In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $590 million to renew its four existing Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs). This funding will help support the Department’s research into the next generation of sustainable, cost-effective bioproducts and bioenergy from domestic biomass resources, which is critical to reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring future energy security, […]
In California, it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. In this case, the “job” is the breakdown of lignin, the structural biopolymer that gives stems, bark and branches their signature woodiness. One of the most abundant terrestrial polymers on Earth, lignin surrounds valuable plant fibers and other molecules that could be converted […]
In Finland, the University of Helsinki reported that the Faculty of Educational Sciences has received a significant EU consortium grant under the Horizon Europe framework program for Colour4CRAFTS, a multidisciplinary project that combines the cultural tradition of dyes and textile dyeing with the development of novel dyeing techniques and biobased dyes. “Today’s consumers rarely give […]
In Australia, an international team of researchers at the University of Sydney and the University of Toronto has developed a new acid-based electrochemical process for the conversion of CO2 captured from emission sources or directly from air. The new method, published in Nature Synthesis, differs from previous CO2 conversion methods in that it uses an […]
In South Korea, in the fight against pollution, several regions in the U.S. have banned the use of plastic straws. Alternative materials exist, but most options are either too expensive to scale up, go limp in drinks or taste bad. But now, a team reporting in ACS Omega has developed a new type of bioplastic […]
In South Korea, a research team at the Clean Energy Research Center of Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) developed a green solvent that can completely replace conventional petrochemical-based solvents while maximizing the efficiency of biofuel production. The researchers announced that it is now possible to produce sustainable and economically secured biofuels. After screening […]
In Germany, wind power turbines, catalytic converters, optical cables and plasma monitors: They all contain Rare Earth metals. Since these 17 metal elements are indispensable to modern technologies, cost and demand are constantly rising. Minable deposits are limited and production is often difficult and harmful to the environment. Recycling these resources as efficiently as possible, […]
In Maryland, Johns Hopkins University said it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)to lead a new University Transportation Center focused on solutions aimed at preserving the environment. The Johns Hopkins-based Center for Climate-Smart Transportation will collaborate with a consortium of experts to research ways to mitigate climate change in the transportation […]
In Switzerland, the treatment of wastewater to protect human health and water bodies remains the primary task of wastewater treatment plants. In addition, the recovery of resources is becoming increasingly important on the path to circular economy. Wastewater, for example, contains a lot of organic carbon that is often converted into methane for further energy […]
In Switzerland, researchers in the Soft Materials Laboratory in the School of Engineering at EPFL turned to nature for a solution for composite materials that are simultaneously light and strong, porous and rigid. They have pioneered a 3D printable ink that contains Sporosarcina pasteurii: a bacterium which, when exposed to a urea-containing solution, triggers a […]
