Recycling news: 2026

Research & science Swatch brawls: why are people fighting over pocket watches? Limited edition mass-market products can swiftly become valuable assets. University of Bath — The Conversation institution feed · 20 May 2026 Research & science Striving for a sustainable planet in the digital age: Recommendations and priority actions by Nilushi Kumarasinghe, Erin Gleeson, Andréa Ventimiglia PLOS Sustainability and Transformation · 20 May 2026 Research & science Scientists discover massive natural hydrogen source beneath Canada Scientists in Canada have discovered that ancient underground rocks are naturally producing hydrogen gas — and lots of it. Measurements from mine boreholes in Ontario show the gas can flow continuously for years, offering a potential new source of clean energy called “white hydrogen.” Researchers say this hidden resource could help power industries and remote communities while cutting carbon em… ScienceDaily — Sustainability · 20 May 2026 Research & science What AI taxis and robots can learn from bees Bees may have tiny brains but they can make rapid and accurate choices. University of Sheffield — The Conversation institution feed · 20 May 2026 Research & science Young researchers prepared for innovation Researchers in the making and early career researchers came together South in Norway to meet and interplay, during an event organised by the NTNU ENERGY TEAM BATTERY and FME BATTERY. Innlegget Young researchers prepared for innovation dukket først opp på NTNU Nyheter . NTNU Norwegian SciTech News · 20 May 2026 Research & science DR Congo fishermen resort to trawling plastic waste The mighty Congo River feeds millions of people along its course through the vast Democratic Republic of Congo but fishermen near the capital now find more plastic than fish in their nets. Phys.org — 'plastic recycling' search feed · 20 May 2026 Research & science Getting around: selectivity and connectivity over rapidity 20.05.26 - Our travel habits are changing as our attitudes toward transport shift – with a greater emphasis on comfort and the latest technology. For insights into this trend, we spoke with sociologist and EPFL professor Vincent Kaufmann. How will we be moving around over the next 50 years? Discussions about the mobility transition underway in Europe are nothing new – they were also the topic o… EPFL News (Mediacom) · 20 May 2026 Research & science How traffic makes cities warmer Traffic can be a significant heat source in cities – yet is often overlooked in concerns about rising urban temperatures. University of Manchester — The Conversation institution feed · 19 May 2026 Research & science Six tech-free tips from history for designing your garden Some gardeners at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show have faced controversy for their use of AI. University of Sheffield — The Conversation institution feed · 19 May 2026 Research & science Which knowledge matters? Decision-making in conservation and development initiatives by Clara Léonie Diebold, Peter Messerli, Paul Clément Harimalala, Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel, Julie Gwendolin Zaehringer In regions where local livelihood needs intersect with international conservation priorities, finding ways to safeguard biological diversity while promoting human well-being is essential. Beyond debates on different approaches, the literature highlights critical research gaps r… PLOS Sustainability and Transformation · 19 May 2026 Research & science Synthesis and Characterization of Citric Acid and Hexanediol Crosslinked Hydrogels Swelling Behavior and Adsorption of Malachite Green Dye Hydrogels are three-dimensional hydrophilic polymer networks that can absorb and hold immense amounts of either water or biological fluids. The distinct structure of hydrogels facilitates solute diffusion into the internal network, and it has an abundance of ionic and non-ionic functional components that can absorb or retain ionic dyes from sewage. The key objective of this research is to devel… Materials Circular Economy (Springer) · 19 May 2026 Research & science Losing pollinator insects puts human health at risk "Our study shows that biodiversity is not a luxury—it is fundamental to our health, nutrition, and livelihoods." Futurity — Earth & Environment · 18 May 2026 Research & science Data center power demand is likely to drive up energy bills Electricity demand from data centers and cryptocurrency mining could increase power costs in some parts of the country by up to 57% by 2030. Futurity — Earth & Environment · 18 May 2026 Research & science Why indie sleaze feels nostalgic – even for people who never lived it The original indie sleaze moment emerged in the early-mid 2000s, connecting with music, fashion, nightlife and online culture. Cardiff University — The Conversation institution feed · 18 May 2026 Research & science Drug shortages continue to be a problem in the UK – yet strengthening supply chains alone won’t solve this issue Prescription drug shortages can have a significant effect on quality of life for patients. University of Sheffield — The Conversation institution feed · 18 May 2026 Research & science Trump’s ‘cordial’ Beijing trip has not changed superpower rivalry Washington and Beijing are locked in superpower competition. That is not going to change. University of Nottingham — The Conversation institution feed · 18 May 2026 Research & science Raoul Klingner Is the New Director of Fraunhofer WKI in Braunschweig Raoul Klingner took over the role as institute director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut, WKI on May 15, 2026. The wood science expert is now in charge of the strategic alignment of the institute on a permanent basis, after having been the acting institute director since October 1, 2024. At the same time, Raoul Klingner is also taking over the Professorsh… Fraunhofer Research News · 18 May 2026 Research & science The Pennine hills are full of holes – here’s how they’re helping fight climate change A new project is transforming badly affected peatlands from dark moonscapes to vibrant green moss-scapes. University of Manchester — The Conversation institution feed · 18 May 2026 Research & science Why European households throw away so much food – and how to curb the waste mountain Wastage of edible food means lost calories, lost money and a growing climate problem. University of Southampton — The Conversation institution feed · 18 May 2026 Research & science Carbonylative Aminative Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling: Pd-Catalyzed Synthesis of Amides from Vinyl/Aryl Halides and Boronic Acids - ACS Publications ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (ACS) · 18 May 2026 Research & science AI-Assisted Design of Charge Transfer Excitation and Experimental Validation of Aluminum(III) Complexes for Efficient Red-to-Near-Infrared Emission - ChemRxiv ChemRxiv preprints · 18 May 2026 Research & science Imperial launches trial of vaginal microbiome therapy to help prevent preterm birth - Imperial College London Imperial College London News · 18 May 2026 Research & science The impact of Damage Mechanics on the Nonlinear Mechanical Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Structures A better understanding of the behavior of reinforced concrete requires nonlinear analysis, due to the nonlinearity of the matrix and reinforcement (concrete and steel). By modeling the behavior of steel-concrete material under static and monotonic loading using damage mechanics, we were able to deduce the evolution of its mechanical characteristics in the nonlinear domain, based on existing phy… Materials Circular Economy (Springer) · 18 May 2026 Research & science Cancer Letters | Journal - ScienceDirect.com Sustainable Materials and Technologies (Elsevier) · 17 May 2026 Research & science International Journal of Biological Macromolecules - ScienceDirect.com Sustainable Materials and Technologies (Elsevier) · 17 May 2026 Research & science AI guardians: Bridging digital innovation and sustainability for cleaner water Researchers have developed a new framework that uses artificial intelligence to monitor wastewater treatment in real time, ensuring environmental safety while maximizing resource recovery. This "twin transition" approach allows facilities to predict system health and optimize energy use simultaneously. Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 16 May 2026 Research & science Journal of Membrane Science - ScienceDirect.com Sustainable Materials and Technologies (Elsevier) · 16 May 2026 Research & science New recyclable protein textiles could cut microplastic pollution and lower clothing waste The textile industry produces a substantial portion of the world's waste, with only about 12% of fiber materials ending up in recycling. Textiles also account for much of the microplastics in oceans. During every wash cycle, synthetic fibers shed microplastics that are flushed down the drain and eventually enter aquatic environments. Increasing textile recycling alone won't solve this problem b… Phys.org — 'plastic recycling' search feed · 16 May 2026 Research & science Pourquoi les entreprises privilégient les « faux bons leaders » Les organisations savent-elles vraiment reconnaître leurs futurs leaders ? En se focalisant sur l’aisance à l’oral ou la présence en réunion, elles risquent d’ignorer ceux qui font réellement progresser les équipes. University of Glasgow — The Conversation institution feed · 16 May 2026 Research & science Designing Materials for a Circular Economy: A Multiscale and Multiphysics Approach In order to achieve a transition to a circular economy (CE) there must be a restructuring in how materials are designed, controlled, manufactured, and managed throughout their lifecycle. This review paper explores the application of multiscale and multiphysics modelling techniques to design materials that support circularity through approaches such as reuse, recyclability, durability, and upcyc… Materials Circular Economy (Springer) · 16 May 2026 Research & science My Thesis in 180 Seconds national finals return to EPFL 15.05.26 - The Swiss finals of the My Thesis in 180 Seconds competition, now in its 10th year, will be held at the Rolex Learning Center on 21 May. Fourteen PhD students will have exactly three minutes to explain their research to a broad audience. We spoke with the three finalists from EPFL about their experience. The My Thesis in 180 Seconds finals always play to a full house. This year, atte… EPFL News (Mediacom) · 15 May 2026 Research & science Soil also suffers from heat waves: Organic waste boosts its tolerance to 50°C The successive heat waves that sweep across southern Spain in summer have harmful effects on the entire community that lives there, from humans to the microbes that inhabit the soil. Both share an impressive resilience that has enabled them to survive and adapt, each in its own way, to successive episodes of extreme temperatures. But that adaptability has its limits. Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 15 May 2026 Research & science Improving biomethane production from co-digestion of fruit and vegetable waste through inoculum mixtures and recirculation of liquid biofertilizer Abstract This study investigated the energy recovery potential of fruit and vegetable wastes (FVWs) from the Pernambuco Supply and Logistics Center (CEASA-PE) through anaerobic digestion (AD), aiming to increase biomethane production by using different inoculum mixtures and recirculating stabilized liquid biofertilizer (BIO). Combinations of digestate (R3), cattle rumen content (RU), and sewage… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 15 May 2026 Research & science Valorization of waste barbecue ash and bamboo biochar as sustainable scaffolds for high-conductivity phase change materials This study develops high-performance shape-stabilized phase change materials (SSPCMs) by valorizing waste bamboo charcoal ash (BCA) and bamboo biochar (BB) as porous scaffolds. N-octadecane was encapsulated via vacuum infiltration, with expanded graphite (EG) added to enhance thermal conductivity. Characterization results reveal that BCA’s mesoporous structure (average pore diameter: 9.46 nm) e… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 15 May 2026 Research & science New reversible conductive glue could reshape electronics repair, recycling, and material recovery A collaboration between electrical and chemical engineers at Newcastle University is responsible for a reversible glue that can change how we recycle electronic waste. The team has already demonstrated reversible adhesive technology with wide applicability in general packaging applications, but this new glue is electrically conductive. This means that it can join electronic components, just lik… Phys.org — 'e-waste' search feed · 14 May 2026 Research & science From technical solution to systems change: Tackling the problem of plastic waste Akorfa Dagadu, an MIT senior in chemical engineering, learns the importance of community-engaged research and innovation through the PKG Center for Social Impact. MIT News — Recycling topic · 14 May 2026 Research & science Silk made into strong plastic-like materials with 6G potential Silk threads can be fused into transparent, plastic-like materials that twist terahertz frequencies of light, according to research led by Imperial College London, University of Michigan Engineering and Tufts University. The findings could enable components of 6G networks to be made from upcycled silk. Phys.org — 'plastic recycling' search feed · 14 May 2026 Research & science American poet Sasha Debevec-Mckenney wins Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize with Joy Is My Middle Name American poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney has been announced as the winner of the world’s largest and most prestigious literary prize for young writers – the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize – for her debut collection Joy Is My Middle Name. Swansea University News · 14 May 2026 Research & science A new voting system meant the Welsh election couldn’t have been further from a two-horse race – so why was it portrayed as one? Polls and projections increasingly framed the Senedd election as a contest between two parties. Cardiff University — The Conversation institution feed · 14 May 2026 Research & science UK’s largest independent gambling harms research centre launches, funded by Gambling Levy The centre, a UKRI investment funded through the government's Gambling Levy, will direct world-leading research on how to tackle and prevent gambling harms. Swansea University News · 14 May 2026