Today at Squirrel News, we’re talking about how Norway has successfully managed to transform a former mining town into a polar bear paradise, the removal of almost 80,000 polluting vehicles from London’s streets, and a revolutionary clinical trial giving a second chance to those diagnosed with terminal liver disease.
Rewilding project revives Svalbard, creates a safe haven for polar bears
Norway’s most extensive rewilding endeavour to date has successfully revitalised a once-abandoned mining town, providing a new hunting ground and habitat for polar bears.
The number of highly-polluting vehicles traversing London’s streets has nearly halved following the extension of the city’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez),. This move effectively removes nearly 80,000 polluting older vehicles from the road.
Sponsored by the University of Oxford, the DeFat study is on a mission to reevaluate livers that were once considered unsuitable for the procedure – resulting in the reversal of terminal diagnoses.
An Irish startup is transforming US farmland with concrete dust
This unassuming material could hold the key to permanently sequestering up to 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with its impact currently being tested on US farmland.
The modern construction industry is built on cement, with factories and public buildings, commercial space and apartment buildings, and homes fashioned out of it. But cement production is helping destabilise the climate, and has poor durability. Bioarchitects in Mexico think they have a solution.
Textile repair centre opens in London, aims to fix 30,000 items annually by 2025
The United Repair Centre London – opened in partnership with Fashion-Enter and Patagonia – will employ individuals who face challenges finding traditional employment, training them in high-quality clothing repairs.
Eden Project launches wildflower bank to combat the UK’s biodiversity crisis
The organisation is hoping to enrich ecosystems by establishing wildflower-rich grassland habitats throughout the UK – via the creation of so-called Biodiversity Net Gain Units.
Robot doctor could be a lifesaver in high-risk scenarios
A groundbreaking development in robotics, Meditel, created by the University of Sheffield AMRC, is poised to transform casualty treatment in dangerous environments.
Eating disorder clinics are breaking down barriers for patients of colour
Historically, people of colour have faced significant disparities in receiving diagnoses and treatment for eating disorders, with only half the likelihood compared to their white counterparts – but more and more recovery centres are recognising the importance of offering tailored, culturally sensitive support.
Reviving abandoned golf courses for conservation and climate resilience
Local governments and NGOs are acquiring defunct golf courses left idle due to soaring maintenance expenses and dwindling player engagement. These once-manicured landscapes are being turned into rich ecosystems, boosting biodiversity and serve as vital barriers against climate change.
