Sandra Wilson, University of Dundee Smartphones contain about 60 different elements – including not only gold but copper and silver too. All three are good conductors of electricity, and circuits usually receive a thin covering of gold because it doesn’t corrode and so ensures a durable connection. In the kitchen drawer, most of us have… Continue reading I’m a bit of a modern-day alchemist, recovering gold from old mobile phones
Author: The Conversation
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Malnutrition and epidemics are intertwined. That makes fixing food systems crucial
Stuart Gillespie Both the epidemic and malnutrition will generate long-wave impacts, for years to come. They are also likely to interact with each other – badly. Malnutrition is by far the biggest driver of ill-health and premature mortality in every region of the world. A slow-burn attritional problem, it does enormous damage. The COVID-19 epidemic that’s sweeping the… Continue reading Malnutrition and epidemics are intertwined. That makes fixing food systems crucial
Climate change could cause abrupt biodiversity losses this century
Christopher Trisos, University of Cape Town and Alex Pigot, UCL The impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems are already evident. Poleward shifts in the geographic distributions of species, catastrophic forest fires and mass bleaching of coral reefs all bear the fingerprints of climate change. But what will the world’s biodiversity look like in… Continue reading Climate change could cause abrupt biodiversity losses this century
Drug companies should drop their patents and collaborate to fight coronavirus
Enrico Bonadio, City, University of London and Andrea Baldini, Nanjing University As the coronavirus pandemic continues to claim victims around the world, the race is on to produce the right medicines to fight it. This includes developing a vaccine to stop people from falling ill in the first place, testing kits and drugs to treat… Continue reading Drug companies should drop their patents and collaborate to fight coronavirus
Water sachet use in Ghana: how to stop the pollution
Alexander Diani Kofi Preko Almost 2,500 tons of waste is generated daily in Accra. This is as a result of refuse being dumped and the environment being littered with polythene, bottles and drinking water sachets. Garbage blocks the gutters and can cause flooding and disease outbreaks. One of the many sources of pollution are plastic sachets in… Continue reading Water sachet use in Ghana: how to stop the pollution
How to monitor the bushfires raging across Australia
Amanda Gearing, Queensland University of Technology As I write this, fires are consuming huge swathes of Australia and conditions are expected to worsen. The situation is attracting global interest, and reporting has been extensive. But it isn’t always easy to find reliable information on how the situation is developing in specific areas that are home… Continue reading How to monitor the bushfires raging across Australia
Climate refugees: why we can't yet predict where millions of displaced people will go
Derek Groen, Brunel University London and Diana Suleimenova, Brunel University London In the near future, global warming is expected to create millions of climate refugees, and individuals and organisations are already searching for ways to help them. Some ideas are obvious, such as improving conditions in refugee camps. But there are also more high-tech projects… Continue reading Climate refugees: why we can't yet predict where millions of displaced people will go
A global ‘toilet revolution’ is underway – but it’s polluting water and ignoring the urban poor
Deljana Iossifova, University of Manchester; Purva Dewoolkar, University of Manchester, and Youcao Ren, University of Manchester It’s great that countries are backing the global drive for universal access to sanitation. But at the heart of these aims must be a desire to protect the environment and improve the health and wellbeing of the people –… Continue reading A global ‘toilet revolution’ is underway – but it’s polluting water and ignoring the urban poor
Antarctica’s first zero emission research station shows that sustainable living is possible anywhere
Kate Winter, Northumbria University, Newcastle The Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Research Station in East Antarctica is the only zero-emission research base in the continent As a scientist investigating climate change, I’m embarrassed by the high carbon footprint I have when I travel to, and work in, Antarctica. Researchers based in the UK regularly take four or… Continue reading Antarctica’s first zero emission research station shows that sustainable living is possible anywhere
Work less to save the planet? How to make sure a four-day week actually cuts emissions
Anupam Nanda, University of Reading Several reports and commentators have identified various ways a four-day week could reduce our carbon footprint. 10% reduction in work hours may lead to declines in ecological footprint, carbon footprint, and CO₂ emissions The idea of a four-day working week is gaining traction. Recently, several high-profile companies have trialled reduced… Continue reading Work less to save the planet? How to make sure a four-day week actually cuts emissions