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.....»»
Nighttime light data shows inequities in restoring power after Hurricane Michael
Among the many devastating impacts in the aftermath of a hurricane are power outages, which can take days or even weeks to restore. Communities grappling with the loss of electricity may encounter obstacles in accessing vital services, including food.....»»
Recycling can help fill battery materials shortages
Battery manufacturing scrap and spent EV and electronic device batteries provide a ready supply of needed materials.....»»
Extreme heat exposure on the rise for millions of kids: UN
Nearly half a billion children are facing twice as many days of extreme heat each year—or more—than their grandparents did, the UN said Tuesday, warning of deadly consequences......»»
Mediterranean Sea temperatures match 2023 records
The temperatures of the Mediterranean Sea in recent days have reached heat records set last summer, the main Spanish maritime research center told AFP Tuesday, with marine heat waves in some places exceeding 30 degrees Celsius......»»
Antarctica winter experiences prolonged heat wave
Antarctica, the world's coldest continent, is experiencing an exceptionally long heat wave during its winter, according to Britain's national polar research institute......»»
Study reveals urban trees suffer more from heat waves and drought than their rural counterparts
A recently published study in Ecological Applications details how trees in New York City and Boston are more negatively impacted by heat waves and drought than trees of the same species in nearby rural forests. The finding, made by researchers at the.....»»
Advanced microscopy method reveals hidden world of nanoscale optical metamaterials
Scientists from the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society have made a significant discovery in the field of nanotechnology, as detailed in their latest publication in Advanced Materials. Their paper,.....»»
Rapid removal of emerging endocrine disruptors in wastewater using high-performance single-atom catalysts
Bisphenols are widely used as the main raw material for plastics such as receipts, water bottles, water containers, and vinyl due to their heat-resistant and mechanochemical properties. Among bisphenols, bisphenol A (BPA), which we often refer to as.....»»
A new approach to fine-tuning quantum materials
Quantum materials—those with electronic properties that are governed by the principles of quantum mechanics, such as correlation and entanglement—can exhibit exotic behaviors under certain conditions, such as the ability to transmit electricity w.....»»
Extreme Weather Poses a Challenge for Heat Pumps
Stronger winds, bouts of extreme low temperature, and higher humidity pose difficult but surmountable challenges for heat pumps......»»
Up-cycling petroleum waste into a high-performance yet sustainable triboelectric nanogenerator
A striking landmark in Vancouver, Canada, "The Big Yellow Sulfur Pile" is a testament to the massive amounts of elemental sulfur produced from the hydrodesulfurization process of petroleum refining......»»
Heat killed nearly 50,000 in Europe in 2023: Study
High temperatures which scientists say are being worsened by human-driven carbon emissions caused nearly 50,000 deaths in Europe last year, a study published Monday found......»»
Lithium ion battery fire regulation could help heal industrywide black eye
While gasoline vehicles are far more prone to fires, electric vehicles and micromobility devices present concerns because lithium ion batteries can sustain their own heat and fires can be harder to extinguish......»»
Chemical cocktail from plastics: Pilot study describes degradation and leaching process of plastic consumer products
Plastic waste in rivers and oceans is constantly releasing chemicals into the water. Until now, it was unknown how large these quantities are and which substances are released particularly strongly. In the large-scale P-LEACH project, experts from fo.....»»
Neutrons reveal the existence of local symmetry breaking in a Weyl semimetal
The first materials scientists might have been early humans who—through trial-and-error experiments—discovered the first "cutting-edge" technologies. They found that the best arrowheads and other tools could be made from certain types of natural,.....»»
Urban growth leads to more intense droughts for many world cities—Sydney is a case study for areas at risk
The growth of cities worldwide is contributing to more intense drought conditions in many cities, including Sydney, a new Chinese study has found. This is adding to urban heat and water stress. These important findings point to the need to improve ho.....»»
Waste into gold: Oyster shells repurposed as magic "Seawool"
Growing up on Taiwan's west coast where mollusk farming is popular, Eddie Wang saw discarded oyster shells transformed from waste to function—a memory that inspired him to create a unique and environmentally friendly fabric called "Seawool"......»»
Researchers discover new mechanism to cool buildings while saving energy
With temperatures rising globally, the need for more sustainable cooling options is also growing. Researchers at UCLA and their colleagues have now found an affordable and scalable process to cool buildings in the summer and heat them in the winter......»»
3D laser printing with bioinks from microalgae
Microalgae such as the diatom Odontella aurita and the green alga Tetraselmis striata are especially suitable as "biofactories" for the production of sustainable materials for 3D laser printing due to their high content in lipids and photoactive pigm.....»»
New EV battery chemistries emerge even as solid-state technology advances
Scientists, battery companies and automakers try to develop safe batteries built with accessible materials that enable long driving range and fast charging......»»