Contactile gives robots the sense of touch. Contactile's technology is a tactile sensor that provides the sensory advantages of the human hand without the physical limitations related to size, strength, environment and fatigue, enabling robotic gripping with just the right amount of force. Contactile has been supported by the ON Accelerate program at CSIRO. http://www.oninnovation.com.au/en/ON-teams/ON-Accelerate5-Teams/Contactile
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
"Great ideas, research and innovation can come from anyone – so often the best ideas do not have a voice. IdeaSpies provides a platform for people to share ideas that create a better world"
IdeaSpies
Jonathan Chrimes