Science

A good, recent overview of methods for recycling various commodity plastics, especially alternatives to mechanical recycling (e.g. chemical depolymerization, gasification). The effects on worker health and the environment in general are also considered.

Full Abstract:

In this systematic review, advancements in plastic recycling technologies, including mechanical, thermolysis, chemical and biological methods, are examined. Comparisons among recycling technologies have identified current research trends, including a focus on pretreatment technologies for waste materials and the development of new organic chemistry or biological techniques that enable recycling with minimal energy consumption. Existing environmental and economic studies are also compared. The findings highlight differences in the environmental characteristics of various recycling methods, including their ability to recover plastic resins, carbon footprint, electricity consumption and gas emissions. The comparisons also reveal the challenges associated with these methods: mechanical recycling often encounters economic barriers due to contamination and inefficiencies in sorting and cleaning processes; thermolysis is constrained by high energy demands and operational costs, whereas chemical and biological recycling faces limitations related to scalability and material costs. Additionally, current challenges, emerging research areas and future directions in plastic recycling are discussed. For example, the role of innovative techniques, such as artificial intelligence, in refining recycling processes is emphasized. The importance of incorporating circular economy principles in the integrated sustainable analysis of recycling processes is also highlighted. The innovative contribution of this review is to address both technological developments and their environmental and economic implications. The focus is placed on literature from the past 10 years to ensure coverage of the most recent advancements. Overall, the insights of this review article aim to guide researchers, policymakers and industry stakeholders in improving sustainable management practices for plastic waste.

A Japanese research team successfully harnessed E. coli to produce PDCA, a strong, biodegradable plastic alternative. Their method avoids toxic byproducts and achieves record production levels, overcoming key roadblocks with creative fixes.

A new study published in Political Psychology suggests that people at both ends of the political spectrum may experience more intense physical reactions to emotionally stirring stimuli, such as inspirational speeches or powerful music. These responses, often described as “aesthetic chills,” were more pronounced among both very liberal and very conservative participants, and this heightened reaction appears to be linked to traits like religiosity and bodily awareness.

While past work suggested that conservatives might be especially responsive to emotionally resonant moments, the current findings point to a broader pattern. The intensity of people’s physical reactions seemed to grow the further their political beliefs strayed from the center, hinting at a possible connection between emotional depth and ideological extremity, regardless of direction.

PDF of study: Individual differences in aesthetic experience point to the role of bodily awareness in political orientation (Archive)

Archive link

We are Indigenous scientists who work and live in the settler-colonial countries of Aotearoa (New Zealand), Canada, Australia and the United States, with expertise spanning microbiology, astrophysics, behavioural ecology, hydrogeology, water science, Traditional Knowledge, Indigenous Research Methodologies and Indigenous geographies. Here, we outline eight steps that academic institutions can take to stop marginalizing Indigenous people.

People’s connection to nature has declined by more than 60% since 1800, almost exactly mirroring the disappearance of nature words such as river, moss and blossom from books, according to a study.

Direct link to study: Modelling Nature Connectedness Within Environmental Systems: Human-Nature Relationships from 1800 to 2020 and Beyond

Archived link of the article

Inspired by the work of Victorian mathematician Mary Everest Boole, try making a symmetric curve using string and some hole-punched card, says Peter Rowlett

The researchers identified the following application areas, among others, as highly suitable for the environmentally friendly foams: the automotive sector for crash impact energy management, the construction sector as an insulating material, and the sports industry for the manufacture of sports equipment and shoe soles. The material also offers potential benefits in terms of moisture management and acoustics.

Invidious link