Research & science

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 Research & science Rethinking the Nature and Extent of Inductive Effects in Organic Compounds - ACS Publications ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (ACS) · 14 May 2026 Research & science El impacto psicológico de la cuarentena a bordo de un crucero El brote en el MV Hondius pone de manifiesto por qué la cuarentena no es solo una medida sanitaria, sino también una profunda prueba de confianza, rutina y resiliencia. University of Sheffield — The Conversation institution feed · 13 May 2026 Research & science Volcano helped clean up after it erupted A violent volcanic eruption in the South Pacific has revealed a surprising natural mechanism that could potentially help slow global warming. Futurity — Earth & Environment · 13 May 2026 Research & science State opening of parliament 2026: experts on plans for cost of living, EU ties, tourist tax and more The government has laid out its plans for the next parliamentary session. University of Bath — The Conversation institution feed · 13 May 2026 Research & science South Wales saltmarshes hold nearly three times more fish than unvegetated shores, Swansea University study shows Saltmarshes in south Wales support fish at nearly three times the density of unvegetated estuarine shores, according to new Swansea University research. Swansea University News · 13 May 2026 Research & science 300 years of industrialisation have left Wales with a blank ecological canvas in its coastal waters A new study has revealed the staggering extent of historical degradation in Welsh estuaries and coasts, challenging modern conservationists to rethink how they restore the nation’s marine environments. Swansea University News · 13 May 2026 Research & science After a complete collapse, where does Welsh Labour go from here? After its worst defeat in modern history, Welsh Labour faces a battle to redefine its purpose, identity and future. Cardiff University — The Conversation institution feed · 13 May 2026 Research & science Other countries can learn from the UK’s successful shift to fortnightly bin collections Fortnightly bin collections can prompt more recycling, research shows. University of Southampton — The Conversation institution feed · 13 May 2026 Research & science Europe is rearming itself without addressing the political consequences Europe’s security turn remains strikingly ad hoc, despite its massive increase in defence spending. University of Warwick — The Conversation institution feed · 13 May 2026 Research & science Architecture-Specific Failure Modes in hERG QSAR Predictions for Iboga Alkaloids: A Within-Family Empirical Test of the Binding-vs-Blockade Limitation - ChemRxiv ChemRxiv preprints · 13 May 2026 Research & science Scientists discover a mysterious silicone pollutant that may be everywhere Researchers have uncovered unexpectedly high levels of silicone-based pollutants called methylsiloxanes floating through the atmosphere across cities, rural regions, and even forests. Much of the pollution appears to come from vehicle emissions, likely linked to engine oil additives that survive combustion and escape into the air. Scientists say humans may inhale more of these compounds daily t… ScienceDaily — Pollution · 13 May 2026 Research & science AI generates first complete models of proteins in motion 13.05.26 - EPFL researchers have used a neural network to create all-atom models of proteins, as well as the dynamic movements that govern their function. Their comprehensive yet simplified approach resolves a major bottleneck in biology. Many drug and antibody discovery pathways focus on intricately folded cell membrane proteins. When molecules of a drug candidate bind to these proteins, like … EPFL News (Mediacom) · 13 May 2026 Research & science ACS Applied Catalysis Journal - ACS Publications ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (ACS) · 13 May 2026 Research & science Scientists discover the Southern Ocean is “sweating” more as climate change intensifies A remote island between Australia and Antarctica is showing signs of a dramatic climate transformation. Scientists found storms over Macquarie Island now unleash much heavier rainfall than they did decades ago, soaking ecosystems and altering fragile vegetation. The discovery hints that the Southern Ocean — one of Earth’s biggest climate regulators — may be changing faster than expected. Resear… ScienceDaily — Recycling and Waste · 13 May 2026 Research & science Are beach visitors willing to pay for coastal conservation efforts to combat climate change? The case study of Fuengirola (southern Spain) Climate change (CC) is increasingly threatening the conservation of coastal areas worldwide, intensifying pressures from erosion, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events. This study assesses visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for beach conservation in Fuengirola (Spain), a high-density tourist destination on the Mediterranean Costa del Sol whose economy is strongly dependent on beach-based t… Sustainability Science (Springer) · 13 May 2026 Research & science Correction: Navigating the winds of change: strategic foresight and the power of weak signals Sustainability Science (Springer) · 13 May 2026 Research & science Pathways to EU decarbonization: the role of green investment and R&D activity The European Union faces persistent disparities in its progress toward climate neutrality, despite unified policy frameworks under the Green Deal and Fit for 55. A key unresolved policy challenge is understanding why investment support and R&D efforts accelerate decarbonization in some countries but produce weaker outcomes in others. Existing research offers fragmented insights and rarely evalu… Sustainability Science (Springer) · 13 May 2026 Research & science Mental models for transition to conservation agriculture: the case of Mediterranean pioneer farmers Conservation agriculture is a promising approach to address the sustainability challenge of soil degradation facing Mediterranean farming systems. We documented the collective mental model of pioneering conservation agriculture farmers in Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia, including their motivations, perceived benefits, and how they overcome barriers in implementation. We find that pioneer farmers i… Sustainability Science (Springer) · 13 May 2026 Research & science Wine's leftovers could help wean chicken farms off antibiotics Every year, millions of gallons of wine are pressed, leaving behind a mountain of pulpy residue—grape skins, seeds, stems and peels—that wineries struggle to dispose of. Now, researchers say this overlooked byproduct could find a new life on the farm, as a replacement for the antibiotics routinely added to chicken feed. Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 12 May 2026 Research & science International Booker Prize 2026: heartbreak, brutality, shapeshifting – six experts review the nominees Novelists and translators from Bulgaria to Brazil make up this this year’s impressive shortlist. University of Edinburgh — The Conversation institution feed · 12 May 2026 Research & science The mental toll of quarantine on board a cruise ship – explained by a psychologist The MV Hondius outbreak shows why quarantine is not only a medical measure, but a profound test of trust, routine and resilience. University of Sheffield — The Conversation institution feed · 12 May 2026 Research & science Towards sustainable seaweed aquaculture in Nosy Boraha, Madagascar: Insights from social and ecological sciences by Isabel Urbina-Barreto, Rindra Razandriarison, Oly Ny Aina Ralison Andrianantoandro, Anne Chauvin, Hambinintsoa Solofoharimanana, Elsa Lagoutte, Georgeta Stoica, Victor David, Pascale Cuet, Dina Andrianaivoravelona, Manon Museux, Sébastien Jan, Aline Tribollet Cottonii seaweed ( Kappaphycus alvarezii) farming is a growing activity in Madagascar, promoted as part of the country’s blue economy … PLOS Sustainability and Transformation · 12 May 2026 Research & science Scientists say this algae could remove microplastics from drinking water Researchers created a special kind of algae that can grab microscopic plastic pollution out of water almost like a magnet. The algae produce limonene, an orange-scented oil that helps them bind to water-repelling microplastics, forming easy-to-remove clumps. As a bonus, the algae also clean wastewater while growing. ScienceDaily — Recycling and Waste · 12 May 2026 Research & science Michaelina Wautier : une peintre du baroque flamand au talent époustouflant À Londres, une exposition historique remet à l’honneur un artiste tombé dans l’oubli, tant auprès du grand public que des spécialistes, pendant près de 300 ans. University of Nottingham — The Conversation institution feed · 12 May 2026 Research & science Systematic review of mycelium-based composites as sustainable insulators for carbon-neutral building envelopes Volume 19, Issue 1, December 2026 . International Journal of Sustainable Engineering (Taylor & Francis) · 12 May 2026 Research & science Catalysing Materials Circularity Through Digitalization Materials Circular Economy (Springer) · 12 May 2026 Research & science Nudge theory was all about taking responsibility, but it allowed big business to look the other way Feelings of despair at the state of the world can be overwhelming. Social and environmental problems persist, but political discourse is polarized, divisive and often ineffective. Phys.org — 'plastic recycling' search feed · 11 May 2026