Latest news with #environment
BBC News
an hour ago
- General
- BBC News
Gloucestershire in Pictures: Lavender fields and river blessing
The longest day of the year has come and gone, but summer still has plenty to offer in week saw an unusual spiritual blessing, and recognition for people working to change lives through sport and lavender fields are blooming and a group of volunteers marched through the night to clear litter off the Cotswold Way. Blessing: This week held the Blessing of the River Avon in a call for renewed environmental responsibility and action on water pollution. The blessing of the river near Tewkesbury Abbey is both spiritual and symbolic and happens after a full outdoor procession through the town. Recognition: Two of Cheltenham Town Community Trust's long-standing team members have been marking 10 years of dedicated service. Chantelle Goldsworthy, Head of Education and Ryan Godwin, Community Coach and Premier League Primary Stars Lead, are both celebrating 10 years of working in sport and education in the county. Help needed: Cotswold Dogs and Cats Home have launched an appeal for donations for little Reef, who was born with a severely deformed front leg and now has a large umbilical hernia that needs surgery. Purple haze: Cotswold Lavender is now open for viewing until 6 August. The fields opened earlier than usual this year as the lavender grew so fast. Strike a pose: We couldn't resist including this picture that came in to our weather watcher inbox this week. This dog looks to be enjoying the sunshine in St Briavels. Litter champions: Thousands of items of rubbish have been collected following an all-night litter pick along the Cotswold Way. Volunteers collected nearly 2,000 pieces of rubbish during the 14-hour, 26-mile walk on the night of the summer solstice. Embracing nature: Students at National Star College near Cheltenham teamed up with ecologists to find and identify the species found on their 80-acre site. The students found that hedgehogs, rabbits, deer and foxes call the college's grounds home, as well as a huge variety of insects, including many butterflies.
Yahoo
2 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Your outdated tech might be a ‘goldmine'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.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Irish Times
How to make the best of light and shade in your garden
Barely a week on from the summer solstice and we're already painfully past the annual peak of daylight length, a time of year that always causes me to catch my breath. Listen hard enough and you can almost hear the far-off grinding of gears, as nature switches its energies from vegetative growth to flowering, seed setting, and survival of the species. That decline in day length, initially barely perceptible, accelerates as the months pass. It continues until the darkest days of the winter solstice, shrinking the number of daylight hours from 17 to just seven and a half, at which point it upends itself and the complex process is reversed. But it's not just the seasonal waxing and waning of natural light levels that has such a dramatic effect on plant growth and health. As gardeners, we learn that important differences in the intensity and quality of light can also be influenced by a myriad of modifiers other than the dance of stars and planets. It could, for example, be the removal of a nearby tree that once cast shade for a part of the day, or perhaps the shadow of a new building changing a once-bright garden's habitat, or even just a sustained period of cloudy weather, all things it took me decades to fully appreciate. READ MORE Plant shade-loving ferns, for example, into a bright, open, south-facing spot, and they will almost inevitably struggle to perform, perhaps even die. But plant them into a deep, loamy, humus-rich soil in a south-facing spot overshadowed for the hottest, brightest part of the day by a deciduous tree and they are likely to flourish. Ferns, in the right soil, are likely to flourish in a south-facing spot that's in shade for the brightest part of the day. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh Equally, plant a light-loving species – for example, pelargoniums – in a shady spot and they will unsurprisingly almost certainly give up the ghost. But crucially, those same light-loving species can still struggle in a sunny, south- or west-facing location when weather conditions result in a sun-starved, cloudier-than-average Irish summer. Pelargoniums will almost certainly give up the ghost in a shady spot. Photograph: Alamy/PA Understanding these subtle, ever fluctuating differences in the type of shade, or conversely lack of shade, is a challenge. It's one made more difficult by that popular gardening term 'shade loving', an umbrella description that suggests there's a one-size-fits-all solution when that's simply not the case. [ The best ferns for Irish gardens: Chelsea gold medallist Billy Alexander's best picks Opens in new window ] Many woodland species of plant, for example, have evolved to thrive in dappled shade along the edge of wooded areas. These kinds of plants typically flourish in the seasonal partial shade cast by deciduous and herbaceous species that aren't in leaf all year round, and also require the sort of damp, fertile, humus-rich soils associated with such woodlands where decades of leaf litter have enriched the soil. Give them the sort of deep, unyielding, year-round dry shade found along the north-facing foot of a high wall or building, and they're going to be unhappy. Instead that role falls to a handful of ultra-resilient shade and drought-tolerant species (examples include Saxifraga stolonifera; Geranium macrorrhizum; Epimedium x rubrum; and Mahonia 'Charity'). Similarly, most gardeners know that east and north-facing aspects are classed as cool and shady, while south- and west-facing parts are typically classed as warm and bright. But it's also important to bear in mind that light levels in a garden can and do change dramatically over a single day, as well as over years and decades. [ Six easy tips for making your garden planters last all summer in Ireland Opens in new window ] As trees, shrubs and hedging grow and mature, for example, they will inevitably transform what were once bright, open spaces into areas where light levels fluctuate hugely. This has consequences for any light-loving species planted in a garden's youth, which can subsequently find themselves in what have become shady conditions not to their liking. Consider the changing nature of shade cast by an evergreen hedge, both as it matures and as the sun traverses the sky. In early morning, that shade – a shadow cast by the angle and position of the sun, and which also lengthens and stretches as the hedge itself grows and matures – lies to the west of the hedge. By noon, to the north. But by evening it's to the east. The taller the hedge, the greater the extent of that same shadow, which is also at its most extended in early morning just after the sun rises, and then again in late evening as the sun starts to set. The nature of shade cast by an evergreen hedge changes both as the hedge grows and as the sun traverses the sky In a world where a plethora of gardening advice is freely available to us all on the internet, key regional variations in the quality of light can also be easily overlooked. Full sun in a cool Irish garden is in no way equivalent, for example, to full sun in a Texan garden, or even one in the drier, sunny corners of southwest England. Such is the very different quality and intensity of that sunlight that plants that might quickly shrivel to a crisp in those hotter, brighter climes will grow quite happily in a sunny spot here in Ireland, just so long as the soil remains cool and damp. [ How to keep your garden blooming all summer long Opens in new window ] Conversely, there are light-loving species – for example, zinnia or celosia – that can be grown easily in otherparts of Europe and the US, but struggle to flourish in an Irish garden, even when given the brightest, sunniest spot. Heat aside, we just can't reliably give them the consistent levels of intense sunlight they relish. Some light-loving species that can be grown easily in other parts of Europe and the US struggle to flourish in an Irish garden. Photograph: Alamy/PA The same goes for certain kinds of fruit and vegetables, including some slow-to-ripen varieties of beefsteak tomatoes; aubergine; peppers; kiwi; and melon. It's not only heat that these need to truly flourish, but also plenty of long, bright, sunny summer days, never guaranteed here in this northwesterly corner of Europe On the plus side are those many species that thrive in our temperate, maritime Irish climate, from shade-tolerant ornamentals such as hosta, primula, fatsia, foxgloves, aquilegia, tellima, hydrangea, and narcissus, to many kinds of edibles including rhubarb, lettuce, beetroot, salad leaves, brassicas, peas, currants and apple trees. Hosta, one of the many species that thrive in our temperate, maritime Irish climate. Photograph: Alamy/PA The lesson to be learned? Just like an artist or a photographer, becoming intimately acquainted with the ever-shifting quality, intensity and direction of light is key to the art of good gardening and part of the secret to unlocking the potential magic of our outdoor spaces. This week in the garden The larvae of certain species (examples include box caterpillar, carrot fly, gooseberry sawfly and cabbage white butterfly) can quickly cause a lot of damage to plants at this time of year, weakening or even killing them. A combination of measures such as netting and handpicking is the most planet-friendly approach but isn't always feasible. In the case of bad infestations, biological controls such as the naturally occurring Bacillus thuringiensis or nematodes such as Nemasys Natural Fruit and Veg Protection can be very effective (stockists include and ) Offer late summer-flowering perennials and tall-growing vegetables some sort of sturdy support to protect them against wind damage, bearing in mind the eventual size of the plants when mature. Dates for your diary Delgany and District Horticultural Society Rose Show - Saturday, June 28th, St Patrick's National School, Greystones, Co Wicklow. All entries very welcome. To submit an entry, please email by Thursday June 25th. Specialist Plant Fair Weekend, Mount Stewart Gardens, Co Down - Saturday June 27th and Sunday June 28th (10am-6pm).
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Hertfordshire fly-tipping leads to man's arrest
A man was arrested after police were called to a fly-tipping that was in progress at a a said two men were "disturbed depositing waste and had made off" at about 16:00 BST on Tuesday on land in the east Hertfordshire seized a van left at the scene and said the waste was put back in the vehicle to be "properly disposed of".Hertfordshire Police said a 28-year-old man from High Cross, close to Ware, was quickly tracked down and was subsequently given a community resolution order. The force said the suspect was traced because of "shrewd investigative work"."This is a great example of how police are working with the rural community to identify fly-tippers and make arrests," said Sgt David Miller."Fly-tipping has a hugely detrimental effect on our hard-working farmers and we will continue to pursue these criminals and take action." The man was arrested on suspicion of depositing or knowingly causing or knowingly permitting waste to be in or on land unless in accordance with the terms of a waste management licence, under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act was also arrested on suspicion of being in possession of Class A and Class B drugs following a search of his admitted all offences.A community resolution order is an alternative form of justice, dealt with outside of court. The guilty parties can be forced to apologise to victims or carry out actions agreed with the Redford, from Hertfordshire Farmers' Union, said: "Fly-tipping blights the countryside, damages the environment and, with farmers and landowners often legally responsible for removing the rubbish, despite being the victim of the crime, the clear-up costs the industry, nationally, tens of millions of pounds a year."We will continue to work with these organisations to stand up for our members and ensure those responsible are brought to justice."The owner of the van was traced but was not involved in the incident, police added. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mexico threatens to sue Musk's SpaceX over contamination from exploding rockets
A small Texas town just across the border from Mexico is the testing ground for Starship, the hulking spacecraft that Elon Musk hopes will one day ferry people to Mars. In recent months, multiple test launches have ended in explosions, causing debris to rain down on both countries and in the Gulf of Mexico. Mexican scientists say the wreckage is killing wildlife, including dolphins, sea turtles and fish. Amid growing pressure from her constituents, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week that her government is investigating the "security and environmental" effects of Musk's rockets and has found that "there is indeed contamination," a charge Musk's company denies. Sheinbaum said her government is trying to determine whether SpaceX has violated international laws and said Mexico will file 'necessary lawsuits." Read more: 'The United States is the villain of our story.' Nationalism surges in Mexico amid Trump threats Her statements come amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Mexico on security, migration and the economy. President Trump's tariffs on Mexican imports and threats of U.S. drone strikes on cartel targets have sparked a surge of nationalism here. Musk, a billionaire who is also the CEO of Tesla and the owner of X, is closely allied with the U.S. administration, having donated more than a quarter-billion dollars to help elect Trump. For several months this year he was the informal head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. SpaceX said in a post on X that independent tests performed on the material used in Starships confirm that it "does not present any chemical, biological or toxicological risks." The company said it attempts to recover all debris from exploded devices. U.S. groups have also blamed SpaceX rockets for environmental degradation. The company's Starbase launch facility in South Texas abuts the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge, an expanse of tidal flats, mangroves and sand dunes that is home to rare and endangered species including ocelots, sea turtles and northern aplomado falcons. A coalition including the Sierra Club and a local Native American tribe sued the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, alleging the agencies approved test launches without conducting thorough environmental reviews. They say failed rocket launches have spread concrete and metal debris across thousands of feet of surrounding lands — and once set off a fire that burned several acres of protected dunes. In Mexico, environmentalists began raising alarms earlier this year after space debris was discovered in the border city of Matamoros, in the Río Bravo — as Mexico calls the Rio Grande — and in the Gulf of Mexico. A local nonprofit in the state of Tamaulipas issued a report documenting animal deaths in a region known as a nesting ground for manatees, sharks, whales and other animals. It warned particularly about risks to sea turtles who ingest particles of space debris. The group said it had collected more than a ton of debris scattered along an area more than 25 miles long. The governor of Tamaulipas said authorities were also looking into the issue. Gov. Américo Villarreal Anaya said his government will verify whether 'the internationally required distances are being respected in order to have these types of facilities so that there is no risk to urban centers.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
