Ozone Pollution Has Increased in Antarctica – From Both Natural and Human Sources
Ozone is a pollutant at ground level, but very high in the atmosphere’s “ozone layer,” it absorbs damaging ultraviolet radiation. Past studies have examined ozone…
American Chemical Society
Catalytic Converter Theft Is on the Rise – Here’s Why
Catalytic converters cut down on toxic car emissions, and, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, they’re one of the greatest environmental inventions of all…
Bacteria-Sized Metallic Robots Take On Microplastics – And Win by Breaking Them Down
Small pieces of plastic are everywhere, stretching from urban environments to pristine wilderness. Left to their own devices, it can take hundreds of years for…
Mapping Intermittent Methane Emissions Across the Permian Basin – The Largest Oil- and Gas-Producing Region in the U.S.
The Permian Basin, located in western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, is the largest oil- and gas-producing region in the U.S. The oilfield operations emit…
Nano-Photosynthesis: An Illuminating Possibility for Stroke Treatment
Blocked blood vessels in the brains of stroke patients prevent oxygen-rich blood from getting to cells, causing severe damage. Plants and some microbes produce oxygen…
Can We Make Opioids Less Addictive? [Video]
Opioids are the most powerful painkillers we have, but they’re incredibly addictive. Tens of thousands of people in the U.S. die of an opioid overdose…
Handheld “MasSpec Pen” Reveals Meat and Fish Fraud in Seconds
Meat and fish fraud are global problems, costing consumers billions of dollars every year. On top of that, mislabeling products can cause problems for people…
An Uncrackable Combination: Invisible Ink and Artificial Intelligence
Coded messages in invisible ink sound like something only found in espionage books, but in real life, they can have important security purposes. Yet, they…
Creating Patterns With Complex Microstructures Spontaneously in Synthetic Materials
Nature produces a startling array of patterned materials, from the sensitive ridges on a person’s fingertip to a cheetah’s camouflaging spots. Although nature’s patterns arise…
Reducing Blue Light: A New Type of LED That Won’t Keep You Up All Night
To be more energy efficient, many people have replaced their incandescent lights with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. However, those currently on the market emit a…
MIT Scientists Translated the Structure of a Spider Web Into Music – Watch & Listen
Spiders are master builders, expertly weaving strands of silk into intricate 3D webs that serve as the spider’s home and hunting ground. If humans could…
New Method to Separate Beer Waste Into Proteins for Foods, and Fiber for Biofuels
Home brewing enthusiasts and major manufacturers alike experience the same result of the beer-making process: mounds of leftover grain. Once all the flavor has been…
Making Cleaner, Greener, Biodegradable Plastics From Waste Fish Parts
Polyurethanes, a type of plastic, are nearly everywhere — in shoes, clothes, refrigerators, and construction materials. But these highly versatile materials can have a major…
Outsmarting Cheaters: Doping by Athletes Tougher to Hide With New Detection Method
As the world awaits the upcoming Olympic games, a new method for detecting doping compounds in urine samples could level the playing field for those…
Double-Duty: New Catalyst Generates Hydrogen Fuel While Cleaning Up Wastewater
Hydrogen is a pollution-free energy source when it’s extracted from water using sunlight instead of fossil fuels. But current strategies for “splitting” or breaking apart…
Copper Foam Is Highly Efficient, Durable as a Filter for Reusable Masks and Air Cleaners
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have grown accustomed to wearing facemasks, but many coverings are fragile and not easily disinfected. Metal foams are durable, and…
Ultralow-Temperature Supercapacitors Using Porous Carbon Aerogel – Could Power Mars & Polar Missions
NASA’s Perseverance Rover recently made a successful landing on Mars, embarking on a two-year mission to seek signs of ancient life and collect samples. Because…
How Environmentally Friendly Are “Green” Fireworks?
Fireworks are used in celebrations around the world, including Independence Day in the U.S., the Lantern Festival in China and the Diwali Festival in India….
