By providing disincentives for discarding trash—and adding musical motivation for doing things right—Taiwan has achieved a recycling rate many envy. In a large open space overlooking central Taipei, Arthur Huang hands me a translucent, honeycomb-shaped polyethylene panel. Named Polli-Brick, this colourless module made from old plastic bottles can be interlocked with others to build an incredible […]

  HONOLULU – It’s been nearly four months since lava activity was observed on Kilauea’s lower east rift zone. Four months since Big Island authorities officially pivoted from natural disaster response to recovery. The relative quiet has given Hawaii County time to officially tally up the size and scope of the eruption. And they say […]

This past year brought tons of fascinating new information about our planet. But as scientists gaze into their crystal balls, they can see that this year is also sure to contain exciting surprises. Here we take a look at the seven most highly anticipated geophysics and Earth science expeditions, missions and meetings of 2019. Inspecting Thwaites […]

Up to 93 per cent of green turtle hatchlings could be female by 2100 as climate change causes “feminisation” of the species, new research suggests. The sex of turtle hatchlings is determined by temperature, and at present about 52 per cent of hatching green turtles – one of seven species of sea turtle – are […]

Environmental advocates are calling for Ballarat residents to make small changes to reduce their plastic waste in 2019. Sustainability Victoria has suggested setting a goal to reduce reliance on plastic as a New Year’s Resolution. Single-use plastic items tend to be used for only minutes, yet their impact on the environment can last thousands of years. More […]

HONOLULU  – The loud booms and bright lights seen across Oahu on New Year’s Eve are once again sparking the debate over illegal aerials. Some lawmakers say they are looking at ways to step up enforcement since so many are ignoring the laws. Oahu banned aerial fireworks eight years ago, but you wouldn’t have been able […]

HONOLULU – Two mariners are missing after a large blaze onboard a car carrier en route to Hawaii, while three others have been located in the water but are described as “unresponsive.” The 650-foot Panamanian-flagged vessel Sincerity Ace got into trouble on New Year’s Eve about 2,000 miles off Oahu. The Coast Guard, Navy and […]

Hundreds of workers at a troubled clinical waste firm in North Lanarkshire have been made redundant. Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) said its banking facilities had been cut off following the loss of NHS contracts in Scotland and England. How did this happen and what does it mean for those affected? Where did the trouble start? […]

A year ago, experts warned that the UK could face a mountain of waste plastic as China imposed a ban on waste imports. In recent years, the UK has heavily relied on China to take our unwanted plastic packaging. Three years ago, the UK was exporting half a million tonnes of plastic to China and […]

HONOLULU  – The flash flood warning for Kauai and Niihau expired Saturday afternoon while Kuhio Highway near the Hanalei Bridge remains restricted due to flooding. Unstable conditions brought torrential rain to Kauai on Saturday, causing landslides on Kuhio Highway in Hanalei. State Department of Transportation crews have since cleared the landslide, but the highway remains […]