Common, cheap ingredients can break down some ‘forever chemicals’
PFAS don’t typically degrade but lye and dimethyl sulfoxide help break some of their atomic bonds There’s a new way to rip apart harmful “forever chemicals,” scientists say. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are found in nonstick…
The world’s fastest electric ship is taking flight on Stockholm’s waterways next year
The world’s fastest electric ship will set sail in Stockholm next year, cutting commuting times between some archipelagos in half. The Candela P-12 is a 30-passenger “flying ferry” that will reach speeds of 30 knots. Even better, the ship is…
Colourful solar panels could make green architecture more attractive
As solar panels become an ever more popular source of energy and heat, they aren’t just for rooftops anymore. Particularly in urban areas where space is at a premium, placing solar panels on facades or other more visible parts of…
Ecuador leading the way in working alongside Indigenous groups to protect sacred rainforest
In an unprecedented show of solidarity, communities in the Amazon, NGOs and local governments are teaming up to protect Ecuador’s rainforest. “Some previous local governments have not put much interest in people and nationalities,” says Daniel Dahua, President of the…
Long lost iguana ‘born again’ on Galapagos Island after nearly two centuries of extinction
A lost species of iguana has been ‘born again’ on the Galápagos Islands for the first time in nearly 200 years. The Galápagos Island land iguana was last spotted on Santiago Island more than 187 years ago. Ecologists determined that…
Cheetahs are being reintroduced to India after 70 years of extinction
In India, cheetahs have been extinct for over half a century. Next week, however, the big cats will finally return to the country. An ambitious conservation project aims to relocate a group of cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to…
This paper battery with a water switch could curb the environmental impact of single-use electronics
Researchers have developed a paper battery with a water switch that could be used to power single-use disposable electronics. The team at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) tested the paper battery by attaching two of…
These tiny cardboard homes could be the future of sustainable Dutch living
Rotterdam, home to Europe’s largest port, has a space problem. The whole of the Netherlands, in fact, is pretty small and as its cities continue to boom, urban planners are grappling with how to expand them. One company, Wikkelboat, has…
France could make it legal to use cooking oil as fuel in bid to battle cost of living crisis
We’ve all heard stories about cooking oil being used to power diesel engines. And although you may know someone who does it in secret, it’s been illegal in France until now. Last week France’s parliament voted on a €20 billion…
Environmental defenders celebrate a ‘huge’ win for ‘unique’ Tasmanian rainforest
Environmentalists who took legal action to prevent a toxic waste dump in an ancient pocket of Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest are celebrating a federal court win. The Bob Brown Foundation is a Tasmanian NGO which promotes the protection of the Australian…