Latest news with #KripaVaranasi
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
MIT researchers invent game-changing product that could revolutionize agriculture: 'You could give back a billion dollars to US growers'
A team of MIT researchers has developed a system that helps agricultural sprays stick to plant leaves, cutting down on polluting runoff and lowering costs for farmers. Agricultural spraying involves mixing water with chemicals and applying droplets to plant leaves, which are inherently water-repellent, according to a report by MIT News. After testing a variety of methods to optimize the delivery of pesticides and other sprays, the team ended up coating water droplets with a small amount of oil to help them adhere to the leaves. "Basically, this oil film acts as a way to trap that droplet on the surface, because oil is very attracted to the surface and sort of holds the water in place," said Simon Rufer, an MIT graduate student and co-author of a study on the topic. During initial tests, the researchers used soybean oil, figuring that this material would be familiar to farmers, many of whom grow soybeans, the report explained. However, soybean oil wasn't part of the usual supply chains, so they found that several of the chemicals they were already using could be employed in the same way. "That way, we're not introducing a new chemical or changed chemistries into their field, but they're using things they've known for a long time," said Kripa Varanasi, an MIT professor involved in the project. Pesticide use has been steadily increasing across the globe, rising 20% over the last decade, and even up to 153% in low-income countries. The use of this and other types of sprays across the nearly 1.2 billion acres of agricultural land in the U.S. adds up both in terms of quantity and costs. Approximately half a million tons of pesticides, 12 million tons of nitrogen, and four million tons of phosphorus fertilizer are applied to crops across the country. By using the new system, which is being commercialized by AgZen, a spinoff company created by the researchers, farmers can reduce the amount of spray they need to use on crops. Do you worry about pesticides in your food? All the time Sometimes Not really I only eat organic Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "You could give back a billion dollars to U.S. growers if you just saved 6 percent of their pesticide budget," said Vishnu Jayaprakash, lead author of the research paper and CEO of AgZen. "In the lab we got 300 percent of extra product on the plant. So that means we could get orders of magnitude reductions in the amount of pesticides that farmers are spraying." This adhesive effect also helps reduce agricultural runoff, a leading cause of water quality degradation in rivers and streams. It also helps reduce soil erosion, nutrient loss, and the spread of pesticides into our waterways. The system, which AgZen calls RealCoverage, has already been deployed across 920,000 acres of farmland and various crop types, saving farmers up to 50% on their pesticide expenditures, the report explained. The RealCoverage system requires a nozzle that fits most spraying equipment and provides real-time coverage data using its onboard AI, so that it can be fine-tuned, even while in use. "The knowledge we are gathering from every leaf, combined with our expertise in interfacial science and fluid mechanics, is giving us unparalleled insights into how chemicals are used and developed — and it's clear that we can deliver value across the entire agrochemical supply chain," Varanasi said, per MIT News. "Our mission is to use these technologies to deliver improved outcomes and reduced costs for the ag industry." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Engineers solve 'critical bottleneck' with tech that could help solve pressing global issue: 'Making a meaningful impact'
A new breakthrough from MIT engineers could make one of our most powerful climate tools more efficient. Carbon capture, or the process of pulling carbon dioxide from the air, is a promising solution to help reverse the pollution that is overheating the planet. But it has faced an annoying conundrum so far — the chemicals best at trapping the gas are often the worst at releasing it and vice versa. The researchers reported that they found a fix. By adding a simple nanofiltration step between the carbon capture and release stages, the team was able to improve efficiency by six times and make it at least 20% less expensive, according to a study published in ACS Energy Letters. "We need to think about scale from the get-go," said mechanical engineering professor Kripa Varanasi. "Making a meaningful impact requires processing gigatons of CO2. Having this mindset helps us pinpoint critical bottlenecks and design innovative solutions with real potential for impact. That's the driving force behind our work." So, how does it work? Well, most carbon capture systems use water-based chemical solutions to trap CO2 from the air. But to release that CO2 later (so it can be stored or recycled), those same chemicals become a problem. The leftover compounds interfere with the release process. "You can see how these two steps are at odds," Varanasi said. "These two systems are circulating the same sorbent back and forth. They're operating on the exact same liquid. But because they need two different types of liquids to operate optimally, it's impossible to operate both systems at their most efficient points." The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's solution is a filtration process that sorts the chemicals by electrical charge in between the two steps. This allows each part of the cycle to operate more efficiently. With this nanofiltration, the system is more resilient, making it easier and cheaper to scale up. Right now, carbon capture costs at least $600 per ton. The new approach could drop that to $450 — with researchers optimistic that it could come down to $200 with a little more development. While transitioning away from dirty fuels is still the most crucial element of bringing Earth's temperatures back into balance, that's good news for governments and companies investing in climate solutions, and for buyers on the growing carbon credit market. By making this process more efficient, there could soon be safer alternatives to today's more toxic chemical solutions, leading to cleaner air and less chemical waste. Plus, the system works with materials already available commercially — and could be retrofitted to existing systems. As Varanasi put it, "We're confident that we'll have something that can become economically viable. "This is just one example of researchers' pushing climate tech forward. Other innovators — including Trashie and LanzaTech — are also proving that solutions to pollution can be smart and profitable. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
