An international group of scientists has cautioned against reliance on mechanical cleanup devices as a means of addressing the plastic pollution crisis. The researchers — comprising a number of the world’s foremost experts in plastic pollution — say they appreciate the clear and pressing need to tackle the millions of tonnes of waste that have … Read more
From Wi-Fi-connected home security systems to smart toilets, the so-called Internet of Things brings personalization and convenience to devices that help run homes. But with that comes tangled electrical cords or batteries that need to be replaced. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Energy Materials have brought solar panel technology indoors to power smart devices. … Read more
The new Global Plastics Treaty must tackle the problem at source, researchers say. An international negotiation meeting (INC-3) in Kenya begins on Monday, aiming to further develop a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. Writing in the journal Science, researchers say the treaty must prioritise “upstream” issues: cutting total production and consumption of plastics, phasing … Read more
Life expectancy for Americans has dropped to the lowest levels in nearly three decades, according to a prominent global report. With a middling current average of 76.4 years, the United States has now been eclipsed by nearly every other developed nation, according to recent data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The … Read more