The Ocean's Microplastics Mess: Technology & Technique to Identify & Clean Up
Eriksen and his wife were inspired by the unknown reality of marine plastic pollution and spent years conducting research and collecting evidence to prove the danger of microplastic pollution. Eriksen fondly credits a moment in 2015, when President Obama signed a bill banning microplastics from consumer products after 5 Gyres published a paper about microbeads discovered in the Great Lakes. Eriksen and his wife have taken on a more guiding position and shifted to include activism in their work. “There is enough research to act on, so we are now focused more on engaging the leaders of tomorrow
Machines Infused with AI that Fly, Swarm and Dive
; which in this case are data and images. Returning to the surface they share the data with the other Marine Bees so they can autonomously decide where to explore next. The design of each Marine Bee is also unique, using components and manufacturing techniques from mass-produced consumer products to drive down costs and create a low-cost unit. They have many features of full-sized Autonomous Underwater Vehicles but are smaller and cheaper. The real advantage comes from putting hundreds of these small and simple robotic submarines together. Multiple Marine Bees provide scalable and low-cost
Sunscreen Ingredients Might Harm Marine Life
contain nanoparticles, which means these ingredients are washed into oceans when we swim or shower,” said Ian Illuminato, Health and environment campaigner with Friends of the Earth. “These tiny ingredients are can also potentially toxic to humans and are rapidly entering food and consumer products without safety assessment or labels.” The study indicates that these tiny particles of titanium dioxide are a major oxidizing agent entering our coastal waters, which can result in dramatic increases in hydrogen peroxide levels that damage phytoplankton crucial to marine ecosystems
BV Opens doors to Their Testing Labs in Germany
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services (CPS) have successfully opened the doors to their testing laboratories in Hamburg and Schwerin on the 9th and 10th July. The event, which was themed around new chemical requirements for consumer products, attracted over 100 clients coming not only from Germany, but also from France, Belgium, Spain, Turkey, Brazil, Austria and the United Kingdom. The event was the opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Schwerin laboratory, one of the most modern laboratories within the Bureau Veritas network. At this location, around 150 employees are
Hazardous Area Safe Smartphone Launched by Gentay
to IP68 standards. In addition, the INNOVATION 2 includes a 5MP Autofocus Camera with Flash and the standard Android features for picture preview, video etc. Speaking about this new product, Mr Martin Nygate, Director of Gentay said: “Convergence of technologies is increasingly common in consumer products, and there is a growing demand for devices that can be used in hazardous environments that incorporate all the functionality that we have become familiar with in our day to day workplace, such as a fully integrated smartphone. Tasks undertaken in hazardous areas that require cellular connectivity
Intertek Addresses Global Mercury Pollution
mercury pollution across industries during the “International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant” (ICMGP) in Edinburgh, Scotland, July 28 to August 2, 2013. Intertek will showcase expertise in detecting, monitoring and controlling mercury, supporting industries such as food, consumer products and oil and gas. Recent Harvard studies have shown that mercury is a long term problem, as past accumulations built over thousands of years could persist for centuries. The Harvard study advocates prompt reductions in mercury, suggesting that if nothing is done, levels of mercury in the ocean
OceanGate Make Key Appointments
underwater vision and measurement systems to the maritime community. Dr. Thompson has secured and managed numerous commercial funding rounds and R&D grants as well as developed technologies leading to multiple product developments in fields of Navy systems, medical ultrasound, consumer products, and marine electronics.