Interesting Ideas

Scientists also name an overlooked snowdrop growing in the UK and a fruit that tastes like banana and guava

A zombie fungus that springs from a trapdoor and a flame-like shrub named after the fire demon in the Studio Ghibli film Howl’s Moving Castle are among the species of plant and fungi named by scientists in 2025.

A list of 10 “weird and wonderful” new species was compiled by scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew and their international partners, who together named 125 new plants last year. The list also includes an orchid whose flowers look bloodstained and attract sexually aroused flies, and a beautiful snowdrop that had been hiding in plain sight in UK gardens.

US energy policy took a sharp turn against renewable energy beginning on January 20, 2025. Almost exactly one year later, signs that the policy has failed have already emerged. In the power generation sector, wind and solar (especially solar) have continued to dominate new capacity additions by a wide margin. ... [continued]

The post How To Lose The War On Renewable Energy, Bigly appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Across Africa, baobabs have rich symbolic meaning, but the breakneck expansion of the DRC’s capital has reduced their number in the city centre to one

The older inhabitants of Kinshasa can remember when trees shaded its main avenues and thick-trunked baobabs stood in front of government offices.

Jean Mangalibi, 60, from his plant nursery tucked among grey tower blocks, says the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s frenzied expansion has all but erased its greenery. “We’re destroying the city,” he says, over the sound of drilling from a nearby building site.

Gothenburg, Sweden — Lynk & Co highlights its role as a key contributor within Geely Auto Group’s global innovation ecosystem, as the Group unveiled major advancements in next generation smart vehicle technology at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Lynk & Co vehicles were used on the ground to support Geely’s ... [continued]

The post Lynk & Co Supports Geely Auto Group’s CES 2026 Showcase with Vehicles on the Ground in Las Vegas appeared first on CleanTechnica.

How can the compatibility of human economic growth and marine life be achieved? One way is through activities like diving, snorkeling, and similar tourism, which are located where marine life thrives. Marine excursions require sites that are as pristine as possible so guest experiences are immersive and authentic — humans ... [continued]

The post What Are Blue Spots? How Can They Help To Conserve The World’s Ocean Life? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

XCharge North America (“XCharge NA”), the North American subsidiary of XCHG Limited (NASDAQ: XCH, “XCharge”) and provider of high-power EV charging and battery-integrated solutions designed to strengthen the North American electrical grid, announced today that it has partnered with Energy Plus, a leading New York–based energy-efficiency and electrification contractor, to transform New ... [continued]

The post XCharge North America and Energy Plus Partner to Build One of the Largest Battery-Backed EV Charging Depots in the U.S. appeared first on CleanTechnica.

A year after the Eaton fire, residents returning to Altadena confront lingering contamination and little official clarity

One year on from the Eaton fire, long after the vicious winds that sent embers cascading from the San Gabriel mountains and the flames that swallowed entire streets, a shadow still hangs over Altadena.

Construction on new properties is under way, and families whose homes survived the fire have begun to return. But many are grappling with an urgent question: is it safe to be here?

After publishing our report on the top selling EV models in the world in November, here’s the complementary report on the auto brands and groups leading EV sales around the world. Chinese records edition In November, BYD remained at the helm, but sales were again down YoY, as BYD’s plugin ... [continued]

The post Global EV Sales Leaders — Top Selling Brands & OEMs appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Vast swathes of the country’s trees have been killed off by droughts and infestations, in a trend sweeping across Europe. A shift towards more biodiverse cultivation could offer answers

Even the intense green of late spring cannot mask the dead trees in the Harz mountains. Standing upright across the gentle peaks in northern Germany, thousands of skeletal trunks mark the remnants of a once great spruce forest.

Since 2018, the region has been ravaged by a tree-killing bark beetle outbreak, made possible by successive droughts and heatwaves. It has transformed a landscape known for its verdant beauty into one dominated by a sickly grey.

The practice is ‘much more widespread’ than previously realised, researchers say, with serious environmental impact

The household burning of plastic for heating and cooking is widespread in developing countries, suggests a global study that raises concerns about its health and environmental impacts.

The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, surveyed more than 1,000 respondents across 26 countries.

Outcome of aggression will determine whether rare earths and other resources drive energy transition – or strengthen US military power and oil interests

The US’s first overt attack on an Amazon nation last weekend is a new phase in its extractivist rivalry with China. The outcome will decide whether the vast mineral wealth of South America is directed towards a 21st-century energy transition or a buildup of military power to defend 20th-century fossil fuel interests.

Although this onslaught was ostensibly aimed at one corrupt dictatorship in a miserably dysfunctional country, the ramifications are far wider.

Sandbanks can shift position during winter storms, but sonar mapping means charts can now be updated immediately

Offshore sandbanks are a particular navigation hazard because, unlike rocks and reefs, they have a habit of shifting position during winter storms.

The Goodwin Sands is a 10-mile (16km) bank off the coast of Deal in Kent, close to the busy shipping lanes of the Dover strait. The sands have claimed about 2,000 vessels over the years. In 1634, two lighthouses were set up on South Foreland for sailors to follow a safe route through.

There were over 2 million plugin vehicles registered in November, with BEVs (+12% YoY) rising and PHEVs (-1% YoY) falling. With the USA EV market still in hangover mode and China slowing down, it was up to the Rest of the World (+37% YoY) to pick up the pace, pulling ... [continued]

The post Global EV Sales Leaders — Top Selling Models in November 2025 appeared first on CleanTechnica.

CleanTechnica is proud to announce that we will be producing a large scale sustainable technologies event this spring, April 24-26, in Honolulu, Hawaii, called the Electric Home Show. The event will feature all the coolest technologies, like test drives of EVs, test rides of ebikes, e-hoverboards, e-skateboards, induction cookstove demos, ... [continued]

The post CleanTechnica’s Flagship Event, the Electric Home Show, Is Here! appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Shift from ‘big 5’ imports to British fish such as sprats and sardines would help diets and the planet, say researchers

Supermarkets could help to support British consumers to move away from their reliance on mainly imported seafood – the “big 5” of cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns – to more sustainable, nutritious and locally caught fish such as sardines and anchovies, researchers say.

A study by the University of East Anglia (UEA), which confirmed previous research showing consumers did not eat the recommended amount of fish in their diet, suggests the UK could be overlooking a major opportunity to improve national health as well as bolstering local economies by embracing its own rich populations of nutritious small fish.

Tesla’s FSDS is a big hit in Australia, with lots of video clips being posted online. Even the normally EV sceptical (and anti-Tesla) media is praising its abilities. But, what about the all-important regional areas, with poor roads, intermittent internet access, and very long distances?  A google search reveals: “Tesla’s ... [continued]

The post Full Self Driving Supervised (FSDS) in the Australian Regions appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Study of 1,000 products finds wet, raw and meat-rich products have higher climate impact than dry kibble

Dog food accounts for 1% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to research that found wet, raw and meat-rich products were associated with substantially higher emissions than dry kibble.

The analysis revealed striking differences in the environmental impact of commercial dog foods, with the highest-impact foods being responsible for up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest-rated options.

I’ll be honest — I’ve never really loved the standup-scooter trend for vehicle-sharing programs in cities. I think they are fine for light, commercial recreation and for last-mile transport for some people. But they are quite unstable, tiny, and so hard to notice. I love bicycles and old-school scooters that ... [continued]

The post Lime Ridership Up 61% In Seattle After Adding Real Sit-Down Scooter appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Windows are a curse and a blessing. They let light in but solar heat as well. A new process could reduce solar gain.

The post MOCHI Blocks 90% Of Heat Transfer In Windows appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Abernethy Forest, Cairngorms: Thanks to a local collaborative effort, linnets, bramblings, green and goldfinches are coming to this field in joyful flocks

It’s -6C and I’m off to what has been a regular haunt recently – a field planted by Speyside Fields for Wildlife. This is a small, community-run charity that works with local farmers, crofters and others to take over “spare” fields and land for wildlife-friendly crops.

Some sites are planted with annuals such as cornflower, corncockle, marigold and poppy – important sources of pollen, nectar and flowers that used to grow among the grain crops before herbicides became commonplace. Others, such as this one on a hill farm, have been planted with seed crops that benefit birds and other wildlife during autumn and winter.