Circular Economy, Advanced Recycling, and Plastic
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The Long View
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Historically, the US has a poor record for recycling its plastic waste. Could a circular economy solve this conundrum?
8 min read
Mass Timber and Climate Change
Centuries-old, this green building material is just now gaining steam. Will it help mitigate climate change or add more wood to the fire?
6 min read
Exploiting PFAS's Achilles Tendon: A Review of Remediation Techniques
Technology designed PFAS to withstand heat and water, enabling them to persist in nature for eons. How can technology eliminate them?
5 min read
Nuclear Power: A Double-Edged Sword
The summer of 2022 was brutal. But it could have been much worse if not for fission, a technology with complications and vast potential.
5 min read
Nectar, Honey, and Chemistry
Honey has two unusual aspects: it doesn't expire and it's been in our kitchens since ancient times. What's its secret?
5 min read
Secondhand vs. Goliath: A Historical Look at Hand-Me-Downs
The history of recycling clothing goes waaay back. What can the past teach us in 2022?
6 min read
Packaging 101: A Quick Primer on Packaging, Inside and Out
A recyclable mailer made me curious about packaging materials. My takeaway: sustainable packaging has a promising future.
3 min read
Keystone Species and Unintended Consequences
An ecosystem is only as strong as its weakest link. What happens when that weak link is supposed to be its strongest?
4 min read
E-waste and a National Repair Bonus
Electronic waste is a growing menace. To end it, we need a national response.
3 min read
Can Clear-Cutting Really Help Forests Thrive?
Clear-cutting is controversial. Seeing whole sections of forest cleared can be unsettling, but science says it has environmental benefits.
3 min read
Chasing Arrows: A Quick History and What They Mean
Originally intended just for paper, the recycling symbol now represents all things environmental and green.
3 min read
Mycoremediation: A Little-Known Field of Science with Major Potential
Capable of decomposing just about anything, mighty mushrooms are one of nature's superheroes.
3 min read
The Growing Menace of PFAS
PFAS are called the “forever chemicals.” They might also be called the “everywhere chemicals.”
6 min read
Self-Healing Concrete. What Is It, and Will It Help Fight Climate Change?
Concrete can naturally heal itself, but only up to a point. Can these abilities be supercharged?
6 min read
Making the Impossible Possible: Concrete
We've been building with it for millennia. Only recently have we begun understanding its environmental cost.
3 min read
Some Thoughts about Microplastics
Plastics are here to stay. But that doesn't mean we can't be smarter in how we use them.
5 min read
The Menace of Microplastics
Though micro-sized, the threats they pose may have global implications.
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