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Is Glue Sustainable? Glue is a sticky topic for the eco-minded. Is it vegan? Biodegradable? The answer depends on the glue type. Generally, adhesives fall into two main camps: natural and synthetic. Humans have been using natural adhesives for millennia, but in the 20th century, synthetic glues were developed and have over time largely replaced natural adhesives. Much of this was thanks to the aircraft and aerospace industries, which required adhesives with high structural strength and resistance to fatigue and extreme conditions. These high-tech, synthetic adhesives eventually trickled down into more mundane industrial and domestic applications. Here, delve deep into the contents of glue—both natural and synthetic—to decipher which options have the lowest environmental impact, plus learn how to make your own adhesive at home. Ingredients in Synthetic Glues Synthetic adhesives like Gorilla Glue and Elmer's belong in two categories: thermoplastics and thermosets. The resins used in

What Are Rare Earth Metals? They're crucial to hybrid cars, wind turbines and many other green-tech innovations. "Rare earth" metals aren't as rare as they sound—in fact, you're probably using some right now. They're key to a variety of everyday devices, from tablet computers and TVs to hybrid cars and wind turbines, so it may be encouraging to know several kinds are actually common. Cerium, for example, is the 25th most abundant element on Earth. So why are they called "rare" earths? The name alludes to their elusive nature, since the 17 elements rarely exist in pure form. Instead, they mix diffusely with other minerals underground, making them costly to extract. And, unfortunately, that isn't their only drawback. Mining and refining rare earths makes an environmental mess, leading most countries to neglect their own reserves, even as demand soars. China has been the main exception since the early 1990s, dominating global trade with its willingn

Can Carpet Be Recycled? Environmentally Friendly Options Nearly all types of carpet can be recycled, but the process may not be as simple as putting your old carpet out for curbside recycling. Because carpet is made from so many layers of materials, including fibers and plastics, they don’t degrade easily in landfills. Many municipalities won’t even accept carpets if you toss them out with your other household trash for this exact reason. Instead, you may have to take them to a designated waste disposal site. Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), a joint industry-government non-profit whose mission is to develop carpet recycling solutions, estimates that 5 billion pounds of carpet were sent to landfills in 2017. There, they can leach toxic chemicals into the soil and groundwater and release greenhouse gases for hundreds of years until they finally degrade. Recycling carpet is a much more sustainable option. Carpet recyclers break them down into raw materials and process those material

How to Recycle Batteries As the world slowly transitions to cleaner energy, batteries are increasingly in the news. But batteries come with a perplexing twist: What to do with them once they've died? Do you find yourself with a drawer full of loose batteries that you don’t really know what to do with? Whether single-use, rechargeable, or from your vehicle, batteries are recyclable—but it's not as simple as tossing them into the curbside bin.  States have different policies regarding battery disposal. California, for example, considers discarded batteries as hazardous waste, making them illegal to throw into the trash. The state has plenty of resources for ways to safely dispose of batteries, however, from local drop-off centers to mail-in services. In San Francisco, residents who live in single-family homes or small multifamily buildings can put loose household batteries inside a tightly sealed plastic bag, and place them on top of their closed landfill bin, while larger apartm

Blue Hydrogen Study Finds It Isn't Climate-Friendly, Igniting Fierce Debate Over Emissions A recent study casts doubt on the green credentials of so-called “blue hydrogen” and it has caused a stir in the scientific community. Blue hydrogen, a purportedly green fuel that is typically extracted from natural gas, has long been touted as a climate solution but a controversial peer-reviewed study released last week argues its production is linked to high greenhouse gas emissions. Robert Howarth, a professor of ecology and environmental biology at Cornell University, and Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford, say that when compared to burning coal and natural gas to produce heat, blue hydrogen produces 20% more emissions. Hydrogen itself is considered a clean fuel because it can be used to produce energy or heat without releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, other than water vapor. Many researchers have long argued that blue hydrogen shoul

Why We're Stuck on a Particular Side of the Bed Some habits are harder to break than others; in this case, resistance is futile. In sustainability circles, the concept of habits comes up a lot. Usually, it is in the context of changing the unsustainable ones, like breaking up with single-use water bottles or ditching coffee pods for more eco-friendly options. Understanding one's habits in general can be an important part of becoming more sustainable. So, let's look at one of life's more enduring habits: what side of the bed you sleep on. While this may not have a sustainability side, so to speak, the psychology of habits is fascinating and can play a big role in one's personal carbon footprint. In terms of bed sides, no matter how hard you might try to change it up, maybe even switching sides every other night, you eventually pick a side—and stick with it. And why not? You've got everything just right on your side of the bed. The night lamp, for instance, has be

The Main Thing Killing Birds Near Power Lines Isn't Electrocution Illegal shooting, not electrocution, is now the leading cause of death for birds found along power lines. In an oft-cited study published in 2019, a team of researchers reported net population losses of some three billion birds across North America since 1970. Calling it a “staggering decline of bird populations,” the researchers cited “habitat loss, climate change, unregulated harvest, and other forms of human-caused mortality” as the causes of this biodiversity crisis. Those other forms of “human-caused mortality” are grim and frustratingly senseless. Up to three billion birds a year die from outdoor cats, and another one billion from colliding with glass. (Despite the narrative of fossil-fuel-aligned pundits, wind turbines account for deaths in the hundreds of thousands each year—which is still way too many, but it is not the leading cause of death, by far.) Another one of those anthropogenic causes is power lines

Dazzling Macro Photographs Reveal the Magic of Tiny Fungi and Slime Molds Special photography techniques capture the magic and beauty of these tiny organisms Fungi are widely misunderstood and often under-appreciated, yet they are a crucial component of the planet's ecosystems. Though they may sometimes look bizarre and otherworldly to us, they are nevertheless unparalleled experts at breaking down organic matter and according to some experts, their latent superpowers may potentially even save the world. Aiming to raise awareness and appreciation of the smallest of fungi, and also mysterious slime molds (also called a variety of monikers like Myxogastria and Myxomycetes), American photographer Alison Pollack uses special techniques to capture the magic and beauty of these tiny organisms. As Pollack explains: "These may look big in the photo, but they are really tiny, barely visible to the naked eye, each less than one millimeter tall. To photograph such tiny fungi with high ma

World's Best Web Hosting & Domain Name Providers Web Hosting and Domain Name both are important points to consider when we are going to start our new blog or website. When we are going to choose our Web Hosting Provider, it is must to keep in mind that which type of blog or website we are going to start, considering business plan website or personal blog we should check our priorities and requirements for Web-host, Cloud-hosting, Private-cloud, Shared hosting, VPS hosting, Dedicated hosting and WordPress hosting, etc. It is also good to know that what type of servers are Hosting Company providing i.e. Linux or Windows Servers. Based on it, you will need to look for a Linux hosting or Windows hosting. One should also note that Hosting providers must have good bandwidth options and best customer support. Considering all these points we are sharing here Top and Best Web Hosting providers in India as well as all over in the world: 1. MilesWeb (My Rating: 5/5 Stars):  MilesWeb is a

Here's a Wild Reason To Watch More TV Researchers find that watching nature documentaries makes people more interested in plants—a potential boon for counteracting the staggering loss of plant biodiversity. Chances are you can name a few animals that are facing extinction. But what about plants? With some 40% of plant species under threat of extinction—and given humankind's reliance on the plant world—one might think there'd be more urgency around protecting them. Yet in the United States, for example, plants receive less than 4% of federal funding for endangered species, despite comprising 57% of the endangered species list. Alas, much of humanity suffers from “plant blindness." Defined by botanists Elisabeth Schussler and James Wandersee, plant blindness is "the inability to see or notice the plants in one's own environment," which leads to "the inability to recognize the importance of plants in the biosphere and in human affairs." Given the c

Best Beginning Projects for 3D Printing Novices The popularity of 3D printing continues to rise without any indication of slowing down anytime soon. However, learning the ropes can sour your aspirations if you bite off more than you can chew, so try one of the best beginning projects for 3D printing novices first. Organizational Tools For many individuals, the primary reason for purchasing a 3D printer is for practical purposes. While its unmatched potential is enticing, some folks may only want to make something to hold their drill bits and measure their screws when working in the garage. Organizing these items gives many a sense of relief when they don’t have to scour through their toolbox to find the exact piece they’re looking for. A 3D printer can make these organizational tools with ease. Another way you can use a 3D printer to stay organized is by creating a cable accessories holder. We all are guilty of jamming any plug that can fit into an adapter without much care. If you kee