The threat of climate change and warming oceans looms large over the world’s coral reefs, which are struggling to adapt to increasingly inhospitable waters. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have demonstrated a new way we may be able to limit the damage, by taking coral species that have already survived severe heat stress and transplanting them to degraded reefs […]

Although the use of conventional pesticides is harmful to the environment, farmers still need a way of keeping crop-damaging organisms at bay. According to a new study, an eco-friendly combination of agricultural and beer brewing waste products may be able to help. When the oil is extracted from harvested rapeseed plants (aka canola), a solid byproduct known as rapeseed cake […]

Design studio Forest and Whale has created Reuse, a container for takeaways made from packaging that can be eaten or composted once the food is finished. The Singapore-based studio, founded by Gustavo Maggio and Wendy Chua, created the vessel in an attempt to help cut down on the usage of single-use plastic. The studio’s Reuse container is made from wheat […]

Tracking changes in huge masses of ice is key to understanding the effects of climate change on the planet, and researchers in Greenland have developed a new tool that takes the accuracy of such measurements to unprecedented levels. The technology uses a mix of fiber-optic cables and laser pulses to gain precise temperature readings from the surface of the Greenland […]

With the oceans becoming warmer and more acidic, the world’s coral reefs are confronted with increasing danger of heat stress and severe bleaching, as we’ve seen with Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in recent years. Scientists are taking inspiration from recent advances in human microbiome research to investigate how transplantations of helpful bacteria can help increase heat tolerance in vulnerable species, […]

British studio Hopkins Architects has created a cluster of prefabricated concrete pods to house the Khor Kalba Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary on the eastern coast of the emirate of Sharjah in the UAE. Built for Sharjah’s Environmental Protected Areas Authority, the turtle sanctuary and visitor centre stands on the edge of the Kalba nature reserve. Hopkins Architects aimed to design a series of […]

In most grocery stores, all of the fresh produce is either pre-wrapped in plastic film or it gets placed in plastic bags – both of which are often discarded by consumers. A new bioactive paper bag, however, could serve the same purpose while being easily recyclable. Currently being developed by researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer group, the bag keeps the produce […]

In many parts of the world there may not be much precipitation, but there is a fair amount of water vapor in the air – particularly at night. An experimental new device draws in that vapor, then uses it to irrigate edible plants. Known as the SmartFarm, the small-scale prototype was designed by a team at the National University of […]

It may seem like a basic color, but blue is actually rather rare in the natural world. That complicates the search for natural blue food colorings, but now a team of scientists has found a promising candidate hiding in red cabbage. For decades, concerns have been raised about the safety of synthetic food dyes, and while the evidence against them […]

With an educational background in vinyl siding and wood flooring, Fibonacci owner Greg Wilson has developed HempWood, an American-produced wood material made from a fast-growing agricultural product. Hemp has long been acclaimed for its versatility, but regulations in the United States have historically hampered research and development on the material. Now, hemp may be the material surrounding you inside your […]