HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Electronic nose technology detects food spoilage, allergens in real time
The new device features 16 microscopic gas sensors, each of which has been created to respond differently to airborne chemical compounds. Altogether, the 16 sensors produce unique response patterns when exposed to different foods.
90-second process upcycles wet coffee grounds into solid fuel
In what may prove an energy-efficient path for converting high-moisture organic waste into valuable fuel and carbon materials, the team devised a way to harness the energy potential of spent coffee grounds.
Smarter tech unlocks more nutrition from staple crops
By better aligning processing conditions with the physical properties of the raw material, modern systems can maintain high throughput while improving the nutritional quality of the final product.
Biodegradable fruit wash removes pesticides, extends freshness
The wash is composed of a mixture of starch nanoparticles, tannic acid and iron. The team explained that it selected starch, which is a plant-based material, because it can form films.
Portable food safety sensor snags Salmonella with virus-coated polymer
The new technology can quickly capture and visualize foodborne bacterial contaminants in tiny fluid samples.
From yeast to structures: Baked biomaterial enables 3D-printed architecture
The new material is comprised of baker's yeast, cellulose fibers from wood, alginate from algae, glycerol from plants and water. Altogether, these ingredients create a type of hydrogel that can be 3D printed.
Tea leaves and mussels inspire new eco-friendly bio-adhesive
Beyond its robust adhesive qualities, TEAGEL is expected to be sustainable and biocompatible. The tea leaves also reportedly deliver antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
Forward osmosis for food concentration
Forward osmosis (FO) represents a shift toward a more sustainable and quality focused model by using osmotic pressure to remove water as an alternative to heat or high hydraulic pressure.
Spider silk-inspired method transforms corn protein into ultra-tough plastic alternative
The scientists turned to a corn protein called zein, which is abundant, renewable and naturally hydrophobic. Because the material is also relatively brittle, the team took inspiration from the way spiders spin their silk to improve the zein’s mechanical strength.
Beer waste finds new life as eco-friendly paper
According to the researchers, the brewer's spent grain features a composition rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin — which also happen to be key components for papermaking.
Fruit wash eliminates 94% of pesticides, keeps grapes fresh for 15 days at room temperature
The new solution, developed by a team from the University of British Columbia (UBC), reportedly removes the majority of surface chemicals and helps fruit stay fresh for longer.
Apple waste could fuel vehicles, nourish livestock
Apple pomace represents roughly 25% to 30% of processed apples and is typically treated as waste even though it possesses rich carbohydrate content and strong potential for bioconversion.
Study shows cold plasma treatment may reduce peanut allergens
The method involves briefly treating peanuts with cold plasma, which is an ionically charged gas that causes chemical changes, thereby reducing their potential to trigger allergic reactions.
Beer waste could power new sunscreen as spent hops show strong UV protection
This waste is an abundant source of bioactive compounds — for example, bitter acids, polyphenols and essential oils. Polyphenols in particular have strong antioxidant properties, which gives them the potential to protect skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays.
How sewage treatment plants could handle food waste, sparing landfills and the climate
Sending such waste to wastewater treatment facilities instead of landfills can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while capturing biogas and organic matter for reuse.
Microrobots take over the kitchen: Precision automation for next-gen food processing
As global manufacturing demands higher precision, these small scale systems are becoming a primary tool for quality control. By moving beyond fixed-path planning, microrobots allow for a level of control in inspection and the handling of fragile materials that was previously difficult to automate.
Discarded oyster shells could help extract rare Earth metals from contaminated water
Although oyster shells would typically end up in landfills after consumption, the team determined that they can be used to capture and remove rare Earth elements from polluted water, turning them into stable mineral crystals.
Startup unveils ‘world’s first’ chocolate bars made from cultured cocoa
The startup explained that the chocolate was created using cell suspension culture technology, wherein cocoa cells were grown in controlled environments to mimic the compounds found in naturally grown cocoa.
Tiny bubbles use sound waves to safely clean produce
Such an alternative cleaning method could potentially be refined to help farmers and households avoid harsh chemicals and eliminate surface damage to vegetables and fruits, while simultaneously reducing the high amounts of energy often expended with traditional cleaning.
California brewery debuts beer brewed with CO2 captured from thin air
Aircapture, a company focused on direct air capture (DAC), worked in conjunction with the Almanac Beer Co. to develop what is called Flow — Clean Air Edition (Flow — CAE).