What is PFAS? PFAS also referred to as per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a large group of chemicals that are necessary ingredients in many everyday appliances and products that people use. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), over 9,000 PFAS have been identified. Among the most common are PFOA and PFOS, manyContinue reading “PFAS: the scientific acronym with mainstream consequences.”
Category Archives: Dealing With Our Mess
Solar geoengineering: the techno-fix to climate change, but for the better?
What is solar geoengineering? Solar geoengineering is an umbrella term for numerous approaches dedicated to cooling or simply suppressing the increase in atmospheric and land temperature, by reflecting solar radiation (electromagnetic radiation from the sun) from the earth back into space. Reflecting radiation from the sun would lower the earth’s global temperature, enough to permitContinue reading “Solar geoengineering: the techno-fix to climate change, but for the better?”
Noise pollution – where did the tranquillity go and how can we regain it?
What is noise pollution? Noise pollution, also commonly known as sound pollution and/or environmental noise is the spread of harmful levels of noise affecting both human and animal life. Noise pollution, according to National Geographic, affects millions of people globally. According to a 2005 study in the United States alone, 30 million people are subjectedContinue reading “Noise pollution – where did the tranquillity go and how can we regain it?”
What is light pollution and just how detrimental is it?
What is light pollution? According to National Geographic, light pollution is the excessive or poor use of artificial light outdoors. Types of light pollution include glare – excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort; skyglow – brightness over the night sky in populated areas; light trespass – artificial light directed into non-intended or irrelevant spaces; andContinue reading “What is light pollution and just how detrimental is it?”
Are waste-to-energy plants the green solution to traditional landfills?
What is waste-to-energy? Waste-to-energy is a relatively new idea. In simple terms, it burns common waste at incredibly high temperatures to produce steam which moves a turbine, consequentially, generating electricity that can be used to power houses, factories, buildings etc. By burning the waste, the overall volume of the matter declines which also requires lessContinue reading “Are waste-to-energy plants the green solution to traditional landfills?”
Is aquaponics a sneak peek into the future of sustainable agriculture?
What is aquaponics? Aquaponics is one of many ways to source organic food. The method combines aquaculture (essentially fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). Together, comes “aquaponics”. This method of growing food is more environmentally sound compared to the modern agricultural monocropping practices that demand vast plots of land, and tremendous water andContinue reading “Is aquaponics a sneak peek into the future of sustainable agriculture?”
Is algae the future of plastics?
What are algae? Algae is a simple organism that is mostly aquatic, nucleus-bearing or photosynthetic. It is a dark green plant that contains no roots, stems, vascular tissues or leaves. This organism can be found in multiple different structures like single-celled phytoplankton that sit above water or even in seaweed structures called macroalgae. Algae canContinue reading “Is algae the future of plastics?”
Carbon-free steel and its role in helping reach carbon neutrality.
What is carbon-free steel? Carbon-free steel is steel manufactured without carbon and coke which are the main ingredients used in the traditional manufacturing process. Carbon and coke are two critical contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the production of steel. Sweden has recently produced the world’s first shipment of carbon-free steel. Its characteristics resemble thatContinue reading “Carbon-free steel and its role in helping reach carbon neutrality.”
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