2026

A new MIT-backed company is turning discarded plastic into structural parts for buildings and infrastructure. Atlas Building Composites has developed an AI-powered robotic manufacturing platform that shreds single-use plastic, melts it, and fuses it with American-made fiberglass. The resulting composite is then formed into parts such as foundations, decks, and trusses using large-scale 3D printing….

A proposal to use crocodile-filled moats around Israeli prison facilities has brought an unusual environmental question into focus: what happens when wildlife conservation, security and land management intersect? The plan, which was first proposed in December 2025 by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, involves using crocodiles around maximum-security prison wings. The idea was reportedly…

Kelp forests are among the most productive ecosystems in the ocean. They provide habitat for fish and invertebrates while supporting marine mammals and other wildlife Beneath the waves off Southern California, a once-lush underwater forest had been reduced to something resembling a desert. Kelp that had provided shelter and food for fish, crabs and marine…