In Massachusetts, a remarkable quality of bioengineering is the fact that scientists can take biological processes honed by millions of years of evolution and use them to efficiently create drugs, chemicals, and other products to improve our lives. Now Tufts researchers have found new ways to expand the potential for using bacterial spores as catalysts […]
In Japan, photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to methane offers a promising route for carbon recycling, but its low efficiency and unclear mechanisms limit its practical use. Researchers at Chiba University have now examined how light-driven and heat-driven processes can work together in Ru–Ni–ZrO2 catalysts, achieving record methane production rates. This work clarifies the reaction […]
In South Korea, microorganisms are increasingly being engineered to manufacture valuable compounds ranging from medicines and food ingredients to biofuels and industrial chemicals. However, turning microbes into efficient production platforms requires extensive strain optimization. Finding the right genetic changes to transform an ordinary microbe into a high-performing producer remains a major challenge, as beneficial genetic […]
In Austria, FUELGAE has successfully completed its second period, achieving major progress in developing innovative, sustainable biofuel solutions for transportation. The project is driving forward low-carbon fuel production pathways by integrating microalgae cultivation, CO₂ capture, and advanced biofuel conversion technologies. FUELGAE entered its development phase, transitioning from early-stage research to demonstration, validation, and exploitation of […]
In the UK, Fuel Cells Works reported that the UK could store enough green hydrogen in depleted North Sea oil and gas fields to meet the country’s future electricity demands for 7 years, new research has shown. Geologists and engineers from Durham Energy Institute (University of Durham) have, for the first time, mapped different hydrogen […]
In Japan, some plants are thought to supplement their carbon needs by obtaining carbon through underground fungal networks connected to other plants. This symbiotic relationship is known as mycoheterotrophy. Researchers from Chiba University found evidence that Gentiana squarrosa, a Gentian family plant, can receive carbon through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks in addition to photosynthesis. The […]
In Germany, INNOVENT investigated in a joint research project with febana Feinmechanische Baugruppen GmbH how electromechanical assemblies with components made of plastic and metal can also be composed of bio- and recycled plastics. These electromechanical assemblies are used e.g. used as plug or sensor housings in part with safety relevance in industrial applications and contain […]
In Illinois, a team of researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) created a fast, user-friendly process to improve industrial enzymes. The researchers combined artificial intelligence (AI), synthetic biology, and a biofoundry. This combination allowed the scientists to overcome common issues with enzymes such as low efficiency and an enzyme’s inability […]
In Spain, a study led by the University of Barcelona has produced a biodegradable bioplastic of high industrial value — polyhydroxybutyrate or PHB — from unprocessed potato starch in a single 24-hour step, a strategic breakthrough that could help reduce dependence on oil and the volume of persistent plastic waste. The study thus establishes that […]
In South Africa, Engineering News reported that rsearchers from the JENano Group at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are advancing South Africa’s green hydrogen ambitions through integrated research spanning computational materials design, advanced electrode fabrication, membrane-free electrolyzers, hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems. Working with local and international partners, the group is developing technologies aimed at […]
