Better environmental performance boosts profits and cuts costs, study shows
Sustainable practices in business are more than just an ethical responsibility; they make sound financial sense. Researchers from Kyushu University, in a study published on December 10, 2024, in Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, reveal that companies with better environmental performance and transparent disclosures can lower costs and boost profits. ⌘ Read more

Tuning skyrmion helicity for racetrack memory and quantum computing applications
Three distinct topological degrees of freedom are used to define all topological spin textures based on out-of-plane and in-plane spin configurations: the topological charge, representing the number of times the magnetization vector m wraps around the unit sphere; the vorticity, which quantifies the angular integration of the magnetic moment along the circumferential direction of a domain wall; and the helicity, … ⌘ Read more

Brazilian beef and leather companies fall short in tackling deforestation, a study finds
The next United Nations climate conference, COP30, will be held in Belem, the capital of an Amazon region where widespread deforestation mainly driven by cattle farming has turned the surrounding rainforest from a vital carbon sink into a significant carbon source. ⌘ Read more

First-ever Mediterranean mako shortfin shark tagged for conservation
Virginia Tech researchers successfully tagged a young shortfin mako shark in the Mediterranean during the summer of 2023, the first time that this has been done in the region. These sharks are critically endangered not only in the Mediterranean but also globally. The research team tagged the mako shark during a research expedition for the white shark in the region. ⌘ Read more

Recycling human and animal excreta could help meet nutrient supply for global crops
It might not be a pleasant image, but recycling all the human and livestock feces and urine on the planet would contribute substantially to meeting the nutrient supply for all crops worldwide, thereby reducing the need to mine fertilizers such as phosphorus and dramatically reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, according to a global analysis of nutrient recycling published in Nature Sustainability. ⌘ Read more

Toxoplasma gondii parasite uses unconventional method to make proteins for evasion of drug treatment, research reveals
A study by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers sheds new light on how Toxoplasma gondii parasites make the proteins they need to enter a dormant stage that allows them to escape drug treatment. The research is published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. ⌘ Read more

AI predicts that most of the world will see temperatures rise to 3°C much faster than previously expected
Three leading climate scientists have combined insights from 10 global climate models and, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), conclude that regional warming thresholds are likely to be reached faster than previously estimated. ⌘ Read more

Market-driven approaches to plastic pollution won’t end inequalities—and waste pickers are speaking up
In Busan, South Korea, talks on a global treaty on plastic pollution, which were held from November 25 to December 1, ended in failure. Negotiations are due to resume at a later date. ⌘ Read more

Boys in Norway are outperforming girls in learning English as a second language: Study
Bucking conventionality, boys in Norway are making early gains in reading English as a second language and even outperforming girls at age 10 and 13—a new a study of more than one million students suggests. ⌘ Read more

Research shows that lower-quality public housing in the US is located in areas with high flood risk
Hurricane Helene highlighted the increasing intensity of extreme weather events and the catastrophic flooding they can bring. A study finds that many Americans residing in lower-quality public housing face a high risk of experiencing flood-related damage as their homes are disproportionately located in areas of high flood risk. ⌘ Read more

‘We live in a universe that is just right for us’: Study proposes a test for the Anthropic Principle
The Anthropic Principle—stating that the universe we live in is fine-tuned to host life—was first proposed by Brandon Carter in 1973. Since then, it has sparked significant debate. ⌘ Read more

A new global carbon trading market could be held hostage by speculators
Our planet’s future hangs in the balance due to the unabated greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Treating these emissions as something that can be owned and exchanged in a market has been touted as a solution since the early 1990s, when UN negotiations to agree a limit to global heating began. At the latest round of talks in Azerbaijan, countries finally agreed rules for a global carbon credit market. ⌘ Read more

Plans to stabilize Earth’s climate rely on emerging carbon removal technology—we need to get moving, say researchers
Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels continue to rise and 2024 is likely to be the world’s hottest year on record. ⌘ Read more

New study reveals link between owner demographics and canine nutrition
Dog owners have quite a bit of control over their pets’ diets, and many have strong opinions on what kinds of diets are best for their canine friends. ⌘ Read more

Vortex electric field discovery could impact quantum computing
A new vortex electric field with the potential to enhance future electronic, magnetic and optical devices has been observed by researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and local partners. ⌘ Read more