Description
Added on the 21/10/2019 00:00:00 - Copyright : France 24 EN
This creepy crawly insect is called a wax worm and, believe it or not, this little guy may just be the answer to global pollution. Footage provided courtesy of the Spanish National Research Council shows a brilliant new discovery made by researcher Federica Bertocchini. She discovered that wax worms are capable of eating through polyethylene plastic. The researcher demonstrated her discovery at a laboratory in Madrid on Wednesday. Although polyethylene is one of the world's most resistant forms of plastic, the worms can destroy the material by munching their way through it. According to the researcher, 100 worms can biodegrade up to 92 milligrams of polyethylene in just one night. That might not seem like much, but what if we multiply that by a thousand? Or even a million? The discovery is touted as the first all-natural solution to the disposal of the dangerous and wasteful material worldwide. Wax worms are now seen as the best way to biodegrade plastic without causing more harmful effects to nature. Polyethylene plastic, the material used to make plastic bags, is very durable. That's why we use it so often. The problem is that polyethylene is not biodegradable, which means that it stays in the environment for hundreds of years after being thrown away. It can cause all sorts of problems for wild animals and the natural environment in general. That's why this new discovery has the potential to help us clean up our act and restore areas like landfills and other areas polluted with plastic.
Honda is showcasing its evolving approach to more sustainable product design with the European premiere of its latest electrified urban vehicle concepts – the SUSTAINA-C Concept car and Pocket Concept motorcycle – at Milan Design Week from 16-21 April.Both will star alongside the SH125i ‘Vetro’ scooter to demonstrate the innovative material use and unique design aesthetics that can be created while reducing the CO2 emissions arising from the manufacturing process at Honda Italia Industriale’s factory in Atessa, Italy. This is one way in which Honda is pursuing its target of achieving carbon neutrality across all products and corporate activities by 2050.As first shown at the 2024 Japan Mobility Show, the SUSTAINA-C Concept explores how society could be freed from the constraints of finite resources. It comes paired with the Pocket Concept, a compact motorcycle that can be stored in the luggage compartment and provide last mile mobility.The panels are manufactured using recycled acrylic resin sourced from second-hand taillights to create exterior panels that do not require painting, allowing Honda to create a unique, unpainted finish that would not be possible with traditional materials. This material approach could reduce emissions during production by up to 45 per cent – partly via the recycled materials in use, but also in leaving the panels unpainted, which can account for as much as 80 per cent of the CO2 emissions from an automobile factory.The model on show in Milan features a black and white marble effect, achieved by mixing colours with different melting points into the panels as they are moulded – leaving a marbling behind as the material settles into the mould.
Škoda Auto presents the second generation of the Kodiaq, taking sustainability, spaciousness and safety to a new level. The Czech car manufacturer’s SUV flagship has seen its dimensions increased once again and now features the first elements of the Modern Solid design language. The all-new Kodiaq comes with state-of-the-art infotainment systems, including an optional 13-inch screen and a head‑up display. Innovative Škoda Smart Dials with haptic controls and a 10-inch Virtual Cockpit come as standard. The voice control system will from mid-2024 onwards become even more advanced with the integration of the AI-based chatbot ChatGPT. Škoda’s large SUV also adopts a new interior concept based on Design Selections. The five powertrains offer outputs from 110 kW (150 hp) to 150 kW (204 hp) and are always mated to a DSG automatic transmission. The powertrain line-up now also includes a plug in hybrid version with an electric range of more than 100 kilometres and an entry-level mild-hybrid powertrain. The two top engines are combined with all-wheel drive as standard. Also making their debuts are the latest generations of the LED Matrix beam headlights with a significantly higher light output and the Dynamic Chassis Control system (DCC Plus).
The 2024 Michelin Guide has awarded a third star to Jerome Banctel's restaurant Le Gabriel in Paris and, in a rare move, three stars in one go for the reopening of La Table du Castellet in south-east France, led by 35-year-old chef Fabien Ferre. IMAGES
The OPEC oil cartel says there is no "single solution" to the energy transition as pressure grows to agree a phase-out of fossil fuels at the COP28 climate talks. "There is no single solution or path to achieve a sustainable energy future," said a speech by OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais to the Dubai summit read on his behalf by the head of the cartel's research division, Ayed al-Qahtani. SOUNDBITE
"Stellantis Spotlight" is a weekly recap of some of the major stories at Stellantis. The top stories for the week ending November 3, 2023, include an AI-based vehicle safety technology for commercial fleet customers, an innovative residential property geared toward urban living and sustainable mobility and new products from Direct Connection.
|
Support : Technical 
- Content 
- Editors 
