HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Rice bran becomes antimicrobial, biodegradable food packaging
The team treated a transparent film made from rice bran protein with argon-generated cold plasma, giving the biodegradable material antimicrobial properties against foodborne pathogens.
Low-cost, 3D-printed filter traps microplastics in water
The filter is built from 3D-printed disks of biodegradable polymer, stacked one on top of another inside a column.
New light-powered filter could keep cleaning air for months
Offering an alternative to standard filtration systems that protect users from pollutants and airborne diseases, the air filter maintained 99% filtration efficiency after one month of use and 95% after three months of use, the team determined.
Honeybee silk breakthrough paves the way for smarter, more powerful wound care
The film was well tolerated during wound healing in mice and gradually degraded within the wound, promising to offer a future base for dressings that include potential functions like infection sensing or controlled drug release.
DIY air filters battle the hidden pollutants lurking in classrooms
The team investigated whether inexpensive DIY air filters could provide an alternative to costly commercial portable air purifiers.
Continuous flow chemistry: Driving smarter, faster, more efficient processing
Manufacturers are increasingly considering continuous processing as an alternative, driven by rising raw material costs, supply chain challenges and labor shortages.
Reinforced super ice is a composite ready to rival concrete
The ice, dubbed BioPykrete, exhibits 10 times the compression strength of regular ice, and could be a valuable building material in some of the world's coldest locations.
KAIST unlocks new hope for pain relief with remote-controlled microneedles
The team created its conductive, adhesive microneedle electrode, which features a temperature-responsive safety switch of sorts.
Researchers turn invasive weed into powerful carbon filter
The bulrush-derived ZVCu@BAC composite maintained high dye-removal performance after six regeneration cycles, removing 90.6% of methylene blue and 88.0% of methyl orange.
A light-powered approach to hydrogen electrolysis
The device employs photocathodes to produce the electricity needed to convert toxic hydrazine into nitrogen and water, which can then be converted into hydrogen at the anode, all while eliminating the need for an external power source.
New membrane technology targets 50% cut in pharma water use
The teams are attempting to prove whether wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturing can be reused in the manufacturing process to reduce Novo Nordisk’s water consumption by half.
Air filtration breakthrough could transform indoor air quality
Water-repellent filter coatings often rely on PFAS materials, yet this could be a promising alternative.
Ultrablack wool unlocks a powerful, sustainable path to clean water
Researchers demonstrated that polydopamine-dyed ultrablack wool could serve as a low-cost, renewable material for solar-powered water purification.
Color-shifting material could deliver a powerful blow to counterfeiters
The material, called davyne, is derived from the photochromic mineral hackmanite, which changes color under near-infrared light.
Yeast joins the race to build strong, 3D-printed homes on Mars
The formula is a blend of Martian rocks, gelatin and yeast that once dried and hardened, is as strong as low-grade concrete.
Self-healing coating gives metal a powerful new defense against corrosion
What sets the coating apart is its ability to detect damage and automatically repair scrapes and cracks, creating a protective barrier that can extend the coating’s service life.
Plasma breathes new life into plant-based packaging as a plastic alternative
The treatment is designed to reduce water absorption and improve the films’ resistance to moisture without compromising their mechanical performance or structural integrity.
New bio-based plastic becomes fertilizer after processing
To tackle the growing global plastic waste problem, researchers from Chiba University, Tohoku University and the University of Tokyo have developed a bio-based plastic that can be converted into fertilizer. The researchers found that a component of the plastic can be chemically converted into
Plastic waste turned into protein-packed cookies
In a bid to repurpose plastic waste, the team modified yeasts so that plastic and agricultural waste could be converted into edible proteins and flavoring molecules.
Self-healing hydrogel packs powerful adhesion and sensing into one material
The UESTC team suggests it has overcome such limitations with a hydrogel that combines room-temperature self-healing, strong inherent adhesion and interfacial capacitive sensing within a single material.