Solar catalyst captures methane to create pure hydrogen and carbon

Methane has a greenhouse effect 80 times worse than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, and emissions are skyrocketing even as we start reducing CO2. That makes UCF’s new hydrocarbon-capturing, sunlight-powered catalyst a very compelling idea.Continu… Continue reading Solar catalyst captures methane to create pure hydrogen and carbon

Light-activated antibacterial foil claimed to outperform HEPA filters

Although HEPA filters and ultraviolet lighting systems are effective at neutralizing bacteria in hospitals, homes and other settings, they do have their drawbacks. A new light-activated material known as LumaFlo, however, is claimed to have them both b… Continue reading Light-activated antibacterial foil claimed to outperform HEPA filters

Underwater turbulence revealed as a key factor in climate change

When someone mentions waves, we are most likely to think of the beach and surfers riding breaks to shore, not the waves deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Now, new research has shed light on the important role underwater waves play in climate change.Con… Continue reading Underwater turbulence revealed as a key factor in climate change

Bacteria-based coating protects distillery buildings from the elements

Bacteria often get a bad rap, but in many cases they’re helpful little critters. Engineers have now developed a protective coating for buildings that’s loaded with bacteria, which absorb CO2 to produce a barrier against erosion by the elements.Continue… Continue reading Bacteria-based coating protects distillery buildings from the elements

Safe upcycle of pandemic plastics creates lucrative nanotechnology

In the midst of the pandemic in 2021, we were throwing out three million face masks per minute. Scientists sounded the alarm early, but the response to cope has seen a lot end up in our waterways.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Nanotechnology, O… Continue reading Safe upcycle of pandemic plastics creates lucrative nanotechnology

“Ultra-shock-absorbing” foam packs a plethora of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes have found use in everything from heart-rate-monitoring shirts to smart bandages to more efficient solar cells. Now, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have used them in a helmet lining foam that offers better impact pro… Continue reading “Ultra-shock-absorbing” foam packs a plethora of carbon nanotubes

How rain and rocks keep Earth habitable through wild climate changes

Our current climate catastrophe is far from Earth’s first, but for billions of years life has continued to plod along through these ups and downs. MIT scientists have now analyzed 66 million years of climate data and uncovered a stabilizing mechanism t… Continue reading How rain and rocks keep Earth habitable through wild climate changes

Egg whites used to produce a cheap, effective, water-purifying filter

As microplastics pollution and potable water scarcity both worsen, it’s becoming increasingly important to find efficient ways of filtering and desalinating seawater. A new aerogel definitely holds some promise, and it’s made from egg whites.Continue R… Continue reading Egg whites used to produce a cheap, effective, water-purifying filter

Trees tell tale of extreme, unexplained astronomical radiation storms

Tree rings are not just a great record of a tree’s life, but they can preserve a snapshot of the Earth and beyond at different times. Now Australian scientists analyzing these records have found evidence of huge radiation storms that periodically bathe… Continue reading Trees tell tale of extreme, unexplained astronomical radiation storms

Carbon nanotubes boost efficiency in “nanobionic” bacterial solar cells

Engineers at EPFL have found a way to insert carbon nanotubes into photosynthetic bacteria, which greatly improves their electrical output. They even pass these nanotubes down to their offspring when they divide, through what the team calls “inherited … Continue reading Carbon nanotubes boost efficiency in “nanobionic” bacterial solar cells