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THE TEAM at a Thames Water nature reserve came up with an innovate way to save money and cut down on waste by recycling unwanted mussel shells.  More than 35 tonnes of quagga and zebra mussel shells, which are found in huge numbers and cost millions of pounds to remove, were crushed and used to create four new tern rafts...

NEW research project tackles the global challenge of energy storage with liquid air a new 'energy observatory' when moving towards net zero. Led by energy experts at the University of Birmingham, MANIFEST (Multi-Scale Analysis for Facilities for Energy Storage) is a £5 million project that taps into Birmingham’s long-standing expertise in cryogenic and thermal energy storage. The programme investigates how we...

A NEW network, jointly led by Professor Leon Terry from Cranfield University and Professor Carol Wagstaff from the University of Reading, will be linking researchers with industry to tackle food waste across the supply chain. Professor Terry said: “Cranfield University has a long history of reducing postharvest food losses and we are delighted to be leading this network with UKRI...

IN order to improve Bristol's air quality, the City Council is looking to award a £100,000 grant to help support zero emission freight consolidation across the city. Freight consolidation is where suppliers have goods delivered directly to a consolidation centre on the outskirts of the city and combine those goods into a single fuller load for the onward journey to...

As the cut-flower industry blooms on Valentine’s Day, researchers at Coventry University have been offering advice for ethical romantics and florists to make more sustainable choices. Across the world around 250 million rose stems will be produced for Valentine’s Day, typically exported from countries with heat, space and cheap labour. Over 90% of flowers sold in the UK are imported, primarily...

RESEARCHERS from Coventry University are helping to shake up the electronic waste industry by using bacteria to recover precious metals. The bacteria eats away at circuit boards before releasing the metals in an oxidised solution. The technique, called bioleaching, is a natural process which has been used in the mining industry for years to extract metals from ores, however this is...

ANGLIAN Water, which covers the largest part of England and Wales, announces it has asked Ofwat to refer its Final Determination to the Competition and Markets Authority. So far, Yorkshire Water and Bristol Water have also rejected the PR19 determination. On the other hand, Sutton and East Surrey Water, United Utilities, Welsh Water and Severn Trent have already accepted the water...

THE CHURCH of England’s General Synod has set new targets for all parts of the church to work to become carbon net zero by 2030, fifteen years ahead of their original goal. At its 12 February meeting, Synod members voted in favour of a revised date encouraging all parts of the Church to take action and ramp-up efforts to reduce...

Dr Matt Adams from University of Brighton investigated the potential of psychedelics in 'restarting the beating heart of ecological awareness.' Some experts maintain psychedelics not only help 'reset' brain circuitry but enhance emotional responsiveness and increase 'positive feelings of connectiveness to one’s self and others, and to the natural world.' Dr Adams, Principal Lecturer at the University of Brighton’s Centre for...

ALOK Sharma has been named the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy after Andrea Leadsom was sacked this morning. He will also serve as minister for the  Minister for the COP26 climate summit taking place in Glasgow later this year, following the dismissal of Claire Perry O’Neill just six months into her role. Mr Sharma commented his...