Environment

Blasting biofuels for significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions is sooooo 2006, according to a new Michigan State University analysis.   Much like the environmental hype in the 1990s about how much better we would be with ethanol, the scorn heaped on biofuels has been exaggerated as well, calling into question the benefits of making fuel from plant material. The scorn comes from assumptions that may not be correct, write Bruce Dale, Distinguished Professor of chemical engineering and materials science, and co-authors in Environmental Science&Technology. "Greenhouse gas…

Cattle and sheep grazed on natural grasslands help maintain biodiversity and produce tastier, healthier meat, according to a study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The research, part of the Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) program,   concluded that pasture-based farming is good for the environment, the consumer and the producer but needs stronger support from British policy makers. Detailed analysis of the nutritional qualities of the plant species present on the natural grasslands showed that they provided grazing animals with a richer more diverse diet…

Sometimes we talk about a water shortage but it's really more of an energy shortage.    Less than 2% of the water on Earth can be consumed but with cheaper energy the water availability, even in remote areas, is unlimited.    But if cheap energy isn't on its way any time soon, energy efficient water purification is a good interim step.     Engineered osmosis could be a key to addressing the global need for affordable clean water, according to two Yale researchers. Doctoral student Robert McGinnis and his advisor Menachem Elimelech, Chair of Chemical and…

Keep Britain Tidy today has named McDonald's as the most littered fast food brand in the country, meaning the people who litter are more likely to be throwing their wrappers on the streets than any other fast food brand.  It's no surprise, given McDonalds is the top fast food brand. It's super-sized shame for the residents of ten city centers and suburbs/out-of-town locations across England.  But McDonalds isn't alone.   They made up more than a quarter of all fast food litter (29%), mostly burger wrappers, condiment packets and plastic straws. In second place, as a group,…

It's hard to imagine a future where people are nostalgic for polyester but it may be just a thing of the past.   38 million tons of synthetic fibers are made each year and some new advancements in regenerated protein make it possible to use environmentally sustainable clothing fiber instead.  So one day you may snuggle up in warm, cozy sweats made of chicken feathers or pants made of wheat - your blue jeans could be "green." Researchers in Australia are reporting that their new advances are paving the way for such exotic new materials  made from agricultural waste or…

Is gardening one of your interests? If so and you live in central or northern Europe the 'killer slug' is probably one of your personal enemies. The slug, which attacks your herbs and vegetables relentlessly, seems immune to control measures. The killer slug, suffocating lobster, globe trotting televisions and dangerous air particles are just some of the topics featured in EEA Signals 2009, a new annual publication from the European Environment Agency, launched today in Prague by Czech Environment Minister Bursik and Executive Director of the EEA, Professor Jacqueline McGlade. The EEA, in…

2009 is the international year of astronomy, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo's observations of Venus, Saturn and Jupiter published in Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger). Unlike numerous other scientific initiatives to educate the populace, I think this global effort may actually have some impact. Not only are there educational materials, but practical tips, movie clips, and a myriad of projects to draw in amateurs and experts alike. The initiative is also harnessing the power of the Internet, much like Obama did in his campaign, to spread the word. The IYA was…

If global warming projections turn out to be accurate, a rapidly warming climate would seriously alter crop yields in the tropics and subtropics by the end of this century and could leave half the world's population facing serious food shortages, according to new research. Compounding matters, the population of this equatorial belt – from about 35 degrees north latitude to 35 degrees south latitude – is among the poorest on Earth and is growing faster than anywhere else. By combining direct observations with data from 23 global climate models from the IPCC, David Battisti, a University of…

Agricultural crop production relies on composted waste materials and byproducts, such as animal manure, municipal solid waste composts, and sewage sludge, as a necessary nutrient source. Some studies have shown that human hair, which is readily available as waste generated from barbershops and hair salons, combined with additional compost, could be an additional nutrient source for crops. Although human hair has become commercially available to crop producers in the past couple years, it has not been proven to be an exclusive source of nutrients in greenhouse container production. Because of…

This Christmas 112,500 tons of recyclable rubbish will be thrown away, according to new research, by the new think credit card from the Co-operative Bank. This is equivalent to 14,940 red Routemaster buses, 93,360 Minis OR 406 Airbus A380's. Cardboard, plastic packaging, polystyrene and paper add up to an average of 4.6 kilograms being dumped in the bin per household. And as a nation, we will waste a further 96,447 miles of wrapping paper and 45,494 miles of aluminium foil and cling film, which is the same distance as almost six times round the world, 5,459 marathons or over half way to the…