Catalyzing the conversion of biomass to biofuel
Zeolites are extremely porous materials: Ten grams can have an internal surface area the size of a soccer field. Their cavities make them useful in catalyzing chemical reactions and thus saving energy. An international research team has now made new.....»»
Diverse native wildflower plantings for pollinators in farmlands
Pollinators are declining rapidly, largely due to land conversion and intensification of agriculture. To mitigate their crisis, low-disturbance habitats, such as sown wildflower plantings (commonly known forms are wildflower strips at the edges of ar.....»»
Researchers reveal oceanic black carbon sink effect driven by seawater microdroplets
Pyrogenic carbon is widely produced during the incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels on land. About one-third of pyrogenic carbon is exported to the ocean by rivers, and thereinto, the refractory fraction becomes the source of oceanic bla.....»»
From tape measures to space lasers: Quantifying biomass of the world"s tallest forests
In this era of accelerating climate crisis, accounting for all aspects of Earth's carbon cycle is a crucial task. The magnitude of atmospheric carbon burden means trees and forests are limited but important instruments among a suite of mitigation opt.....»»
Researchers reveal complex response of microbial communities to wastewater fluctuations
Microbial communities in constructed wetland (CW) sediments are often disturbed by wastewater. It is necessary for the microbial community to maintain a relatively stable composition or biomass in order to continue to remove pollutants from wastewate.....»»
Using CO₂ and biomass, researchers find path to more environmentally friendly recyclable plastics
Modern life relies on plastic. This lightweight, adaptable product is a cornerstone of packaging, medical equipment, the aerospace and automotive industries and more. But plastic waste remains a problem as it degrades in landfills and pollutes oceans.....»»
Humans have converted at least 250,000 acres of estuaries to cities and farms in last 35 years, study finds
Worldwide over the past 35 years, dams and land reclamation activities have converted 250,000 acres of estuary—an area roughly 17 times the size of Manhattan—to urban land or agricultural fields, with most land conversion and estuary loss in rapi.....»»
How plants adjust their photosynthesis to changing light
Photosynthesis is the central process by which plants build up biomass using light, water, and carbon dioxide from the air. Gaining a detailed understanding of this process makes it possible to modify and thus optimize it—for example, with a view t.....»»
Surface emitting semiconductor laser achieves efficiency breakthrough
Since its inception, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of edge-emitting laser (EEL) technology has been continuously breaking records, achieving a historically high efficiency of 85% at -50°C in 2006. Following this, in 2007, EEL also reached a.....»»
A catalyst for converting carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming, into ethylene using vitamin C
A joint research team has developed a new electrochemical catalyst that promotes the conversion from carbon dioxide (CO2) to ethylene (C2H4)......»»
How eutrophication and climate change alter food webs in the Baltic Sea
Phytoplankton is the primary energy source for all marine ecosystems: These tiny plants floating in the seawater use photosynthesis to bind energy in the form of biomass, which is then passed on step by step in the marine food webs all the way to dif.....»»
Team modulates electronic state of single-atom catalysts by CO molecular decoration for efficient methane conversion
Direct methane conversion has advantages such as low energy consumption, fewer processes, and better economics. However, it is difficult to activate methane at room temperature due to the high dissociation energy of C-H bonds of methane. Additionally.....»»
Geometry-adaptive electrocatalysis: Proposed approach could double efficiency of energy conversion technologies
As the world seeks sustainable solutions to meet escalating energy demands, a collaborative team of researchers from the Universities of Tartu and Copenhagen has proposed an innovative approach to overcome long-standing limitations in oxygen electroc.....»»
A microalgae–material hybrid promotes carbon neutrality
Microalgae, including cyanobacteria and green algae, represent the most important biological systems for producing biomass and high-value products. It is estimated that microalgae can fix about 90 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, which accoun.....»»
Integration of theory prediction and experimental electrooxidation of glycerol on nanosheets
Glycerol, a major by-product of biomass refining accounting for approximately 10% of the yield, presents a significant challenge due to its global surplus. The presence of multiple active hydroxyl groups in glycerol unveils vast potential for the pro.....»»
In Lake Erie, climate change scrambles zooplankton"s seasonal presence
A new analysis of zooplankton in western Lake Erie shows that their biomass and seasonal behavioral patterns have been drastically altered by human-driven changes in water temperature and food webs......»»
Recyclable reagent and sunlight convert carbon monoxide into methanol
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC) have demonstrated the selective conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into methanol using a cascade reaction strate.....»»
Uncovering the dominant contribution of intermediate volatility compounds to biomass-burning organic aerosols
Biomass burning, including wildfires and residential heating, emits a variety of air pollutants and has a series of negative impacts on the environment......»»
Researchers find new ways to regulate hole transport layer for efficient perovskite solar cells
According to a study published in Nano Energy, a research group led by Prof. Chen Chong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has increased the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar c.....»»
How to upcycle low-energy light: A new design for highly efficient conversion materials
To combine two low-energy photons into one high-energy photon efficiently, the energy must be able to hop freely, but not too quickly, between randomly oriented molecules of a solid. This Kobe University discovery provides a much-needed design guidel.....»»
Get Ready to Eat Pond Plants
Meet the amazing azolla, a nutritious fern that grows like crazy, capturing carbon in the process. Could it be a food—and fertilizer and biofuel—of the future?.....»»