Scientists have converted plastic bottles into vanilla flavoring using genetically engineered bacteria. According to research published in the journal Green Chemistry, genetically engineered E-Coli bacteria has been used to convert terephthalic acid (TA) from plastic waste into vanillin. Joanna Sadler, co-author of the study, said, “This is the first example of using a biological system to upcycle plastic waste into a […]

Scotland’s Trojan Energy has developed an on-street EV charging solution that sits flush with the pavement until a user plugs in a special charging cable and tops up their vehicle. The first five Connectors have been installed in Mortimer Road in the London Borough of Brent, ahead of a full trial of 150 charge points across Brent and Camden later […]

Given how hot and dry much of North America has been this year, traditional campfires are currently banned in many regions. The FireCan offers an alternative, as it’s a portable propane-powered fire pit that sits above the ground. Created by Washington-state-based outdoor gear manufacturer Ignik, the FireCan is basically a heavy-duty steel box that gets hooked up to a user-supplied […]

In many arid regions, people use devices known as solar stills to extract drinkable water from seawater or tainted water. A new type of solar still is claimed to be much more effective than others, by incorporating a rotating cylinder. In its most basic form, a conventional solar still consists of a basin of undrinkable water that is set beneath […]

The new Sanya Farm Lab is a four-story exhibition space that provides 4,000 square meters of space for education, play and innovative ideas. It is located in Nanfan High Tech District of Sanya, the southernmost city on tropical Hainan Island, an area transitioning into a scientific and agricultural research hub. The Sanya Farm Lab reflects the surrounding area, where the […]

The plastic crisis starts with petroleum-based products, is facilitated by consumer consumption and expands to pollution of the land and water. Plastic never completely goes away, and microplastics are now found in nearly every animal and plant on the planet. The beauty industry is a major contributor to this issue, thanks to excessive plastic packaging for deodorant, makeup, skincare and […]

Following the official launch of “the world’s most powerful tidal turbine” in April, Orbital Marine Power has announced that the O2 has started grid-connected power generation at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. After being manufactured in Dundee, Scotland, the floating turbine was towed up to Orkney in June, before being anchored in the fast-moving waters of the Fall […]

A proposal to repurpose the bridge connecting Iowa and Illinois across the Mississippi River into a national park and wildlife crossing has gained traction. Headed by the Bison Bridge Foundation, the proposal seeks to turn the commuter bridge into a wildlife-crossing pathway, allowing the animals to roam freely between Iowa and Illinois. The proposal, which was officially unveiled to the […]

That ancient mariner was onto something when he said “water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink” – the vast majority of water on Earth is undrinkable. Desalination could be a vital technology to meet the world’s drinking water needs, and now Korean engineers have developed a new nanofiber membrane that can operate efficiently for long periods. There are a […]

The portable design makes it convenient to use for day trips to the beach or mountains, camping trips or as an emergency backup. A modern problem of the off-grid and outdoorsy lifestyle is how to keep your devices powered. Battery packs are one option, but they have limited use and can be heavy and bulky. The team at Aurea Technologies […]