In a factory in Waregem, north-west Belgium, a unique piece of machinery accessible only by fingerprint to trusted staff, is transforming old clothing and textiles with the utmost precision, away from prying eyes. Stretching 170 metres, the machine gently untwists woven and knitted fibres, preparing them for reuse. These fibres are at the
Aleh Cherp, Central European University; Jessica Jewell, Chalmers University of Technology, and Tsimafei Kazlou, University of Bergen Just 1% of the world’s coastal waters could, in theory, generate enough offshore wind and solar power to provide a third of the world’s electricity by 2050. That’s the promise highlighted in a new study by
At this year’s International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, a small square house set up in Giardino delle Vergini told a story of resilience and ingenuity, demonstrating how innovation does not have to mean huge investment. Created by the Swedish non-profit foundation BetterShelter, it has become a common sight in emergency situations worldwide – from
Alex Lenferna, University of Fort Hare “Reduce, reuse, recycle.” For more than 50 years, those three Rs have been the world’s go-to environmental mantra. On the face of it, the three Rs sound like an empowering call for each of us to play our part for the planet. However, the individualist approach behind
Michalis Genitsariotis, a former salesman turned olive grower from the northern Greek region of Halkidiki, is constantly learning in his “second life” as a farmer. Unlike many people with a traditional farming background, Michalis only turned to agriculture in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, at a time when many were pushed
Piers Forster, University of Leeds and Debbie Rosen, University of Leeds Bad climate news is everywhere. Africa is being hit particularly hard by climate change and extreme weather, impacting lives and livelihoods. We are living in a world that is warming at the fastest rate since records began. Yet, governments have been slow
The Maritsa Iztok Complex in southeastern Bulgaria stands as a relic of the past. Since the 1950s, its four thermal power stations have powered the region, relying on coal from three nearby open-pit mines. This type of mining is among the most environmentally damaging, and a long-overdue transition is now underway, promising to
As Europe faces growing security and trade challenges, the momentum behind sustainable policies, and especially green finance, has come under increasing pressure. Sandrine Dixson-Declève, a leading voice in climate action and sustainable finance, will be a speaker at the conference on Research & Innovation for a Competitive Green Transition in Brussels, Belgium, on
In a landscape full of clear blue lakes and deep green forests, it is the old redbrick buildings that tell the story of Tampere’s industrial heritage. Former factories, which once housed machine and linen production, still dominate the architecture of this Finnish region. Although the roar of industrial machinery has long died out,
ph. The Great Barrier Reef stretches for 1,429 miles just off Australia’s northeastern coast. Auscape/Universal Images Group via Getty Image Noam Vogt-Vincent, University of Hawaii Tropical reefs might look like inanimate rock, but these colorful seascapes are built by tiny jellyfish-like animals called corals. While adult corals build solid structures that are firmly