Sustainability in the News

Source: Inside EVs, 1/30/26

'Used EVs are now the cheapest cars to own over a 10-year vehicle life period, according to a new study from the University of Michigan published in Environmental Research Letters. In short, a three-year-old electric mid-size SUV can offer an average lifetime savings of $13,000 compared to a new gas-powered mid-size SUV. Meanwhile, a used gas SUV from the same category can deliver a lifetime savings of just $3,000, according to the study’s authors.'

Source: The Week, 3/3/26

'Scientists have created a “sustainable, highly efficient” method to “upcycle plastics to value-added acetic acid,” which is the main component of vinegar, said a study published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials. The process is a “bio-inspired cascade photocatalysis using iron atoms embedded in carbon nitride,” said a release about the study. It is similar to “how certain types of fungi break down organic matter using enzymes.”'

Source: The New Lede, 3/11/26

'California farming has a PFAS problem, with traces of “forever chemicals” from pesticides found on 37% of nearly a thousand samples of the state’s conventionally grown produce, according to a new analysis of 2023 data from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). The analysis, published March 11 by the Environment Working Group (EWG), found residue of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on 40 types of fruits and vegetables. Individual pieces of produce often contained multiple types of PFAS chemicals, with residues of 10 different PFAS found on strawberries, and over 90% of nectarines, plums and peaches testing for fludioxonil, a PFAS pesticide considered an endocrine disruptor by the European Food Safety Authority.'

Source: CNN, 3/17/26

‘The “forever chemicals” known as PFAS are increasingly known to potentially pose many threats, the latest of which may be child bone health, according to a new study. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of about 15,000 synthetic chemicals commonly used in products such as clothing, nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, food packaging, carpets, cleaning products, paints, and stain and water repellents. These compounds do not break down in the environment and can easily migrate into the air, dust, food and soil, also contaminating nearly half the drinking water in the United States.  Notably, PFAS accumulate in our bodies and have been found in the blood of people of all ages, including newborns.’ 

Researchers found that PFAS chemical exposure in children tended to be related to lower bone strength in those individuals as young teens. This was particularly true for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), historically one of the most widely used and studied PFAS chemicals in the US. The findings suggest exposure to these chemicals may keep individuals from reaching their genetic potential for bone density, potentially raising risk for fractures and osteoporosis in older adulthood. The study was published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

Source: University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) Newsletter, March 2026

'CSS faculty Ben Goldstein, with co-authors Estefany Cabanillas and Mark Lefsrud, published a new study comparing controlled-environment lettuce farming to conventional agriculture across Canada, finding that controlled-environment agriculture can reduce water and land use, but the environmental benefits hinge on local energy grids. In provinces with low-carbon energy grids, like Quebec, the climate change impacts of controlled urban farming are lowered. In contrast, in carbon-heavy grids like Alberta, emissions exceed those of conventional farms. The results underscore that urban agriculture’s sustainability depends on low-carbon energy sources and geography, suggesting controlled-environment agriculture should be prioritized in cities with low-carbon energy grids or alongside renewable energy sources.'

Read the study in Agronomy for Sustainable Development.

Source: The New Lede, 3/10/26

‘A genetically modified wheat under development in the US would increase the use of an herbicide that is linked to soil, water and fetal harm, according to a new report. The report, from the environmental organization Friends of the Earth (FOE), comes six months after agricultural organizations announced they are partnering to develop what would be the first genetically modified (GMO) wheat, called HB4, commercially available in the US. Proponents of HB4 say it is drought-tolerant and will bolster food security and help farmers grow wheat in a changing climate. FOE said that HB4 — which was approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2024 — would prompt more use of the herbicide glufosinate, which scientific studies have linked to premature births, impaired fetal development, kidney problems and disruption of the gut microbiome. HB4 is engineered to withstand glufosinate, which can be sprayed directly on the wheat and will only kill weeds. The FOE report also warns that HB4 could hamper US exports since not all importing countries accept GMO wheat, and it would harm US farmers that are not using GMO wheat by contaminating their fields.’

Source: Environmental Health News, 3/13/26

‘A recent study published by the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology examined the link between some childhood cancers and water sources contaminated by two PFAS chemicals - PFOS and PFOA - in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California…Children born in areas with PFAS contaminated water sources had an increased risk of childhood cancers. PFOA contamination was particularly linked to a higher risk of retinoblastoma (a rare eye cancer), while PFOS contamination was associated with higher odds of both retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma (a nerve cancer). The study authors emphasized the contributing role of multiple environmental risk factors, particularly given the high rates of poverty in these counties.’ 

Source: Chemical & Engineering News, 3/11/26

‘Cobalt and nickel, bound together in lithium-ion battery cathodes, are difficult to separate during battery recycling. Researchers have now found a way to tease the elements apart electrochemically with the help of tartaric acid, which is found in grapes and is a wine-industry by-product (Sci. Adv. 2026, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aec7956).'

Source: Chemical & Engineering News, 3/9/26

'Ski waxes that incorporate organic fluorine help winter athletes glide better on snow. Fluorine-containing waxes have been banned from competitions since 2023 because of concerns about PFAS. This year's Winter Olympics was the first to deploy the fluoro wax test, which is based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to detect carbon-fluorine signatures.'

Source: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 3/4/26

A team of researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and MIT have converted plastic waste into a microbe-friendly food source to build an upcycling pipeline that turns the waste into a variety of useful products. They engineered the bacterium Pseudomonas putida to convert polyethylene terephthalate, a main class of single-use plastics found in containers like water bottles, into pyruvate, a molecule that most organisms rely on to generate the cellular energy and biomass that sustain them. The researchers also developed a series of specialist microbes, each of which consumes pyruvate to produce a unique end-product. Such products include biopolymers and enzymes used in medicine, chemicals and fuels used in engineering, and electricity for powering electronics. Their findings have been published in the journal Nature Sustainability.

Source: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 3/4/26

Olefin epoxidation is a process used to generate epoxide chemicals, which are the backbone of the textile, plastic, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The current industry-standard process uses harsh peroxides, which are difficult to dispose of safely and emit carbon dioxide, to facilitate oxidation reactions. Water can be used as an oxidant instead of peroxides, but its O-H bonds are difficult to break, requiring high-temperature conditions. That makes using water as an oxidant highly energy-intensive and further contributes to CO2 emissions. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign chemistry professor Prashant Jain's research group, with colleagues from the Universidade de São Paulo and Northwestern University, demonstrated a method combining the power of electricity and energy from visible-light photons to break the H-O-H bonds in water, effectively turning water into an oxidant without requiring high-temperature heating.

Read their study, published by the American Chemical Society, at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5c18709.

Source: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2/26/26

Scientists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a new edge-of-field water-treatment system that reduces the load of excess nutrients washing into waterways from farm drainage systems. Their method combines a woodchip bioreactor with a two-step biochar water-treatment module. A one-year field trial demonstrated that the system reduced both nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from farmland. The study, published in the Journal of Water Process Engineering, also included a techno-economic analysis that found that the bioreactor-biochar system could become a cost-effective alternative to current edge-of-field practices while achieving better water-quality outcomes. The team was led by Hong Zhou and Wei Zheng of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

Source: Science, 2/18/26

'Science fiction definitely saw this one coming. Writers for the Superman, Star Trek, and Mission Impossible franchises all dreamed up the idea of storing libraries of data in glass. Now, Microsoft researchers say they are bringing this vision closer to reality by storing nearly 2 terabytes (TB) of data—enough for hundreds of thousands of photos or hundreds of hours of video—in coaster-size plates of glass. The new approach, described today in Nature, could archive data for thousands of years, simply and cheaply.'

Source: Chemistry World (Royal Society of Chemistry), 2/4/26

"Scientists have disagreed over methods used in a number of high-profile studies that found microplastics throughout the human body. Having been criticised, the researchers who worked on them say that the scientific community must continue to improve on these results. 'I would not dismiss the papers coming out – they are using the best methods available and the consistency across labs is becoming clear,' Matthew Campen from the University of New Mexico tells Chemistry World...The issue was brought to public attention by an investigation in The Guardian that highlighted concerns raised by scientists about these studies...Central among the various criticisms are concerns that the plastics discovered might have been accidentally introduced by the scientists themselves...Bartczak and colleagues are trying to help by developing representative test materials and quality control materials. They have also produced a practical guide on how to measure microplastics reliably...'There is broad agreement that microplastics are persistent pollutants of growing global concern, that they accumulate in all environmental compartments, and that they are present in drinking water and food. However, the true scale of the problem and the associated toxicological implications are still being evaluated.'"

Source: University of Queensland, 1/27/26

'An international team of researchers, led by The University of Queensland and Imperial College London, has proposed a new framework for scientists detecting and measuring microplastics in the human body...Thirty scientists from 20 institutions have proposed the new forensic-style protocol and urge careful interpretation of recent reports about the presence of microplastics in human tissues...The research is published in Environment & Health.'

Source: Chemical & Engineering News, 2/6/26

'Seawater has tons of lithium, but it is present at a concentration of just 200 parts per billion (ppb) and is drowned by sodium and other more abundant ions. Efficiently extracting lithium from the sea requires increasing its concentration and not nabbing sodium in the process.

Materials such as hydrogen manganese oxide (HMO) that selectively adsorb lithium are one solution, but they are slow. So researchers engineered a seesaw-like device based on HMO that boosts lithium concentrations by more than 15-fold in seawater (Device 2026, DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.101028). Using just sunlight and gravity, the device captures 70% more lithium than the adsorbent would on its own. And as it rocks back and forth, it casts off unwanted salts that build up on its surface.'

The research team consisted of Hao-Cheng Yang and Zhi-Kang Xu of Zhejiang University, Seth B. Darling of Argonne National Laboratory, and colleagues.

Source: Texas A&M University, 2/4/26

'What do microplastics, water color, and satellites have in common? Dr. Karl Kaiser, professor of marine and coastal environmental science in the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston is exploring an innovative idea: using satellites to spot microplastics in the ocean. How? By studying how tiny plastic particles change the way light reflects off the water — and how that changes the color we see from space. If this connection works, it could give scientists a powerful new tool to track microplastic pollution across the globe without ever leaving orbit.'

See https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c05604.

Source: Phys.org, 2/2/26

'A University of Missouri researcher is pioneering an innovative solution to remove tiny bits of plastic pollution from our water. Mizzou's Susie Dai recently applied a revolutionary strain of algae toward capturing and removing harmful microplastics from polluted water. Driven by a mission to improve the world for both wildlife and humans, Dai also aims to repurpose the collected microplastics into safe, bioplastic products such as composite plastic films...The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.'

Source: University of Texas at Austin, 2/4/26

'Supra Elemental Recovery Inc. (Supra), a startup that spun out of engineering and natural sciences labs at The University of Texas at Austin, has launched with a $250,000 investment from Discovery to Impact's UT Seed Fund as part of its pre-seed funding round. Supra will commercialize its proprietary technology that leverages advances in chemistry, materials science and engineering to recover critical minerals at high purity from U.S. waste sources, including mine tailings, industrial byproducts and electronic waste.'

Source: Northeastern Global News, 2/5/26

'New researchout of Northeastern University has discovered a new way to extract rare earth elements out of coal tailings, the cast-off soil and rock left behind by coal mining. Using a chemical treatment and a specially designed microwave reactor to control the temperature, the researchers have doubled the extraction levels previously possible.’

Source: Associated Press, 2/5/26

In February 2026 Malaysia announced 'an immediate and full ban on the importation of electronic waste, as the government vowed the country would not be a “dumping ground” for the world’s waste. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement late Wednesday that all electronic waste, commonly known as e-waste, would be reclassified under the “absolute prohibition” category effective immediately. This removes the discretionary power previously given to the Department of Environment to grant exemptions for importation of certain e-waste.'

Source: WSIL News 3, 1/29/26

'A team of Southern Illinois University Carbondale physics researchers has received a $523,000 federal grant to explore new ways to make refrigeration and air conditioning more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly...Researchers will investigate whether certain solid materials — such as metals exposed to magnetic fields or pressure — can be used to cool spaces more efficiently than traditional systems, which rely on vapor-compression technology. In conventional refrigeration, a circulating liquid absorbs heat from an area and releases it elsewhere, a process that requires significant amounts of electricity.'

Source: Environmental Health News, 1/9/26

'A recent review published in Emerging Contaminants found that eggs from chickens raised near waste disposal sites contained high levels of bromated flame retardants (BFRs), a class of long-lasting toxic industrial chemicals.'

Source: The Post and Courier, 1/21/26

Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler traced PFAS contamination in South Carolina's Lower Saluda River to a Shaw Industries' plant in Irmo that makes nylon fibers and resins for carpets. This in-depth article was written by Tonly Bartelme with contributions from Glenn Smith and Marilyn W. Thompson of The Post and Courier.

Source: The Independent, 1/8/26

'Chinese scientists have detected plastic particle clouds hovering in the air over two large cities indicating that these potentially toxic particles are far more abundant than previously thought.'

Source: The New Lede, 2/2/26

'In a move that reflects mounting US opposition to a class of harmful insecticides linked to environmental and human health risks, Colorado lawmakers last week introduced a bill to curb the use of neonicotinoids.

The Strengthening Economic and Environmental Decisions (SEED) Act, or SB65, introduced to the state Senate on Jan. 28, would prohibit the use of crop seeds coated with neonicotinoids on farmland unless the buyer obtains a certificate from a government-approved verifier who can certify that the use of the treated seeds is "necessary and appropriate."'

Source: SnowBrains, 1/30/26

'Hot waxing presents several opportunities for acute exposure to PFAS from ski wax, as was highlighted in a recent literature review from Middlebury College. Heating the wax to above its melting point releases volatile organic compounds, or compounds with relatively low boiling points. Mechanical scraping of the wax can also release aerosols and particulate matter, capable of further inhalation hazard...The recent review highlighted that a host of studies have found that ski technicians have higher blood concentration of PFAS than any other occupation, including firefighters, known for their high levels of exposure from the use of PFAS containing fire suppressing foams.'

Source: Oceanographic, 1/30/26

'Microplastic pollution in British seas has been found to be more than double what has been previously recorded, according to new data collected in a joint project between the University of Portsmouth and GB Row Challenge...While the findings represent a substantial change compared to previous measurements, researchers say that other factors, like differences in weather, sea state and samplings potentially could have stirred up microplastics that would have otherwise remained below the surface, in turn affecting the results.'

Source: Trellis, 1/20/26

'What is a New York City handbag giant doing in central Illinois, where it lacks boutiques, offices and factories? Tapestry, which runs the Coach and Kate Spade brands, together with Pivot Energy, completed three community solar projects on Jan. 8. They total 13.5 megawatts, enough to power about 2,500 homes. Two more installations will follow those just established in Peoria, Ottawa and tiny Dover, Illinois, in a 15-year partnership, announced in 2023. The five community solar projects will add up to a modest 33 megawatts. However, those clean electrons are instrumental to Tapestry's goal for 2025, which it reached, to count 100 percent renewables across its own operations, according to Logan Duran, global head of ESG and sustainability at Tapestry.'

Source: Inside Climate News, 1/28/26

'One-third of fish living in Pacific island waters—like Fiji's thumbprint emperor or Vanuatu's dash-and-dot goatfish—are contaminated with microplastics, according to data published Wednesday by researchers at the University of the South Pacific. Commonly misperceived to be a remote wilderness insulated from global waste, this study establishes the first regional baseline of Pacific marine microplastic ingestion. Such pollution threatens delicate ecosystems and the coastal populations who rely on fish as a primary source of protein.'

Source: Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), 1/9/26

Acrylic acid is an industrial chemical that gives disposable diapers their absorbency, makes water-based paints and sealants more weather-proof, improves stain resistance in fabric, and enhances fertilizers and soil treatments. It is converted from a precursor called 3-Hydroxypropionic acid, or 3-HP, which is made almost exclusively from petroleum through chemical synthesis in an energy-intensive process. Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Penn State University have developed a cost-effective, bio-based method to produce 3-HP and validated its commercial potential. 'Their new paper in Nature Communications reports on the development of a high-yield strain of Issatchenkia orientalis yeast for 3-HP production, as well as extensive techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment that demonstrated its commercial viability and environmental benefits.'

Source: UIC, 1/13/26

'UIC researchers are scaling up a system for farmers to produce ammonia in their own backyards. The method, which uses renewable electricity and Earth’s natural resources, appears in the journal PNAS.'

Source: Phys.org, 1/27/26

'Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have developed a patented breakthrough system that marks a major step forward in insect biomanufacturing, waste reduction and sustainable protein production. The new "Black Soldier Fly Billet" was developed in the lab of Jeffery Tomberlin, Ph.D., a Texas A&M AgriLife Research Fellow, professor in the Texas A&M Department of Entomology and director of the Center for Insect Biomanufacturing and Innovation. It represents the first reliable method for long-term, room-temperature storage of young black soldier fly larvae...Each billet is a pint-sized container engineered with layers of fermented feed, newborn larvae and a dry food "blanket," sealed with a breathable lid that maintains consistent moisture and temperature. The system preserves larval viability far beyond the two-to-four-day window typical under conventional rearing methods. Once opened and emptied onto organic waste, Tomberlin said each unit can generate up to more than 3 pounds of harvestable larvae in as little as seven to 10 days.'

Source: Forbes, 1/17/26

'Switching to a circular electric vehicle (EV) battery economy is essential to meet growing demand and avoid a critical bottleneck in the supply of key minerals, according to a new analysis.

The report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation warns a bottleneck could threaten higher and volatile prices, which in turn could lead to a slower uptake of such vehicles.

It argues only a practical, system-wide circular economy approach can keep pace with market appetite, build resilience in the supply chains, and deliver better value.'

Source: U.S. Right to Know, 1/30/26

'Pacifiers can release bisphenol A, a chemical linked to hormone disruption and developmental problems, with the highest levels found in one marketed as "BPA-free," a new study shows. The research, published Jan. 24 in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, raises questions about hidden chemical exposure during infancy and how baby products are regulated and labeled. It is among the first to quantify how much BPA can leach from pacifiers and estimate how much infants and toddlers, whose bodies and hormone systems are still developing, may absorb during everyday use.'

See https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-026-37444-1 for the study.

Source: Ksmith@dailyherald.com, Katlyn Smith. “Working toward ‘Net-Zero’ Status.” Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), 2026, p. 4. Access World News, Accessed 2 Feb. 2026. 

The visitor center and animal hospital at the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center in Glen Ellyn, IL is the first "net-zero" designed building in the DuPage County forest preserve system. Solar energy is expected to produce 110% of the facility's needs, and the building also incorporates a geothermal system, double-glazed windows, and extra insulation.

Source: Environmental Health News, 1/9/26

"A recent study published by The Lancet Planetary Health examined the public health risks of exposure to a mixture of common plasticizer chemicals, including bisphenol A (BPA) and eight phthalates. 

In short: 

• Exposure to the mixture of nine plasticizer chemicals was associated with an increased risk of death from all causes, as well as an increased risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease. 
• Reducing overall population exposure to this mixture could prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year. 
• These risks were only found in people who had lower concentrations of vitamin D and vitamin B9 (folate) in their blood, suggesting that vitamins may help play a role in mitigating harm from exposure. "

Source: Capital & Main, 1/16/26

'After the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, federal officials and private companies led a patchwork of efforts to remove debris and contaminated material from areas that burned and others covered in toxic ash.

One year later, homeowners have had the inside of their houses tested after completing remediation and many found hazardous levels of chemicals including lead and asbestos. Community groups and scientists who have worked together on testing projects are now pushing for a more stringent certification system to ensure families don't move into homes with dangerous levels of pollutants.'

Source: France 24, 2/3/26

'Britain on Tuesday unveiled its first national plan to curb "forever chemicals," seeking to cut risks to human health and the environment, the government said. PFAS, used in products from cookware to food packaging, persist for decades and accumulate in nature, posing threats likely to endure for hundreds of years.' 

To read the new UK policy paper, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pfas-plan/pfas-plan-building-a-safer-future-together.

Source: Science Alert, 1/4/26

"Every time a load of laundry is done, millions of microplastics are washed from the fibers of our clothes into local waterways. By some estimates, up to 90 percent of plastic in 'sewage sludge' comes from washing machines. This material is then often used in agriculture as soil or fertilizer, possibly exposing those who eat the resulting crops to these pollutants...Figuring out a way to capture plastic pollutants before they leave our washing machines is challenging work. Current filtration systems available on the market can easily become clogged. Researchers at the University of Bonn and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology turned to nature for inspiration. They decided to make a water filtration system that mimics the mouths of some fish, like mackerel, sardines, and anchovies."

Read about this research in npj Emerging Contaminants.

Source: The Conversation, 1/13/26

In this article for The Conversation, Xiangyu Liu, a research fellow at the School of Environment and Science and Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, describes new research he coauthored that was recently published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics.

'My colleagues and I first conducted a meta-analysis – a statistical synthesis of existing research – analysing data from 30 peer-reviewed studies. We looked at how common plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene behave under different conditions. One factor stood out above all others: temperature. As the temperature of the liquid inside a container increases, the release of microplastics generally increases too. In the studies we reviewed, reported releases ranged from a few hundred particles to more than 8 million particles per litre, depending on the material and study design.'

Source: WHYY-TV/WHYY-FM (Philadelphia), 1/20/26

'Scientists from Temple University's College of Engineering are researching whether the use of air bubbles can remove toxic chemicals from surface water before it makes its way to people's taps. The goal is to remove harmful PFAS chemicals and microplastics at the same time, and with sustainability in mind. The current mainstay for removing PFAS is effective, but also energy-intensive.' 

The foam-based technology being studied at Temple can avoid the use of toxic chemicals and is more energy efficient than current PFAS removal methods. See the Temple University press release for additional information.

Source: Oceanographic, 1/6/26

'New research suggests microplastics are disrupting the ocean’s natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide by interfering with marine life and carbon cycles, potentially weakening one of Earth’s most important defences against climate change.' See https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazmp.2025.100032 to read the referenced study.

Source: Recycling Today, 12/22/25

'German biotechnology company Bioweg, in partnership with Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin), has secured 1.5 million euros, or $1.76 million, from SPRIND, Germany’s Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation, as part of the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge. The funding will support the development of Bioweg’s platform technology for water-based rare earth element (REE) recovery...The platform technology combines Bioweg's expertise in bioacid production from waste streams for bioleaching with TU Berlin's peptide-based separation technology using column systems. The process operates in water at ambient temperature, applying green-chemistry bioleaching without the use of solvents or high heat, according to a news release Bioweg issues about the grant award. The bio-based acids are generated as a secondary output of Bioweg's fermentation platform, requiring no additional downstream processing, resulting in a low-energy process with a reduced overall CO₂ footprint.' 

Source: CleanTechnica, 1/15/26

'In December, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities announced a new policy that said any data center wanting a grid connection must install on-site generation or battery systems capable of meeting its full electricity demand. In addition, data center operators will be required to provide power back to the national grid when needed.

The new guidelines also require at least 80% of the electricity needed to operate a new data center must come from new renewable energy sources. Utilities also have new obligations under the new rules. They will be required to publish regular updates on their capacity to accommodate new connections and submit annual reports on their renewable-energy use and carbon emissions.'

Source: Euro News, 1/13/26

'New research from the University of Leeds warns that tiny plastic fragments have been found in greater quantities in rural environments than urban locations. Scientists say trees and other vegetation are capturing microplastic particles from the atmosphere and depositing them in woodlands.

Published in the journal Environmental Pollution, the three-month study detected up to 500 microscopic particles of plastic per square meter per day in an area of woodland – almost twice as many as collected in a major city centre.'

Source: Science News, 1/13/26

'The last three years were the hottest on record, a new analysis of global climate data finds. They also mark the first three-year period in which the global average temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels — a threshold associated with increased risks to biodiversity, human health and weather extremes.'

See https://climate.copernicus.eu/sites/default/files/custom-uploads/GCH-2025/GCH2025-full-report.pdf for the full report from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, and https://climate.copernicus.eu/global-climate-highlights-2025 for interactive highlights.

Source: Food & Wine, 1/12/26

'U.S. researchers have found a way to transform carrot waste into a sustainable protein source by feeding carrot scraps to edible fungi. Pink oyster mushrooms showed the most promise, producing high-protein yields comparable to those of animal and plant sources while remaining low in fat and rich in fiber. In taste tests, volunteers preferred vegan patties made entirely from fungal mycelium to those made with soy, pointing to a flavorful, eco-friendly new alternative protein.'

See https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c11223 for complete findings.

Source: Science News Explores, 1/7/26

'Polluted air is bad for your lungs. That dirty air might also be why many kids need glasses, new data show. This observation comes from a study of vision in about 30,000 school-age children. Kids had better eyesight when air pollution levels were lower, scientists found.'

See https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf279. 

Source: The Guardian, 1/8/26

'Higher consumption of some food preservatives is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cancer, two studies suggest. The findings, published in the medical journals Nature Communications and the BMJ, may have important public health implications given the ubiquitous use of these additives globally, researchers said. While more studies are needed, they said the findings should lead to a re-evaluation of regulations governing the use of preservatives by companies in products such as ultra-processed foods (UPF) to improve consumer protection worldwide.'

Visit https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-67360-w and https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2025-084917 to read the Nature Communications and BMJ articles, respectively.