Everledger is using blockchain to build a shared digital global ledger to track and protect diamonds. Using machine vision, they record 40 metadata points to create a unique thumbprint of each stone. It's a forensic view like dental marks or an iris scan. The technology helps verify the authenticity, provenance, and custody of diamonds using a single source across the supply chain and can identify blood diamonds as well as fake and stolen diamonds. www.forbes.com/sites/pamelaambler/2017/09/10/how-blockchain-is-fixing-the-diamond-industrys-rampant-ethical-issues
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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