TechnologyMushroom-Inspired Catalyst Converts Plastic Waste Into Vinegar Using SunlightScientists at the University of Waterloo have developed a sunlight-powered system inspired by wood-rotting fungi that can transform common plastic waste directly into acetic acid — the key ingredient in vinegar and a valuable industrial chemical.
Human AchievementsThe Scientist Who Convinced the World to Look Underground: Toby Kiers Wins Tyler PrizeEvolutionary biologist Dr. Toby Kiers has won the 2026 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for her groundbreaking work on mycorrhizal fungi — the hidden underground networks that could be key to fighting climate change.
