It’s always upsetting to see images of seabirds covered in crude oil, as the result of an accidental spill. According to a new study, however, even tiny amounts of routinely released waterborne oil may seriously damage such birds’ feathers. Led by researcher Emma Murphy, a team at Ireland’s University College Cork started by collecting feathers from live Manx shearwaters, which […]

There’s nothing like nestling down in your own private, comfy tent when camping in the wilderness. Well, the Crocoon is designed to bring that same snuggly vibe to people’s homes, local parks, or even their beds. The Crocoon was designed by Irish company Crua Outdoors, which has previously brought us a variety of tents and hammocks. In fact, the product’s name is a […]

A striking new review article from researchers in Europe argues the global spread of certain hazardous chemicals is so pervasive that unsafe levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can be found in rainwater from all parts of the world, including remote regions such as Antarctica and the Tibetan Plateau. Over the past 20 years many PFAS chemicals have been […]

MAD Architects recently completed its first European project – but it certainly won’t be its last. The high-profile Chinese firm has revealed plans for a new mixed-use building in Milan, Italy, that’s defined by a lush greenery covered facade intersected with polished metal staircases. The MoLo (short for Mobility and Logistic hub) will serve as a gateway to the Milano Innovation District, which […]

There is a lot for us still to learn about the dangers microplastics pose to the environment and the health of living organisms, but one thing is clear, their presence is widespread and only becoming more-so. Scientists have come up with a novel cleanup solution that takes its cues from nature, in the form of a fish-like robot that can […]

A void was created by the imprint of a tree trunk fossilized within two upright concrete blocks fractured into eighty pieces. In Italy, Exculpatio presents these “pixels” in an always changing arrangement of the shape, which invites the public to join the conversation. The project shifted over the last three years. Initially, Exculpatio looked at empathizing with the need for “a profound […]

When cooking oil is extracted from peanuts and sunflower seeds, a waste product known as oilseed meal is left behind. New research shows that proteins harvested from that meal can be used to filter heavy metals out of contaminated water. The recent study was conducted by scientists from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Switzerland’s ETH Zurich research institute. They started by […]

Solar cells are an increasingly important source of renewable energy, but there’s still room for improvement. Stanford engineers have now developed a pyramid-shaped lens that can focus sunlight from any angle onto a solar cell, keeping it collecting power from sunrise to sunset. Solar cells work best in direct sunlight, which means many of them might only have a few […]

Scientists have announced an interesting new means of removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gas emissions, which would create a usable substance. It’s a sheet of treated cotton, which converts CO2 gas into bicarbonate. The current version of the flue gas filter was created by researchers at North Carolina State University, who started by dunking a two-layer sheet of cotton […]