Things aren't as bad as they seem.

Sweden plans to ban PFAS in consumer goods including clothing, cosmetics, kitchenware, waterproofing agents and ski wax from 1 January 2028. The national measure would move ahead of broader EU rules on chemicals linked to cancers, fertility problems, immune disruption and persistent pollution.

Sweden plans 2028 ban on PFAS in everyday consumer goods

Sweden plans 2028 ban on PFAS in everyday consumer goods

29.07.2026

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Sweden plans 2028 ban on PFAS in everyday consumer goods

25.11.2025

Plants are evolving to thrive in urban heat islands

Researchers at Kobe University found that a plant species they have been closely tracking has successfully spread across a megacity and now shows clear, inheritable traits shaped by its surroundings. Variations in heat, shade, and soil acidity appear to be driving these rapid urban adaptations.

25.11.2025

Study: music soothes surgery and boosts recovery

In a study from Delhi, patients who listened to gentle flute or piano music during surgery under general anaesthesia needed less propofol and painkillers. They also woke up clearer, had lower stress hormones and smoother recoveries.

23.11.2025

An alternative to capitalism lives vividly in today’s economic comics

Graphic novels like Economix, Capital and Ideology, and When Work Kills unpack issues like exploitation, inequality, and workplace pressure — showing that accessible, deeply human stories can challenge the status quo and spark real conversations about a fairer economic world.

23.11.2025

Therapeutic climbing uplifts mood, sharpens focus & builds strength

A UK-based study with psychiatric inpatients (depression, anxiety, OCD) found that structured climbing sessions on an indoor wall were described as emotionally uplifting, mentally clarifying, socially connecting, and physically empowering.

23.11.2025

Visiting art museums reduces inflammation, eases stress, and strengthens immunity

A UK study found that people who viewed original paintings by Manet, Van Gogh, Gauguin and more in a gallery had a 22% drop in cortisol, plus large reductions (around 28–30%) in inflammation markers — showing that art doesn’t just move us, it physically soothes and strengthens the body.

23.11.2025

Music in your 70s could cut dementia risk by almost 40%

New research from Australia shows that people aged 70+ who listen to music most days have a 39% lower risk of dementia, while playing an instrument is linked to a 35% reduction. Those doing both see up to a 33% drop — suggesting music might be a powerful, joyful way to support brain health.

23.11.2025

South Korea and Bahrain power forward out of coal at COP30

At COP30, both the Republic of Korea — currently home to the world’s seventh-largest coal fleet — and Bahrain officially joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance. Korea pledged to retire 40 coal plants by 2040 and stop building new unabated ones, while Bahrain committed to never build coal power.

19.11.2025

Data centre in the shed cuts heating bills down to £40

An Essex couple trialled a HeatHub—a mini data-centre in their garden shed with over 500 computers—to heat their home while moving from gas boiler to solar setup. Their monthly bills dropped from about £375 to just £40-£60, blending innovation with home comfort.

19.11.2025

UK brewery powers beer production using energy from recycled wastewater

A brewery in the UK is turning wastewater into energy: their new system captures heat from used water to generate power for brewing. This circular approach reduces energy costs and carbon emissions, showing how sustainability and industry can brew together.

19.11.2025

Reactor recovers battery-grade lithium from waste with just water and power

A team at Rice University has built an electrochemical reactor that turns waste battery cathodes into high-purity lithium hydroxide, using only electricity and water. It achieved ~90 % recovery over 1,000 hours with less than one-tenth the energy of traditional acid methods.

19.11.2025

Flat‑pack manual washer slashes water use and saves hours for remote families

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19.11.2025

Brazil grants 10 new Indigenous territories amid COP30 tensions

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil officially created ten new Indigenous territories, including some overlapping Amazon National Park. The move, issued via presidential decree, adds legal protection to lands of groups like the Munduruku and Guarani-Kaiowá during a summit marked by protests.

17.11.2025

Artist installs pop-up wetland and grows a lush green island in the LA river

A 36-year-old artist turned a playful idea into a pop-up wetland in the LA River. By shaping river rocks into loose circles, he created a structure that trapped sediment and nurtured life. In just 10 weeks, the simple design grew into a 10-by-20-foot green island in the concrete channel.

17.11.2025

Adolescents can build strength against digital misinformation — new research shows

A recent study by developmental psychologist Ili Ma reveals that teens’ social sensitivity, curiosity, and emotional awareness—so often seen as vulnerabilities—are actually powerful assets in the fight against misinformation. Their paper provides tools for parents, schools, and policymakers to utilize these traits in building genuine digital resilience.

17.11.2025

France’s insectivorous birds begin to rebound after neonics ban

A new French study finds that insect-eating bird species—like blackbirds and chaffinches—have increased by 2–3 % since the 2018 ban on neonicotinoid pesticides. The shift offers a promising signal for the recovery of biodiversity.