainability, the study demonstrates that carbon dioxide and…
