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.....»»
Aluminum scandium nitride films: Enabling next-gen ferroelectric memory devices
Imagine a thin film, just nanometers thick, that could store gigabytes of data—enough for movies, video games, and videos. This is the exciting potential of ferroelectric materials for memory storage. These materials have a unique arrangement of io.....»»
Decomposing "refrigerants," a potent greenhouse gas, using industrial waste
A research team has developed a technology to decompose refrigerants, a greenhouse gas 1,300 times more potent than carbon dioxide, using challenging-to-handle industrial waste......»»
Western US faces wildfires as millions under heat warnings
Several western US states including California and Utah were battling wildfires on Monday as millions of Americans in the region were once again under heat alerts......»»
Apple “clearly underreporting” child sex abuse, watchdogs say
Report: Apple vastly undercounts child sex abuse materials on iCloud and iMessage. Enlarge (credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg) After years of controversies over plans to scan iCloud to find more child sexual ab.....»»
Mexico tries to bring drought-stricken lake back to life
Mexican authorities are releasing thousands of juvenile fish and cleaning up freshwater springs as part of efforts to rejuvenate one of the country's lakes stricken by drought and heat waves......»»
Why we find extreme weather so fascinating
When climate change leads the news, it's often down to a hurricane, heat wave or flood. And, judging by our most widely read environment stories over the past decade, extreme weather really is one of the main ways the public (or at least our readers).....»»
Study shows how waste Styrofoam can be transformed into polymers for electronics
A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Delaware and Argonne National Laboratory describes a chemical reaction that can convert Styrofoam into a high-value conducting polymer known as PEDOT:PSS......»»
Working to strengthen Pacific Northwest defenses against wildfires and wildfire smoke
In the summer of 2020, wildfire smoke blanketed the city of Portland, Oregon, leading to a prolonged period of poor air quality and health concerns for residents. Subsequently, in 2021 the city experienced a heat wave with temperatures reaching as hi.....»»
Chemists design novel method for generating sustainable fuel
Chemists have been working to synthesize high-value materials from waste molecules for years. Now, an international collaboration of scientists is exploring ways to use electricity to streamline the process......»»
A new way to control the magnetic properties of rare earth elements
The special properties of rare earth magnetic materials are due to the electrons in the 4f shell. Until now, the magnetic properties of 4f electrons were considered almost impossible to control......»»
New AI approach accelerates targeted materials discovery and sets the stage for self-driving experiments
Scientists have developed an AI-based method that helps gather data more efficiently in the search for new materials, allowing researchers to navigate complex design challenges with greater precision and speed......»»
5 great Amazon Prime Video movies that are perfect to watch in the summer
From a classic 1990s crime saga to a 2023 Oscar-winning drama, these five Amazon Prime Video movies are a great way to beat the heat this summer......»»
Nano-scale materials that mimic enzymes could convert CO₂ into chemical building blocks
Montana State University researcher James Crawford recently published a collaborative paper with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that marks a step forward in their quest for what he calls a "holy grail" of chemistry: converting the greenhous.....»»
Greenhouses are becoming more popular, but there"s little research on how to protect workers
From opposite ends of the world, the uncomfortable conditions Shamim Ahamed and Purvi Tiwari experienced doing separate Ph.D. research inside greenhouses inspired them to study the heat in the indoor structures......»»
"It"s unbearable": heat waves scorch southern and eastern Europe
Unrelenting heat is blanketing swathes of southern and eastern Europe, with dozens of cities on red alert as scorching temperatures fuel wildfires, strain power grids, and make daily life unbearable......»»
Studies explore converting wastewater to fertilizer with fungal treatment
Creating fertilizers from organic waste can help reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and promote sustainable production. One way of doing this is through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which converts biomass into biocrude oil through a high-temp.....»»
California"s dirtiest beaches reported
As Mother Nature continues to turn up the heat this summer, those looking to cool off along the California coast might want to reconsider where they're swimming......»»
AI is poised to radically disrupt the fashion industry landscape
Fashion is a dynamic business. Most apparel brands make at least two to four collections per year. While selling current seasonal collections, brands plan for the next ones at least a year in advance, identifying market trends and materials. The sell.....»»
Rural belts around cities could reduce urban temperatures by up to 0.5°C, study suggests
The key to cooling 'urban heat islands' may lie in the countryside, according to a new study, published in the journal Nature Cities, from scientists at the University of Surrey and Southeast University (China)......»»
Scientists develop novel iontronic skin with excellent self-healing efficiency and sensitivity
Researchers led by Prof. Zhu Jin at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a novel mechano-responsive elastomer, i-DAPU, achieving high-performance iontronic skin that in.....»»