Category: Peraffect

Phytoremediation uses plants to clean up toxic pollutants. Maria Sotenko, Loughborough University Solving environmental problems usually just means cleaning up the mess people have made. But scientists are increasingly interested in creating something valuable from pollution. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, as they say, and researchers have now demonstrated several ways that useful products can be obtained from waste in industry and agriculture while also remediating contaminated soil, water and air. Air pollution One environmental problem scientists are … Continue reading “Wealth from waste – three ways pollution can be turned into something useful”

Vanessa Brown, Nottingham Trent University Have you heard maximalism is in and minimalism is out? Rooms bursting at the seams with clashing florals, colourful furniture and innumerable knick-knacks, this is what defines the new interiors trend cluttercore (or bricabracomania). Some say it’s a war between generation Z (born 1997-2012) and minimal millennials (born 1981-1996), symptomatic of bigger differences. Others say it’s a pandemic response, where our domestic prisons became cuddly cocoons, stimulating our senses, connecting us with other people and … Continue reading “Cluttercore: Gen Z’s revolt against millennial minimalism is grounded in Victorian excess”

The soil you use for your roses may contain something sinister. Stephen Hughes, Anglia Ruskin University Many people see gardening as a relaxing pastime – an easygoing way to spend hours outdoors when the weather’s nice. But as a consultant in emergency medicine, I deal with all manner of medical emergencies and injuries arising from what may appear to be a harmless hobby. Over the years, I have seen hand wounds from cutting implements and foot wounds from lawn mowers … Continue reading “Four dangers lurking in your garden – and how to protect yourself”

By getting to know your neighbors and investing in your community, you can make your neighborhood safer. Ishita Chordia, University of Washington A series of gunshots fired late at night in East Atlanta recently prompted my neighbor to post on our local Facebook group, asking what we can do as a community to make it less dangerous to live and work in the area. You may be asking yourself the same question. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, cities … Continue reading “Four strategies to make your neighborhood safer”