Some types of bacteria show the potential to act as self-healing agents in concrete, according to a recent study. This could make the construction material more durable and therefore more sustainable.

New pest management strategies may be needed in landscapes where certain types of GM crop are grown, according to recent research. The study found that GM cotton grown in China, designed to resist insect attack, has had an unintended consequence: reduced insecticide use has allowed outbreaks of non-target organisms to infest crops across the agricultural landscape and emerge as new pests.

Synthetic biology (SB) is the design of new biological parts or systems. It could be influential in finding solutions to environmental challenges, but there are also concerns it could be hazardous. A new study has investigated the issues surrounding the application of SB and suggested policy strategies to oversee this area.

Research from the UK and the Netherlands suggests that applying a new risk analysis approach for GM food products could improve the chances of the products being accepted by the public. The approach considers benefits as well as risks.

Synthetic biology has the potential to address global issues, such as clean energy and affordable vaccines, but it also carries potential risks. Policy makers are currently faced with the challenge of regulating this emerging science and a new US report has made recommendations for minimising risks without restricting progress based on five ethical principles.

Risk assessments of potential bird mortality caused by planned wind farms should be assessed at the scale of the individual turbine rather than the whole farm, according to new research. It indicated that risk assessments made prior to building are not predicting the actual level of mortality when the farm is built.

People are more willing to buy genetically modified (GM) foods than they may admit to, according to a new study. The study found a substantial difference between the number of people who said they would buy GM foods when surveyed and the number who actually bought GM labelled products at fruit stalls.

Although methods to assess the impact of genetically modified (GM) crops on terrestrial ecosystems are well defined, impacts on aquatic ecosystems have received less attention. A recent study has shown how the first step of an Environmental Risk Assessment could be applied in an aquatic environment, to assess the exposure of aquatic organisms to proteins in GM crops, using Bt maize as a case study.

Preserving biodiversity seems to reduce the emergence and spread of human diseases in many cases, according to an investigation into the links between biodiversity and human health. It concludes that there is mounting evidence indicating that preserving ecosystems in their natural state generally decreases the occurrence of infectious diseases.

It is increasingly evident that human health is closely linked to the environment, and to biodiversity. A study commissioned by the European Commission summarises the many and varied ways in which disturbances to biodiversity affect the spread of human diseases.

Growing demand for biorenewable chemicals could lead to conflicts with food production and unwanted environmental impacts. Against this context, this study investigated different types of feedstock and conversion technologies. The authors recommend use of only non-edible feedstock alongside green and carbon neutral conversion technologies, such as algal fermentation.

How can we better anticipate environmental changes? In our rapidly changing world, risks occur from ongoing changes (such as those occurring in the climate), to more sudden-onset risks, such as mutating microbial pathogens. This Future Brief explores some of the tools and approaches that can be used to identify emerging risk, including strategic foresight tools, citizen science and state-of-the-art monitoring technologies.

Assessments of the effects on organisms likely to come into contact with genetically modified (GM) plants have been reviewed in a recent study. The researchers say such assessments help to understand the potential ecological impacts within the environment and are an important part of the risk assessments for GM plants.

One of the greatest challenges facing today’s environmental policymakers is how to deal with complex risks, such as those associated with climate change. These risks are difficult to deal with because they are not precisely calculable in advance. Where there is scientific uncertainty about the full extent of possible harms but ‘doing nothing’ is also risky, decision-makers may use the precautionary principle. This Future Brief explores the role of the precautionary principle in EU law and policy, and examines key points of discussion drawn from the evidence.

Although nanomaterials are already in widespread use, their risk to the environment is not completely understood. Researchers in the US have developed a next-generation risk-assessment model to better understand nanomaterials’ environmental impact. Applied to the San Francisco Bay area, the model predicted that even soluble nanomaterials could accumulate at toxic levels.

The chemical 1,4-dioxane, a solvent suspected of causing cancer, is very difficult to clean up once it enters the environment. However, hope is offered by recent scientific developments that use plants, bacteria and fungi to decontaminate water resources. Scientists provided a round-up of these 1,4-dioxane bioremediation techniques in a recent analysis.

High-throughput ‘omics’ technologies, which allow exact and synchronised study of thousands of DNA, RNA, proteins and other molecules, are rapidly becoming more advanced and affordable. As these technologies develop, it is becoming quicker, easier and more affordable to generate unprecedented amounts of biological data, much of which could usefully inform environmental management. So far, however, the application of omics information in environmental management has failed to keep pace with the rapid development of omics-based research, meaning there is untapped potential. A recent study highlights the value of bringing omics information into environmental management and outlines practical ways in which omics can contribute to the risk assessment and management of chemicals.

There’s a growing phenomenon in CIOs’ lives, and it’s called Shadow IT: other departments like finance and marketing bypassing the IT department and buying their own technology.

It’s no longer enough to follow cybercrime trends and react to them. You need to be constantly monitoring and anticipating threats, because these days the stakes are simply too high not to.

A BT One Enterprise Cisco solution makes voice calls between the UK and India simple and immediate. In most cases they’re free of charge too. Best of all, the employees feel as one with the BT global team.

Care isn’t just part of the name at GSK Nutritional Healthcare. It’s at the heart of its customer help lines. But Ashley Thomas knew that the company’s legacy telephone technology was becoming a bit of a hindrance. Keen to boost customer service with new technology, a review of the market led Ashley to BT Cloud Contact

Every year some of the world’s best young musicians would jet into London to audition for a bursary with the Southbank Sinfonia. Simon Over wanted to cut down on those thousands of air miles and hours in transit. He also didn’t want to miss out on youngsters who couldn’t afford the fare.

This week, Myke quizzes Grey about the devices he uses to get his work done, and Grey gets very disappointed about how Myke arranges his iPhone.

After trying to find ways to deal with unbearable heat, Grey and Myke discuss how they like to spend their time away from work, and put the 'Great Perspective Zoom Debate' to rest.

This time Grey and Myke tackle various ways to get audiobooks in to Overcast, discuss the creation of _Alphabet_, and cover the tools and processes Grey uses to create the animation for his videos.

Grey went on another 'Workcation', Myke just wants to share, and they both have more to say about the Apple Pencil.

Grey has opened up job applications, Myke is intrigued by Dvorak keyboards and they both get sucked in to _yet another_ new email app.

Grey has finished conferencing, Myke's ready to give advice, and they both are upset with Evernote.

Myke has started tracking his work time, Grey has started tracking all time, and they both talk about their themes for 2017.

Grey talks about the past few months, Myke is thinking about graphs, and they both provide more thoughts on time tracking.

Grey turns to pen and paper, Myke switches to Todoist, and they both share what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Grey is a leaf on the wind, Myke shares his thoughts on Todoist, and they both share their experiences on hiring and applying.

Myke got his wish, Grey gives Apple a performance review, and they both receive a magic box.

Grey thinks the end is nigh, Myke is making preperations, and they both review Homescreens from the past.

Myke is waiting for a delivery, Grey evangelizes napping, and they both have thoughts about the iPhone X.

Grey is excited about scooters, Myke had a monumental week, and they both have lots of thoughts about WWDC.

Myke is perplexed with corporate branding, Grey has learned more than he wanted about USB-C, and they both answer #ASKCORTEX questions on how to get the career you want, how to start being productive, and to find out who could live longest in the woods.

Grey is back in the desert, Myke is excited about a new app, and they both have expectations for WWDC.

Grey got a gift he cannot use, Myke is still outfitting Mega Studio, and they both discuss clarity in projects.

Two Vietnamese nationals have been sentenced to a collective total of almost 30 years behind bars, after importing more than 300 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside steel gates into Victoria in 2017.

Three men have been arrested as a result of coordinated operations conducted across NSW in two days, targeting purchasers of child-like sex dolls.

A Taiwanese national has been sentenced to 13 years behind bars, for his role in the importation of more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in packaging equipment into NSW in 2015.

The Supreme Court of Western Australia has ordered $175,100 be forfeited to the Commonwealth, following an Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation into proceeds of crime seized at Perth Airport in 2018.

New tool helps Housing Connector place individuals and families experiencing homelessness into privately owned homes and apartments quickly and efficiently

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