An industrial carbon dioxide recycling plant is being developed by Canadian scientists that could one day suck CO2 out of the atmosphere and convert it into a zero-carbon e-diesel fuel. Developed by tech start-up Carbon Engineering and partly funded by Bill Gates, the system will essentially do the job of trees, but in places unable to host them, such as icy plains and deserts. (Video)
How would you, your loved ones, or even your pet like to grow into a tree after death? It is now possible with the Bios Urn. Continue reading… “Grow your ashes into a tree with the Bios Urn”
Sweden burns half its rubbish to generate energy.
People in Sweden generally waste as much as people in other countries, around 461 kilograms per person each year. But only one percent of that waste is ending up in landfills, thanks to the country’s innovative “recycling” program. (Video)
Continue reading… “Sweden now recycles 99 percent of its garbage”
The discovery includes stiff plastics and flexible gels that can mend themselves if torn.
A collection of new plastics that are recyclable and adaptable have been developed by researchers – and the discovery began with a laboratory mistake. They include strong, stiff plastics and flexible gels that can mend themselves if torn.
Continue reading… “New recyclable plastics discovered ‘by accident’”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Lg_kvLaAM[/youtube]
This YouTube video about the invention of a plastic-to-oil converting machine went viral and exceeded 3.7 million views. This shows that concern over “the plastic problem” is certainly not going away, despite encouraging bans on and decreases in the use of plastic shopping bags.
GrowUp’s Kickstarter-funded aquaponic farm is a circular ecosystem with 150 fish, all self-contained in a box.
At the Marlborough Playground in London this summer you’ll see a modified, upcycled shipping container with a greenhouse on top–dubbed the GrowUpBox. It is producing both fresh vegetables and fresh fish, all in one compact set-up.
Continue reading… “GrowUpBox: A shipping container farm that grows tilapia and salad greens”
According to a recent online survey, electronics recycling has sharply risen in the past three years. General recycling is at all-time high levels, with 84 percent of U.S. residents recycling their trash – helped no doubt by the widespread availability ofcurbside recycling programs in many communities.
Continue reading… “Electronics recycling has risen sharply in the past 3 years”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4EeWdogyec[/youtube]
Millions of tons of waste from factories, building sites, and processing facilities are being turned into something besides landfill with a technology that has led researchers to fabricate bricks out of TVs, computers, paper waste, incinerator ash, rubble and other materials that were conventionally considered useless.
Continue reading… “New bricks fabricated out of junk we aren’t using”
Portland’s new policy encourages composting.
Forty years ago, Portland, the largest city in Oregon, pioneered five-cent deposits on beverage container. Now they are advocating a new approach to garbage collection that has some U.S. communities taking notice.
Continue reading… “New twist on trash pickup in Portland, Ore.”
Powerful new power options.
Irrigation canals are the blood vessels of agriculture, delivering water throughout America’s farmland. Pretty soon, they may well deliver a bit of electricity too, thanks to the Hydrovolt micro-generator.
The Hydrovolt C2, designed and built by the same-named Washington state company, is a compact car-sized device that sits on a irrigation canal’s floor and utilizes the steady, uninterrupted flow of water to power its turbine, which is situated perpendicular to the flow, like a paddle boat wheel. As the wheel turns, it cranks an on-board generator that produces a charge. The device is neutrally buoyant so it can generate power on the water’s surface as well, without impeding the flow or affecting the water quality.
Continue reading… “Hydrovolts tap canal currents for 12 kW of power apiece”
Recycled stuffed animals never looked so good!
Artist Agustina Woodgate makes her skin rugs out of recycled stuffed animals. Keep her away from your cherished teddy bear.
Her Skin Rug series consists of a group of rugs made out of dissembled stuffed animals and turned into large quilt-like rugs that almost look like a kaleidoscope…
Continue reading… “Artist recycles stuffed toys to make stunning, psychedelic rugs”
Recycling can lids can turn into a heated situation.
It takes two hours on a sunny day, but this solar heater built by engineering students at Humboldt State University in California works. It’s made from waste materials, specifically can lids. These are held together by vines from Himalaya blackberry plants, which are an invasive species in their area…
Continue reading… “Solar heater made from can lids will boil a jar of water”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.