Inspiration struck in the Whitsundays - a stunningly beautiful ocean-wonderland in Australia. But as we all know, our oceans are moving from pristine to polluted and plastic is a wicked part of that shift. Enter the world's first free B2C and B2B directory focused on plastic waste. It aims to help people & businesses find new & creative ways to reduce plastic waste and connect with other innovative businesses making a difference. https://www.implasticfree.com/
LionGlass is a new family of glass developed by researchers at Penn State University that does not require the same carbon-containing batch materials (soda ash and limestone) and significantly lowers the melting temperatures required during the manufacturing process. Both these differences mean the production of LionGlass is likely result in nearly half the emissions of conventional glass, for a product which is reportedly also significantly less breakable. https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/new-glass-cuts-carbon-footprint-nearly-half-and-10x-more-damage-resistant/
White hydrogen is formed by various natural geochemical processes deep underground. However, because H2 molecules don't like existing by themselves, they are always seeking to bond with other molecules. This means to get larger and purer amounts of hydrogen, for example 90%, you have to go deeper. And while the oil & gas industry is used to drilling at depths, H2 poses a range of pretty unique engineering challenges. (msn.com)https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/limitless-white-hydrogen-under-our-feet-may-soon-shatter-all-energy-assumptions/ar-AA1dPluA
Researchers at North Carolina State University have created a soft robot that can move like a caterpillar. The secret to this movement is two layers of polymer, which respond differently when exposed to heat. The bottom layer shrinks, or contracts. The top layer expands. This new creeping movement opens up new possibilities for the use of soft robots, for example sports attire, medicine or even just inspecting hard to reach spaces. Researchers are working on speed & durability, as well as adding sensors & cameras to make it even smarter. https://new.nsf.gov/news/robot-caterpillar-demonstrates-new-approach
Product stewardship means we track and manage products from cradle to grave, maximising economic use and minimising environmental impact, including end-of-life waste. The Australian Product Stewardship Gateway is a detailed directory of existing and emerging product stewardship initiatives in Australia. With an easy to navigate search engine to see who is doing what and with what reportable benefits. https://stewardshipexcellence.com.au/
Milk and juice cartons for your ceiling tiles? Why not? The tiles use no chemicals or adhesives like formaldehyde, require no water during their manufacture and when lined up against comparable building products have a similar performance, whilst offering the lowest carbon footprint at a competitive price point. https://www.foodmag.com.au/beverage-cartons-find-second-life-in-construction/
