Energy-generating ‘smart bricks’ turn ordinary buildings into efficient living machines 2/8/2016

Living Architecture is developing construction bricks composed of biofilm that can harness solar energy, wastewater, and air pollution, and turn them into usable resources. ...more

Scotland's emissions cuts power ahead of European neighbours 2/8/2016

Scotland is second only to Sweden with the success of its emission reduction efforts, according to new greenhouse gas emissions data released on Sunday by the Scottish government. ...more

Solar plane team plans to develop drones after record flight 2/8/2016

The Swiss team behind the record-breaking Solar Impulse round-the-world flight in a plane that used no fuel said they will press on with plans for drones powered by the sun’s rays. ...more

Rio Olympics to dish up sustainable seafood as part of responsible sourcing drive 2/8/2016

Olympic athletes at this month's games in Rio will fuel up on sustainable seafood from certified fisheries, in a responsible sourcing drive the Olympic Organising Committee (OOC) claims has encouraged many fisheries in Brazil to improve their standards. ...more

What's that flower? Your smartphone will soon know the answer 2/8/2016

There are at least 250,000 species of flowers on our planet. The most passionate gardener or even the most experienced botanist couldn't name all of them. ...more

Animal welfare experts back UAE’s draft law against exotic animal ownership 1/8/2016

The UAE’s decision to pass a draft law that would make it illegal for people to purchase unlicensed exotic and wild animals has received the support of animal welfare experts. ...more

England's plastic bag usage drops 85% since 5p charge introduced 1/8/2016

The number of single-use plastic bags used by shoppers in England has plummeted by more than 85% after the introduction of a 5p charge last October, early figures suggest. ...more

Dutch researchers grow carbon-hungry plants to suck up pollution 1/8/2016

Air pollution is a problem most cities face, and plants can be incredibly helpful. But what if there was a super plant even better at sucking up pollution? ...more

Still waters: U.S. to crack down on ocean noise that harms fish 1/8/2016

The ocean has gotten noisier for decades, with man-made racket from oil drilling, shipping and construction linked to signs of stress in marine life that include beached whales and baby crabs with scrambled navigational signals. ...more

Chernobyl could be reinvented as a solar farm, says Ukraine 1/8/2016

The contaminated nuclear wasteland around Chernobyl could be turned into one of the world’s largest solar farms, producing nearly a third of the electricity that the stricken plant generated at its height 30 years ago, according to the Ukrainian government. ...more