The trip of a humble shopping bag is little short of chemical engineering genius and industrial magic. Here in a world where economy and dependability are vital, the structural backbone of these everyday necessities explains why they still represent the world’s transport standard. This doesn’t start with a bag, however, but with minuscule resin pellets derived from…

The sustainability of farming in the 21st century depends on refining the balance between water, soil nutrients and healthy microbial life. Traditional practices are increasingly straining in the face of climate change and depleting water reserves; thus, the transition to higher-level soil conservation has changed from being a choice to becoming a necessity. Using high-performance groundcovers, farmers…