October 23, 2018
It’s not a pretty picture—non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics are inexorably choking our waterways, our oceans, and threatening ecosystems around the world. Fortunately, materials science is developing several planet-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics—in several cases, these materials derive from renewable sources and are highly
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July 10, 2018
When science, technology, and social need converge, results can be breathtaking in scope and impact. Let’s focus on one issue—that of municipal wastewater treatment. Such wastewater is commonly treated by biologically breaking down organic waste matter. This process generates “clean” water safe for discharge to the environment.
...September 16, 2016
Can a city be sustainable? That’s what our 2016 edition of State of the World investigates. In his chapter, “Reducing the Environmental Footprint of Buildings,” author and project co-director Michael Renner explains what actions cities can take to make their
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