Cosmetics often use unsustainable ingredients, but new research is answering the growing demand for eco-friendly products. By TOM CASSAUWERS ‘Plant ingredients have always been used in cosmetics,’ said Heiko Rischer, head of plant biotechnology at VTT, a Finnish research centre. ‘But in recent years, there’s been a revived interest in plant-based compounds. Consumers are interested in … Read more
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and its diagnosis – and treatment – can take a toll on emotional and mental health. By ANTHONY KING At a hotel in the Scottish city of Aberdeen about 20 years ago, urologist James N’Dow and other doctors met a group of men who had suffered … Read more
In the Tuscan Archipelago, the seagrass meadows capture carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests. The underwater flowering plants have the potential to be an essential tool in the fight against climate change but are vulnerable to disturbance from human activities such as tourism and fishing. Coordinated from Cork, Ireland, the four-year Marine SABRES … Read more
More sophisticated robots are on the way, accelerating a drive to ensure they help workers rather than take their place. By GARETH WILLMER For decades, the arrival of robots in the workplace has been a source of public anxiety over fears that they will replace workers and create unemployment. Now that more sophisticated and humanoid … Read more
QR codes on milk cartons could be used to provide consumers with detailed information on the care and wellbeing of farm animals reared as livestock. By ALI JONES A simple QR code printed on the packaging could mean a carton of milk might one day offer a window onto the health and welfare of the cows … Read more
Climate adaptation requires communities to plan ahead for the unavoidable changes coming our way not just immediately but decades from now. By SARAH WILD In the freezing reaches of Greenland, fissures in the ice sheet mark the battle lines in the fight against climate change. Greenhouse gases (GHG) are driving up global temperatures, melting the ice … Read more