Material Handling & Packaging Technology News & Analysis

'Space Harpoon' in Development to Help Clean up 'Space Junk'

With over 20,000 pieces (larger than the size of a softball) of space debris floating around outer space, according to a 2013 report from NASA, European company Airbus has been at work developing a “space harpoon” to help with clean-up efforts.

Adidas Sold 1 Million Pairs of Ocean Plastic Sneakers in 2017

Since introducing a shoe line that includes parts made from recycled plastic, Adidas is announcing that it sold 1 million pairs of the eco-friendly sneakers in 2017.

Scientists Develop Graphene-based Filter to Improve Drinking Water

Scientists at UNSW have developed a graphene-based, laboratory-scale filter that is capable of removing over 99 percent of the natural organic matter that lingers after the traditional treatment of drinking water.

Researchers Discover that Flash Floods Carry Significiant Amount of Microplastics from Rivers to the Sea

While looking at the impact of microplastics on U.K. waterways over the course of several years, researchers from the University of Manchester discovered that flash floods had carried a significant amount of microplastics from rivers and streams to the ocean.

Norway Using Underwater Drones to Help Clean Its Fjords

On the surface, the Oslo Fjord in Norway seems beautiful and picturesque, yet look below the surface and you’ll see that the water is teeming with garbage thanks to a government -- one of the few in the world -- that allows for the offshore dumping of waste into its fjords.

Engineers Develop More Efficient and Durable Material for Insulation

Engineers from the University of Maryland have developed a material to compete with Styrofoam™ and other insulation materials that is lighter, more durable and environmentally friendly.

Scientists Develop Inexpensive Device to Test Drinking Water for Arsenic

With World Health Organization estimates of around 140 million people having to drink water containing unsafe levels of arsenic, scientists from UCL and Imperial College London have created an affordable and easy-to-use arsenic sensor.

Krill: A Potential Weapon in Ocean Plastics Battle

With an estimated eight million tons of plastic finding its way into our oceans each year — threatening marine ecosystems and killing marine life — one researcher may have inadvertently discovered a potential weapon to combat the threat of ocean plastic pollution.

New Laser Method Can Detect Metabolic Changes in Cells

A team has developed an optical tool that has the ability to read metabolism at subcellular resolution without having to disturb the cells.

Watch: LEGO to Launch Sustainable, Plant-based Plastic Bricks

Plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane will be used in the manufacturing of leaves, bushes and trees for LEGO sets.

Fighting 'Microfiber' Pollution Begins in the Laundry Room

As concerns for microbead (the tiny plastic particles found in many a household product) pollution mount, environmental scientists are now turning their attention to another pollutant that is likely following in the microbead’s footsteps straight into the ocean.

More and More Farmers Relying on Nature to Reduce Pesticide Use

All over the world, farmers are attempting to reduce their dependence on the pesticides used to protect their crops and are instead turning to nature for assistance.

Nanotech Eliminates Need for Refrigeration in Biospecimen Transport

Using an emerging class of nanomaterials, a team of researchers has developed a low-cost technique that creates a protective shield around protein biomarkers in biospecimens destined for long-distance travel.

The Material Importance of Fit, Form and Function

The willingness to customize and the expertise to do it right, represent the value-added engineering culture at SMC.

World's First Plastic-Free Supermarket Aisle Debuts in Amsterdam

With global concern for plastic pollution mounting, a Netherlands-based grocery chain has devoted an entire aisle of its store to plastic-free goods.

Portable, Fast and Accurate Device for Soil Pathogen Testing

Detecting disease-causing pathogens in the soil that can significantly level crops requires expensive and cumbersome equipment and lab results that can take weeks to receive.

Ophthalmologists Develop Eyedrops That Could Replace Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses may soon be a thing of the past thanks to a team of ophthalmologists from Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Bar-Ilan University’s Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials that has developed eyedrops capable of repairing the cornea in addition to improving short and long sightedness.

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