In the UK, researchers from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and supported by the Office of Naval Research Global (ONR), will reengineer Halomonas, a bacteria species, which grows in seawater, provides a viable “microbial chassis” to create different types of high value chemical compounds which could be renewable alternatives to crude oil. Dr. Benjamin Harvey […]
In South Carolina, a Clemson University researcher has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop genetically improved and more robust turfgrass and switchgrass. These perennial plants represent a multibillion-dollar segment of the U.S. agricultural economy. A key challenge to engineering better turf and switchgrass […]
In Pennsylvania, an international, multidisciplinary team led by University of Pennsylvania mineralogists used highly sensitive microscopy to study phytoliths, small deposits of minerals containing silicon or calcium present in certain plants. These chemical elements are absorbed from the soil along with other nutrients. The phytoliths lend plants strength and structure and are common in some […]
In Washington state, plastic composite made partly from waste coffee grounds is a tough but environmentally friendly material for 3D printing, according to new Washington State University research. The work could lead to new applications for 3D printing as well as make better use of waste materials. Reporting in the journal, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, the […]
In the UK, a University of Sheffield academic is part of a research team which has been awarded over EUR7 million to continue pioneering research into photosynthesis by the European Research Council (ERC). Photosynthesis is a fundamental process on Earth, harnessing the energy of sunlight to generate the oxygen we breathe and the food we […]
In Switzerland, a team of Empa researchers, together with scientists from Canada, have produced a novel flexible sensor that lies on the skin surface and is biocompatible because it is made of nanocellulose. Nanocellulose is an inexpensive, renewable raw material, which can be obtained in form of crystals and fibers, for example from wood. Its […]
In California, researchers at Berkeley Lab have created six blends that combined MSW items (non-recyclable paper and grass clippings) with biomass (corn stover and switchgrass). Using an ionic liquid-based process, they converted these blends into methyl ketones, which are chemical compounds that can be used as diesel fuel precursors. This is the first report on […]
In California, in a new study published in the journal ChemSusChem, researchers at Berkeley Lab created six blends that combined MSW items (non-recyclable paper and grass clippings) with biomass (corn stover and switchgrass). Using an ionic liquid-based process, they converted these blends into methyl ketones, which are chemical compounds that can be used as diesel […]
In Maryland, Morgan State University’s School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences has announced its receipt of a $499,999 grant award from the National Science Foundation). The Excellence in Research (EiR) grant will be used to advance interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology, chemistry and engineering with a focus on studying the role of nanoparticles in cyanobacterium […]
In Australia, the government is investing in the development of an Australian biomanufacturing sector that will use biological systems to produce commercial products, creating jobs and business opportunities. Minister for Education Dan Tehan announced the government was providing A$35 million to establish a research center that combines engineering with molecular biology to design and construct […]
