Latest news with #NatureSustainability
NDTV
5 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
How To Extract Gold From Old Phones And Laptops: Scientists Reveal Simple New Method
As the digital age accelerates, the world is facing a mounting challenge: electronic waste. Driven by rapid advancements in AI and internet-based technologies, discarded phones, laptops, and other devices are piling up at an alarming rate. According to the UN's Global E-waste Monitor (GEM), e-waste is growing five times faster than it is being properly recycled. In 2022 alone, a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated-an 82% increase since 2010. This volume is expected to rise another 32%, reaching 82 million tonnes by 2030. The discarded devices not only contribute to environmental harm but also represent billions of dollars in lost rare and valuable resources. Shockingly, just 1% of global rare earth element demand is currently met through e-waste recycling. However, scientists have now developed a promising solution. A new, safe, and sustainable method for extracting gold from electronic waste has been published in Nature Sustainability. The technique offers a cleaner alternative to current practices and could also reduce the health and environmental risks linked to small-scale gold mining. The authors of the study offer insight into the method. Here's how it works: Step 1: Gold Dissolution - Gold is first dissolved using trichloroisocyanuric acid, which is activated by a halide catalyst to oxidize gold from e-waste materials. Step 2: Gold Binding - A specially developed polysulfide polymer sorbent is introduced to selectively bind the dissolved gold from the leach solution. Step 3: Gold Recovery - The gold is then recovered in high purity by either pyrolyzing or depolymerizing the polymer that captured it. The newly validated process has proven effective on electronic waste, natural ores, and other gold-containing materials. Unlike traditional mining methods, it avoids the use of harsh chemicals, making it a more environmentally friendly and safer alternative. This technique presents a sustainable solution for gold extraction, supporting greener production from both primary and recycled sources. With significant potential for large-scale application, it transforms discarded electronics into valuable resources, promoting responsible e-waste recycling. As e-waste continues to surge-equivalent to 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks forming a line around the equator-this breakthrough offers hope. By turning trash into treasure, the method could play a crucial role in global recycling efforts and resource recovery.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Your outdated tech might be a ‘goldmine'
In 2025, it's not uncommon for a typical household to have a drawer overflowing with discarded phones and cables. But this graveyard of circuitry isn't just a static memorial to past tech trends. For those willing to put in the effort, each of those old iPhones and micro USB cables still contains a small amount of valuable metals and minerals—including gold. Researchers estimate that a single printed circuit board can contain around 200–900 mg of gold per kilogram. The actual extraction of those precious metals from discarded tech is a labor-intensive process. Historically, it has often required the use of highly toxic chemicals like cyanide and mercury, which can be harmful both to the individuals doing the extraction and to the environment. But, researchers at Flinders University in Australia now say they've developed a new method of gold extraction and recycling that is far less hazardous and may have a lower environmental impact if scaled for production. By using a leaching reagent derived from trichloroisocyanuric acid—a sustainable compound commonly used in water disinfection—they were able to dissolve and extract gold without relying on dangerous chemicals. The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nature Sustainability this week, demonstrate they could use their process to extract gold from e-waste, as well as used ore. 'Overall, this work provides a viable approach to achieve greener gold production from both primary and secondary resources, improving the sustainability of the gold supply,' they write in the paper. Gold has captured human attention for millennia. It backed the currency of empires, adorned countless pieces of royal jewelry, and has come to the rescue in root canals. Today, the coveted element is widely used in electronics, valued for its natural electrical conductivity, durability, and high resistance to corrosion. As a result, small amounts of gold are likely present in most of the devices found on a typical office worker's desk. And while tech companies have taken steps to extract and recycle that gold for years, much of it still ends up in landfills. The United Nations estimates that the world produced around 62 million tons of e-waste in 2022—a figure that's up 82 percent from 2010. Contamination from toxic substances used to strip gold from devices isn't the only concern. The industrial leaching process typically requires vast quantities of water, further compounding its environmental impact. Runoff from those facilities can also make their way into food supplies or local wildlife. The Flinders University researchers took a different approach. First, they developed a process using the trichloroisocyanuric acid that, when activated by salt water, effectively dissolved gold without the need for toxic substances. Next, they bound the dissolved gold to a new sulfur-rich polymer they designed themselves. The polymer was engineered to serve as a vehicle for selectively capturing gold, even in the presence of many other metals. Once the gold was extracted, the polymer could 'unmake' itself, reverting to its monomer state and leaving the gold behind. That fully separated gold could then be recycled and used again in new products. 'The aim is to provide effective gold recovery methods that support the many uses of gold, while lessening the impact on the environment and human health,' Flinders University professor and paper authorJustin Chalker said in a statement. In testing, the researchers demonstrated that their process could extract gold not only from e-waste, but also from ore concentrates and scientific waste streams. Although, the sheer volume of global e-waste makes it the most obvious candidate to benefit from this method. The researchers say they are currently working with mining and e-waste recycling companies to test the process on a larger scale. 'We dived into a mound of e-waste and climbed out with a block of gold!' Flinders University research associate and paper co-author Harshal Patel said in a statement. 'I hope this research inspires impactful solutions to pressing global challenges.' That said, everyday electronics consumers don't need to wait for this new method to scale up in order to benefit from e-waste recycling. Most major cities have certified e-waste recycling centers that accept large quantities of discarded electronics. Local scrap yards, as well as some private companies, will also pay a small amount for scrapped devices—especially those containing relatively high amounts of gold, silver, or copper. Large nonprofits like Goodwill also offer electronics recycling services. Many of these organizations handle the hard work of separating components from used devices, then sell the individual parts to industrial recyclers.
The Hill
20-06-2025
- Science
- The Hill
Colorado River ‘water market' could bring security to farmers, fish and families: Study
Applying a market-based approach to Colorado River management could ensure more robust and reliable supplies for farmers, communities and the environment, a new study has found. Without considerable cutbacks in basin-wide water consumption, fish populations could face dire consequences for at least one month of the irrigation season, scientists warned in the study, published on Friday in Nature Sustainability. But if action were taken to deploy strategic water transactions among the basin's stakeholders, resultant reductions in usage could improve the situation of more than 380 miles of restorable segments, per the research. 'By strategically directing river water to the right places, even under drought conditions, fish can be saved with targeted restoration at nominal additional cost,' senior author Steven Gorelick, a hydrologist at Stanford University, said in a statement. The 1,450-mile Colorado River provides drinking water and agricultural irrigation to about 40 million people across seven U.S. states, 30 tribal nations and two states in Mexico. On the domestic side, the region is divided into the Upper and Lower basins: Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico; and California, Nevada and Arizona. As the West becomes increasingly arid and a growing population consumes more water, this critical transboundary artery is dwindling. Meanwhile, the U.S. basin states are currently negotiating an update to the river's operational guidelines, which expire at the end of 2026. Stakeholders across the region adhere to a century-old Colorado River Compact that allocated 7.5 million acre-feet annually to each of the two basins. The average suburban household consumes about half an acre-foot of water per year. Also at play is a historic U.S. West 'water rights' system, a 'first in time, first in right' approach to water that stems from the mid-19th century homesteading and gold rush era. At the time, farmers and miners secured and diverted water according to their arrival, rather than their geographical position along the river — creating a prioritization structure that is still in effect today. But the authors of Friday's study stressed that climate change has since exacerbated the Colorado River's shortages, noting that recent research has indicated that the artery's flows are at their lowest in at least 2,000 years. 'Given the overallocation of the river water, we explored how the needs of people and the environment can both be served,' Gorelick said. With the goal of compensating for potential cutbacks, water users in the Lower Basin states have created systems for voluntary water market transactions, the authors explained. The Upper Basin states — which are responsible for fulfilling the Lower Basin's allocations — have also explored the idea of designing a water market. Such a market, the researchers continued, would involve proactive reductions that ensure downstream deliveries. Nonetheless, they stressed that existing programs generally do not prioritize water necessary to maintain critical fish habitats. To quantify the cost of improving these environments, the researchers simulated potential transactions and ecological effects at the river's headwaters in Colorado — the source of about a quarter of the artery's natural annual flow into the Lake Powell reservoir. Farmers, irrigation organizations, cities and other water sellers would lease senior water rights to both governments and nongovernmental organizations interested in protecting fish habitats, per the model. Those senior water rights, the authors contended, are critical to environmental protection because they are always fulfilled prior to any junior water rights claims. 'One key characteristic of water law across the western U.S. is our 'use it or lose it' principle,' lead author Philip Womble, who conducted the research as a Stanford graduate student, said in a statement. 'That can be a disincentive to water conservation,' added Womble, who is now an assistant professor at the University of Washington. Womble, Gorelick and their colleagues assessed six scenarios to understand possible outcomes amid future drought conditions. They compared the effects of a 'protected' market — in which newer uses would be legally barred from diverting restored flows — to an unprotected market with no such limits. Ultimately, they found that without decreases in water consumption, the consequences to fish would be devastating. But when strategic water transactions were in place, 380 miles of river segments stood to benefit, while hundreds more could enjoy at least partial improvements. 'Strategic environmental water transactions would simultaneously reduce water consumption and preserve fish habitat at the lowest cost to the buyer,' the authors wrote. Moderate reductions in water usage could be achieved with an investment of about $29 million in a protected market, while aggressive cuts could occur at a cost of about $120 million, according to the study. In an unprotected market, similar such decreases would require about 12 percent more money, per the research. The researchers suggested that one source of the necessary funds could be the increasing number of corporations seeking to offset water use from their operations. Even the lowest cost water-use reductions, as modeled in the study, would yield improvement over about a third of restorable river habitat, the authors found. But an investment that was just 8 percent more than the least-cost plan could triple the amount of restored habitat in a protected water market with aggressive usage reductions, according to the study. 'Rivers worldwide have been overallocated by society,' the authors concluded. 'While strategic approaches may cost marginally more, we show modest additional funding can have outsized ecological impacts.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New research reveals an unexpected remedy for anxiety and stress: 'Can improve mental health'
Feeling stressed or anxious? Research suggests a walk in the woods might be just what the doctor ordered. An international study co-led by the University of Surrey and the University of Ghent has outlined how forests provide mental health benefits. The institutions examined 164 forests across five European countries and detailed how different forest characteristics, such as canopy density and tree species diversity, can affect various health outcomes. Specific features like a dense canopy were both good and bad. A high density offers shade and better air quality, but it can also increase the risk of ticks and the disease they carry. While the type of forest has mixed effects, one clear takeaway emerged: forests benefit the mind. The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, showed that a forest setting reduces anxiety and stress. Being in a forest also increases positive emotions. If people thought a forest was more biodiverse and natural, it was more beneficial for mental health. The findings suggest our connection to nature plays a major role in our well-being, and it reinforces an intuitive truth: spending time in nature is restorative. The study also covers physical health benefits. Dense canopies can reduce heat stress, and they can also improve air quality by trapping particulate matter, which is especially important in cities. Increasing tree species diversity had a limited effect on health, but adding a variety of trees is still considered a beneficial practice for ecosystem health. Dr. Melissa Marselle, an environmental psychology lecturer at the University of Surrey, described nature's medicine. How often do you worry about toxic chemicals getting into your home? Always Often Sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Our study shows that forests generally provide a mental health benefit, reducing anxiety and stress, regardless of their biodiversity or structure," she said. "As one in six people in England experience anxiety and depression each week, this research suggests that simply being in a forest can improve mental health." She noted that the United Kingdom should preserve urban forests for the benefit of its citizens, and she also suggested that time spent in green spaces should be prescribed by the country's National Health Service for people with mental health issues. Telling someone to "touch grass" isn't just a meme anymore. The idea of "nature prescriptions" is gaining traction globally. The profound impact natural environments have on our health is a bare necessity. When you need a mental reset, don't go doom-scrolling. Visit your nearest forest — science says it could do you a world of good. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Earth's orbit is filling up with junk. Greenhouse gases are making the problem worse.
At any given moment, more than 10,000 satellites are whizzing around the planet at roughly 17,000 miles per hour. This constellation of machinery is the technological backbone of modern life, making GPS, weather forecasts, and live television broadcasts possible. But space is getting crowded. Ever since the Space Age dawned in the late 1950s, humans have been filling the skies with trash. The accumulation of dead satellites, chunks of old rockets, and other litter numbers in the tens of millions and hurdles along at speeds so fast that even tiny bits can deliver lethal damage to a spacecraft. Dodging this minefield is already a headache for satellite operators, and it's poised to get a lot worse—and not just because humans are now launching thousands of new crafts each year. All the excess carbon dioxide generated by people burning fossil fuels is shrinking the upper atmosphere, exacerbating the problem with space junk, Grist explains. New research, published in Nature Sustainability on March 10, found that if emissions don't fall, as few as 25 million satellites—about half the current capacity—would be able to safely operate in orbit by the end of the century. That leaves room for just 148,000 in the orbital range that most satellites use, which isn't as plentiful as it sounds: A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2022 estimated that as many as 60,000 new satellites will crowd our skies by 2030. According to reports, Elon Musk's SpaceX alone wants to deploy 42,000 of its Starlink satellites. "The environment is very cluttered already. Satellites are constantly dodging right and left," said William Parker, a Ph.D. researcher in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the lead author of the study. In a recent six-month period, SpaceX's Starlink satellites had to steer around obstacles 50,000 times. "As long as we are emitting greenhouse gases, we are increasing the probability that we see more collision events between objects in space," Parker said. Until recently, the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the upper atmosphere were so understudied that scientists dubbed it the "ignorosphere." But research using modern satellite data has revealed that, paradoxically, the carbon dioxide that warms the lower atmosphere is dramatically cooling the upper atmosphere, causing it to shrink like a balloon that's been left in the cold. That leaves thinner air at the edge of space. The problem is that atmospheric density is the only thing that naturally pulls space junk out of orbit. Earth's atmosphere doesn't suddenly give way to the vacuum of space but gets dramatically thinner at a point known as the Kármán line, roughly 100 kilometers up. Objects that orbit the planet are dragged down by the lingering air density, spiraling closer to the planet until eventually reentering the atmosphere, often burning up as they do. According to the nonprofit Aerospace Corporation, the lowest orbiting debris takes only a few months to get dragged down. But most satellites operate in a zone called "low Earth orbit," between 200 and 2,000 kilometers up, and can take hundreds to thousands of years to fall. The higher outermost reaches of Earth's influence are referred to as a "graveyard" orbit that can hold objects for millions of years. "We rely on the atmosphere to clean out everything that we have in space, and it does a worse job at that as it contracts and cools," Parker said. "There's no other way for it to come down. If there were no atmosphere, it would stay up there indefinitely." Parker's study found that in a future where emissions remain high, the atmosphere would lose so much density that half as many satellites could feasibly fit around all the debris stuck in space. Nearly all of them would need to squeeze into the bottom of low Earth orbit, where they would regularly need to use their thrusters to avoid getting dragged down. Between 400 kilometers and 1,000 kilometers, where most satellites operate, as few as 148,000 would be safe. More than that, and the risk of satellites crashing into debris or each other poses a threat to the space industry. "The debris from any collision could go on to destroy more satellites," said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Massachusetts who was not involved with the Nature study. "And so you can get a chain reaction where all the satellites are hitting each other, breaking up, and creating more and more debris." This domino effect, commonly known as Kessler syndrome, could fill the orbit around Earth with so much destructive clutter that launching or operating satellites becomes impossible. It's the runaway scenario, the paper cautions, which will make greenhouse gas emissions more likely. "But the chain reaction doesn't happen overnight," McDowell said. "You just slowly choke more and more on your own filth." According to the European Space Agency, at least 650 breakups, explosions, or collisions have flung their wreckage into space since space exploration started. Space surveillance networks, like the U.S. Space Force, are currently tracking nearly 40,000 pieces of debris, some as large as a car. At least 130 million objects smaller than 10 centimeters are also estimated to be orbiting Earth but are too tiny to be monitored. Scientists have recently been researching ways to remove this debris by, as McDowell metaphorically put it, "sending garbage trucks into space." In 2022, a Chinese satellite successfully grabbed hold of a defunct one by matching its speed before towing it into graveyard orbit. In 2024, a Japanese company, Astroscale, managed to maneuver a retrieval device within 15 meters of a discarded rocket—close enough to magnetically capture it—before backing away. "In general, it's an environmental problem being stored up for future generations," McDowell said. "Are we going to hit our capacity? I think we're going to find out the hard way." This story was produced by Grist and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
