Recycling news: 2026

Research & science Liquid gold: The potential and risks of turning human urine into sustainable fertilizer A new research review led by Griffith University suggests using human urine as a fertilizer could significantly boost sustainable agriculture—but key health risks and knowledge gaps must be addressed before it could be widely adopted. The review, led by a multi-disciplinary research team from Griffith, analyzed 35 global studies examining microbial risks associated with urine-derived fertilizer… Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 26 May 2026 Research & science From gait analysis to fingerprint theft, how worried should we be about the latest advances in biometric technology? You can wear a mask, pull up a hood, avoid looking at a camera – but you cannot easily change how you walk. Loughborough University — The Conversation institution feed · 26 May 2026 Research & science Nearly half of every T-shirt goes to waste before you even buy it The global consumption of clothing is enormous. However, a significant portion of the textile fibers is lost before the garments even reach the market. "When we talk about textile waste, the debate often focuses on the clothes we throw away. But the problem starts much earlier," explained former NTNU master's student Rakib Ahmed, currently a researcher at SINTEF Industry. Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 26 May 2026 Research & science They ‘showed me a lot of love’: why young men seeking belonging join gangs Gangs offer belonging, identity, protection and support for young people. University of Birmingham — The Conversation institution feed · 26 May 2026 Research & science Engineers seek alternatives to fossil fuels 26.05.26 - The transportation industry has no choice but to clean up its act if we’re to reach global targets for net zero. But until engineers come up with completely new types of vehicles, the focus will be on finding alternatives to fossil fuels. To meet global demand for transportation while mitigating the industry’s climate impact, engineers and policymakers will need to deploy a combinati… EPFL News (Mediacom) · 26 May 2026 Research & science Andrea Eriksson awarded Levi Prize for research on leadership and working environment Professor Andrea Eriksson has been awarded this year’s Levi Prize for her extensive contributions to workplace environment research, engineering education and practical application. KTH Royal Institute of Technology News · 26 May 2026 Research & science Carbon nucleophile-mediated pyridine ring-opening enables Polymethine-functionalized Cyanine 9 - ChemRxiv ChemRxiv preprints · 26 May 2026 Research & science Tips for Experiments - Empa Scientific IT Empa News · 26 May 2026 Research & science Rice launches Space Humanities Initiative to bring cultural inquiry into conversation about space - Rice University Rice University News · 26 May 2026 Research & science NSHD Showcase - NSHD Wiki UCL News · 26 May 2026 Research & science The impact of thermal disturbance in fire zones on the microstructure and spontaneous combustion tendency of oxidized coal In order to study the structural evolution and spontaneous combustion risk of residual coal under low-temperature baking conditions in a coalfield fire zone, a gradient pre-oxidation experiment was used to simulate the thermal disturbance effect. The molecular structure, microcrystalline evolution, pore characteristics, and index gas production of coal under different thermal disturbance intens… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 26 May 2026 Research & science Green conversion of coal gangue acid leaching residue into a K 2 Si 4 O 9 fertilizer material: a sustainable strategy for solid waste upcycling Coal gangue acid leaching residue (CG-alr) is a large solid waste generated during the extraction of aluminum-containing resources from coal gangue (CG), and its high-value-added resource utilization faces challenges. This study proposes a two-step strategy, which is high-temperature thermal alkali activation (1100 °C and 0.5 h) and low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis (95&#xa0… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 26 May 2026 Research & science Robots to be tested in the home Danica Kragic is one of the researchers involved in a project to investigate how people in need of home care perceive robots and the level of acceptance for the technology. KTH Royal Institute of Technology News · 25 May 2026 Research & science China launches crewed space flight as part of moon ambitions China launched its crewed Shenzhou-23 spacecraft and eased it into a successful docking with a space station early Monday as part of Beijing's ambitions to send humans to the moon by 2030, state media said. Phys.org — 'e-waste' search feed · 25 May 2026 Research & science Iron-Catalyzed [1+1+1] Cyclopropanation via Stereoselective Ester Olefination - ChemRxiv ChemRxiv preprints · 25 May 2026 Research & science Companies struggle to realize circular ambitions, says researcher The research, conducted by Wierikx at the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences, is based on more than 3,000 organizational assessments. The results reveal a consistent pattern: companies are relatively strong in setting circular ambitions, but face major challenges in scaling initiatives and embedding circularity into day-to-day business operations. Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 24 May 2026 Research & science Main Group Metals in Redox Catalysis - ChemRxiv ChemRxiv preprints · 24 May 2026 Research & science The impact of microplastics on ocean carbon uptake Marine microplastics affect algae's ability to grow and photosynthesize. Researchers have now calculated what impact this has on the greenhouse effect and the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Phys.org — 'plastic recycling' search feed · 24 May 2026 Research & science Scientists just found a faster, cleaner way to extract lithium for EV batteries A breakthrough lithium-extraction method could help solve one of clean energy’s dirtiest problems. Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a fast new technique that pulls lithium directly from salty underground brines using a temperature-sensitive solvent, avoiding the giant evaporation ponds that can take years and drain precious water supplies. Even better, the method works on low-… ScienceDaily — Recycling and Waste · 23 May 2026 Research & science Internal control quality and audit quality: evidence from heavily polluting firms under China’s dual-carbon transition Volume 17, Issue 1, December 2026 . Carbon Management (Taylor & Francis) · 23 May 2026 Research & science Gaps and Missing Links Between Circular Economy and Energy Models for the Construction Industry Energy models are critical for the construction industry’s transition towards a Circular Economy (CE) and for meeting climate mitigation targets. However, conventional modeling frameworks frequently overlook the critical interplay between energy systems and material circularity. This article evaluates the current state of CE integration within prominent energy models—such as JRC-EU-TIMES (JET),… Materials Circular Economy (Springer) · 23 May 2026 Research & science Integrated Experimental–Numerical Investigation of DD14 and DC04 Steel Sheet Formability Based on Tensile Test Characterization This study presents a comparative formability assessment of hot-rolled DD14 and cold-rolled DC04 steel sheets, focusing on the mechanical factors governing their plastic stability. An integrated experimental–numerical approach was employed to evaluate their anisotropic response. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted at 0°, 45°, and 90° relative to the rolling direction to determine key formabil… Materials Circular Economy (Springer) · 23 May 2026 Research & science The Enhanced Games: ‘dangerous clown show’ or a wake-up call for traditional sport? These games should compel traditional sport to solve its fundamental problems and reflect upon the true value of sport and athletes. Loughborough University — The Conversation institution feed · 22 May 2026 Research & science NHS shakeup: if it sounds like we’ve been here before, it’s because we have The NHS modernisation bill promises reform, but past reorganisations suggest costly upheaval may distract from fixing care where it matters most. University of Glasgow — The Conversation institution feed · 22 May 2026 Research & science Possible strike at NTNU: mediation ongoing Mediation is ongoing in the state sector wage negotiations. Employees at NTNU may be affected. Innlegget Possible strike at NTNU: mediation ongoing dukket først opp på NTNU Nyheter . NTNU Norwegian SciTech News · 22 May 2026 Research & science Appointment of EPFL professors 22.05.26 - The Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology has announced the appointment of professors at EPFL. New appointments at EPFL © 2026 EPFL Professor Benjamin Peherstorfer, currently Associate Professor at New York University, USA, as Full Professor of Computational and Applied Mathematics in the School of Basic Sciences (SB) Benjamin Peherstorfer is regarded as one of the most… EPFL News (Mediacom) · 22 May 2026 Research & science Developing a Framework to Inform Sustainable and Cost-effective Waste Management Approaches in Harare, Zimbabwe In developing countries, municipal solid waste management causes significant environmental and economic challenges. In Zimbabwe, Harare exemplifies challenges caused by opaque costing systems, limited resources, and rising waste volumes. Therefore, this research develops a novel framework focusing on informing sustainable waste management and cost-effectiveness by guiding economic evaluation in… Materials Circular Economy (Springer) · 22 May 2026 Research & science From MRC discovery research to a one-minute cancer treatment A new injectable cancer immunotherapy is being rolled out across the NHS, offering faster treatment for tens of thousands of patients each year. MRC UKRI News · 21 May 2026 Research & science From Iran to Ukraine, lasting ceasefires remain elusive The current pattern of short-term ceasefires with fragile extensions is likely to continue. University of Edinburgh — The Conversation institution feed · 21 May 2026 Research & science New towns are back – but this time they must be more walkable But economic and cultural forces mean dense housing is harder to develop than low-rise sprawl. University of Glasgow — The Conversation institution feed · 21 May 2026 Research & science Teen self-harm: responses should focus on social context, not just mental health Young people across different cultures describe self-harm less as a symptom of mental health difficulties, and more as a response to unbearable pressures. University of Bath — The Conversation institution feed · 21 May 2026 Research & science “A Catalyst for a Consistent Innovation Policy” As part of the HTAD Days, which are taking place from May 18 to 22, 2026, the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) presented the High-Tech Agenda for Germany (HTAD) roadmaps yesterday. The president of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft sees this step as a catalyst for a consistent innovation policy and for accelerated transfer of strategic technologies to industry. Consta… Fraunhofer Research News · 21 May 2026 Research & science World-leading mental health data scientist elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences A Swansea University mental health data science expert has been elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in recognition of her outstanding contribution to medical science. Swansea University News · 21 May 2026 Research & science Jupiter’s lightning may be 100x more powerful than Earth’s Jupiter’s storms aren’t just gigantic — they may unleash lightning far more powerful than anything on Earth. Using NASA’s Juno spacecraft, scientists discovered that some lightning bolts on the gas giant could pack up to 100 times the punch of Earth’s lightning, and possibly much more. The findings reveal that Jupiter’s atmosphere works very differently from our own, with massive storms buildin… ScienceDaily — Recycling and Waste · 21 May 2026 Research & science 3D printing tissue-like structures with light 21.05.26 - EPFL researchers have developed a way to use holograms to guide laser light for ultra-efficient, fast, and precise volumetric 3D printing. The innovation enables cell-compatible, high-resolution 3D printing at scales suitable for biomedical applications. In 2025, EPFL scientists published an improved approach to tomographic volumetric additive manufacturing (TVAM): a 3D printing meth… EPFL News (Mediacom) · 21 May 2026 Research & science Valorization of waste cooking oil and coconut coir into bio-based phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications With the booming sustainable thermal energy storage (TES) materials and an increasing concern about the environmental issues accompanying organic waste disposal, eco-friendly phase change materials (PCMs) are being sought in an increasingly competitive race. The valorization of waste cooking oil (WCO) and coconut coir into bio-composite PCM for a sustainable TES application is demonstrated in t… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 21 May 2026 Research & science Segregation inhibition and performance enhancement of low carbon large-volume cast stone from molten silicomanganese slag The integrated utilization of energy and materials from pyrometallurgical slags (>1 billion tonnes per year globally) remains a universal challenge. This study converted 1600 °C molten silicomanganese slag (SMS) into the low-carbon large-volume cast stone (1.50 m×0.45 m×0.65 m) in tonne-scale field experiments by optimizing its heat treatment regime (10 h crystallizatio… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 21 May 2026 Research & science Utilization of Construction and Demolition Waste in Rigid Pavement This research addresses the challenges associated with construction and demolition (CDW) generation and under-utilization, proposing its effective use in rigid pavement construction as a sustainable alternative. Excessive extraction of natural resources for new construction poses significant environmental concerns, which are further aggravated by the accumulation of unprocessed CDW, contributin… Materials Circular Economy (Springer) · 21 May 2026 Research & science Reusable tea cups have hidden thresholds for achieving environmental sustainability By combining demand-driven life cycle assessment with a multi-objective optimization framework, researchers identified potential optimal solutions for reusable bubble tea packaging systems under actual market demand conditions. The results show that material selection and low reuse frequency dominate both economic costs and environmental impacts, while durability and logistics become increasing… Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 20 May 2026 Research & science Xi and Putin tout ‘new type’ of world order in Beijing – but is their alliance really that strong? China dictates the pace and areas of its cooperation with Russia. University of Glasgow — The Conversation institution feed · 20 May 2026