Sustainability as a research area investigates the biophysical, technological, and socio-economic conditions under which human and ecological systems can persist within planetary boundaries over the long term. It integrates methods from environmental science, systems ecology, industrial ecology, economics, and social sciences to analyze resource flows, environmental impacts, resilience, and equity. Core topics include sustainable resource management, climate and energy transitions, circular economy strategies, life cycle assessment, and governance mechanisms that align development with ecological limits. Research emphasizes quantitative indicators, scenario modeling, and policy-relevant frameworks to evaluate pathways that minimize degradation of natural systems while maintaining human well-being.
The quality of recycled plastic tends to be higher when the waste is pre-sorted by households compared with plastics recovered from mixed waste at a recycling facility in the Netherlands, research in Nature suggests. While ...
Environment
Jun 4, 2026
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Food waste is a nagging problem that weighs heavily on global food production, distribution and sales industries—but an emerging generation of AI sensors is providing a raft of fresh solutions. The embrace of AI in food industries ...
Biotechnology
Jun 3, 2026
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By 2030, the global data centers powering artificial intelligence are projected to consume 945 terawatt-hours of electricity. This is nearly triple the combined annual electricity use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria—countries ...
Environment
Jun 3, 2026
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15
Europe's agrifood system is under severe pressure. Climate change is causing droughts and floods, and agriculture is putting pressure on nature, the climate and the environment. Diet-related lifestyle diseases are placing ...
Agriculture
Jun 2, 2026
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Among the goals it has set for 2030, the European Union aims to ensure that at least one quarter of agricultural land is farmed using organic or ecological practices. In this race, Andalusia holds a significant advantage: ...
Agriculture
Jun 2, 2026
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12
Magnets for electric cars and wind turbines contain only a small amount of the rare earth metal dysprosium. Yet, this metal is responsible for a large share of the environmental impact and costs, according to research by ...
Environment
Jun 2, 2026
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Changing market conditions are increasing the need for cost-effective ways to produce biorenewable chemicals, biofuels and materials that can serve as alternatives to oil-based products. According to Costas Maranas, Robert ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 2, 2026
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Plastics, medicines, cosmetics—there are very few everyday products that do not rely on using fossil resources. A European research team led by Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin is now aiming to revolutionize this cornerstone ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 1, 2026
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14
In early 2026, the EU extended its domestic carbon pricing to key products from beyond its borders. This is managed through the "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism" (CBAM). Exporters of polluting goods to the EU must pay ...
Environment
Jun 1, 2026
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12
The Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), in collaboration with other academic institutions, has published a new study on start-ups in the agricultural sector in the journal Progress in Economic Geography. ...
Agriculture
May 28, 2026
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