In the news: 13th February 2014

Another look at what’s in the news this week, compiled by Nia.

Sustainability

Can you design a phone that’ll be used longer? A refrigerator that discourages food waste? Play the sustainability card game

Leyla Acaroglu tackles “environmental folklore”, aiming to make people think about how the choices they make on a daily basis affect the environment.

New Spider-Man 2 the most eco-friendly film produced by Sony Pictures

See Featurette

How sustainable has this year’s Olympic Games been?

See how Dow Chemical has helped increase the sustainability of the events in London and Sochi

Valentine’s Day ethics: how green is your red rose?

Those romantic gifts of chocolates and roses may not be as sustainable or ethical as you may think.

Energy and Technology

Scotland welcomes plan to expand Cruachan hydro power plant

Scottish Power to examine options to boost capacity of plant to 1,040MW

Sustainable nuclear fusion breakthrough raises hopes for ultimate green energy

Advances in nuclear fusion energy technology by US researchers have taken us a step closer to a sustainable clean energy source. They were able to produce more energy from fusion reactions than was put into the nuclear fuel. They did this by using “lasers to crush a minuscule amount of fuel so hard and fast that it becomes hotter than the sun”.

Plastic shopping bags make a fine diesel fuel

Researchers have found that plastic bags can be converted into diesel, natural gas and other useful petroleum products, in a reaction that produces significantly more energy than it uses up.

DECC announces £8m boost for energy storage technology

Innovative energy storage technology that promises help to balance supply and demand on the national grid has received a major boost.