Recycling news: 2026

Research & science New center targets drug-resistant infections with viral therapies - Stanford Report Stanford Report · 15 Jun 2026 Research & science Beneath our feet lies a fungal superhighway stretching 68 quadrillion miles Beneath our feet lies a vast hidden fungal superhighway that helps sustain much of life on Earth—and scientists have now mapped it for the first time. Researchers estimate that these underground networks stretch an astonishing 110 quadrillion kilometers, move about 4 billion tons of carbon dioxide into soils each year, and play a major role in supporting plants and regulating the climate. ScienceDaily — Environmental Science · 15 Jun 2026 Research & science Telia, KTH and Brookfield agree strategic partnership for sovereign AI in Sweden Telia, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Brookfield have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a strategic partnership for the joint development of sovereign AI services and applications in Sweden. The partnership is based on Telia’s and Brookfield’s previously announced AI collaboration and leverages KTH’s position at the center of Sweden’s renowned innovation ecosystem. KTH Royal Institute of Technology News · 15 Jun 2026 Research & science WWTP-CF calculator: a simplified carbon footprint tool for sustainable urban and industrial wastewater treatment plants This study introduces the MS Excel-based WWTP-CF calculator, a user-friendly tool for calculating carbon footprints (CFs) of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), identifying major greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources, and developing effective mitigation strategies. The tool was applied to small- to medium-sized urban WWTPs (uWWTPs) and central industrial WWTPs (iWWTPs). The results showed that… Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (Springer) · 15 Jun 2026 Research & science Advanced co-gasification of low-density polyethylene and empty fruit bunch using air-thermal arc plasma: parametric optimization and syngas characterization The present study examines the advanced co-gasification of empty fruit bunch (EFB), a by-product of the palm oil industry, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a widely used plastic, using air-assisted thermal arc plasma to produce an improved quality of syngas. The experiment investigates the effect of varying the equivalence ratio (ER) (0.13–0.21) and blending ratio (BR) (from 100:0 to 70:30)… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 15 Jun 2026 Research & science Comparative analysis of life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of asphalt from stationary and portable plants: an assessment for Colorado, USA Different jurisdictions across the United States continue to implement Buy Clean policies that mandate infrastructure agencies to benchmark greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction materials. Therefore, understanding how to categorize those materials reliably has become a relevant point of departure to ensure a fair analysis and comparison of their life cycle assessment results. Co… Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability (IOP) · 14 Jun 2026 Research & science How the invention of glassblowing changed everyday life in ancient Rome We see glass objects every day and often don't think much about them. Mass-produced glass has become so cheap we barely think about the things it allows us to do. Phys.org — 'plastic recycling' search feed · 14 Jun 2026 Research & science Scientists crack a decades-old CO2 problem and triple fuel production A new catalyst design could significantly improve the conversion of CO2 into methanol, an important fuel and chemical feedstock. Researchers separated key reaction steps across different catalyst sites, avoiding a long-standing trade-off between speed and efficiency. The result was about three times more methanol production than standard commercial catalysts. ScienceDaily — Recycling and Waste · 14 Jun 2026 Research & science A dying star could create a new universe instead of a black hole What if some black holes aren’t black holes at all? A new theoretical study suggests that when a massive star collapses, it might not form a singularity hidden behind an event horizon. Instead, the collapse could trigger the birth of a tiny new universe inside the dying star. Driven by dark energy, this miniature cosmos would expand and push back against gravity, preventing complete collapse an… ScienceDaily — Materials Science · 14 Jun 2026 Research & science Cellulose films match plastic performance while enabling recycling or biodegradation A new cellulose-based material platform developed in Finland responds to tightening regulatory requirements and industry pressure to both replace and reduce plastic in packaging, including emerging thresholds such as limiting plastic content to below 5 wt% in fiber-based materials. The technology enables transparent, high-performance films and coatings that match the functionality of plastics w… Phys.org — 'plastic recycling' search feed · 13 Jun 2026 Research & science Assessing avoided carbon impacts: introducing the potential avoidance of carbon emissions through research (PACER) framework Volume 17, Issue 1, December 2026 . Carbon Management (Taylor & Francis) · 13 Jun 2026 Research & science Arts-led co-creation in contested coastal futures Coastal social-ecological systems face intensifying pressures from climate change, extractive industries, and competing claims to space and resources. These conflicts carry profound justice dimensions about who benefits from coastal resources and whose knowledge counts in decision-making. Beyond technical management challenges, we can view these as contested futures where different groups envis… Sustainability Science (Springer) · 13 Jun 2026 Research & science Swansea University Professor recognised in King’s Birthday Honours list A Swansea University academic has been appointed OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list in recognition of her services to suicide prevention and digital innovation. Swansea University News · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Engineered bacterium turns potato starch into biodegradable plastic in 24 hours Every year, hundreds of millions of tons of petrochemical-based plastics are produced, much of which ends up in the environment or is incinerated. This exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental crisis caused by plastic pollution. Now, a study led by the University of Barcelona has produced a biodegradable bioplastic of high industrial value—polyhydroxybutyrate, or PHB—from unpr… Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science As AI plays a bigger role in relationships, true intimacy is getting lost The normalisation of AI to mediate and shape intimacy arguably erodes self-curiosity. University of Leeds — The Conversation institution feed · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Criminal fly-tipping gangs are costing governments millions – AI and drones can help track waste dumpers Technology could help find illegal waste sites faster and increase the chances of tracking down criminals. University of Oxford — The Conversation institution feed · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Fungal highways are vast, yet hidden underground – new study A new study provides a crucial baseline: the first global map of where these fungal networks are and how much of them exists. University of Sheffield — The Conversation institution feed · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Alaska’s glaciers have a startling response to rising temperatures Alaska’s glaciers are proving to be highly sensitive to warming temperatures. Using radar satellites to monitor more than 3,000 glaciers, researchers found that every 1°C (1.8°F) increase in average summer temperature extends glacier melting by about three weeks. The study also revealed that intense heat waves can strip away up to 28% more protective snow cover, exposing ice much earlier than n… ScienceDaily — Environmental Science · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science These tiny holes could change how the world cleans water A new nature-inspired membrane uses perfectly uniform one-nanometer pores to filter molecules with remarkable precision. The technology could transform industries such as pharmaceuticals and textiles by reducing energy consumption, improving water reuse, and delivering separation performance far beyond current filters. ScienceDaily — Materials Science · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Via Láctea foi remodelada por uma colisão há bilhões de anos, e agora está a caminho de outra Arqueólogo galáctico explica como reconstruir o passado da nossa galáxia também ajuda a interpretar os sinais do seu futuro University of Cambridge — The Conversation institution feed · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Magic mushrooms and Alzheimer’s: what one remarkable case can tell us A woman with advanced dementia appeared to regain speech and independence after psilocybin. The findings are intriguing, but far from proof. University of Sheffield — The Conversation institution feed · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science One-way quantum synchronization could make quantum computers more reliable Scientists at RIKEN have proposed a new way to make quantum systems synchronize in only one direction—like a one-way street for sound particles known as phonons. The breakthrough combines two quantum effects to create a form of one-way quantum synchronization that remains surprisingly stable even when exposed to manufacturing flaws and environmental noise, two major obstacles that have long hin… ScienceDaily — Materials Science · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science The hidden geometry that separates complex data 12.06.26 - Mathematicians at EPFL have developed a theorem that reveals why some powerful analysis tools excel at distinguishing between complex data – and how they can be further improved. It offers new insights for machine learning and statistics. Are two sets of data genuinely different, or is it because of randomness? This question, known as the two-sample testing problem , problem becomes … EPFL News (Mediacom) · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Enzymatic catalysis as a sustainable approach toward environmental remediation of sulfonamides: Advances, mechanisms, challenges and future perspectives Volume 56, Issue 16, null 2026, Page 861-885 . Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology (Taylor & Francis) · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Building robust materials from start may ease critical mineral risks, perspective argues Researchers at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) outline in a perspective paper how high-performance materials for batteries, hydrogen technologies, wind turbines, energy conversion, chemical processes and modern electronics can be designed to be more sustainable, safer and more resource-efficient in the future. This is intended to address growing dependencies on cr… Phys.org — 'battery recycling' search feed · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Silicomanganese slag wool waste as a reinforcement in clinker-free mortar and concrete: mechanical performance, microstructural analysis, and environmental-economic benefits Silicomanganese slag wool waste (SWW) represents a particularly intractable industrial waste characterized by its loose fibrous structure and high concentration of heavy metals, which poses severe challenges for safe disposal and resource utilization. To valorize this difficult-to-treat by-product while mitigating the carbon footprint of construction materials, this study engineered a novel cli… Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (Springer) · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Burkina Faso Country Environmental Analysis: Challenges and Opportunities for a Cleaner and Healthier Environment in Burkina Faso dc.title: Burkina Faso Country Environmental Analysis: Challenges and Opportunities for a Cleaner and Healthier Environment in Burkina Faso; Burkina Faso Analyse Environnementale Pays: Défis et Opportunités pour un Environnement Plus Propre et Sain au Burkina Faso dc.contributor.author: World Bank dc.description.abstract: The National Environment, Water, and Sanitation Sector Policy of Burkina … World Bank Open Knowledge Repository — 'circular economy' search · 12 Jun 2026 Research & science Toward more equitable, impactful, and robust siting of electric vehicle charging infrastructure—analysis of site suitability modeling As electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to increase, the strategic siting of EV charging infrastructure (EVCI) is critical to ensuring equitable access to clean transportation. Existing EVCI installations are often concentrated in affluent areas, with substantial disparities in public charging access across regions with different demographic characteristics. Traditional EVCI siting approach… Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability (IOP) · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science Los disturbios de Belfast confirman cómo ayudan las redes sociales a que los mensajes antiinmigración calen Los llamamientos a la calma cuando aumentan las tensiones suelen llegar demasiado tarde y resultan insuficientes. University of Glasgow — The Conversation institution feed · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science What is the Common Travel Area? Why the Ireland-UK border arrangement isn’t a ‘loophole’ for migrants Violence continued in Belfast after a man from Sudan was charged with attempted murder following a knife attack. Newcastle University — The Conversation institution feed · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science Creative employers are struggling to fill vacancies due to a lack of skills – here’s how we can fix that A new skills report reveals how we can future-proof the UK’s creative industries. Newcastle University — The Conversation institution feed · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science The Gulf Stream suddenly moved north during an ancient cold snap – and it’s a warning for our future New evidence shows a major climate shift ‘within a lifetime’ 13,000 years ago. University of Southampton — The Conversation institution feed · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science Drivers and barriers for circular development in Swedish furniture industry - Chalmers ODR Chalmers University of Technology News · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science Scientists built a battery-free device that turns sunlight into fuel Scientists have developed an artificial photosynthesis system that essentially regulates itself, eliminating the need for batteries used in many current designs. The key innovation is an electrolyzer that automatically adapts to changing sunlight by altering its electrical properties as it heats up. This keeps solar fuel production more stable while reducing cost and complexity. ScienceDaily — Materials Science · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science Why Britain’s regeneration policies keep missing the point – expert panel A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work to revive Britain’s left-behind areas. University of Cambridge — The Conversation institution feed · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science The 1,100-year-old mystery of Montana’s lost bison hunting site finally solved For nearly 700 years, Indigenous hunters repeatedly used a bison kill site in central Montana—then suddenly stopped, even though bison were still abundant. Researchers uncovered evidence that recurring, decades-long droughts likely made the site less practical by reducing access to the water needed to process large numbers of animals. At the same time, hunting groups were shifting toward larger… ScienceDaily — Sustainability · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science Scientists discover a strange property in rice and turn it into a smart material Scientists discovered that rice behaves in a highly unusual way: it weakens under rapid compression but stays stronger when pressure is applied slowly. Using this effect, they engineered a new material that reacts differently to gentle movements and sudden impacts. The material can adapt its stiffness automatically, opening the door to safer soft robots and protective equipment that responds in… ScienceDaily — Materials Science · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science University spin-outs share their expertise at prestigious UK investment summit Three Swansea University spin-out companies were selected to showcase their pioneering work at this year’s UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit in London. Swansea University News · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science The fraudsters’ playbook: our study of Enron traders shows how easily the language of trust can be abused A linguistic expert explains the techniques Enron traders used to build and retain trust in their criminal strategies. University of Birmingham — The Conversation institution feed · 11 Jun 2026 Research & science NC State Expert Offers Insight on Stopping the New World Screwworm Maxwell Scott, an expert on the New World screwworm, explains what’s being done to control its spread in the U.S. NC State University News · 11 Jun 2026