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Planetary health starts in our cities

Posted by UCL Open Environment Editorial Office on 2026-02-04

The biophysical and human worlds are linked in an interwoven planetary system. This blog draws on a recent editorial in UCL Open Environment, which explores how human health depends on finite biophysical processes and the role cities play in delivering solutions to the environmental crises they have helped to create. Planetary health brings this interdependence into focus. It asks how human [...]

Tiny Daphnia, Big Impact: How a Mini Assay Is Changing the Way We Test Low Volume Water Samples

Posted by Eberhard Küster on 2025-09-25

In ecotoxicology, the test using Daphnia magna immobilisation is a work‑horse for checking whether a water sample may be harmful to the aquatic environment. In parallel, researchers and regulators are asked to monitor water quality more often and with less effort and expenses. With evaluation of precious, low‑volume samples—think micro‑plastics leachates, nanomaterial suspensions, or field grabs [...]

Ineffective sorting systems: A major barrier to the circular economy of contaminated plastics

Posted by Nutcha Taneepanichskul, Helen C Hailes and Mark Miodownik on 2025-04-10

Environmental pollution leading to global warming is no longer a distant threat; it is knocking on our door, demanding immediate action. Among the major contributors to this crisis is plastic pollution. While there is increasing encouragement, including through popularisation, education, and policy measures—towards the use of biodegradable and recyclable materials, current waste management [...]