Effective 100-Day Plan for Sustainable Fat Loss: Science-Backed Strategies

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

If you think losing weight is easy, you’re not alone. With wellness influencers and fitness publications promoting “simple” transformation programs, it may seem manageable.

Moreover, there’s a massive weight loss market, projected by industry forecasts to exceed £380bn ($500bn) in the next decade.

However, the challenge of losing weight is often overlooked. For beginners, the weight loss journey can be particularly difficult. Many diets fail within weeks, and research indicates individuals who lose weight often regain it within a few years.

Currently, two-thirds of adults in the UK are classified as overweight, with nearly three-quarters in the US facing similar challenges. Evidence suggests that losing weight can enhance both the quality and lifespan of individuals.

In fact, studies from 2025 indicate that shedding just 5% of body weight—even if some is eventually regained—can lead to significant health improvements in obese individuals, such as lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, healthier liver function, decreased inflammation, and better sleep quality.

Yet, research published in Heart in 2025 highlighted that weight fluctuations can pose serious health risks, especially for obese individuals with cardiovascular issues.

So, what’s the solution? Focus on steady, sustainable weight loss by adopting a healthier lifestyle that you can maintain long-term.

We consulted leading experts and reviewed the latest weight loss research to uncover effective strategies. Here are six actionable tips to kickstart your weight loss journey in the first 100 days.

Understand Your Challenges

Weight loss is more than just calorie restriction and willpower. The real adversary is our evolutionary history, which has wired our bodies to resist weight loss.

Consuming 500 calories can happen quickly when temptation strikes – Image credit: Getty Images

Dr. Rachel Woods, a physiology researcher at the University of Lincoln, explains, “When we enter a calorie deficit, our bodies react on an evolutionary level.”

When weight loss begins, our bodies increase hunger hormones and decrease energy expenditure in subtle ways. Dr. Woods adds, “You may notice you’re moving less throughout the day.” Our metabolic rate also declines, which is counterproductive in today’s food-rich society.

Set Realistic Goals

Adopting SMART goals can streamline your fat-loss journey – Image credit: Getty Images

While drastically cutting calories and ramping up exercise can yield rapid weight loss, Dr. Woods warns of sustainability. Instead, aim for a realistic goal of losing 5% of your body weight.

Envision where you’d like to be in three years—not just three months. Implement manageable changes that lead to results over time.

Dr. Laura Kudlek from the University of Cambridge advocates for SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, instead of “I want to lose weight,” try “I’ll walk for 15 minutes after lunch three times this week.”

Incorporate Weightlifting

Previously, losing weight primarily centered around cardio. However, recent findings suggest that incorporating weightlifting can be equally beneficial.

“Weight training increases muscle mass,” states Dr. Woods. “More muscle means your body burns more calories, even at rest.”

Research suggests lighter weights for high reps can provide similar effects to heavy weights – Image courtesy of Getty Images

Diversify Your Exercise Routine

Every bit of movement counts toward your weight loss goals. Evidence shows that sufficient aerobic exercise can effectively reduce body fat.

A 2024 review indicates that achieving significant weight loss requires 150 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly. While daunting, small mindset shifts can make a difference.

Professor Adam Collins from the University of Surrey emphasizes, “Fitness should be the primary goal, not just calorie burning.” Increased physical activity promotes more activity, leading to a cycle of enjoyment and health.

Fuel Your Workouts

With countless nutritional guidelines available, beginners can feel overwhelmed. The key is to ensure you consume more energy than you expend.

Enhancing your intake of plant-based foods can help curb cravings for calorie-dense options – Image courtesy of Getty Images

Failing to do so can result in losing not just fat but also valuable lean muscle mass. Ensure your diet includes sufficient protein to preserve lean muscle during resistance training.

Prepare for Plateaus

Many weight loss programs encounter challenges, whether from decreasing motivation, life events, or metabolic adjustments. Dr. Collins notes, “Hitting a plateau often means achieving energy balance.”

After losing about 10% of your weight, maintaining your energy balance becomes crucial. If you wish to continue losing, you’ll need to cut more calories.

“Strive for a goal of losing approximately 5% of body weight,” suggests Dr. Collins – Image credit: Getty Images

This period offers opportunities to boost fitness levels through increased exercise intensity and refined dietary habits.

Dr. Kudlek advises treating weight like blood pressure—requiring ongoing management rather than a one-time fix. It may take six weeks to develop sustainable habits.

Expect challenges, and don’t shy away from reaching out for support. Every individual is different, and finding a suitable approach may take some experimentation.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Google Reroutes Over 100 Flights to Reduce Climate-Warming Contrails: A Sustainable Aviation Initiative

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Contrails are the primary contributor to the global warming impact of flights.

Credit: Tuck/imageBROKER/Shutterstock

Impact of Contrails on Global Warming — Contrails are the primary contributor to the global warming impact of flights.

Credit: Tuck/imageBROKER/Shutterstock

A groundbreaking study involving thousands of flights between the United States and Europe reveals that contrails are less frequent when airplanes follow AI-recommended flight paths designed to minimize global warming impacts.

Research indicates that contrails, formed by soot particles from aircraft engines, may cause more warming than the carbon dioxide emitted by airplanes. Certain icy regions in the upper atmosphere are particularly conducive to contrail formation, and AI tools can leverage detailed weather forecasts to identify these areas.

While initial trials suggest rerouting aircraft can effectively reduce contrail formation, this practice has yet to be implemented on a large scale for commercial flights.

Researcher Dinesh Sanekom and his team utilized an AI contrail prediction tool in a randomized controlled trial, examining over 2,400 real-world American Airlines flights.

This study, which included an eastbound flight from the U.S. to Europe, was conducted over approximately 17 weeks from January to May 2025. The flights took place at night, a period when contrails are known to exert a more pronounced warming effect, contrasting with daytime flights that reflect sunlight and create a cooling effect.

Each flight route was randomly allocated to one of two experimental groups. In the first group, air traffic controllers could opt for an AI-optimized route with fewer contrails, while the second group received no alternative route suggestions.

Despite the availability of contrail-optimized routes in the first group, only 112 out of 1,232 flights actually chose a different route due to factors such as costs, safety, and operational constraints, as noted by Sanekom.

AI analysis of satellite images demonstrated that flights utilizing contrail-optimized routes suggested to air traffic controllers saw a remarkable 62% reduction in visible contrails. Overall, considering all flights with the option to select a contrail-optimized route, the effective reduction in contrail formation was 11.6% compared to the control group.

“This validates our hypothesis that this approach can be scaled to enhance contrail avoidance across many flights, provided we can safely and accurately integrate it into existing flight planning systems,” says Sanekom.

Estimates suggest that the overall impact of these flights on global warming was reduced by 13.7% for the entire group employing the proposed routes, with a staggering 69.3% reduction for those using the optimized routes. Fuel consumption showed no statistically significant differences between the groups.

“This methodology appears to be the most effective approach available today,” states Edward Grisspeed from Imperial College London. “The 62 percent reduction in contrails observed suggests this is not a random occurrence.”

However, the intricacies of flight planning make it challenging to predict how much the initial 11.6% reduction might improve in real-world scenarios. According to Grisspeed, “While we cannot simply scale this up to achieve a 60% reduction in contrails on every flight, even an overall reduction of 10% represents a significant environmental benefit.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Achieving the 1.5°C Climate Goal: The Century’s Best Vision for a Sustainable Future

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

New Scientist - Your source for groundbreaking science news and in-depth articles on technology, health, and the environment.

During the first decade of the 21st century, scientists and policymakers emphasized a 2°C cap as the highest “safe” limit for global warming above pre-industrial levels. Recent research suggests that this threshold might still be too high. Rising sea levels pose a significant risk to low-lying islands, prompting scientists to explore the advantages of capping temperature rise at approximately 1.5°C for safeguarding vulnerable regions.

In light of this evidence, the United Nations negotiating bloc, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), advocated for a global commitment to restrict warming to 1.5°C, emphasizing that allowing a 2°C increase would have devastating effects on many small island developing nations.

James Fletcher, the former UN negotiator for the AOSIS bloc at the 2015 UN COP climate change summit in Paris, remarked on the challenges faced in convincing other nations to adopt this stricter global objective. At one summit, he recounted a low-income country’s representative confronting him, expressing their vehement opposition to the idea of even a 1.5°C increase.

After intense discussions, bolstered by support from the European Union and the tacit backing of the United States, as well as intervention from Pope Francis, the 1.5°C target was included in the impactful 2015 Paris Agreement. However, climate scientists commenced their work without a formal evaluation of the implications of this warming level.

In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report confirmed that limiting warming to 1.5°C would provide substantial benefits. The report also advocated for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 along a 1.5°C pathway.

These dual objectives quickly became rallying points for nations and businesses worldwide, persuading countries like the UK to enhance their national climate commitments to meet these stringently set goals.

Researchers at the University of Leeds, including Piers Foster, attribute the influence of the 1.5°C target as a catalyst driving nations to adhere to significantly tougher climate goals than previously envisioned. “It fostered a sense of urgency,” he remarks.

Despite this momentum, global temperatures continue to rise, and current efforts to curb emissions are insufficient to fulfill the 1.5°C commitment. Scientific assessments predict the world may exceed this warming threshold within a mere few years.

Nevertheless, 1.5°C remains a crucial benchmark for tracking progress in global emissions reductions. Public and policymakers are more alert than ever to the implications of rising temperatures. An overshoot beyond 1.5°C is widely regarded as a perilous scenario, rendering the prior notion of 2°C as a “safe” threshold increasingly outdated.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Inventing Net Zero: The Century’s Most Innovative Idea for a Sustainable Future

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

New Scientist - Your source for science news and expert analyses on technology, health, and the environment.

In 2005, physicists David Frame and Miles Allen were headed to a scientific conference in Exeter, England. According to Frame, they were “playing around” with climate models in preparation for their presentation.

At that time, most research centered on stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to avert severe climate change. However, scientists faced challenges in predicting how much the planet would warm if these concentrations reached specific levels.

Frame and Allen approached the issue from a different angle. Instead of focusing on atmospheric concentrations, they examined emissions. They wondered what would happen if humanity ceased emitting anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Using a climate model on a train, they found that global temperatures reached a new stable level. In other words, global warming would halt if humanity achieved “net-zero” carbon dioxide emissions. Frame recalled, “It was pretty cool to sit on the train and see these numbers for the first time and think, ‘Wow, this is a big deal.’

This groundbreaking presentation and the subsequent Nature paper published in 2009 reshaped the thinking within the climate science community. Prior to the net-zero concept, it was generally accepted that humans could emit around 2.5 gigatons annually (approximately 6% of current global emissions) while still stabilizing global temperatures. However, it became clear that to stabilize the climate, emissions must reach net zero, balanced by equivalent removals from the atmosphere.

The global consensus surrounding the need to achieve net zero CO2 emissions rapidly gained traction, culminating in a landmark conclusion in the 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. The subsequent question was about timing: when must we reach net zero? At the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations committed to limiting temperature increases as close to 1.5°C as feasible, aiming for net-zero emissions by around mid-century.

Almost immediately, governments worldwide faced immense pressure to establish net-zero targets. Hundreds of companies joined the movement, recognizing the economic opportunities presented by the transition to clean energy. This “net-zero fever” has led to some dubious commitments that excessively rely on using global forests and wetlands to absorb human pollution. Nevertheless, this shift has altered the course of this century: approximately 75% of global emissions are now encompassed by net-zero pledges, and projections for global warming throughout this century have decreased from around 3.7–4.8°C to 2.4–2.6°C under existing climate commitments.Read more here.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Unveiling the Reality Behind F1’s New ‘Sustainable’ Fuel and Its Impact on Future Cars

Posted on October 22, 2025 by

In the upcoming year, Formula 1 (F1) is set to undertake one of its most ambitious transformations yet, shifting from fossil fuels to a fully sustainable fuel mixture. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to adhere to new environmental regulations and demonstrate that the sport can, as F1 puts it, “continue without the need for new car production”.

Nonetheless, skepticism remains. As F1 contributes over 1% of the total carbon footprint in sports, experts argue that there are far more significant environmental issues that F1 must address. What are these challenges and how can we overcome them?

Switch Gears

In 2020, F1’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), established a timeline for race car engines to transition to 100% sustainable fuel by 2026 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

From 2023 to 2024, Formula 2 and Formula 3, F1’s supporting racing series, will start utilizing 55% ‘sustainable bio-based fuels’, transitioning to 100% ‘advanced sustainable fuels’ by 2025.

F1 has developed its own ‘sustainable’ fuel for 2026, designed specifically for the hybrid engines currently used in F1 cars, which consist of both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and two electric motor generators.

Images from the Japanese Grand Prix, which was rescheduled from autumn to spring to minimize carbon emissions related to equipment transport between races (Source: Formula 1) – Formula 1

According to F1, the new fuel will not raise the overall carbon levels in the atmosphere. The carbon used in these new fuels will be sourced from existing materials, such as household waste and non-food biomass, or it will be captured directly from atmospheric carbon dioxide.

This will enable the production of synthetic fuels, which are man-made fuels aimed at replacing the fossil fuel-based gasoline currently in use. In the long term, the FIA asserts that F1, 2, and 3 will all eventually adopt this “fully synthetic hybrid fuel”.

Moreover, this new fuel will be classified as “drop-in”, indicating that it will be compatible with existing internal combustion engines as well as the current fuel distribution infrastructure. This means the fuel powering F1 cars in 2026 will be the same fuel you could purchase at your local gas station today.

Is it Truly Sustainable?

However, as the term “sustainable” has gained popularity, experts have started to challenge F1’s assertions.

Dr. Paula Pérez-López, an expert in environmental and social sustainability at the MINES ParisTech Center for Observation, Impacts, and Energy (OIE), articulates that for a product to qualify as “sustainable”, it must fulfill certain environmental, social, and economic criteria, with each segment of the supply chain considering these factors.

“The term ‘sustainable’ should not be confused with ‘low carbon’. A product or process may exhibit low carbon emissions but still produce high levels of other pollutants, thus rendering it ‘unsustainable’. “

The FIA’s collaboration with the Zemo partnership, a UK-based nonprofit organization, has led to the introduction of the Sustainable Racing Fuel Assurance Scheme (SRFAS). This third-party initiative ensures that sustainable racing fuels comply with FIA regulations.

The certification mandates that the fuel comprises “at least 99 percent Advanced Sustainable Components (ASC)” that are certified to be derived from renewable energy sources such as non-biological origin (RFNBO), municipal waste, or non-food biomass.

Essentially, this means that the new fuel must be synthetic, produced from waste, or derived from materials not intended for human or animal consumption, such as specially engineered algae.

New fuels must also adhere to criteria such as the EU Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) along with EU Delegated Law.

Fraser Browning, the founder of Curve Carbon, which advises companies on minimizing their environmental footprints, indicates that these new fuels can indeed facilitate genuine decarbonization efforts if managed appropriately.

“The overarching question pertains to F1’s complete impact,” he notes. “Is F1 pursuing synthetic fuels as a vital component of their sustainability goals, or is it merely a procedural formality?”

Browning emphasizes that advancements in motorsport have historically contributed to significant innovations in sustainable transportation. For instance, in 2020, Mercedes announced that hybrid technology would be utilized in road cars. Earlier this year, they also revealed a new battery technology capable of extending the range of electric vehicles by 25 percent.

“Without the innovations deriving from motorsport, hybrid vehicles wouldn’t have evolved at the present speed,” he contends. “However, this needs to be executed transparently and responsibly.”

Cutting Carbon

Beyond the transition to synthetic fuels, F1 is also making strides to reduce carbon emissions in other areas. Travel and logistics account for roughly two-thirds of F1’s carbon emissions, as teams, heavy machinery, and fans travel considerable distances between races each year.

To mitigate this, adjustments have been made to the F1 calendar for 2024 to lessen freight distances between events, as stated in F1’s latest Impact Report. For example, the Japanese Grand Prix has been synchronized with other Asia-Pacific races and moved to April.

Formula 1 has unveiled that DHL’s new fleet of biofuel-powered trucks minimizes carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 83% compared to traditional fuel-powered trucks during the European segment of the 2023 season (Source: F1) – Formula 1

Additionally, F1 has broadened the adoption of biofuels for the trucks used to transport equipment throughout Europe, resulting in a 9% reduction in logistical carbon emissions.

By the conclusion of 2024, total carbon emissions are projected to decrease by 26% from 2018 levels, although F1 acknowledges there remain “key milestones to achieve, including further investments in alternative fuels and updates to our logistics system to enhance efficiency”.

Synthetic Fuels vs. Electric Vehicles

What does it mean when F1 claims that its new synthetic fuel is a drop-in solution suitable for everyday vehicles? Could it serve as a more sustainable alternative to electric vehicles (EVs)?

Critics warn that producing synthetic fuels for internal combustion engines (ICE) is energy-intensive, costly, and may require five times the renewable electricity compared to operating a battery-powered electric vehicle.

At present, 96% of hydrogen used for these fuels within the EU is derived from natural gas, a process that releases significant amounts of CO₂. Currently, renewable hydrogen is more costly than fossil-based hydrogen.

“Obtaining pure and concentrated CO₂ poses a considerable challenge,” states Gonzalo Amarante Guimarantes Pereira, a professor at the State University of Campinas in São Paulo, Brazil, and co-author of a study comparing biofuels with pure electric vehicles.

“There is a technology known as direct air capture that can achieve this, but attaining 100% concentration comes with substantial energy costs. The estimated expense varies between $500 to $1,200 (approximately £375 to £895) per tonne, rendering e-fuels at least four to eight times more costly than operating an electric vehicle.”

Browning concurs that EVs represent a more favorable low-carbon choice for the future. “Their emissions during use and maintenance are significantly lower,” he states.

“While synthetic fuels might yield a lesser overall impact if managed wisely, we still lack a comprehensive lifecycle assessment across multiple sustainability metrics to definitively address this issue.”

In simpler terms, as long as the entire system producing synthetic fuels cannot be reliably demonstrated to have a positive environmental impact, the jury remains out on the actual extent of their effects.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Just 1% of the Global Population Follows Healthy and Sustainable Eating Habits, Major Report Reveals

Posted on October 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

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Recent global assessments of the food system reveal that fewer than 1% of individuals consume diets beneficial to both the planet and human health.

Nevertheless, adopting a healthier dietary approach could prevent up to 15 million premature deaths annually and could decrease global greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 20%.

The findings are part of a 2025 Report by the Eat-Lancet Committee, which consolidates insights from nutritionists, climate experts, economists, physicians, social scientists, and agricultural scholars from over 35 countries.

The research team evaluated the effects of current food systems on human health and the environment, concluding that food production poses risks to five crucial Earth systems that are essential for human survival.

These five critical threats include climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, and human-induced contaminants like pesticides and microplastics.

However, transforming the food system to ensure healthy diets for everyone could restore these systems to a safe state and enhance human well-being.

“If everyone adopts a healthy diet, by 2050, 100 billion people could sustain themselves on 7% less land than what is currently utilized,” stated Dr. Fabrice Declerck, EAT’s Chief Science Officer, in an interview with BBC Science Focus. “This has never happened in the history of food production. We have very few resources needed to feed more individuals.”

Justice was a significant aspect of the report, emphasizing the need for equitable wages for food workers and fairer access to food resources – Credit: Anuchasiribisanwan via Getty

Scientists have estimated that 6.9 billion individuals consume excessive amounts of food, particularly meat, dairy, sugar, and ultra-processed items, while 3.7 billion struggle to find access to nutritious food.

As a result, the report advocates for adherence to a planetary health diet (PhD), which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains.

In a PhD, half of your plate should consist of vegetables, fruits, and nuts, while 30% should be dedicated to whole grains. The remaining portion should be a protein source, with a focus on legumes like beans and lentils.

Meat, fish, and dairy are optional within the PhD framework, with established limits, but the diet allows for flexibility. For instance, one can remain within guidelines even with a weekly intake of up to 200g of beef.

Declerck notes that the diet is adaptable to individual tastes, encouraging people to incorporate their cultural preferences.

“In fact, I believe traditional diets often more accurately reflect health,” he mentioned.

The planet’s healthy food guidelines aim to enhance human health while also benefiting the environment, as stated in the report – Credit: Carl Hendon

Currently, only 1% of individuals meet the report’s dietary suggestions. Declerck emphasized that scientists are not ready to pinpoint the locations of these individuals, given the numerous variations among countries.

“But these individuals reside in societies where they can access healthy diets and earn a livable wage,” he added.

Declerck further remarked that the best examples of healthy eating are often found in middle-income countries, particularly within the Mediterranean basin, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.

For middle-income nations, the challenge lies in avoiding a shift toward a Western diet while maintaining cultural dietary traditions.

Amidst concerns regarding the climate crisis, Declerck stated that the report presents a “surprising” opportunity to enhance both human health and environmental well-being simultaneously.

“We encourage individuals to consume a wider variety of foods, celebrate their own cultural contributions, explore diverse culinary traditions, and enjoy the richness of food diversity,” he asserted. “This is beneficial not only for your personal health but also contributes significantly to the health of our planet as a whole,” Declerck concluded.

The research’s co-author, Professor Johann Lockstrom, co-chair of the committee and director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, stated: “The evidence is irrefutable. It is not only feasible to transform the food system, but it is crucial for ensuring a safe, fair, and sustainable future for all.”

Justice formed another key component of the report, highlighting the fact that the wealthiest 30% of the population accounts for over 70% of food-related environmental impacts.

“Those of us who are unhealthy and walk blocking others’ rights to a secure environment must take action,” the report emphasized.

The findings call for immediate measures to reform the global food system for the benefit of human health, justice, and environmental sustainability.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Why Solar Power is the Most Sustainable Energy Source for the Future

Posted on September 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Only 0.3% of the Earth’s land area needs solar panels to fulfill all energy requirements

VCG via Getty Images

Solar energy has been gaining traction for years, and it’s easy to see why. It represents one of the most economical ways to produce energy almost anywhere and stands as a vital measure against climate change.

However, there are skeptics. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright asserts that solar energy cannot meet global energy demands. Many experts highlight that this claim is fundamentally misguided. Over time, sunlight—along with wind energy—offers the only reliable power source capable of satisfying escalating energy demands without harming the planet.

On September 2nd, Wright posted on social media platform x, stating, “Even if we covered the entire planet with solar panels, it would only generate 20% of the world’s energy. One of the greatest mistakes politicians make is equating electricity with energy!”

First and foremost, electricity is quantified based on the energy it delivers, making it practical to consider electricity as equivalent to energy.

Climate scientist Gavin Schmidt from NASA’s Goddard Space Research Institute remarked on Bluesky that the total energy content utilized by all fuels globally in 2024 was approximately 186,000 terawatt hours. He emphasized that the Earth receives 6,000 times that amount in energy each year.

Moreover, Schmidt noted that since 60% of fossil fuel energy is typically wasted in the conversion process to usable electricity, the Earth receives 18,000 times more energy than is needed to satisfy current energy consumption levels.

While existing solar panels only capture around 20% of available solar energy and can’t be installed everywhere, a 2021 report by Carbon Tracker estimated that merely 0.3% of the world’s land area (limited to land) is required to address current energy needs through solar energy alone. This footprint is smaller than that of existing fossil fuel infrastructure. In essence, the report indicates that solar and wind can provide over 100 times the current global energy demand.

We are fortunate, as the current reliance on fossil fuels is already contributing to hazardous climate change with fossil fuels alone supplying 100 times more energy than the planet can sustainably handle. But what about nuclear fusion? If it becomes a feasible option, would it surpass solar energy?

The answer is negative. Eric Chaisson from Harvard University anticipates minimal growth in global energy demand; however, the waste heat generated could potentially elevate global temperatures by 3°C within three centuries. This refers to waste heat from everyday activities like boiling a kettle or using a computer, which consumes the energy produced.

Solar energy—along with wind, tides, and waves—functions fundamentally as a source harnessed from the sun, rendering waste heat irrelevant. The energy we utilize, whether it ends up as waste heat or not, determines its practical value. In contrast, other energy sources, like nuclear fission, do not currently address waste heat management.

“[Carl] Sagan preached to me, and I now relay that message to students. Any planet must ultimately utilize the energy it possesses,” Chaisson remarked in an interview with New Scientist in 2012.

Though three centuries is a long time, the implications of waste heat are already significant. Studies indicate that maximum temperatures in Europe’s summers have increased by 0.4°C. By 2100, average annual temperatures in certain industrialized regions may rise by nearly 1°C due to waste heat—effects not currently considered in climate models.

Ultimately, the only technology that can sustainably harness solar and wind energy to meet global energy demands for centuries, without triggering catastrophic warming, is these renewable sources. The projections couldn’t be more misguided.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Are Oysters, Mussels, and Clams the Pinnacle of Sustainable Cuisine?

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Savor a delightful dish of green bivalves

ShutterStock/Plateresca

Consider the idea of sustainable cuisine. While humble lentils may come to mind, is it feasible to indulge in luxurious options while remaining eco-conscious? Bivalves like oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams possess inherent green credentials thanks to their ability to purify polluted waters. Recent research indicates they might also help sequester carbon. Could agricultural bivalves emerge as the pinnacle of sustainable food?

Food production contributes to around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it crucial to identify options that mitigate this damage. In seafood, aquaculture is generally more sustainable than wild fishing; however, farmed fish rely on wild fish for part of their diet. Recent studies reveal that the reliance on wild fish for aquaculture feed is often underestimated. Additionally, fish farms can create significant waste issues from fish excrement and uneaten feed.

A notable advantage of bivalves is their minimal need for supplemental feed. As filter feeders, they consume tiny nutrient particles suspended in seawater and plankton. With most coastal waters currently suffering from nutrient overload due to nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, harvesting cultivated bivalves can help alleviate this excess and purify the waters as a byproduct of their production.

Conversely, harvesting wild bivalves poses ecological threats. For instance, overfishing of wild scallops can damage delicate marine ecosystems like seafans, corals, and sponges. However, comparison shows that farmed bivalves come with significantly fewer drawbacks, especially when compared to rainforest destruction for beef production.

But there’s more to explore. In recent years, various studies have suggested that agricultural bivalves can sequester carbon, potentially allowing farms to earn carbon credits as an additional revenue stream.

Yet, Fabrice Pernett from Brest University in France remains skeptical. A review of over 50 studies has left him unconvinced. Many of these studies are based on theoretical models that assume the formation of calcium carbonate shells absorbs CO.₂ from the sea.

However, this phenomenon holds true only over geological timescales. Over shorter periods—critical when addressing climate change—the carbon cycle shows carbonate formation often releases CO.₂.

Moreover, the common practice of incinerating waste shells frequently leads to even more CO.₂ being released into the atmosphere instead of returning carbon to the ocean to mitigate CO.₂ emissions. Similarly, carbon from the flesh of seafood also gets released as CO.₂ following consumption.

Some researchers are now claiming that organic matter deposited under bivalves represents a significant carbon sink.

This latest assertion builds upon oyster research conducted within five large enclosures. However, Pernett cautions that similar studies feature shortcomings, such as CO.₂ measurements being conducted only during the day and summer months when photosynthesis peaks.

The research team argues this limitation does not influence the findings. “The budget suggests that carbon accumulation and sequestration exceed carbon extracted in shells,” asserts Shuang-lin Dong from China Maritime University. Nevertheless, Pernett is still unconvinced. “Current evidence indicates that bivalve farming releases CO.₂ overall,” he remarks.

However, don’t cancel your reservation at your favorite oyster bar just yet. Although bivalve farming may be a carbon emitter, the emissions are relatively low—around 1.4 kilograms of CO.₂ per kilogram of edible weight based on 2021 research. This figures significantly lower than that of wheat or corn, all while requiring less land and freshwater.

“Indeed, agricultural bivalves rank among the greenest food sources,” states Pernett. A culinary delight.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Sustainable Resource Management through a Circular Economy – Sciworthy

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Rare earth elements, commonly referred to as REE, are vital chemical components for mobile phones, computers, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and nearly all digital electronic devices. These unique elements, with names like Cerium (CE), Neodymium (ND), Praseodymium (PR), Dysprosium (DY), and Terbium (TB), can be recycled from electronic gadgets. However, much like fossil fuels, REE resources are finite. Additionally, only four countries possess about 85% of the REE supply found in the Earth’s crust. Consequently, scientists are working on sustainable methods for mining and distributing REEs.

Pen Wang and his team propose that the solution lies in the circular economy. This model focuses on utilizing readily available resources while minimizing waste. For instance, China adopted this policy in the 2000s and capitalized on its REE reserves. They noted that nations and industries could employ five strategies to foster a circular economy: baseline usage, recycling, reuse, replacement, and reduction.

First, countries monitor current resource usage, known as Baseline. Next, they engage in recycling by utilizing easily accessible resources to minimize waste and develop sustainable technology, followed by Reuse. They then promote the use of accessible materials at the manufacturing level, referred to as the production level with an emphasis on Alternative methods that waste fewer materials, and Reduction. Furthermore, various countries integrate these strategies to enhance sustainability and achieve Combined results.

The researchers concluded that not all strategies in the circular economy carry equal weight. They found that reduction and alternatives are the most impactful since they originate at production sources, while recycling and reuse are merely reactive strategies rather than preventive measures. To assess which strategies yield the most benefits for REE distribution, they examined how the REE sector aligns with the five strategies of a circular economy.

It has been observed that mining companies primarily extract REE directly from the Earth, referred to as Land stocks. However, substantial deposits of REEs have only been identified in a limited number of countries, including China, Brazil, Vietnam, and Russia. Existing electronic devices already contain a significant quantity of REE stocks. Utilization of these stocks offers a promising avenue. The team argued that recycling these devices would lessen the need for underground extraction and stabilize the economy as underground stocks dwindle. They indicated that, under the current economic model, a considerable portion of available inventory would be discarded, leading to depletion by 2042 without efficient re-introduction of used stocks.

The team highlighted that trade plays a crucial role in the global circular economy. Free trade enables the unimpeded flow of resources such as REEs across borders, with taxes and duties acting as trade-offs. However, disruptions to free trade could hinder the accumulation of inventory during REE use. For instance, they estimated that waste from two REEs, such as ND, PR, DY, and TB, would remain unutilized due to exporting nations with stock in circulation.

Researchers pointed out that China is currently the sole nation capable of meeting its own REE needs. However, they anticipate that the US could possess up to 50% of the usable stocks by 2050. Developing circular economy practices is in the US’s interest, as they contend that trades concerning REEs will evolve into a multi-billion dollar industry in the coming decades. They believe these practices can also yield social advantages since countries concentrating on resource extraction can cultivate a sustainable economy grounded in processing existing stock rather than depleting new resources.

The researchers concluded that adopting a circular economy to recycle utilized stocks would enhance the global accessibility of REEs in the future. However, success hinges on global economic collaboration, which may present challenges. They proposed that the US should forge partnerships with countries excelling in recycling to initiate a Western movement toward engaging in this economic system.

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Source: sciworthy.com

What’s the Maximum Amount of Meat for a Sustainable Diet?

Posted on May 17, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

You can enjoy a healthy and sustainable diet without completely eliminating meat. Recent research.

Scientists at the Denmark Institute of Technology have analyzed 2,500 foods and concluded that consuming less than 255g of pork or chicken weekly is beneficial for both the environment and your health.

“We understand that the planet faces significant environmental challenges, while millions are dealing with hunger and malnutrition,” stated Dr. Caroline Helev Guevara from the University of Technology, Denmark, who led the research. BBC Science Focus.

“While there’s a strong emphasis on increasing plant-based food consumption, it’s still uncertain how much of it is necessary and whether these changes can truly have a positive impact.”

Agriculture utilizes 70% of the world’s freshwater – Credit: Getty Images/Pete Starman

The team led by Guevara examined 11 different diets, including options with red or white meat, pescetarian, vegetarian, vegan, and various flexible diets, to determine if they were “sufficient.”

They formulated thousands of food combinations within these dietary patterns, evaluating both their nutritional value and environmental impact.

Environmental effects were assessed in five key areas: carbon dioxide emissions, land use, water consumption, biodiversity loss, and fertilizer-contaminated water.

The findings revealed that it is possible to nourish the global population healthily without excessively harming the planet, with a variety of dietary choices available.

“We possess enough resources to provide healthy, nutritious foods to the global populace without surpassing environmental limits,” said Guevara. “This is promising news.”

The research identified around 100,000 healthy and sustainable food combinations. While vegan and vegetarian diets showed the greatest benefits, those including less than 255g of pork and chicken were also feasible—equivalent to two chicken breasts or one large pork chop.

The only option that was entirely off the table was lean meat, as it was deemed less viable due to its higher environmental impact relative to the nutrition it delivers.

“Producing lean meat generates more greenhouse gas emissions (mainly methane) than poultry and pork, mainly due to how ruminants digest their food.”

However, although such diets are feasible, their practical implementation may pose challenges.

“A significant shift in our food consumption habits is essential right now,” Guevara noted. “Our research focuses on what can physically be done, not what is socially or economically accessible. Structural changes are necessary to turn these sustainable diets into reality.”

About our experts

Caroline Helev Guevara is a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Environmental Resources Engineering, University of Technology, Denmark. She investigates the impact of human activities and industries on the environment.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Using fungi-based living materials to create sustainable buildings

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The bacteria Neurospora Crassa formed a scaffold for living construction materials

Wim Van Egmond/Science Photo Library

Fungi and bacteria could one day become part of living building materials that can grow and repair.

When we try to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions, one of the major challenges facing the world is finding more sustainable building materials. Concrete-only production accounts for more than 5% of total human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.

Some researchers want to develop engineered biological materials generated from cells, which have desirable attributes such as self-assembly, repair, and photosynthesis. Many powerful, mineralized structures exist in organisms such as bones and corals.

Chelsea Heberan Montana State University and her colleagues tested whether similar mineralized structures could be created around scaffolds of fungal mycelium. Mycelium is a network of microscopic, branching filaments that make up part of most fungi.

Heberan and her team grew mycelial scaffolds using fungi called Neurospora Crassa, After that, I applied bacteria Sporosarcina pasteurii On the scaffolding.

As fungi and bacteria metabolize urea in the growth medium, they formed a cured structure consisting of calcium carbonate, the same compound found in eggshells and shells.

She says the team drew inspiration from the bones. Bone has biological ninerals formed on scaffolds for collagen and other proteins. “The bones are very strong and tough considering how light it is,” Heberan says.

Although other biological materials created in the lab only lived for a few days, the structure developed by Heberan and her colleagues was viable for at least a month.

“We are excited by the outcome and look forward to engineering more complex and larger structures,” Heberan says. “If survival rates are high enough, we can actually convey persistent biological properties to materials that we care about, such as self-healing, sensing, and environmental repair.”

“Proposing mycelium as a scaffolding medium for living materials is a simple but powerful strategy,” he says. Aysu kuru At the University of Sydney.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Making Refrigerators More Sustainable with Crystal-based Cooling Technology

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Refrigerators and freezers typically derive their cooling power from environmentally harmful liquids.

Mint Images Limited/Alamy

A new type of crystal could help refrigerators and air conditioners keep us cool without warming the planet.

Refrigerators and air conditioners obtain their cooling power by circulating liquid within the device. The liquid absorbs heat and causes cooling through cycles of evaporation and condensation. However, many such liquids contribute to the greenhouse effect and cause further warming if they leak. now, jenny pringle Researchers at Australia's Deakin University have created a climate-friendly alternative to these liquids using “plastic crystals” – crystals containing molecules that can move enough to make them flexible. Developed.

If enough pressure is applied, these plastic crystals can deform. Their molecules go from a random orientation to an ordered grid. Then, when the pressure is removed, they disturb again. As part of this disordering process, the crystals absorb heat, effectively cooling their surroundings.

Although pressure-based cooling like this has been studied before, most materials capable of making this transition can only do so at mild temperatures, limiting their cooling power, Pringle said. In contrast, her team's crystals exhibit their heat-absorbing ability at temperatures between -37°C (-34.6°F) and 10°C (50°F), a temperature suitable for home refrigerators and freezers. .

However, the new crystals are not yet ready to leave the lab. That's because the pressure required to make them work is so high, Pringle says, that it's hundreds of times greater than atmospheric pressure and equivalent to thousands of meters underwater.

david boldrin Researchers at the University of Glasgow in the UK said materials like the new study “have the potential to almost completely decarbonize this giant carbon”. [cooling] However, he shares concerns about the high pressure required.

He says there may be other practical problems with this approach. Bing Li At the Chinese Academy of Sciences. With each repeated use, the grid formed by the molecules becomes more distorted and each crystal absorbs less heat. Still, Lee said he was optimistic and believed the technology could be applied in the “near future.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Researches have created a sustainable and eco-conscious fashion solution

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The textile and leather industries pollute water through dyeing and tanning, and plastic pollution from synthetic fibers. In particular, the chemicals used by synthetic chemical manufacturers to dye clothing, especially black dyes for leather, pollute the environment. To solve this problem, researchers at Imperial College, London, bacteria produced Eco-friendly, self-pigmenting, animal-free leather.

Researchers studied a group of bacteria called . Komagata Eibacter We produce an environmentally friendly leather alternative called . bacterial cellulose. They explained that bacterial cellulose is advantageous because it is durable, long-lasting, easily grown from waste materials such as fruit juice, and biodegradable. It is also cheap to produce and is used in many industrial applications, including electronic equipment and wound dressings to cover and protect wounds. Designers love it because it's sustainable and uses more natural materials instead of petroleum-based materials.

The researchers wanted to modify the bacteria's genes so that they could produce both bacterial cellulose and a black pigment that protects from sunlight and absorbs harmful substances. melanin. They hypothesized that melanin could make cellulose more versatile by making it stronger and protecting it from sunlight, allowing it to be used in new applications such as environmentally friendly sunscreens and pollutant-absorbing materials. I did.

To do this, the researchers Komagata Eibacter 2 types of liquid food, or culture media: One was made from glucose and the other from coconut water. They sterilized these fluids to make sure they were clean and sterile. They introduced new genetic material into the bacteria's DNA using a process called . electroporation. The new genetic material contained a special type of circular DNA that enabled the bacteria to produce melanin.

First, the genetically modified bacteria are grown normally. They then added ingredients that “start” melanin production, such as L-tyrosine, the building block of melanin, and copper sulfate, a catalyst that accelerates the process. To see how much melanin the bacteria produced, they measured how dark the culture medium became. This was a good indicator of melanin levels. To see if different conditions change the amount of melanin produced by bacteria, the researchers experimented with different pH levels, amounts of salt, and metals that can affect the amount of melanin produced by bacteria. I tried.

Next, the researchers Komagata Eibacter They produce a special type of melanin called melanin that produces a dark brown to black color. eumelanin. To force the bacteria to produce eumelanin, the researchers further modified the bacteria's genes. Specifically, they added a gene that causes the bacteria to produce an enzyme called Tyr1, which helps stimulate melanin production. They used this genetic change to create a unique bacterial strain that could continuously produce eumelanin.

Once they had these genetically modified bacteria, they conducted experiments to control the amount of eumelanin produced by the bacteria. They used a method called pyrolysis, which allows scientists to use light to control the behavior of cells. optogenetics. In this case, exposing the bacteria to blue light caused them to produce more eumelanin. The light also caused some bacteria to produce another protein that turned red. The researchers used this red color to track how well the light-induced process worked. The researchers looked at how much eumelanin these engineered bacteria produced under different conditions so they could better control melanin production.

Researchers discovered that when bacteria produce melanin, they form a mat-like layer that retains moisture. They interpreted this result to mean that adding melanin to different materials can change their surface properties. To demonstrate how melanin can be used in leather-based products, researchers created sample items such as wallets and shoe uppers from a mixture of bacterial cellulose and melanin. It was confirmed that adding melanin to cellulose increases durability. The researchers found that the melanin remained stable even after treatments such as high-pressure steam and ethanol cleaning, meaning it was strong enough to withstand real-world use.

The researchers suggested that future work should discover enzymes that can produce melanin under acidic conditions, requiring less water for production. Especially when melanin is used in large-scale production, the process becomes more environmentally friendly and efficient if less water is used. Finally, they encouraged scientists and designers to continue working together to develop innovative ways to create sustainable textiles that make fashion more environmentally friendly.

Post views: 165

Source: sciworthy.com

Why Wild-Caught Fish is More Sustainable Than Farmed Fish

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Aquaculture sustainability claims are greatly exaggerated

VIKEN KANTARCI/AFP via Getty Images

It has been argued that fish farming is a sustainable food source that helps feed the growing world population while protecting wild fish populations, but this is not true.

“Aquaculture is not a substitute for catching wild fish from the ocean,” he says. matthew hayek at New York University. “In fact, it relies on catching wild fish from the ocean.”

Hayek and colleagues showed that the amount of wild fish killed to feed farmed fish is 27 to 307 percent higher than previous estimates.

According to Hayek, farmed carnivorous fish eat wild fish caught in the ocean at several times the weight that would be obtained in aquaculture. For example, producing 1 kilogram of salmon may require 4 to 5 kilograms of wild fish.

However, while the demand for farmed fish is increasing, the amount of wild fish caught is not increasing. “In multiple fisheries, we are moving towards a scarcity of fish in the ocean,” Hayek says.

As a result, as the aquaculture industry expands, an increasing proportion of the world's wild fish catch is used as feed for farmed fish.

This means people in places like Southeast Asia and West Africa can no longer afford to buy fish. The fish is highly valuable as a source of farmed fishmeal and fish oil, team members say. Patricia Majolf At the conservation organization Oceana.

Increasing the proportion of plant-based products in the diet of carnivorous fish, or raising omnivorous or herbivorous fish such as tilapia, carp, or catfish, creates another set of problems. Feeding fish with human-edible plant-based food requires more land and water to produce fish food, leading to problems such as deforestation.

“These sectors are growing so rapidly that we are now supplying them with many times more crops from land than before,” says Hayek.

“As long as you're eating animals, you're not immune to some kind of shock somewhere,” he says. “Raising animals requires more resources to nurture and grow their bodies than can be obtained by eating them. It's a basic fact of biology.”

But farmed shellfish, such as mussels, which are eaten by filtering seawater, are far more sustainable, he says.

There are several reasons why Hayek's team's estimate of the amount of wild fish needed to produce a given amount of farmed fish is much higher than past estimates. For one thing, Hayek said the team used a wider range of sources than previous studies, meaning there is less chance of statistical bias.

The researchers also counted all the fish used to produce fishmeal and fish oil, as well as those caught as feed for farmed fish.

Finally, the researchers also estimated the number of fish that were killed but not brought to market. Unwanted species are often discarded from fishing vessels, but usually do not survive. Sometimes they leave the seine slightly open to let unwanted fish escape, but they often get injured and die.

Even ignoring these additional deaths, the conclusion remains that the amount of wild fish killed to feed farmed fish is higher than previously estimated, Hayek said. But counting them adds 20 to 50 percent to the total, he says.

“They show that the use of fishmeal and fish oil in aquaculture is more complex than many industry analysts estimate.” Stefano Longo at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. “Fishmeal and fish oil inputs in aquaculture systems are probably underestimated, and possibly significantly underestimated.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

‘Sustainable Startups Struggle to Fix Broken Food System as Venture Capital Seeks Return on Investment’

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Andrew Carter and Adam DiMartino launched Smallhold in 2017 with a goal of providing mushrooms to more people. Carter believed that mushrooms are highly sustainable in terms of water, waste, plastic use, and emissions. Over the years, Smallhold has successfully introduced specialty mushrooms like shiitake, green oysters, and trumpet mushrooms to grocery stores and households across America.

As mushrooms gained popularity as a symbol of sustainability during the pandemic, Smallhold found success and attention from the media, resulting in a valuation of $90 million. Despite starting in a Brooklyn shipping container, the brand expanded rapidly with farms in New York, Texas, and California, selling in 1,400 stores nationwide.

Smallhold’s co-founders, DeMartino and Carter, believe in promoting sustainability and reducing waste in the food industry. However, the company faced challenges when the founders resigned, leading to Smallhold filing for bankruptcy. Although the brand was acquired and reorganized, it struggled to maintain its original vision, closing farms and reducing staff.

For entrepreneurs, Smallhold’s journey serves as a lesson on finding a niche beyond sustainability and ensuring economic sustainability. While the company focused on unique mushroom varieties and sustainable practices, it also built a strong brand through aesthetics and social media. It’s crucial for startups to deliver quality products, maintain profitability, and avoid excessive reliance on venture capital.

In the evolving landscape of food startups, lessons can be learned from Smallhold’s experience. By combining sustainability with quality, variety, and branding, companies can attract customers and thrive in the market. Innovating in the food industry requires a balance between financial responsibility and sustainability goals, defining success on your own terms.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Microsoft drives sustainable innovation in West London with AI-driven ‘green moonshot’ project

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

If you want evidence of Microsoft’s progress towards its environmental “moonshot” goals, look closer to Earth to a construction site on an industrial estate in west London. The company’s Park Royal data center is part of the company’s efforts to drive the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), but its ambitions are The goal is to become carbon negative by 2030. Microsoft says the center will be run entirely on renewable energy, but construction of the data center and the servers it will house will contribute to the company’s Scope 3 emissions (CO2)2. These relate to the electricity people use when using building materials or products like the Xbox. 30% increase from 2020. As a result, the company is exceeding its overall emissions target by roughly the same percentage.

This week, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates argued that AI can help fight climate change because big tech companies are “seriously willing” to pay extra to use clean sources of electricity so they can “say they’re using green energy.” In the short term, AI poses a problem for Microsoft’s environmental goals. Microsoft’s outspoken president, Brad Smith, once called the company’s carbon-reduction ambitions a “moonshot.” In May, he stretched that metaphor to its limits and said that the company’s AI strategy has “moved the moon” for it. It plans to spend £2.5bn over the next three years to expand its AI data center infrastructure in the UK, and has announced new data center projects around the world this year, including in the US, Japan, Spain, and Germany.

Training and running the AI models underlying products like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini uses significant amounts of electricity to power and cool the associated hardware, plus carbon is generated by manufacturing and transporting the associated equipment. “This is a technology that will increase energy consumption,” said Alex de Vries, founder of DigiConomist, a website that tracks the environmental impact of new technologies. The International Energy Agency estimates that the total electricity consumption of data centers is Doubling from 2022 levels to 1,000 TWh (terawatt hours) in 2026. This is equivalent to Japan’s energy demand. With AI, data centers 4.5% of world energy production That will happen by 2030, according to calculations by research firm Semianalysis.

The environment has also been in the spotlight amid concerns about AI’s impact on jobs and human lifespan. Last week, the International Monetary Fund said governments should consider imposing carbon taxes to capture the environmental costs of AI, either through a general carbon tax that covers emissions from servers, or a specific tax on CO2.2 It is generated by the device. The big tech companies involved in AI (Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft) are seeking renewable energy sources to meet their climate change targets. Largest Corporate Buyer Renewable Energy I bought more than half The power output of offshore wind farms in Scotland, which Microsoft announced in May it would invest $10 billion (£7.9 billion) in. Renewable Energy Projects.

Google aims to run its data centers entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving our climate change goals,” a Microsoft spokesperson said. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who left the company in 2020 but retains a stake in the company through his Foundation, has argued that AI can directly help combat climate change. He said Thursday that any increase in electricity demand would be matched by new investments in green generation to more than offset usage. A recent UK government-backed report agreed, saying that “the carbon intensity of energy sources is an important variable in In calculating AI-related emissions, but adding that “a significant portion of AI training worldwide still relies on high-carbon sources such as coal and natural gas”. Water needed to cool servers is also an issue, A study It estimates that AI could account for up to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water use by 2027. Two thirds This is equivalent to the annual consumption of England.

De Vries argues that the pursuit of sustainable computing power will put a strain on demand for renewable energy, resulting in fossil fuels making up for shortfalls in other parts of the global economy. “Increasing energy consumption means there isn’t enough renewable energy to cover that increase,” he says. Data center server rooms consume large amounts of energy. Photo: i3D_VR/Getty Images/iStockphoto. NexGen Cloud, a UK company that provides sustainable cloud computing, says that in an industry that relies on data centers to provide IT services such as data storage and computing power over the internet, data centers could use renewable energy sources for AI-related computing if they were located away from urban areas and near hydroelectric or geothermal generation sources. “We are excited to join forces with NVIDIA to bring the power of cloud to the cloud,” said Youlian Tzanev, co-founder of NexGen Cloud.

“Until now, the industry standard has been to build around economic centers, not renewable energy sources.” This makes it even harder for AI-focused tech companies to meet their carbon emissions targets. Amazon, the world’s largest cloud computing provider, aims to be net zero (removing as much carbon as it emits) by 2040 and aims to source 100% of its global electricity usage from renewable energy by 2025. Google and Meta are also pursuing the same net zero goal by 2030. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, uses Microsoft data centers to train and run its products.

There are two main ways that large-scale language models, the underlying technology behind chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, consume energy: The first is the training phase, where the model is fed huge amounts of data, often from the internet, to build up a statistical understanding of the language itself, which ultimately enables it to generate large numbers of compelling answers to queries. The initial energy costs of training an AI are astronomical, meaning that small businesses (and even smaller governments) that can’t afford to spend $100 million on training can’t compete in the field. But this cost pales in comparison to the cost of actually running the resulting models, a process called “inference.” According to Brent Till, an analyst at investment firm Jefferies, 90% of AI’s energy costs are in the inference stage – the power consumed when you ask an AI system to answer a factual question, summarize a chunk of text, or write an academic paper.

The power used for training and inference is delivered through a vast and growing digital infrastructure. Data centers contain thousands of servers built from the ground up for specific pieces of AI workloads. A single training server contains a central processing unit (CPU) that’s nearly as powerful as a computer’s, and dozens of specialized graphics processing units (GPUs) or tensor processing units (TPUs), microchips designed to speed up the vast amounts of simple calculations that make up AI models. When you use the chatbot, you watch it spit out answers word for word, powered by powerful GPUs that consume about a quarter of the power it takes to boil a kettle. All of this is hosted in a data center, whether owned by the AI provider itself or a third party. In the latter case, it’s sometimes called “the cloud,” a fancy name for someone else’s computer.

SemiAnalysis estimates that if generative AI were integrated into every Google search, it could consume 29.2 TWh of energy per year, roughly the annual consumption of Ireland, which would be prohibitively financial for the tech company, sparking speculation that Google may start charging for some of its AI tools. But some argue that focusing on the energy overhead of AI is the wrong way to think about it. Instead, think about the energy that new tools can save. A provocative paper published in Nature’s peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports earlier this year argued that AI creates a smaller carbon footprint when writing or illustrating text than humans. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine estimate that AI systems emit “130 to 1,500 times” less carbon dioxide per page of text than a human writer, and up to 2,900 times less carbon dioxide per image. Of course, there’s no word on what human authors and illustrators will do instead: redirect and retrain their workforce in other areas, e.g. Green Jobs – It could be another moonshot.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Is Nvidia’s $1 trillion valuation sustainable, or is Apple poised to take the crown?

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

EEveryone wants to be like Apple. The world’s largest publicly traded company, with a flagship product that prints money, a cultural footprint that has reached world-historical significance, and the Ford of the 21st century.

At a surface level, it’s clear which companies get hammered in this comparison. If you send out a well-crafted, smartly designed home appliance in a nice box, someone somewhere will compare you to the Cupertino giant.

Digging a little deeper allows for more meaningful comparisons. Apple isn’t just defined by its style, it’s also defined by its focus. A small number of computers, phones, and tablets in a small number of configurations account for most of the revenue.

That focus has allowed the company to develop a reputation for quality. Of course, it also contributed to its formidable media strategy, making every product launch an industry event in a way that few have been able to imitate before. This is what I was thinking nearly a decade ago when I referred to gaming giant Blizzard, creator of World of Warcraft and Diablo, as “his Apple of gaming.” (Now owned by Microsoft and plagued by allegations of misconduct, Blizzard’s star has since fallen.)

But there’s something else that makes Apple what it is today, and it’s difficult for startups to imitate. The Apple they see is just the latest evolution of a company that was an industry giant before the latest generation of founders were born. The Apple II, Mac, and iMac all shaped computing for 25 years before the iPod turned Apple into a consumer electronics company. And the iPod gave Apple another decade of growth and sophistication, until the iPhone came along and created the behemoth it is today.

Now let’s talk about Nvidia.

$1 trillion is not cool

…

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bovine cell-infused rice may offer a sustainable dietary option

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Rice and beef finally come together

Yonsei University

It's the ultimate fusion food. Two key ingredients come together in a lab-created hybrid format for ready-to-eat rice and beef meals.

A number of research groups and companies are developing meat products grown from cells in the laboratory to address issues such as the heavy environmental impact of animal agriculture.

Rather than coaxing animal cells to grow into large structures that replicate the texture of meat (which has proven difficult) Hong Jin-ki Doctors from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, wanted to create a “new complete food” by fusing rice grains with cultured animal cells.

They first coated the rice grains with fish gelatin so that the cow muscle cells could attach to the rice grains, and then allowed the cells to grow throughout the rice grains for about five to seven days. The rice was then placed in a culture medium to encourage the growth of bovine cells within the grain.

The resulting beef-rice hybrid can be boiled or steamed just like regular rice. Hong said its texture is harder, more brittle and less sticky than regular rice, and it has a nutty taste.

“It's not like beef in the traditional sense, but it offers a new gastronomic experience that combines the familiarity of rice with the richness of meat's flavor,” he says.

Researchers found that hybrid rice contained 7% more protein and 8% more fat than regular rice. Researchers estimate that beef production releases about 50 kilograms of carbon dioxide per 100 grams of protein, compared to about 6 kilograms of carbon dioxide released per 100 grams of protein.

Hong said that unlike other types of cultured meat, all the ingredients used to make beef rice are well-known, cheap and highly nutritious. Additionally, this process does not involve genetic modification.

“These benefits…offer a more sustainable way to produce meat, reduce the environmental footprint associated with traditional livestock farming, and create new food sources that can meet the growing global demand for protein. We provide that,” Hong said.

“Not only is it a great gimmick, but it can also be very useful,” he says. Johannes Le Coutre at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. “The key is whether these products can be scaled up. The challenge is growing meat cells on rice at scale.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Cloudline, supported by Schmidt Futures, secures $6 million to promote aviation autonomy for a sustainable future.

Posted on December 21, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

South African aerospace startup Cloudline is aiming to lead the global frontier of carbon-free autonomous flight and has secured $6 million in funding. The funding comes from supporters including philanthropic venture Schmidt Futures, founded by former Google CEOs Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt. Other supporters include Pan-African Funds such as Raba Partnership, Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, and 4Di, as well as other venture companies.

The founder and CEO of Cloudline, Spencer Horne, originally intended to build a transportation system that would use lighter-than-air unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver large payloads and connect isolated communities to global supply chains. His interest in the Moonshot project stems from his childhood fascination with trains and passion for transportation technology, particularly aviation.

After spending time at McKinsey and establishing a professional network, Horne returned to Africa to contribute to the field of aeronautics. In 2016, he founded Cloudline at the intersection of technology, transportation, and community impact. The company has since developed an autonomous airship that provides a cost-effective alternative to drones, helicopters, and satellites for real-time data collection in hard-to-reach locations.

Cloudline’s airships can travel more than 400 km with a full payload of 40 kg and fly for up to 10 hours using helium gas and solar power, producing zero emissions and significantly reducing operating costs. The company also combines various sensor data in a single flight, offering solutions for utilities, conservation efforts, and more.

The company has seen a significant increase in revenue and is expected to experience substantial growth in the coming years after signing multi-million dollar enterprise deals. The first-mover advantage and integration of software and hardware give Cloudline a strong market position, particularly in development for the African continent’s specific needs.

Source: techcrunch.com

Transforming Cardboard Waste into Sustainable Foam: The Packaging Revolutionized

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

This cardboard-based foam reinforced with gelatin has the potential to make packaging materials more sustainable.Credit: Gou Jingsheng

Eco-friendly cushion foam made from recycled cardboard provides a stronger, more insulating alternative to traditional packaging materials, providing a sustainable solution for the shipping industry.

The holiday season is in full swing and gifts of all shapes and sizes are being shipped all over the world. However, all packaging generates large amounts of waste, including cardboard boxes and plastic-based foam cushioning such as his Styrofoam™. Rather than throw those boxes away, researchers ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering We developed cushion foam from cardboard waste. Their upcycled material was stronger and more insulating than traditional plastic foam-based cushions.

Turn common household waste into eco-friendly materials

Out of all the types of trash that accumulate in your home, paper waste is one of the most common. Especially as internet shopping has exploded in popularity, everything from newspapers and junk mail to cardboard envelopes and boxes can end up piling up. Researchers are interested in turning these containers and paper scraps into something else useful: durable, lightweight mail.

Today, molded cushioning materials such as Styrofoam are typically used to securely fit electronics and toys inside boxes. Lightweight cellulose aerogels are a possible sustainable alternative, but current methods of producing aerogels from waste paper require several chemical pretreatment steps. So Jinsheng Gou and colleagues wanted to find an easier way to create a waste paper-based foam material that could withstand even the toughest deliveries.

Innovative cardboard-based foam for added protection

To create the foam, the team crushed cardboard scraps in a blender to create a pulp, which they mixed with either gelatin or polyvinyl acetate (PVA) adhesive. The mixture was poured into molds, refrigerated, and then freeze-dried to form cushioning foam. Both paper-based foams acted as excellent insulators and strong energy absorbers, even better than some plastic foams.

The team then created a durable version of the wastepaper foam by combining pulp, gelatin, PVA adhesive, and a silica-based liquid that hardens when force is applied. This version’s cardboard-based foam withstood hammer impact without shattering. The results suggest that the foam could be used for deliveries that require force, such as airdrops without a parachute.

The researchers say their work provides a simple and efficient way to upcycle cardboard to create more environmentally friendly packaging materials.

Reference: “Biodegradable waste paper-based foam with ultra-high energy absorption, good insulation and good cushioning properties” Bin Zhang, Wenxuan Tao, Ziming Ren, Shiqi Yue, Jinsheng Gou, November 28, 2023 Day, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering.
DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c06230

The authors acknowledge funding from the Beijing Key Research Institute of Wood Science and Engineering.

Source: scitechdaily.com

Sustainable Scaling Strategies are Essential for Startups

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

Baris Guzel He is an engineer with experience working at top investment banks and venture capital firms.he is a partner of BMW i VenturesAs a director and observer, he led investments and supported many companies.

brian way I am an associate of BMW i Venturesfocuses on early-to-growth stage investments in B2B applications and infrastructure software, industrial automation, mobility, and sustainability. Prior to joining BMW i Ventures, Brian was a strategy consultant at his KPMG Strategy.

Until recently, many Startups have prioritized growth at all costs, disregarding profitability and sustainability to acquire users and leverage deep venture capital to dominate markets. However, recent market conditions have shifted towards ‘lean growth’, which balances growth and profitability and creates a path to sustainable scale-up.

As investors, we focus on identifying efficient growth in a company’s early stages. What are the early indicators of long-term success and efficient growth of a startup? To find the answer to this question, we use a variety of analyses, some of which we will discuss in this article .

As investors, we leverage cohort analysis to uncover the mechanisms of growth, retention, and sales efficiency.

Given the different ways LTV can be calculated, the lack of steady-state churn data, and the estimates of LTV/CAC calculations, it’s possible that we don’t know the true meaning of what drives customer acquisition and retention for businesses. There is a gender. Given the shortcomings of LTV/CAC calculations, we suggest using cohort analysis to plot how long it takes to recoup the initial sales and marketing spend to acquire each cohort .

The flaws in using LTV/CAC — why use cohorts to measure sales efficiency?

Before getting into the analysis, I would like to explain why commonly used metrics can be misleading. Investors often evaluate a company’s go-to-market engine by its LTV/CAC (lifetime value/customer acquisition cost) metric, but this metric is not important for early-stage companies for several reasons. This often happens.

There are too many ways to calculate LTV.
Churn rates are not stable enough to accurately predict a customer’s lifetime. As an early-stage company, your customer churn rate will fluctuate as you pursue product-market fit. If the product improves over time by adding features that address customer needs, we would expect the churn rate to decrease. Despite product improvements, there are external factors beyond a company’s control, such as macro headwinds, that can drive higher churn rates.
There is a time discrepancy in this ratio. LTV/CAC relates today’s sales and marketing spend to a customer’s future discounted cash flows, which are essentially estimates. For example, using metrics collected during the COVID-19 outbreak to predict the future may result in inaccurate predictions.

What is a cohort? Why is it important?

Cohort analysis is a method of evaluating a business by classifying customers into groups (cohorts) from different points of acquisition and observing how they behave over a defined period of time. Tracked behaviors include the number of orders placed, amount spent, and number of features used over a period of time.

This analysis can be applied to various business models such as SaaS, FinTech, and even marketplaces (at the time, we used this analysis to conduct our analysis) ride-hailing company).Cohort analysis is valuable in looking at specific variables over time This allows you to understand the business story regarding revenue, acquisition costs, and churn within a single cohort and across cohorts.

Here’s how we conducted the analysis:

Source: techcrunch.com

Metafuels invests $8 million in sustainable aviation fuel industry

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

meta fuel aims to change the landscape of sustainable jet fuel and has just received an $8 million suitcase from local ZRH baggage carousel 3. Ah, Zurich. The company is literally turning the skies green with a new fuel called Aerobrew. Sure, it might sound like a French press, or even a boomerang, but the company has a few tricks up its sleeve, and it’s a sustainable aircraft made using renewable electricity. We are creating fuel, or eSAF.

The company is focusing on jet fuel as its main product and has purchased tickets to produce jet fuel that complies with aviation standards. That’s a tall order. Fuels must operate in all kinds of harsh environments. From the freezing cold of the highlands and blues to the sweltering heat of the Houston runways and everything in between.

“From fuel handling on the ground to combustion performance at high altitude, operational safety is paramount,” said Leigh Hackett, co-founder and CCO of Metafuels.

The company aims to produce a viable 100% synthetic jet fuel alternative by 2030, which will seamlessly integrate into existing global renewable energy systems and replace traditional fossil fuel supplies. The company claims to offer energy solutions that operate outside the chain. Competitors in this space include LanzaJet.

The new $8 million investment is a major boost to Metafuels’ ambitious plans. The company sees rising costs of conventional fuels, impending environmental taxes and increased stakeholder pressure for sustainability as factors that will offset ISAF’s initial production costs. This round was led by energy impact partner and contrarian venture.

Metafuels’ eSAF technology uses a process developed to convert green methanol to eSAF, enabling a seamless transition from fossil-based kerosene. Methanol is hydrogen (H₂) and provide sustainable carbon dioxide. green H₂ Can be produced from water electrolysis and CO using renewable electricity₂ In the short term, it can be captured from biological sources such as waste and residues. The long term plan is to start direct air capture, which seems nice and poetic to me. It captures gas, puts it into an airplane, flies it through the air, and puts it back into the air.

It could be an interesting stepping stone before battery- or hydrogen-powered planes really take off — the magic of Metafuels’ Aerobrew is that it can fuel aircraft without modification, the company says.

“Once we get past the building blocks of choosing sustainably sourced carbon and hydrogen, we move on to the relatively simple but breakthrough technology of converting those ingredients into jet fuel.” Metafuels Saurabh Kapoor, CEO and Co-Founder of “And because this is a type of kerosene, we can use the same pipelines, infrastructure, storage, transportation and aircraft.”

Source: techcrunch.com

First sustainable aviation fuel-powered long-distance flight takes off

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Igor Mitreski

LONDON — On Tuesday, the first transatlantic flight fueled entirely by sustainable aviation fuel departed from London to New York, as the industry aims to demonstrate the viability of eco-friendly air travel.

Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787s use a blend of 88% waste fat from AirBP and 12% synthetic aromatic kerosene made from plant sugars.

According to Flightradar24 data, the test flight VIR100, which had no paying passengers, took off from London Heathrow Airport at 11:49 a.m. UK time (6:49 a.m. ET) and landed at New York JFK Airport, scheduled to arrive shortly before 2 p.m. Eastern time.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a general term for non-fossil-based fuels, including biofuels derived from plant and animal raw materials, municipal waste, and agricultural residues.

While emissions still occur, advocates argue that the overall “lifecycle emissions” from this fuel are significantly lower than those from regular petroleum-based fuels.

Other airlines Have you ever used SAF? It can be used on commercial flights, but usually on short-haul flights, mixed with up to 50% of conventional fuel, which was previously regulated. Tuesday’s Virgin Atlantic flight was approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority earlier this month.

In 2021, a group of 60 companies in the aviation, transportation, and cargo industries pledged to reach 10% of SAF usage in global jet aviation fuel supply by 2030.

The advantage of SAF is that it can be used without modification of existing aircraft engines. Many airlines pledged to make investments to increase their fuel usage as they strive to reduce overall emissions during flight, including by using more fuel-efficient aircraft.

However, many challenges remain before widespread adoption, including supply shortages, high costs, and concerns about the sustainability of power generation.

There are relatively few factories producing SAF or companies shipping SAF around the world. Incentives for producers are hampered by low profits, and the Royal Society warned in a report earlier this year that only some biofuels are low carbon and feedstock availability is a challenge for scale-up.

Several groups discuss how increased production of biofuels risks exacerbating deforestation and food shortages. They argue that reducing the environmental impact of aviation, which contributes to around 2% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, requires reducing the number of flights operated.

Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss stated that the flight demonstrated that SAF could be used as a “safe drop-in replacement for fossil-based jet fuel, helping to decarbonize long-haul aviation” and that it would prove to be the only viable solution. “SAF is simply in short supply, and it is clear that significant further investment will be required to reach large-scale production. This will only happen if the facilities are in place,” he added.

Source: www.nbcnews.com