Environment

A coalition led by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), Hyundai Motor, and Kia has developed “the world’s first engine capable of directly injecting ammonia into the combustion chamber at high pressure.” The coalition reported overcoming longstanding challenges in power stability and emissions. Direct High-Pressure Injection: The engine eliminates the need for gaseous…

By replacing conventional concrete aggregates with carbon-based materials, scientists at Empa believe large amounts of CO₂ could be permanently stored in building products. Their concept, “Mining the Atmosphere,” aims to help reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels to 350 parts per million — roughly the 1988 benchmark. To remove CO₂ from the atmosphere is “a very energy-intensive…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced over $136 million for 66 projects designed to reduce energy consumption and emissions in America’s most critical industrial subsectors. The funding aims to accelerate the adoption of new technologies that can strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, secure supply chains, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Major funding areas Projects…

Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have demonstrated a method for converting plastic waste into higher-value materials. By chemically “editing” polymer chains, they upcycle discarded plastics — such as tire-grade polybutadiene and consumer-grade acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) — into new structures with improved performance. This approach could tackle the nearly…

Every day seems to bring new developments in rechargeable battery research, with teams racing to surpass conventional lithium-ion technology, which has significant room for enhancement. As the adoption of electric vehicles rises and the need for storing renewable energy becomes increasingly important, the search intensifies for safer, lighter, and more sustainable power sources. Recent breakthroughs…

Maintaining large-scale infrastructure is becoming increasingly challenging as urban populations expand and extreme weather events occur more frequently. Waste landfill facilities, in particular, present difficulties for managers with limited on-site access, resulting in various issues, including environmental pollution. Tapping into free satellite data, the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) has developed…

Some argue that carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are critical tools for reducing global carbon emissions, though questions remain about their scalability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term impact. Safe and efficient supercritical or dense-phase carbon dioxide (CO₂) transportation is critical for successfully implementing CCUS projects. According to the U.S. Department of Energy website, “Carbon capture, utilization,…

Recent scientific evidence has brought increasing attention to microplastics—plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter—and their pervasive presence in our environment. While their ubiquity raises legitimate concerns, our 2024 analysis “Microplastics are bad—but ignoring science is worse” reveals that commonly cited statistics about human plastic consumption often lack rigorous scientific validation. Emerging research continues…

For decades, the Nyquist-Shannon theorem—a foundational principle of signal processing—dictated that fully sampling a signal at or above twice its highest frequency was essential for capturing critical information. Now, a Pennsylvania startup called Lightscline suggests we may be entering a “post-Nyquist era.” According to a recent Nature Scientific Reports paper, the company’s neural-network-based software, inspired…

In collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, researchers at Teesside University are developing a novel material called CalyChar that could significantly reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide at a fraction of the cost of current technologies. This material can potentially capture 3.5–5 million tons of CO2 annually in the U.K. and nearly 30 million tons globally by…

The architecture of progress extends beyond laboratories and research hubs. Here, in these 30 architectural monuments, you’ll find a unique blend of R&D centers alongside actual tributes to innovation, like the spiraling Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. From the biotech brilliance Louis Kahn envisioned at the Salk Institute in 1959 to the plant-filled spheres of…

Lithium-ion battery packs experienced the most significant price drop in seven years. A promising new material could help batteries achieve over 20,000 charge and discharge cycles before reaching the 80% capacity threshold, maximizing their value. Two new battery technologies could replace lithium-ion, and the Biden administration significantly boosted battery production and charging infrastructure with a…

A new study by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) demonstrates that scrap aluminum from industrial waste can be directly transformed into high-performance alloys without conventional melting processes. Published in Nature Communications, the study outlines a method called solid phase alloying, which provides a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable pathway for…

Dr. Tim Kelly and his team at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have made key discoveries about why solar cells made with lead halide perovskite degrade prematurely. These discoveries could advance the reliability of a new generation of solar cells. In experiments conducted at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron, Kelly, a professor of chemistry…

A new method for recycling black polystyrene plastics, such as coffee lids and food containers, could help divert these materials from landfills. The approach, reported in ACS Central Science, uses sunlight or white LED light to transform black and colored polystyrene waste into reusable chemical components. Black plastics are notoriously difficult to recycle due to…

In recent years, the global demand for batteries has significantly increased. This demand is driven by incorporating energy storage in the power sector, expanding solar and wind power use, and rising interest in electric vehicles globally. Governmental investments and new regulations worldwide support this development and the rise of clean energy. The lithium-ion battery (LIB)…

In the pursuit of sustainable energy, some inventors think big. Zhiyu (Jerry) Hu, Ph.D., thinks small — at the nanoscale. His work in thermoelectric devices is transforming how we understand and harvest energy, turning minute temperature differences into reliable power sources. For much of his life, Hu has found inspiration not just in fire but…

Scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have identified cellulose diacetate (CDA) foam as the fastest-degrading bioplastic tested in seawater, offering a promising alternative to traditional plastics like Styrofoam. The study, led by Collin Ward and his team, was published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. It revealed that foamed CDA degrades 15 times…

Argonne National Laboratory has developed a new technology that could significantly impact the aviation industry and the environment by turning waste streams into cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This novel invention, dubbed “membrane-assisted anaerobic digestion” (MAAD), converts high-strength organic wastewater from sources like breweries and dairy farms into volatile fatty acids, which can be further…

Researchers are exploring the potential of the International Space Station’s microgravity environment to improve the sensitivity of biosensors used for cancer detection, leading them to investigate a compelling possibility: Could the key to earlier cancer detection lie in the behavior of bubbles in space? Studies on the ISS are showing that it just might, as…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) was up 2.91% with Cisco leading at 8.78%, in spite of its lay-off announcement. In the week ending August 16, the index closed at 3878.49 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 2.91% (or 109.53 basis points). Twenty-one RDWI members gained value last week from 0.95%…

For six decades, the R&D 100 Awards have been a benchmark of achievement in science and technology, often referred to informally as “The Oscars of Innovation.” This year, we’re offering a new interactive experience, allowing you to explore the remarkable work of both winners and finalists across diverse fields. From advances in mechanical and material…

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is naturally produced in many crucial industries, such as agriculture and wastewater treatment. What if we could grab that gas before it enters the atmosphere and make something useful out of it? Mango Materials, a California-based biomanufacturing company, has invented a way to do just that. Using a special mixture…

First Solar, Tempe, Arizona, recently commissioned what it dubs ‘the largest thin-film R&D center in the Western Hemisphere.’ The company — the U.S.’s largest solar panel manufacturer — has sited its Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation in Lake Township, Ohio, which is just south of Akron. The 1.3-million-ft² facility includes a pilot manufacturing line…

Imagine a world where even the driest deserts could provide clean drinking water. Such a reality could prove transformative for arid regions such as Saudi Arabia, the Atacama Desert in Chile, the Sahel region in Africa, and the Australian Outback. Yet even the air in these dry regions contains trillions of liters of water vapor.…