While the concept of storing thermal energy in molten salt has been around for decades, a new approach - from one of Google's sister companies - combines hot energy with cold to create a temperature difference that can be utilised to generate power. Read on

From the year 2021, straws, plates and other disposable plastic products will be banned in the EU. Is this a real declaration of war against the flood of one-use plastics or just a distraction from the lack of any truly effective policies? Read on

More and more devices are becoming part of the so-called Internet of Things. Now, a leading connectivity firm has added rhinoceroses to that list. Read on

Most disposable coffee cups contain a lot of plastic and are a challenge to recycle. TrioCup's design uses origami to replace all those plastic lids with cleverly-folded, recyclable card. Read on

Plastic plates and other single-use plastics will soon be banned in the EU. Environmentally-friendly alternatives, such as these plates made of wheat bran however, have been around for a long time. Read on

At the COP24 climate conference in Katowice, Poland this month, decision-makers from around the world came together to draw up concrete guidelines for achieving the Paris Agreement. And while there was success on that front, for now at least, the spirit of the Paris Agreement seems to have run out of steam. Read on

While we need pollinators to help germinate the things we like to eat, they actually don’t need us. Insects were doing just fine for thousands of years without humanity in their way - but now, with their numbers in decline, the search is on to find new ways of protecting them and their vital ecosystems. Read on

Having dominated the high seas for centuries, the humble sail could be making a return - although not quite as you remember it. Read on

The quest to harness energy from the ebbing tides and rolling waves has another major contend Read on