After centuries, perhaps artificial photosynthesis can be pave the way forward for clean energy innovation and we have cyanobacteria to thank.
Category: sustainability – Page 2
As the world races to move away from fossil fuels, new research has uncovered an extraordinary and nearly untapped energy source hiding in plain sight— ocean currents. According to a landmark study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), ocean currents can generate 2.5 times more power than wind farms. Even more stunning is their near-constant energy flow, making them one of the most reliable clean energy sources on Earth.
This isn’t a distant dream or a futuristic concept—it’s science-backed, data-verified, and happening now.
Ocean currents are massive, steady flows of water driven by a mix of wind, the Earth’s rotation, temperature gradients, and salinity differences. Unlike wind or solar energy, which vary with weather and daylight, ocean currents flow predictably and consistently year-round.
And its already removed over 84,000 kg of ocean trash.
The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit environmental organization, has embarked on a groundbreaking mission to eliminate 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040.
Through innovative technology and a two-pronged approach—removing plastic already polluting the oceans and intercepting new waste in rivers—the project is making real progress.
Their ocean cleanup systems, including the latest System 3, are actively harvesting waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, while river-based Interceptors are stopping plastic at the source in high-impact areas like Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
With over 84,000 kilograms of plastic removed and more than 2,700 square kilometers of ocean cleaned as of mid-2022, The Ocean Cleanup has already made significant strides. Backed by scientific research, partnerships with companies like Coca-Cola and Maersk, and global support, the organization is scaling up its efforts. Targeting the world’s 1,000 most polluting rivers, The Ocean Cleanup aligns closely with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 14—conserving marine life. Through technology, collaboration, and determination, they’re turning the tide on ocean pollution.
Learn more.
Scientists achieve record-shattering results after testing limitless energy device: ‘Experiments will continue with increased power’
Posted in nuclear energy, sustainability, transportation | Leave a Comment on Scientists achieve record-shattering results after testing limitless energy device: ‘Experiments will continue with increased power’
In a groundbreaking leap toward cleaner, more affordable energy, scientists in France held a fusion reaction steady for over 22 minutes — shattering the previous world record. If that number sounds insignificant, here’s why it’s a big deal: That is 1,337 seconds of controlled, blazing-hot plasma, the critical ingredient needed to power nuclear fusion, a nearly limitless energy source that does not rely on polluting fuels like gas, coal, or oil.
This milestone brings us one step closer to a dream energy future: one where our homes, cities, and electric cars are powered by a technology that mimics the sun — minus the radioactive waste and environmental damage of traditional nuclear power.
Nuclear fusion has the capability to solve a major problem with polluting energy sources. Right now, our power mostly comes from dirty energy that pollutes the air and contributes to extreme weather. While solar and wind energy are gaining momentum, fusion offers something different: the possibility of continuous, around-the-clock clean energy using hydrogen — the most common element in the universe — as fuel.
Ink engineering approach boosts efficiency and cuts cost of quantum dot-based photovoltaics
Posted in chemistry, engineering, particle physics, quantum physics, solar power, sustainability | Leave a Comment on Ink engineering approach boosts efficiency and cuts cost of quantum dot-based photovoltaics
Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are tiny semiconductor particles that are just a few nanometers in size, which are synthesized in a liquid solution (i.e., colloid). These single-crystal particles, created by breaking down bulk materials via chemical and physical processes, have proved to be promising for the development of photovoltaic (PV) technologies.
Quantum dot-based PVs could have various advantages, including a tunable bandgap, greater flexibility and solution processing. However, quantum dot-based solar cells developed so far have been found to have significant limitations, including lower efficiencies than conventional silicon-based cells and high manufacturing costs, due to the expensive processes required to synthesize conductive CQD films.
Researchers at Soochow University in China, the University of Electro-Communications in Japan and other institutes worldwide recently introduced a new method that could potentially help to improve the efficiencies of quantum-dot based photovoltaics, while also lowering their manufacturing costs. Their proposed approach, outlined in a paper published in Nature Energy, entails the engineering of lead sulfide (PbS) CQD inks used to print films for solar cells.
How can fungi be used as building construction materials? This is what a recent study published in Cell Reports Physical Science hopes to address as a team | Technology
MXene, a nanomaterial used in battery technology and as a high-performance lubricant, was previously difficult and hazardous to produce. However, researchers at TU Wien have now developed new, safer methods for its production. One of the most groundbreaking trends in materials science is the stud
In a breakthrough with promising real-world applications, a team of Rutgers biophysicists, bioengineers, and plant biologists has captured the first live images.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have captured continuous, 24-hour images of cellulose synthesis, the process by which plant cell walls are built, using living plant cells. This marks the first time the dynamic process of cell-wall construction has been observed in real time, offering critical insights that could lead to the development of more resilient crops, enhanced food production, and lower-cost biofuels.
Published in the journal Science Advances.
CityWave, a 459-foot-long solar canopy, is set to become one of the world’s largest urban rooftop photovoltaic installations in Milan’s CityLife district.
Purdue University researchers have developed a new type of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial called a tungsten carbide MXene. This small but mighty material could be used to produce hydrogen fuel for electric vehicles, possibly becoming the key to a more reliable future.