The first automated, crewless ship is expected to set sail next year. The Norwegian-built Yara Birkeland is expected to lower operating costs by 90% and be zero admission. Dubbed the Tesla of the seas, the 1,000-container vehicle is expected to launch with a small crew, move to remote operation in 2019, and then transition to fully autonomous by 2020. https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/24/16018652/first-autonomous-ship-launch-2018?
A 2023 start-up aiming to make recycling convenient and accessible to all is about to go national. The aim is to provide people with a home pick-up option for some of the "trickier" items the normal recycling bins can't handle - including soft plastics. https://wastemanagementreview.com.au/recyclesmart-goes-national/
A Kyushu University study (2021) estimated there were 24.4 trillion pieces of microplastics in the world's upper oceans or roughly 30 billion 500-ml plastic water bottles. Microplastics are tiny, toxic and very hard to remove from the environment. But researchers in the US have discovered that some Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) can attract and bind microplastics, making it easier to remove them from the environment. And the N in NADES is key - natural - in this instance, think extracts from plants. https://www.research.uky.edu/news/researchers-develop-eco-friendly-magnet-battle-microplastics
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