When it comes to the humble toilet, most of us embrace a “flush and forget” approach. But that’s a terrible waste in a world experiencing climate change, especially when our poo can be usefully – and cleanly – recycled. Despite the alchemical efficiency of toilets that can convert human waste into clean fuel and organic fertiliser, they are still underused because most cultures continue to turn their noses up at them.

New research conducted in Nepal, however, reveals how taboos can be renegotiated to encourage people to adopt anaerobic digesters to manage their waste. And the UK and other countries could learn from this myth-busting to overcome their own prejudices about bio-toilets.

The issue of resources is also affecting Beijing, where the Winter Olympics are taking place – using 100% artificial snow for the first time in the event’s history. To counter the lack of cold weather, organisers are using vast quantities of water and energy to supply the events with fake flakes. A sport ecologist considers the tournament’s environmental scorecard.

Meanwhile, a new study has discovered that the notorious 14th-century plague may not have been as widespread or catastrophic as we once thought.

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