Video: Eco-friendlier offshore fish farm sinks to ride out storms

A new type of submersible fish farm could make aquaculture operations much more eco-friendly. The storm-resistant structure is designed to stay out in the deep, cold waters of the open ocean, where it should have less environmental impact than shore-ad… Continue reading Video: Eco-friendlier offshore fish farm sinks to ride out storms

Novel coating repels limescale to improve thermal power plant efficiency

Limescale buildup in thermal power plants due to the use of hot water can substantially affect efficiency, prompting researchers to develop a novel soft hydrogel-based surface coating that repels limescale crystals and prevents them from adhering.Conti… Continue reading Novel coating repels limescale to improve thermal power plant efficiency

Novel coating repels limescale to improve thermal power plant efficiency

Limescale buildup in thermal power plants due to the use of hot water can substantially affect efficiency, prompting researchers to develop a novel soft hydrogel-based surface coating that repels limescale crystals and prevents them from adhering.Conti… Continue reading Novel coating repels limescale to improve thermal power plant efficiency

‘Super gut’ made from superworm’s microbiome devours problem plastics

The unique gut microbiome found within a tiny plastics-munching worm could potentially be harnessed to successfully break down problematic materials on a large scale.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: NTU, Plastic, Biodegradable, Sustainability, En… Continue reading ‘Super gut’ made from superworm’s microbiome devours problem plastics

Plant-based glue bonds even better when placed underwater

Getting glue to stick in dry conditions is relatively easy, but having it maintain a bond underwater is much more difficult. That said, a new bio-based glue not only works underwater, it actually gets stronger when immersed.Continue ReadingCategory: Ma… Continue reading Plant-based glue bonds even better when placed underwater

CRISPR tweaks tree genetics to make paper more suastainably

Conventional breeding of trees takes time, but CRISPR gene editing should help speed things up. Now, scientists at North Carolina State University have used CRISPR to adjust the genomes of poplar trees to make them easier to turn into paper products.Co… Continue reading CRISPR tweaks tree genetics to make paper more suastainably

LionGlass boasts 10x the strength of regular glass, greener production

Despite its many advantages, glass has one major Achilles’ heel – it’s brittle. Now, engineers at Penn State have developed LionGlass, a new type of the material that’s not only 10 times more damage resistant, but requires significantly less energy to … Continue reading LionGlass boasts 10x the strength of regular glass, greener production

Light-activated concrete scrubs air pollution out of traffic tunnels

Traffic is among the biggest sources of air pollution, but what if the very roads they drive on could help clear the air? Engineers in Korea have now demonstrated that photocatalytic concrete can help reduce pollution in tunnels.Continue ReadingCategor… Continue reading Light-activated concrete scrubs air pollution out of traffic tunnels

Flexible, moveable wooden walls mean no more ‘knocking through’

Knocking down a wall – or walls – to create an open-plan living space can be expensive and not very environmentally friendly. With the development of moveable wooden partition walls that can be positioned right where you want them, ‘knocking through’ m… Continue reading Flexible, moveable wooden walls mean no more ‘knocking through’

New recipe makes concrete that absorbs more CO2 than it emits

Concrete is one of the most common materials on Earth, thanks to its high strength and low cost – but it’s also one of the largest single sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Engineers at Washington State University (WSU) have developed a new method fo… Continue reading New recipe makes concrete that absorbs more CO2 than it emits