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Waste plant fibers could reduce construction costs and improve sustainability

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Waste plant fibers could reduce construction costs and improve sustainability


Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of Building Engineering (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.112935

Earth mortar could be more resilient, flexible and stronger by adding plant fibers to the mix. The finding comes from research to better understand the strength and performance of raw earth mortar, which has been carried out by the University of Portsmouth’s School of Civil Engineering and Surveying. The work is published in the Journal of Building Engineering.

Dr. Muhammad Ali, Associate Professor in Materials and Environmental Innovation at the University, said, “The focus of research in construction using earth has increased in response to demand for low-cost and sustainable building materials. However, while the properties of compressed earth blocks have been widely investigated, there has been less attention given to the make-up of earth-based mortar—a rudimentary mix of water with natural earth consisting of sand, silt and clay.”

Building using materials where raw earth is the fundamental component is typically seen in middle and low income countries around the world. Earth-based mortars are widely used to bind together compressed earth blocks mainly because the materials are structurally compatible, breathable and, when combined, help interiors stay warm or keep cool as needed. The two materials are also sustainable and have the appeal of giving the finished structures a pleasing, natural appearance.

Raw earth mortar has a low environmental impact due to the availability and accessibility of earth—an abundant natural resource that can be locally sourced—and the minimal, simpler processing methods needed to produce it. But, when cement is used in the raw earth mortar mix, energy intensive production methods are required, and this has an adverse environmental impact.

The fresh and hardened properties of three raw earth mortar mixes were examined to determine the extent to which plant fibers from agricultural waste could replace the cement content of raw earth mortar to create an effective, more sustainable binding material.

The researchers used a variety of testing techniques, including compression testing, numerical modeling, and , working as far as possible to British Standards (BS), Eurocodes (EN) and criteria set by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM).

According to the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN), load bearing structures bound by raw earth mortar must be able to cope with the pressure of weight equivalent to 2.00MPa (megapascal—a unit of pressure) or more and a shear strength (the amount of force it can bear before sliding apart) of 0.04MPa.

It was found that incorporating plant fibers in the raw earth mortar mix can prevent shrinkage, reduce cracking, and improve strength. When compared to stabilized earth mortar alone, adding 20 mm jute fibers at a dosage of 0.25% of the dry soil’s weight improved the raw earth mortar’s mechanical properties.

The result was a 12% increase in compressive strength—meaning the amount of pressure the mortar can withstand without fracturing or deforming went from 5.64 megapascals (MPa) to 6.31 MPa, and there was a 20% increase in flexural (shear) strength—i.e. the ability to bend or fold—from 1.20 MPa to 1.44 MPa.

Dr. Ali added, “Through this research we have been able to identify potential improvements for raw earth to help further develop low-cost and environmentally friendly building materials around the world and support the creation of sustainable communities.

“It also aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which includes a target to ensure everyone has access to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services by 2030.”

More information:
Jack Andrew Cottrell et al, Influence of jute fibre and cement on the mechanical properties of raw earth mortar, Journal of Building Engineering (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2025.112935

Citation:
Waste plant fibers could reduce construction costs and improve sustainability (2025, September 10)
retrieved 10 September 2025
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This Premium Sennheiser Soundbar Is $1,000 Off

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This Premium Sennheiser Soundbar Is ,000 Off


Looking for an all-in-one soundbar that sounds as big as it looks? Sennheiser’s Ambeo Max uses its oversized body to produce beefy, enveloping sound, and right now you can grab it for just $2,000 at Best Buy, a sizable $1,000 markdown from the usual list price. It’s one of our favorite standalone premium soundbars, particularly if you don’t want to deal with an exterior subwoofer but still want bigger bass than you’re likely to find on smaller options.

While it might be a bit larger than your average soundbar, Sennheiser uses the space well, packing a ton of functionality and drivers into the less-than-compact body. There are both full-range and 1-inch tweeters combined in every conceivable direction, and the result is an impressive reproduction of true spatial audio, something few other standalone bars can claim. As a result, it also has an impressive low-end, with bass that doesn’t rival dedicated subwoofers, but comes really close for how much simpler the setup process will be.

The larger footprint also allows for a huge number of inputs, more than you’re likely to find on those tiny soundbars that slide under your screen. In addition to an HDMI 2.1 output with eARC, you’ll get three HDMI inputs with 4K pass-through at 60Hz, USB, Ethernet, and optical audio. There are even RCA ports in case you want to hook this up to your turntable. There’s also a dedicated subwoofer output, in case you decide you want to add one to your setup down the road, giving you a ton of options should you decide to put the Ambeo Max at the center of your home audio setup.

Ready to make the move to a bigger, better soundbar? Swing on over to Best Buy to grab this hefty discount on the Sennheiser Ambeo Max, or check out our guide to the best premium soundbars for some of our other favorite picks. If you’re just out looking for a great deal in general, the Amazon Big Spring Sale is underway, and we’ve got a dedicated post with all the best discounts on everything from smartwatches to water bottles.



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ICE Agents Frustrate Airport Workers as Shutdown Drags On

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ICE Agents Frustrate Airport Workers as Shutdown Drags On


On Thursday, hours-long security lines snaked through New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. The wait was far from the longest in the country—George Bush International Airport in Houston reported three and a half hour lines. Over a month into a partial government shutdown that has left some Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees working without pay, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are calling in sick or leaving work en masse, leading to travel chaos around the US. The Trump administration’s solution? Send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in.

ICE agents were deployed to at least 14 airports on Monday, ostensibly in an effort to speed up security lines—and five days into ICE’s incursion, airport employees are infuriated. The ICE agents, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) who work for the TSA tell WIRED, don’t have the proper certification and training to perform many of tasks that might truly speed up security lines. The TSA employees say they’re frustrated by the situation—and worried about what it might mean for their future.

ICE agents have been spotted walking in packs, patrolling security lines and baggage areas. They have been seen giving directions to lost passengers, photographed distributing mini water bottles to those waiting in line, and, more often than not, standing around and appearing to do very little. “ICE are here and they’re doing literally nothing to help,” passengers in a security line overheard one airline worker complain on Wednesday at John F. Kennedy airport in New York.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that some passengers stuck in line spotted ICE agents being trained to check passenger IDs and boarding passes. In a hearing in front of the US House Committee on Homeland Security on Wednesday, TSA acting head Ha Nguyen McNeill said that “the travel document checker function is one of the nonspecialized screen functions of the TSA,” and said ICE agents are being trained to conduct checks.

TSOs say ICE’s presence is frustrating to those working without pay—especially because ICE agents are being paid. “If you want to bring a tactical force into an environment where it’s required to have customer service and a mindset where you know what you’re doing, how to identify something that might be suspicious—they don’t have that training,” says Hydrick Thomas, a security officer and the president of AFGE Local 2222, which covers New York and New Jersey airports.

Security officers say they’re concerned for their coworkers, who, thanks to last fall’s government shutdown, haven’t received a steady paycheck for half of the fiscal year. Agents are worried about paying for rent, mortgages, gas, and childcare. Food banks have stood up drives in several airports, including those in Houston, North Carolina, and San Diego. In Knoxville, Tennessee, airport authorities are accepting donations for employees at a Delta Airlines counter. Eleven percent of airport checkpoint employees called out on Tuesday, compared to four percent pre-shutdown, a federal official testified to Congress on Wednesday morning. Some airports, including those in Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, and New York’s John F. Kennedy, have seen daily callout rates higher than 35 percent. More than 480 TSA screeners have quit since the shutdown began in February, the agency says.

Long term, security officers say they’re concerned that the federal government plans to replace them with other federal agents, including ICE agents, or private sector employees. One mentioned Project 2025, a blueprint for the second Trump administration published by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which advocates for privatizing TSA altogether.

“A part of the American dream that I was sold was that working for the government was honorable and stable,” Carlos Rodriguez, a security officer and a AFGE TSA Council 100 vice president representing airports Northeastern airports from New Jersey to Vermont. “But this is not honorable or stable at this moment.”



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Skip the TSA Line: Where to Find Travel by Bus, Train, and Boat

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Skip the TSA Line: Where to Find Travel by Bus, Train, and Boat


Every year, without fail, the US experiences at least one major disruption in air travel due to severe weather, government shutdowns, software outages, or power outages—you name it.

Right now, a partial government shutdown has meant that thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers have not been paid for several weeks, causing many to call out of work or quit. That has meant long security lines—more than three-hour waits—ensuing chaos at airports around the country. It’s unclear how long this mess will last, so it’s worth thinking about other options.

Flights are also expensive and hard on the environment. If you can take a bus, train, or ferry to your destination, why shouldn’t you? These travel search apps help you find routes and prices so you can compare them and make the best decision.

Wanderu

Best for Buses and Trains in the US and Canada

In the US and Canada, Wanderu is my go-to search aggregator for travel by bus or train (it works in Europe and the UK, too). Wanderu is your classic travel aggregator, looking up the schedules and prices across several bus and train operators, including Amtrak, BestBus, Flixbus, Greyhound, OurBus, Peter Pan, RedCoach, Vamoose, and others.

You see price comparisons at a glance, as well as options for upgraded class fares, departure and arrival times, and the location of each bus and train station, since sometimes you can save a lot of time by choosing one point over another. Filters help you narrow down your results based on your preferences, and you can book right from the app.

Omio

Compares Trains, Buses, Flights With Excellent Summaries

If you aren’t sure whether you want to travel by land or air, head to Omio. Type in your departure point, destination, and the date you want to travel, and Omio finds routes by plane, bus, and train. A concise summary at the top of the search results tells you the lowest fare and how long it will take for each mode of transportation, so you can make an informed decision quickly. Omio also shows whether the fare will be higher or lower if you travel on a different day of the same week, in case your dates are flexible.

Rome2Rio

Includes Comparison for Driving

Rome2Rio compares prices and times for travel by bus, train, flight, and driving yourself, based on estimated fuel costs. It works reasonably well for trips in the US and Canada. Rome2Rio touts itself as being for worldwide travel, though Europe and the UK seem to be its sweet spot. Elsewhere, take the approach of “trust, but verify,” and this app will take you places.

Virail

Compares Buses, Trains, and Flights

Virail is similar to Omio, comparing travel options by train, bus, and flight, with a neat summary of prices at the top of the search results, although it lacks the total travel time. For that, you have to scroll through the results. To book a ticket, Virail sends you to other websites, and you might have to do additional legwork to reserve your seat. It works reasonably well in the US and Canada (in testing, it got a little tripped up in Mexico), and does well for travel in Europe and the UK.

Vivanoda

Includes Flight and Carpool

Vivanoda (website only, no app) is similar to Omio, comparing all your options for getting between two points—and it includes flights, ferries, and carpool/rideshare options when applicable. The site operates out of the European Union and seems to work slightly better for travel in Europe and the UK than in the US and Canada, where it has some holes. (It didn’t find a direct flight between San Francisco and Vancouver, for example, even though there is more than one daily.)

Seat 61

Best Old-School Site for Trains and Bus Info Worldwide

Seat61, also known as The Man in Seat 61 (website only), has an old-school look and some of the best, most reliable information about traveling by bus and rail all around the world. Mark Smith, who runs the site, tells you exactly where in the world he knows about the train and bus routes: The site lists all the countries it covers on the left side, everywhere from Albania to Zimbabwe. He shares timetables, prices, and even includes photos, though his site is not a search aggregator, and you do have to go elsewhere to book. That said, it’s an excellent resource.



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