Latest Stories from Jessica
A shellfish-inspired solution could reduce textile dye pollution
Researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi have developed a new nanomaterial that can effectively clean up dyes and pollutants from wastewater. The mechanism was inspired by the systems of various shellfish, in particular, mussels. The textile industry uses 1.3 trillion gallons of water to dye garments annually. That’s enough water to fill two million Olympic-sized swimming pools. Yes, you read that right – two million. Without ignoring that this is...
Paper pins to replace traditional Remembrance Day poppies
Looking to reduce the waste produced by a commemorative day celebrated across the UK, the Royal British Legion embarked upon a three-year journey to replace the traditionally plastic poppies with upcycled paper pins. Every year in November, 45 million poppy pins are sold in Britain as the nation prepares to celebrate Remembrance Day. The design we see pinned to the lapels of businessmen, TV presenters, and football pundits annually has remained...
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is now its own ecosystem
The gigantic floating mass of ocean plastic debris has now become home to hundreds of plant and animal species. While an interesting phenomenon, it's not exactly something to celebrate. Humans have influenced the natural world for as long as we’ve existed, but only a handful of man-made inventions have impacted the planet as much as plastic. A major phenomenon created by our plastic obsession is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP)....
Parisians vote unanimously in favour of e-scooter ban
After recording hundreds of accidents and receiving complaints of congested streets, the French government asked Parisians to vote on a potential ban for rented e-scooters. The result could prompt other European cities to do the same. When they first started popping up on city streets, rentable e-scooters seemed like a great alternative to emission-heavy vehicles and crowded public transportation. The devices, which are electric and can be rented by anyone who...
Why fashion logomania is being swapped for ‘quiet luxury’
Loudly monogrammed high-fashion has reigned catwalks, red carpets, and city streets since the mid-2010s. Now, a new era of dressing in expensive garments without it being entirely obvious to the average person is emerging. How did this come about? If you’re an active participant in the fashion corner of social media, you may have spotted the words ‘quiet luxury’ weaved into viral tweets, TikToks, or Instagram tiles in recent weeks. The...
NEOM provides fresh updates on its latest luxury island project
The Saudi-based architecture firm NEOM has gotten to work on a handful of futuristic projects in recent years. Now, it’s announced new details of its plan for Shushah Island. Those involved with urban planning are now faced with major challenges in light of our mounting environmental and resource crises. Experimentation, innovation, and consideration of nature will be vital when building architectural landscapes of the future. Striving to become a kingpin in developing...
Invasive blue crabs are taking over the Mediterranean Sea
Coastal towns near the Mediterranean are grappling with an invasive sea species brought to their waters by international shipping boats. Dealing with this new inhabitant might mean serving them up on thousands of plates across Europe – if only a local appetite for them will grow. International trade is causing hundreds of animal species to find homes in parts of the world they would have never reached otherwise. This is...
England’s Lionesses get new period-conscious football kits
At tonight’s game, England’s women’s football team will sport a kit that isn’t all white for the very first time. The change comes after years of campaigning for more period-conscious sportswear. When England’s Lionesses lifted the European Cup last summer, they were kitted out in the traditional all-white ensemble also worn by the men’s team. Though their kit colour was likely the last thing on their minds during that exhilarating moment,...
UK boosts domestic air travel as EU countries move to ban it
It’s no secret that air travel is awful for the environment. Why is the UK making domestic flights cheaper and more frequent when EU countries such as the Netherlands, Austria, France, and Belgium are phasing them out? When opting for a domestic flight instead of driving or taking the train, UK travellers are taxed an air passenger duty (APD) fee of around £13. In other cases, such as long-haul flights, the...
The lucrative salmon industry is getting an overhaul
Lawmakers in key parts of the world are remodelling their approaches to salmon fishing. In one hotspot, higher taxes seek to better manage income from the salmon-farming capital of the world. On the other, a reform on fishing is looking vital to conservation as the consequences of climate change set in. If the salmon you ate for dinner last night didn’t come from Scotland, it likely came from Norway. The...
