This is how bacteria can help us recycle electric car batteries
Though electric vehicles (EVs) emit much fewer greenhouse gas emissions than cars that burn petrol or diesel, the rare metals needed for manufacturing their batteries are increasingly in short supply. Currently, the EU recycles less than five percent of EV batteries, and the most common technique Read More...
Bumblebees help solidify the link between microbiome and memory
The term 'microbiome' has been thrown around a lot over the past few years with many studies and health companies finding that a healthy gut balance can decrease your risk of cancer, clear up your skin, and improve mental health, just to name a few. Memory and the microbiome Recently, a study Read More...
Bacteria can filter toxic metals out of wastewater to make it drinkable
From recycling car batteries to tackling plastic pollution, bacteria has been increasingly under the microscope of scientists working to provide solutions to some of the most challenging global issues. Most recently, researchers in India have discovered a strain of bacteria that can filter Read More...
Virus or bacteria? This test aims to tell in minutes
When you go to the doctor with a sickness you can’t seem to shake, the first thing they will usually try to figure out is if they’re dealing with a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial infections usually require treatment with antibiotics, but prescribing them unnecessarily can contribute to Read More...
This power-free sewer treatment plant was inspired by cow stomachs
80 percent of the world’s sewage is dumped untreated into the natural environment. This is a huge health and environmental crisis, but traditional sewage treatment plants are costly and energy intensive, making them difficult to implement in many regions. The sewage contamination issue is Read More...
Bacteria in cow stomachs are one solution to plastic pollution
As our world’s plastic pollution crisis intensifies, researchers are increasingly searching for new and innovative ways to address the problem. Enzymes and circular design have shown real promise, and the latest plastic waste solution comes from an even more surprising source: cow Read More...
Study: Electricity-eating bacteria could help fight climate change
From spreading crushed rocks in forests and farmlands to constructing green buildings with materials that suck carbon up out of the atmosphere, scientists are hard at work developing innovative solutions that reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. More recently, a team of scientists from Washington Read More...
Scientists may use bacteria to clean up microplastics floating in water
Although microplastics are incredibly tiny in size (smaller than 5mm), they pose a huge threat to marine environments, and because of their minuscule size, they are also incredibly difficult to remove from water. Fortunately, a team of microbiologists has developed a sustainable solution that could Read More...
These compostable shoes are made out of kombucha tea waste
As circularity is slowly making its way into the fashion industry, compostable materials are becoming more common for a growing number of designers looking to weave sustainability into their products. One of the latest such products is the result of a partnership between New York streetwear brand Read More...
Pollution-eating, electricity-breathing bacteria may save our water
It’s no secret that humans have had an enormous impact on the world’s water supply. If we look at lakes, rivers, or shores that humans live near, chances are we will find a significant quantity of litter scattered in the area. According to Clean Water Action, these water pollutants have Read More...