Vanadium captures carbon from air
Vanadium could help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by working as a ‘carbon scrubbing tool’, say scientists at Oregon State University (OSU), US.
Resistance reductions
A European multi-agency study has concluded that countries where the consumption of antibiotics in both animals and humans has fallen have also seen a reduction in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The satellite spotting methane from space
In March 2024, a new satellite will start collecting data from methane emissions. These data, combined with Google’s AI and infrastructure mapping, will allow researchers to measure emissions on a regional scale and pinpoint leaks to a single facility.
Engineering biology: DSIT wants experts
Engineering biology is defined as the application of rigorous engineering principles to biology, enabling the construction of new or redesigned biological systems, such as cells or proteins, with applications across numerous sectors. Now, the UK government’s Department of Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is calling for experts from academia, SMEs and industry to steer its development.
Chemists use electricity to speed up reactions
A greener, cheaper way to accelerate chemical reactions has been demonstrated by chemists at King’s College London. The group catalysed a click cycloaddition by applying a small voltage in a microfluidic device (Nature Communications, doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-44716-2).
Regenerative agriculture is generating investment
Regenerative agriculture – a set of practices aiming to heal degraded soils and combat climate change, is attracting increasing interest from investors. A recent conference, Regenerative Agriculture: The Science, Economics and Practice, held at SCI headquarters in February, highlighted the potential of this approach to reshape both the environment and the business landscape. Concerns about soil degradation and climate change are driving increased interest around regenerative agriculture. It focuses on practices like reduced tillage, cover cropping, and livestock integration to improve soil health.
Cultured beef cells grown in rice
Korean researchers have grown animal muscle and fat cells inside rice grains to produce a hybrid food that could offer a more affordable protein alternative to beef, and with a smaller carbon footprint.
The Sodium advantage
Battery experts expect sodium-ion to emerge as a key player, powering everything from massive grid storage facilities to power tools to small scooters and electric vehicles. Anthony King reports
The gold hydrogen rush is coming...
A new frontier in clean energy exploration could be emerging thanks to the developing concept of stimulated hydrogen production, with the US making early moves to establish itself as the global leader in the field. In February, the US Department of Energy (DoE) announced an initial $20m of funding for 16 projects exploring the development of stimulated hydrogen technologies – methods to accelerate, concentrate, scale and capture the earth’s natural production of hydrogen.
Making AI work
Artificial intelligence (AI) is anything but new, but the past year has seen the discipline gain significant traction, spearheaded by the launch of Open AI’s generative AI platform, ChatGPT, in November 2022.