Tapping into waste heat for electricity by nanostructuring thermoelectric materials
In our ongoing struggle to reduce the usage of fossil fuel, technology to directly convert the world's waste heat into electricity stands out as very promising. Thermoelectric materials, which carry out this energy conversion process, have, thus, rec.....»»
Study shows an electrically-activated protein regulates spermatogenesis
Frankenstein's monster was brought to life by the judicious application of a little electricity; and a surprising number of processes in our bodies are regulated by electrical currents too. Now, researchers from Japan reveal that electricity may play.....»»
Can fungi turn food waste into the next culinary sensation?
Chef-turned-chemist Vayu Hill-Maini has a passion: to turn food waste into culinary treats using fungi......»»
People in Brazil"s Amazon are choking on smoke and feeling the heat from rainforest wildfires
Smoke from wildfires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest Wednesday was causing people in the region to cough, burning their throats and reddening their eyes......»»
During a heat wave, "stay indoors" can bring hazards, too
With Chicago and much of the Midwest facing what may be the hottest days of the summer this week, many are cranking up the air conditioning and heeding the advice of officials to stay inside......»»
Most food waste happens at home—new research reveals the best ways to reduce it
The EU and UK pledged to reduce food waste, in line with the UN's goal to halve global food waste by 2030. With most (approximately 53%) of total food waste in European countries occurring in homes, this stage of the food chain presents the most sign.....»»
Authors propose multi-method framework for climate event attribution
At the two most recent meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, delegates agreed to establish a fund to help developing nations suffering loss and damage due to events linked to climate change, such as floods, heat waves.....»»
Reconfigurable sensor can detect particles 0.001 times the wavelength of light
In recent years, advances in photonics and materials science have led to remarkable developments in sensor technology, pushing the boundaries of what can be detected and measured. Among these innovations, non-Hermitian physics has emerged as a crucia.....»»
Researchers develop near-infrared spectroscopy models to analyze corn kernels and biomass
In the agricultural and food industry, determining the chemical composition of raw materials is important for production efficiency, application, and price. Traditional laboratory testing is time-consuming, complicated, and expensive. New research fr.....»»
International report confirms record-high global temperatures in 2023
Greenhouse gas concentrations, the global temperature across land and the ocean, global sea level, and ocean heat content all reached record highs in 2023, according to the 34th annual State of the Climate report......»»
Towards a large materials model for AI-driven materials discovery
Following the success of large language models, the concept of large materials models as deep-learning computational models for materials design has attracted great interest. Nevertheless, the task of acquiring large materials models appears to be qu.....»»
Sol-gel transition effect based on thermosensitive hydrogel shows promised for photo-assisted uranium extraction
To achieve carbon reduction goals, reducing emissions is crucial, and nuclear power plays a key role in providing reliable, low-carbon electricity, aiding carbon neutrality. However, the nuclear industry faces the significant challenge of managing ur.....»»
US grid adds batteries at 10x the rate of natural gas in first half of 2024
By year's end, 96 percent of the US's grid additions won't add carbon to the atmosphere. (credit: DOE) While solar power is growing at an extremely rapid clip, in absolute terms, the use of natural gas for electricity pr.....»»
Researchers dig into food waste in Canada using data-driven model
Skyrocketing food costs are uniting Canadians, as families scrutinize their budgets and try to keep grocery bills in check. A new report from the Ivey Centre for Building Sustainable Value and Western's Human Environments Analysis Laboratory (HEAL) r.....»»
Superconductivity study confirms existence of edge supercurrents
Topological materials are materials that have unusual properties that arise because their wavefunction—the physical law guiding the electrons—is knotted or twisted. Where the topological material meets the surrounding space, the wavefunction must.....»»
Researchers develop high-entropy non-covalent cyclic peptide glass for smart functional materials
Researchers from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a sustainable, biodegradable, biorecyclable material: high-entropy non-covalent cyclic peptide (HECP) glass. This innovative glass features.....»»
Don’t waste your money on an OLED gaming monitor
OLED provides the best gaming experience money can buy, but buying in too early can effectively be a waste of money......»»
The Quantum Mechanics of the Greenhouse Effect
Carbon dioxide’s powerful heat-trapping effect has been traced to a quirk of its quantum structure. The finding may explain climate change better than any computer model......»»
The promise of synthetic cells
For over a decade, scientists have made extraordinary progress on the long-held dream of fabricating an entire cell from nonliving molecules and materials......»»
Nontoxic ceramic could replace lead-based electronic components
The ceramic produced in Prof. Igor Lubomirsky's lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science seemed too good to be true. It belongs to a class of materials that are the backbone of many essential technologies but that unfortunately also create an environ.....»»
Researchers identify effective materials for protecting astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation on Mars
Researchers have identified specific materials, including certain plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers, as well as Martian soil (regolith), which would effectively protect astronauts by blocking harmful space radiation on Mars. These findings could.....»»