Latest news with #TechXplore
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists develop revolutionary method to keep dangerous toxins out of rivers and lakes: 'It holds strong potential'
Scientists develop revolutionary method to keep dangerous toxins out of rivers and lakes: 'It holds strong potential' Scientists have created a new water treatment material that can more efficiently purify water for release and extract phosphorus for industrial purposes. According to research on the revolutionary material, published in Springer Nature, the researchers propose the use of "urchin-like La/Cu-Fe3O4 nanocapsules featuring perpendicular La/Cu nanosheets surrounding an Fe3O4 nanosphere core." The material can efficiently remove phosphorus from wastewater to ensure it's pure enough to be released into rivers and lakes. Wastewater must be treated before release, and much of that process involves removing phosphorus, which causes green algae growth, and disinfecting microorganisms like total coliform. The new material accomplishes both highly efficiently. And, the retrieved phosphorus is a valuable industrial material used to make fertilizers, cleaning agents, and detergents. According to TechXplore, the system operates without electricity by using a magnetic field to move the material with precision. This reduces energy consumption by over 99% compared to traditional treatment methods, decreasing energy costs and carbon emissions. "The key to our research is the rapid recovery of phosphorus from sea urchin structural materials and the implementation of a process that precisely controls particles in water with magnetic fields," said Dr. Youngkyun Jung, first author of the study, per TechXplore. The treatment can be implemented in water purification plants, sewage treatment plants, and industrial wastewater treatment sites. The treated water can be used in precision agriculture, smart farms, eco-friendly industrial parks, and public water and sewage systems, helping to improve water security. "It holds strong potential for future expansion into multifunctional water treatment platforms," Jung explained, per TechXplore. This incredible technology can reduce the cost and time it takes to properly treat water for release or recycling. It could work with emergency purification systems for natural disasters, mobile facilities for underdeveloped countries, and portable water treatment devices. This would make water more accessible and affordable to those in need, reducing water scarcity around the world. On top of helping people get usable water, the technology also helps the planet. It ensures harmful materials — like the microorganisms in wastewater — don't pollute lakes and rivers. The eco-friendly system will reduce planet-warming emissions created during the treatment process, helping work toward a cleaner, cooler future. The material has been successfully tested in labs, so the next step is likely further development and eventually pilot projects. How concerned are you about the plastic waste in our oceans? Extremely I'm pretty concerned A little Not much 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.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers make game-changing discovery that could fix dangerous issue with common home heating feature: 'The health effects are well known'
Wood-burning stoves are still common across the U.S., especially in rural areas. They're cheap to run and easy to maintain. However, they also release fine particulate pollution that can be dangerous inside and outside the home. A group at Oregon State University may have found a fix. "Our goal is to make wood heating safer for families and better for the environment," said Nordica MacCarty, the lead researcher and an associate engineering professor at OSU, according to TechXplore. "A stove doesn't need to pollute this much to be effective." Her team discovered that most pollution happens during two key moments: when the fire is started and when more fuel is added. Those short bursts are responsible for around 70% of the total particulate emissions. The fine particles — PM2.5 — can travel deep into your lungs and even reach the bloodstream. "The health effects are well known," said MacCarty. "Long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to heart disease, asthma, and even early death." The U.S. has roughly 10 million wood-burning stoves. About two-thirds of them fail to meet current Environmental Protection Agency standards. According to MacCarty, "A lot of the older stoves are essentially just metal boxes with chimneys. They were never built with emissions in mind." "Wood is an affordable, local, renewable, low-carbon fuel that should be an important part of the U.S. energy mix, but it must be burned cleanly to effectively protect health," MacCarty said. To reduce that pollution, the team developed a device that automatically injects air at precisely the right times. It isn't a filter or fan, but a smart system that adjusts airflow based on how the fire behaves. Lab and field tests showed it could reduce emissions by up to 95%. "We've known for years how to make combustion cleaner in a lab setting," she said. "What's new is getting those results in homes, during real use." The prototype also helps reduce creosote buildup, a flammable byproduct that sticks to chimney walls and causes house fires. By optimizing the fire's burn efficiency, the system also reduces that risk. Instead of relying on controlled lab tests, the OSU team installed its prototypes in homes throughout Oregon. It placed sensors in stoves and chimneys, collecting data over time. 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. Cleaner-burning stoves aren't just good for individual households; they improve air quality for entire neighborhoods. As MacCarty pointed out, "If a few homes on one street are using outdated stoves, they can impact everyone around them." For homeowners looking to reduce heating costs, solar energy is a solid option with potential tax credits. One platform, EnergySage, helps people compare quotes from local installers. Many users end up saving thousands. Cleaner heat, safer homes, lower bills. The fixes are out there — you just have to know where to look. 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
12-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers make groundbreaking discovery with potential to change future of wind energy: 'Could play an invaluable role'
Engineers from the University of Glasgow have revealed a new design for bladeless wind turbines that has the potential to optimize efficiency. Published in the Renewable Energy journal, the study used advanced computer simulations to compare thousands of bladeless models to determine which design led to the best performance. Thanks to the computer analysis, the team of engineers was able to successfully understand how mast dimensions, power output, and structural safety in different wind speeds influence a turbine's power output. "Their key finding is that there is an optimal design for BWTs which creates a 'sweet spot' where power generation is maximized against structural strength," according to a summary posted on Tech Xplore. Based on the researchers' conclusions, the optimized design features an 80-centimeter mast, which has the ability to "safely deliver a maximum of 460 watts of power, the team found, significantly outpacing the best performance of even the best-performing real-world prototypes built to date, which have delivered a maximum of 100 watts," per the summary. As the name implies, bladeless wind turbines (BWTs) are made without blades, and therefore generate power differently than conventional wind turbines that use the blades to produce electricity. Instead, BWTs generate electricity through a process known as vortex-induced vibration. Since BWTs are in the shape of a thin cylinder, they sway in the wind, creating a motion that's then converted into electricity. Advancements in BWT design make transitioning toward clean energy solutions more accessible. The more companies that opt for wind energy, the more we can reduce the total amount of pollution in the atmosphere. "In the future, BWTs could play an invaluable role in generating wind power in urban environments, where conventional wind turbines are less useful," Dr. Wrik Mallik, one of the paper's corresponding authors, said in the summary. "BWTs are quieter than wind turbines, take up less space, pose less of a threat to wildlife, and have fewer moving parts, so they should require less regular maintenance." Should we be harnessing the ocean to power our homes? Absolutely Leave it be It depends I'm not sure 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.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers accomplish 'pivotal step' on quest to create new-age solar panels: 'We are honored to contribute'
Scientists at the Autonomous University of Querétaro in Mexico have discovered how to make perovskite solar cells, a type of thin-film cell, more stable and efficient without using traditional lead halide perovskites, which pose health and environmental risks, as relayed by Tech Xplore. The findings were published in Optical and Quantum Electronics. Solar panels are made of individual solar photovoltaic cells, or solar cells, which contain the technology to convert the photons from sunlight into electricity. According to the Department of Energy, the main semiconductor material favored and used in most solar cells is silicon due to the element's abundance on Earth and silicon's high efficiency in converting light into energy. Silicon solar cells dominate the market, representing 95% of all solar modules sold. An up-and-coming type of solar cell is perovskite cells — a type of thin-film solar cell "built with layers of materials that are printed, coated, or vacuum-deposited onto an underlying support layer, known as the substrate," per the Department of Energy. These layers help the solar cell absorb light, separate charge particles, and create an electrical circuit, allowing electricity to flow. The potential to create perovskite layers with printing technology makes this solar cell economically attractive for the solar industry, helping to lower solar production costs. Perovskite solar cells are also highly efficient at converting light into energy — comparable to silicon cell technology. It's why scientists have been iterating this thin-film solar in the lab, achieving over 20% improved efficiency progress in the last decade. One flaw, however, is that the most common type of perovskite used in perovskite solar cells is lead halide perovskites, according to Solar Magazine. Lead halide perovskites can contaminate the environment, leaching lead into the ground, and affect plants and crops, affecting local ecosystems and the larger food chain. Lead toxicity in humans can lead to anemia and high blood pressure in adults, and interfere with brain development and hearing in children. Motivated to replace lead halide perovskites with an alternative and sustainable material, the researchers at the Autonomous University of Querétaro toyed with a chalcogenide perovskite — (Ca,Ba)ZrS3 — composed of calcium (Ca), barium (Ba), zirconium (Zr), and sulfur (S). Which of these factors is the biggest obstacle preventing you from getting solar panels? The upfront cost The way they look Not sure where to start No concerns here! Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. This perovskite has strong thermal and chemical stability, as relayed by Tech Xplore, and has a bandgap that can be fine-tuned to fall within the "sweet spot" for solar energy — reaching 1.26 eV. The ideal bandgap range for photovoltaic material is 1 - 1.8 eV, according to a Joule article. The researchers paired this perovskite with advanced inorganic spinel hole transport layers, which help move positively charged particles, or "holes," in solar cells to where they need to go in the electrical circuit to produce the flow of electricity. Testing the performance of this perovskite solar cell, the researchers found that they were able to improve the power conversion efficiency "to an impressive rate of over 34% by meticulously engineering layer thickness, carrier concentration, and interface properties." Feasible perovskite solar cells could drastically lower the production cost for solar, passing on the cheaper rate to consumers and making cleaner energy more accessible. Transitioning to solar also helps reduce global dependence on dirty energy, which contributes to heat-trapping gases that raise global temperatures and cause extreme weather events. Accessible solar will also improve air quality, which lowers the risk of respiratory illnesses and related health issues. "The future of solar energy is being reshaped, and we are honored to contribute to this promising transformation," said Latha Marasamy, one of the study's researchers. 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
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make key discovery that could unlock next-gen fuel source: 'This achievement marks a real turning point'
Researchers have discovered how to create self-healing electrodes for use in producing green hydrogen without relying on precious metals or complex catalyst manufacturing processes. The team from Seoul National University College of Engineering released a study detailing its findings, which could help accelerate global decarbonization efforts and reduce reliance on precious metal-based catalysts, according to a TechXplore report. Water electrolysis is a process that uses electricity to produce green hydrogen, a next-gen fuel that could help the world meet its climate goals. Hydrogen is a light, storable, and energy-dense fuel that doesn't produce direct pollutants or planet-warming emissions, just water vapor. While many production methods employ dirty fuels to generate hydrogen — negating the low-carbon impact — other operations use solar power and renewable energy sources to power hydrogen creation. Electrolysis is one of the more eco-friendly methods being championed across the globe and is listed as one of Korea's 12 national strategic technologies, according to the TechXplore report. However, current systems require surface coatings of highly active catalyst layers that degrade over time, creating a stumbling block for advancing the technology. In addition, China has been tightening its grip on the majority of the world's rare earth material supplies. In the electrochemical activation method described in the report, researchers were able to produce hydrogen with high efficiency for extended periods using just commercial nickel electrodes. Testing revealed that by using the EA method with uncoated Ni electrodes, the team was able to match the hydrogen production efficiency of high-performance Ni-Fe oxyhydroxide catalysts. Giving the electrode a brief "rest" is essential to the new technique. By applying a weak reducing voltage to the Ni electrode for short periods, small amounts of Fe that dissolved in the electrolyte materials reattach to the electrode's surface. These Fe ions bond to the Ni to create a highly active oxygen evolution catalyst layer, which, through repeated cycles, becomes a self-healing system, the report explained. Should the U.S. invest more in battery innovations? Absolutely Depends on the project We're investing enough We should invest less Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "A hydrogen production method that does not rely on catalysts is a transformative strategy that can greatly improve the economics and scalability of green hydrogen," Professor Jeyong Yoon, who led the research, said, per the TechXplore report. "This achievement marks a real turning point for hydrogen economy technologies aimed at carbon neutrality." The technology could potentially be applied to other green hydrogen production methods to further improve efficiency, extend the operational life cycle, and lower costs. Some green hydrogen systems rely on sustainable solar or wind power for their processes, with potable water as the byproduct in one method currently under development by Cornell University researchers. As more innovations are discovered, the large-scale commercialization of green hydrogen production inches closer to becoming a more viable, sustainable energy source. "Hydrogen is today enjoying unprecedented momentum," Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said. "The world should not miss this unique chance to make hydrogen an important part of our clean and secure energy future." 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.
