Recycling news: 2026

Research & science Mining critical materials is creating 'sacrifice zones' that harm water and health of world's poor There is a troubling contradiction at the heart of the global transition to a cleaner, greener, tech-driven future: Modern technologies—everything from AI to wind turbines, as well as cellphones, electric vehicles and defense systems—depend on critical minerals. But many of the communities where those minerals are mined end up with polluted water and poorer health because of the mining. Phys.org — 'battery recycling' search feed · 30 Apr 2026 Research & science Metro Manila air still carries toxic lead decades after gasoline phaseout Counterintuitively, despite the ongoing fuel crisis and the over two decades since the global phaseout of leaded gasoline, toxic lead still lingers in Metro Manila's air. By analyzing aerosol data from as far back as 2018 and 2019 using lead isotope fingerprinting, an international team including researchers from the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics and the Manila Observatory f… Phys.org — 'e-waste' search feed · 30 Apr 2026 Research & science Thermo-kinetic and reactivity analysis of rice husk and its macromolecular constituents during thermochemical conversion for sustainable valorization Rice husk (RH), an abundant agricultural by-product, offers significant potential for sustainable energy generation and material recovery due to its lignocellulosic composition and high silica content. We conducted a detailed thermo-kinetic analysis of RH under inert and oxidative atmospheres. Initial characterization showed that RH is primarily composed of cellulose (56.6%, mass fraction), lig… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 30 Apr 2026 Research & science Releasing goldfish into the wild can mess up ecosystems "It is critically important to inform the public that their pets can become pests that harm freshwater ecosystems." Futurity — Earth & Environment · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science Fertilizer can be made from local resources instead of fossil fuels The prices of mineral fertilizers are rising. The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB is working on alternative production methods: Researchers have developed various processes and demonstrated them on a pilot scale to recover nutrients from locally available waste streams. Fertilizers ready for immediate use can be obtained from digestion residues, manure, an… Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science New way to recycle lithium-ion batteries is faster and greener As demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to surge, new research could potentially help ease supply chain pressures and cut environmental harm. Futurity — Earth & Environment · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science Nanozymes against brain tumors - Empa Empa News · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science Une anomalie au LHC laisse entrevoir une percée majeure en physique des particules Une anomalie observée dans la désintégration de mésons B pourrait être le premier signe d’une physique encore inconnue. University of Edinburgh — The Conversation institution feed · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science Tips for Instance Admins - Empa Scientific IT Empa News · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science openBIS at Empa - Empa Scientific IT Empa News · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science Compute - Empa Scientific IT Empa News · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science Data upload to openBIS - Empa Scientific IT Empa News · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science A rush for critical minerals echoes oil extraction injustice as harms fall on world's most vulnerable, scientists warn Mining critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt fuels the "green" energy and digital transitions essential to meeting climate goals. But building the technologies that enable a sustainable future is generating severe, hidden environmental and health crises that the world is failing to track or address, warns a new report by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and … Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 29 Apr 2026 Research & science Natural rubber process boosts tire toughness about tenfold while preserving stiffness Natural rubber, tapped from trees as latex, is the world's most widely used bio-elastomer. Comprising long molecular chains that make it pliable and stretchy yet highly resistant to cracking and strain, natural rubber is foundational to countless products, including the heavy-duty tires in trucks, buses, and airplanes. Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Your 'recycled polyester' leggings are not as sustainable as you think Recycled polyester activewear and swimwear are now everywhere. Major global brands sell leggings, swimsuits and puffer jackets with labels that claim they're "made from recycled plastic bottles." Millions of people buy these products believing they're making a more sustainable choice. Phys.org — 'circular economy' search feed · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Sommeil, activité physique, alimentation : des améliorations même modestes sont liées à un vieillissement en meilleure santé Une étude sur une importante cohorte suggère que de légers changements dans les habitudes de sommeil, d’activité physique et d’alimentation sont associés à un vieillissement en meilleure santé. Loughborough University — The Conversation institution feed · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Michaelina Wautier review: an astoundingly skilled painter returned to her rightful place in the spotlight A landmark exhibition that reintroduces an artists who disappeared from public and scholarly notice for nearly 300 years. University of Nottingham — The Conversation institution feed · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science There’s a reason we don’t have birds the size of elephants: the mysterious story of how dinosaurs evolved – expert Q&A Birds didn’t just evolve from dinosaurs. They are dinosaurs. University of Edinburgh — The Conversation institution feed · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science The story of birds: a new history from their dinosaur origins – extract of Steve Brusatte’s new book Dinosaur wings seem to have originally been used not to fly but to attract a mate. University of Edinburgh — The Conversation institution feed · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Swansea University staff named as Fellows of the Learned Society of Wales Six Swansea University academics are among the new entrants to the Learned Society of Wales’ Fellowship. Swansea University News · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Scientists have found a safer way to hunt for the next pandemic virus Scientists are learning to spot pandemic threats without touching dangerous pathogens. University of Glasgow — The Conversation institution feed · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Freedom Leisure announced as new operator for Swansea Bay Sports Park Following an extensive and thorough procurement exercise Swansea University and Swansea Council have entered into an agreement with Freedom Leisure to operate the sport and leisure facilities at Swansea Bay Sports Park (SBSP). Swansea University News · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Kecerdikan KitKat ubah krisis perampokan jadi ‘super campaign’ Keberhasilan respons KitKat tidak hanya terletak pada kreativitasnya, tetapi juga pada karakter krisisnya yang relatif ringan, tidak berbahaya, dan dapat diterima secara sosial untuk dijadikan bahan percakapan. University of Edinburgh — The Conversation institution feed · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Maya collapse mystery deepens as scientists find no drought at key site The mysterious collapse of the Maya civilization may not have been driven solely by drought after all. New evidence from lake sediments in Guatemala reveals that one key city, Itzan, enjoyed a stable climate even as its population abruptly vanished. Instead of environmental collapse, the findings point to something more complex: a tightly interconnected network of cities unraveling under pressu… ScienceDaily — Sustainability · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Toxic effects of benzotriazole (BTA) in corrosion inhibitor wastewater on photosynthesis and metabolic pathways of Chlorella pyrenoidosa To reutilize corrosion inhibitor wastewater in various industries for microalgae cultivation, the toxic effects of benzotriazole (BTA), a common and refractory pollutant, on photosynthesis and metabolic pathways of Chlorella pyrenoidosa ( C. pyrenoidosa ) were first investigated. When the BTA concentration increased from 0 to 400 mg/L, C. pyrenoidosa cells became more wrinkled and broken. … Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 28 Apr 2026 Research & science Global supply chains cause environmental harm, but they can help repair it too Environmental impacts are often overlooked in supply chain debates. A new framework shows how businesses can respond more fairly and effectively. University of Nottingham — The Conversation institution feed · 27 Apr 2026 Research & science Healthy life expectancy falls in the UK – and the decline is worse among women The UK’s healthy life expectancy crisis hits women hardest, but the government’s renewed women’s health strategy doesn’t come close to matching the scale of the problem. University of Glasgow — The Conversation institution feed · 27 Apr 2026 Research & science Shortages, substitutes and uncertainty: the new reality of drugs supplies Better information, smarter prescribing and investment in domestic manufacturing could help the NHS weather the growing crisis of medicines running short. University of Manchester — The Conversation institution feed · 27 Apr 2026 Research & science Preparation of non-fired bricks from granite washing sludge and other solid wastes by hydration reaction The present study utilized granite washing sludge (GWS) as the primary raw material, supplemented by quicklime (CaO), cement, phosphogypsum, and silica fume for the preparation of non-fired bricks. At the optimum ratio of GWS:CaO:cement:phosphogypsum:silica fume of 55:5:5:25:10, the non-fired bricks produced after 28 d of natural curing, reached a compressive strength of 15.04 MPa with a d… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 27 Apr 2026 Research & science New Senedd voting system poorly understood by public, study reveals Two-thirds of people in Wales are unclear about major changes to the Senedd voting system ahead of the upcoming election, according to new public polling. Swansea University News · 25 Apr 2026 Research & science £100k awarded to Swansea researchers developing gut hormone dementia treatment Swansea University researchers have been awarded £102,949 by BRACE Dementia Research to investigate a stomach hormone's role in a potential new dementia treatment. Swansea University News · 24 Apr 2026 Research & science Scientists warn about golden oyster mushrooms sold in Florida markets The golden oyster mushroom may be a culinary hit, but it’s becoming an ecological problem. Scientists warn it’s spreading quickly through U.S. forests, where it outcompetes native fungi and reduces biodiversity. In just a decade, it has appeared in more than 25 states, largely due to human cultivation and transport. Its silent expansion is now raising concerns about long-term impacts on forest … ScienceDaily — Sustainability · 24 Apr 2026 Research & science Scientists just found where airborne microplastics really come from Microplastics are floating through the atmosphere and spreading across the globe, but their true origins have been misunderstood. New research shows land sources emit over 20 times more microplastic particles into the air than the ocean, challenging earlier beliefs. Scientists also discovered that previous models dramatically overestimated how much plastic is in the atmosphere. ScienceDaily — Pollution · 24 Apr 2026 Research & science Scientists just uncovered a 3 million-year climate mystery in Antarctic ice Ancient Antarctic ice is revealing a surprising new chapter in Earth’s climate story, stretching back 3 million years. By analyzing tiny pockets of trapped air and rare gases, scientists have discovered that while the planet cooled significantly—especially in the oceans—levels of key greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane changed only modestly. This unexpected mismatch suggests other … ScienceDaily — Hazardous Waste · 24 Apr 2026 Research & science Novos resultados do maior acelerador de partículas do mundo dão pistas sobre uma física ainda desconhecida O comportamento de algumas partículas subatômicas nos experimentos feitos no LHC parece não estar de acordo com o Modelo Padrão University of Edinburgh — The Conversation institution feed · 24 Apr 2026 Research & science Mansour Shayegan elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences - Princeton Engineering Princeton Engineering News · 24 Apr 2026 Research & science Machine-learning-based prediction of energy requirements for biomass pyrolysis via compositional and operational parameters Accurate estimation of energy requirements for biomass pyrolysis is essential for designing cost‑efficient and sustainable thermochemical conversion systems. This study addresses the challenge of predicting pyrolysis energy requirement by integrating comprehensive feedstock compositional data with process operational parameters, analyzed through a machine learning (ML)‑based framework. A curate… Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy (Springer) · 24 Apr 2026 Research & science Efficient degradation of short-chain PFAS achieved with new method Short-chain perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS) such as perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) are increasingly entering the environment via various pathways and contaminating groundwater and drinking water. Because PFAS are highly mobile, removing them has so far required a great deal of effort. But a research team at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has devel… Phys.org — 'e-waste' search feed · 23 Apr 2026 Research & science How scientists changed their view of insomnia We have probably all had the experience of lying awake in bed, our mind turning, unable to sleep. Loughborough University — The Conversation institution feed · 23 Apr 2026 Research & science Swansea University unveils memorial sculpture honouring "silent teachers" of medical science A permanent memorial sculpture has been unveiled at Swansea University’s Singleton Park campus to recognise the invaluable contributions of individuals who donate their bodies to medical education and research. Swansea University News · 23 Apr 2026