Upcycling Plastic Waste 

A team at UC Berkeley has developed a process that turns plastic waste into something more valuable – an adhesive. Based on an engineered catalyst, the inspiration was to find ways to “upcycle” plastics by putting them to new uses while preserving the properties that made them attractive in the first place. Plastic waste is one of the modern world’s […]

New Zealand Targets Carbon Neutrality By 2025

New Zealand has joined 32 other nations in formally acknowledging a climate emergency. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described climate change as “one of the greatest challenges of our time” and pledged that New Zealand would have a carbon-neutral government by 2025. But not all New Zealand governmental officials agreed. The Green Party and the M?ori Party supported the motion, which […]

Water Joins The Commodity Market

Water has now joined oil and gold on the commodities market. This week, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange launched the United States’ first water market tied to California water prices. “Climate change, droughts, population growth, and pollution are likely to make water scarcity issues and pricing a hot topic for years to come,” said Deane Dray, RBC Capital Markets managing director […]

Immunity-Boosting Silica 

Pesticides may indeed kill plant pathogens, but they’re also harmful to the environment. Newly developed nanoparticles may provide a more eco-friendly alternative, as they boost the immune systems of crop plants, then harmlessly dissolve. Occurring naturally in soil, a compound known as silicic acid has for some time been known to provoke plants’ immune response. It’s also released by amorphous […]

Can Charcoal Be Eco-Friendly?

Is BBQing with charcoal eco-friendly? Even those of us who want to make conscious choices on behalf of the planet want to grill a little during the summertime. Whether we’re cooking up a vegan burger or a mean veggie kebob every now and again, we can all agree, some things just taste better on the barbie. So, it’s no wonder […]

Birdwatching Linked To Happiness 

Amid the ongoing pandemic, finding a little extra happiness in even the smallest things is key to survival. And although buying new things to accommodate your new indoor lifestyle may be a tempting way to boost your mood short-term, there are several ways to do so that are more sustainable, and that won’t cost you a pretty penny. One technique […]

Respira Smart Garden

Some people, and I count myself among them, are so scatterbrained and disorganized that they should never be put in charge of another living being. It’s too late for my children – poor souls, wherever I left them – but technology is here to save your indoor plants from the ravages of your incompetence, allowing you the soothing joy of […]