Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a new mechanism for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 8, a form of Batten disease. The study found that the CLN8 protein plays a crucial role in facilitating the transfer of lysosomal enzymes from the endoplasmic reticulum to the lysosome.
Researchers from the University of Houston and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are investigating what causes nuclear waste glass to dissolve over time. They found that zeolite crystals facilitate faster dissolution, and are exploring ways to slow or impede their formation.
Researchers at Australian National University have developed a thin and flexible semiconductor material that can convert electricity into light efficiently. The invention opens the door to biodegradable or recyclable electronic devices, reducing e-waste and environmental damage.
Bioscience engineers at KU Leuven have created a roadmap for producing cellulose gasoline, a second-generation biofuel, by converting plant waste into hydrocarbon chains. The process involves adding cellulose to the petroleum refining process, resulting in a strongly bio-sourced gasoline.
A new study identifies missed opportunities for catching depression in non-White and medically ill patients, as well as men, who are less likely to be screened. The research suggests that combining hazardous alcohol use screening with a simple questionnaire could improve treatment outcomes for these at-risk populations.
A University of Houston engineer is leading a $800,000 project to improve the safety of storage containers for nuclear waste. The team will explore ways to reduce or avoid the degeneration of glass containers used to store radioactive waste.
A study found that young adults, particularly college students, are high food wasters due to a lack of learned food management behaviors. The study's findings suggest that environmental factors, such as access to refrigerators and cooking facilities, also play a role in their behavior.
Researchers have gained new understanding of how autophagosomes seal off waste material, with a key role identified for ESCRT complexes. This breakthrough could lead to new cancer treatments by inhibiting autophagy closure.
Researchers have identified three known SNAREs and a new protein Ykt6 as essential for the fusion of autophagosomes with vacuoles, allowing for efficient cellular waste recycling. This breakthrough study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying autophagy, a vital process in maintaining cellular homeostasis.
In the EU, 35.3 kg of fresh produce is wasted per person per year, with 50% coming from fruit and vegetables. Researchers found that applying targeted prevention strategies could reduce avoidable waste by 14.2kg per capita.
Researchers at Washington State University have developed a strong, durable concrete that uses fly ash as a binder and eliminates the use of environmentally intensive cement. This new concrete reduces energy demand and greenhouse emissions by utilizing coal waste and significantly lowering its environmental impact.
Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny silicon-based device that can harness waste heat and turn it into DC power. The device, called an infrared rectenna, has the potential to power compact devices in space missions and hybrid cars.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a new method to purify nuclear waste water using electrospun sodium titanate, which speeds up the process and reduces radioactive waste. The method is based on selective ion exchange and has been shown to work like commercially produced materials.
A new family of enzymes has been discovered that can convert plant waste into high-value products such as nylon and bioplastics. The research also offers additional environmental benefits by creating products from lignin, a previously waste material.
The China ban on non-industrial plastic waste has displaced around 111 million metric tons of plastic waste, which was previously exported to the country. This shift will require high-income countries to develop more robust recycling programs domestically and rethink the use and design of plastic products.
A new study found that contaminated black plastic is entering consumer products due to inefficient recycling practices, posing a risk to human health. The researchers also discovered potential harm to marine environments through the spread of microplastics.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that hippo waste can cause fish kills in Africa's Mara River due to depleted oxygen and nutrient levels. The research monitored water chemistry and flow downstream from 171 hippo pools over three years, finding that flushing flows can reduce dissolved oxygen concentrations.
Researchers at PNNL have successfully vitrified three gallons of low-activity Hanford tank waste, immobilizing radioactive and chemical materials within a durable glass waste form. The laboratory-scale demonstration is an important step toward treating millions of gallons of hazardous waste generated during past plutonium production.
Researchers at University of Lincoln develop machine learning algorithms for self-learning robots in hazardous nuclear sites, increasing capabilities in waste handling and site monitoring. The project aims to build systems that can adapt to unique radiation conditions using vision-guided robot grasping, manipulation, and cutting.
Researchers propose a two-stage system converting urban waste into gas under reducing conditions, then burning the gas efficiently in optimized equipment. This method minimizes toxic substance generation and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 300 kg per ton of treated waste.
A new report by Silent Spring Institute finds that dozens of hazardous chemicals are present in hair products marketed at Black women, including hormone-disrupting chemicals and fragrance chemicals. The study highlights the need for better disclosure of ingredients and encourages manufacturers to develop safer products.
A new study finds that Americans waste nearly a pound of food per person each day, with the amount of wasted food corresponding to harvests produced using 780 million pounds of pesticide and 1.8 billion pounds of nitrogen fertilizer annually. The study also found that higher quality diets were associated with higher levels of food waste.
The University of Texas at Arlington has developed a modular, multi-step water treatment system that can transform unconventional oil and gas waste into reusable water. The system requires multiple treatment modalities to remove contaminants, making it difficult to accomplish effectively and economically.
A US study found that approximately one pound of food per person was wasted daily from 2007-2014, resulting in significant environmental impacts. The research also showed a paradoxical relationship between diet quality and food waste, highlighting the need for simultaneous efforts to improve diet quality and reduce waste.
A Penn State researcher suggests that using online exchanges like Craigslist can reduce municipal solid waste by 2-6% annually, leading to millions of dollars in savings for large cities. This reuse behavior could also eliminate millions of tons of waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Engineers at UC Berkeley developed a thin-film system that can convert low-quality waste heat into electricity, achieving unprecedented energy density and power density. The technology has potential applications in various industries, including electronics and manufacturing.
Researchers developed a gravity separation process to cleanly lift organic resins from inorganic fibreglass, making it possible to recycle non-metal parts of cellphones. The process has the potential to create raw materials for construction and insulation.
Researchers found that recovering gold, copper and other metals from e-waste is more cost-effective than obtaining them from mines. The study estimated that urban mining could save up to 13 times the cost of traditional mining methods.
A European project is developing circular economy solutions using agricultural and fisheries waste to improve soil quality and reduce CO2 emissions. The Horti-BlueC project replaces non-renewable resources with local waste, producing bio-energy, biochar, and biodegradable materials.
Researchers have identified useful commercial applications for grape waste, such as prolonging the shelf life of fatty foods. Grape pomace is rich in natural antioxidants like proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid, which can be used to substitute artificial antioxidants in food products.
Researchers have discovered an eco-friendly method for recovering valuable plastics from electronic waste using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent. This approach recovers up to 89% of polycarbonate from cell phone plastic and can be reused multiple times.
A Washington State University research team has developed a technique to greatly strengthen permeable pavements by adding waste carbon fiber composite material. The recycling method reduces energy consumption and chemicals, making it a critical factor for recycling waste materials.
The project aims to convert waste heat into cooled water, offering potential cost and energy savings to U.S. manufacturers. The innovative turbo-compression cooling system has numerous large-scale practical applications, including dairy producers transforming waste heat into chilled milk.
A new study by Ohio State University found that adults waste significantly less food when preparing their own meals versus consuming pre-packaged, boxed lunches. In the study, participants who cooked their own meals averaged only 3.5% of plate waste compared to 40% in a lab setting.
Researchers at INRS develop a hydrometallurgical process to decontaminate treated wood waste, removing over 90% of contaminants. The process is environmentally friendly and cost-effective, diverting wood waste from landfills and incineration.
A Massachusetts General Hospital physician outlines the findings of the NASEM committee on e-cigarette risks and benefits. The report suggests that e-cigarettes are less hazardous than combustible cigarettes, but more research is needed to establish long-term risks.
NASA's Terra satellite captured images of Tropical Depression 02W on Feb. 9, showing a developing low level circulation center with minimal convection. The National Weather Service has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Guam and Yap State due to hazardous surf and rip currents.
Researchers discover a precursor to create phosphorus compounds, bypassing hazardous substances. The new anions, bis(trichlorosilyl)phosphide, work well in various reactions, producing diverse phosphorus-containing compounds.
Scientists at Swansea University are developing a circular economy solution using algae to clean up waste nutrients from food and farm waste. The ALG-AD project aims to cultivate algal biomass for animal feed and other products, reducing pollution and promoting sustainable agriculture.
A Penn State research team has created a system that uses microbial reactors to rapidly break down solid and liquid waste, producing a nutritious food source for astronauts on deep-space missions. The system, which can minimize pathogen growth, uses anaerobic digestion to convert human waste into edible biomass.
Scientists at the University of Córdoba have devised a new system to analyse the smell generated during composting using NIR spectroscopy and chemometrics. The method provides a fast and economical means of evaluating odour emission rates, potentially mitigating the odorous impact of composting.
Physicists at Mainz University have calculated that neutrino detectors could be useful in certain scenarios for monitoring nuclear waste. A suitable detector could detect if radioactive material had been removed without being documented, and verify the contents of a container without opening it up.
The United Nations report emphasizes the need for mining companies to prioritize safety over economic considerations in managing mine waste. The report's recommendations include improving tailings dam government regulation and exploring alternative solutions to building massive dams that can cause devastating environmental damage.
A team of scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology has proposed a novel approach to tackle radioactive waste disposal. By adding a moderator to a fast spectrum reactor, they found that effective transmutation of long-lived fission products can be achieved without the need for isotope separation.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a new smart fabric, named SOFT, that can detect, capture, and filter gases in real-time, providing enhanced hazardous-material gear. The technology has the potential to improve safety and security for workers in various industries.
Researchers at LSU Health will test the effectiveness of physical exercise to improve blood sugar regulation in HIV/AIDS patients who also consume alcohol. The studies aim to decrease the burden of disease in this vulnerable population and guide larger scale interventions to reduce metabolic disorders.
Breast cancer cells recycle ammonia, a waste byproduct of cell metabolism, and use it as a source of nitrogen to fuel tumor growth. Repressing ammonia metabolism stunts tumor growth in mice.
Researchers found that 57 rivers worldwide contribute significantly to ocean plastic pollution, with the top 10 accounting for 88-95% of global loads. Halving plastic waste in these 10 waterways could potentially reduce total ocean contribution by 45%.
A recent study at the University of Missouri found that collegiate sports venues can significantly reduce waste by implementing better recycling systems, donating unsold food to charities, and replacing high-emission foods with more sustainable options. By adopting these strategies, stadiums can achieve 'zero waste' operations and set ...
The ITERAMS project targets significantly reducing water consumption by circulating process waters and reducing tailings waste through valorisation of the mineral matrix. The project aims to maintain Europe at the forefront in efficient water circulation and sustainable tailings utilization.
Researchers from Nanyang Technological University have developed a process to convert brewery waste into a valuable liquid nutrient that can grow beer yeast. This innovation reduces the need for commercial liquid nutrients and saves breweries significant production costs.
A study led by Argonne National Laboratory found that waste-to-energy production pathways generate less greenhouse gases than decomposing organic waste. Researchers suggest diverting waste to energy can avoid landfill emissions and promote energy independence.
Penn State researchers have developed a novel approach to efficiently convert potato waste into ethanol, achieving a maximum ethanol concentration of 37.93 grams per liter in a co-culture biofilm reactor. The process eliminates the need for externally added enzymes and energy costs, reducing production costs and increasing productivity.
Two studies in The Lancet and The Lancet Global Health journals found that secure storage has no impact on rates of self-poisoning or suicide, and that national bans are the most effective way to reduce pesticide-related suicides. Improved storage measures were not found to reduce self-poisoning rates.
A University of Liverpool study found that ants are responsible for moving more than half of food resources from the rainforest floor. This role is crucial for nutrient redistribution and decomposition, maintaining a diverse and healthy soil environment.
A team at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia has developed an asphalt mixture with encapsulated cigarette butts, reducing thermal conductivity and handling heavy traffic. The innovation could solve a huge waste problem while also mitigating the urban heat island effect common in cities.
Researchers create faster and easier way to make sulfur-containing polymers using SuFEx reaction technique, combined with newly identified catalysts. The achievement reduces cost of large-scale production and produces far less hazardous waste.
The study found that humans have generated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics since the 1950s, with most becoming waste and accumulating in landfills or the natural environment. The researchers estimate that if current trends continue, 12 billion metric tons of plastic waste will be in landfills or the natural environment by 2050.
Scientists at Lomonosov Moscow State University found that avobenzone, a popular UV filter in sunscreen products, breaks down into hazardous chemical compounds when exposed to chlorinated water and ultraviolet radiation. These compounds can be toxic and have been linked to liver and kidney dysfunction, as well as nervous system disorders.
A study by UNIST has introduced a method for remote detection of hazardous radioactive substances, increasing sensitivity 4,800 times over conventional methods. The new device can detect radioactivity at distances of tens to 100 km, enabling early warning systems and improved safety measures.