Latest news with #PohangUniversityofScienceandTechnology
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Golden Fiber Worn by Emperors Resurrected After 2,000 Years
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. One of the most prized materials of antiquity—the luxurious "golden fiber of the sea" that was reserved for the likes of Roman emperors—has been resurrected after 2,000 years. Often proposed as the inspiration for the "Golden Fleece" of Greek myth, sea silk is made from the "byssus" threads secreted by the pen shell Pinna nobilis, a large species of clam that is native to the Mediterranean, to anchor it to rocks on the seafloor. Sea silk was valued for being lightweight, warm and finer than regular silk, but also for its iridescent, golden color that wouldn't fade. A sample of the new sea silk. A sample of the new sea silk. POSTECH Ecological decline, overfishing and marine pollution, however, have driven P. nobilis into endangered status, with harvesting of the clam has been banned and the art of spinning byssus thread now limited to but a few individuals. Now, however, professor Dong Soo Hwang of South Korea's Pohang University of Science and Technology and colleagues have spun sea silk from the "waste" byproduct of a commercially farmed shellfish—and revealed the secret of its lasting color. In their study, Hwang and colleagues focused on another "pen shell" species, Atrina pectinata, which is cultivated off of the coast of Korea for food. Just like its endangered cousin P. nobilis, A. pectinata secretes byssus threads to anchor itself to the sea floor. The researchers determined that these threads are both chemically and physically similar to those produced by P. nobilis—and, moreover, can be processed to recreate golden sea silk. Analysis of this material has revealed what gives sea silk its distinctive golden hue and why the color is so resistant to fading over time. Rather than being the result of some form of dye, the golden sheen of sea silk is inherent, a form of "structural coloration" derived from the way light reflects off its nanostructures. The same phenomenon can also be seen at play in the iridescent surfaces or soap bubbles and on butterfly wings. Pictured: a pen shell, both closed (left) and open (right), showing the byssus from which the material for the sea silk is taken. Pictured: a pen shell, both closed (left) and open (right), showing the byssus from which the material for the sea silk is taken. POSTECH In the case of sea silk, the structural coloration come from the layering of a spherical protein called photonin—one that becomes more vivid the more orderly the protein arrangement. The result is a coloring that is highly stable. "Structurally colored textiles are inherently resistant to fading," said Hwang in a statement. "Our technology enables long-lasting color without the use of dyes or metals, opening new possibilities for sustainable fashion and advanced materials." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about sea silk? Let us know via science@ Reference Choi, J., Im, J.-H., Kim, Y.-K., Shin, T. J., Flammang, P., Yi, G.-R., Pine, D. J., & Hwang, D. S. (2025). Structurally Colored Sustainable Sea Silk from Atrina pectinata. Advanced Materials.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists just discovered a faster, cheaper way to make fuel — and it's unlike anything we've seen before
The same microwave science that heats up your leftovers for lunch can be leveraged to create a cleaner hydrogen energy source if lab work at South Korea's Pohang University of Science and Technology comes to fruition. The team's progress was detailed in a study published by ScienceDaily. The key, per the researchers, is that microwaves can drive chemical reactions in addition to warming yesterday's lasagna. The research will "pave the way for the development of new materials optimized for microwave-driven chemical processes," professor Hyungyu Jin said in the report, per ScienceDaily. For hydrogen, it means a cleaner way to produce a fuel that generates no heat-trapping air pollution. It emits only heat and water as a byproduct when used in a fuel cell, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. But most commercial hydrogen in the U.S. is made with a process that uses fossil fuels. Electrolysis is a cleaner option that uses electricity to separate hydrogen from water, ideally using power from renewable sources, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Pohang experts said that energy-hungry temperatures of around 2,732 degrees Fahrenheit are needed for thermochemical methods. Microwaves can cut the heat requirement by 60%. What's more, microwaves create "oxygen vacancies" in the material crucial for splitting hydrogen from water in only minutes, compared to hours with other methods, according to the study summary. Hydrogen's potential is great, already powering cranes, boats, and garbage trucks. Hydrogen can also be combusted to make energy. Powering a turbine is an example. But burning the gas results in nitrogen oxide emissions, which is a harmful fume, according to environmental watchdog Sierra Club. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that the "high" amounts of the vapor can irritate human lungs. An ideal model is for hydrogen to be made with a fossil fuel-free process and used in a fuel cell. This scenario would eliminate harmful gases, importantly planet-warming ones linked by NASA to greater risks of severe weather, including wildfires. High fuel cell cost is another challenge reported by the DOE. As for making the gas, Pohang's team has the temperature requirement for hydrogen production down to around 1,112 degrees thanks to efficient chemical reactions driven by microwaves. The findings were verified through thermodynamic modeling, according to the report. What's the farthest you'd drive out of the way to charge or fill up your car? 20 minutes or more 10 to 20 minutes 5 to 10 minutes Less than 5 minutes Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Introducing a new mechanism powered by microwaves and overcoming the limitations of existing processes are major achievements," professor Gunsu S. Yun, team lead, said in the summary. Hydrogen innovations are happening stateside too. A team from the University of Illinois Chicago is developing a way to make the gas using sunlight and biowaste. And an even cleaner option is readily available: your own two feet. Simply replacing a two-mile drive with a walk each day can cut 600 pounds of harmful air pollution a year. Strolling to the local restaurant to get your next takeout order is a great way to start. You will also realize some big cardio benefits, per Harvard Health Publishing. 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.
