Conventional insecticides not only kill pests, they also endanger bees and other beneficial insects, as well as affecting biodiversity in soils, lakes, rivers and seas. A team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now developed an alternative: A biodegradable agent that keeps pests at bay without poisoning them. read...
The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg (ifeu) is taking part in the e-For-Fuel research and innovation action. The project wants to provide a sustainable replacement of fossil fuels by using electricity and microorganisms to convert CO2 into renewable fuels. read...
Plastic nanoparticles — tiny pieces of plastic less than one micrometre in size — could potentially contaminate food chains, and ultimately affect human health, according to a recent study by scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS). They discovered that nanoplastics are easily ingested by marine organisms, and they accumulate in the organisms over time, with a risk of being transferred up the food chain, threatening food safety and posing health risks. read...
Scientists at the University of Würzburg have chemically modified the enzyme levansucrase using a new method. The enzyme can now produce sugar polymers that are interesting for applications in the food industry and medicine. read...
