On this front, scientists have suggested chemically converting CO2 into value-added compounds, such as methanol and formic acid (HCOOH). Producing the latter requires a source of hydride ion (H–), which is equivalent to one proton and two electrons. For instance, the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) reduction-oxidation couple is a hydride (H–) generator and reservoir in …
Among the various elements being tested as efficient energy carriers for rechargeable batteries, magnesium (Mg) is a promising candidate. Apart from its safety and abundance, Mg has the potential to realize higher battery capacities. However, some problems need to be solved first. These include the low voltage window that Mg ions provide, as well as …
Beyond lithium: A promising cathode material for magnesium rechargeable batteries Read More »
“On 8 February 2023, at 2.20 million square kilometres, the Antarctic sea ice extent had already dropped below the previous record minimum from 2022 (2.27 million square kilometres on 24 February 2022). Since the sea ice melting in the Antarctic will most likely continue in the second half of the month, we can’t say yet …
Monkeyflowers are famous for growing in harsh, mineral-rich soils where other plants can’t. They are also famously diverse in shape and color. And monkeyflowers provide a textbook example of how a single-gene change can make a new species. In this case, a monkeyflower species lost the yellow pigments in the petals but gained pink about …
Yellow evolution: Unique genes led to new species of monkeyflower Read More »
The study reports the first global assessment of coastal land reclamation, which is the process of building new land or filling in coastal water bodies, including wetlands, to expand a coastline. The researchers used satellite imagery to analyze land changes in 135 cities with populations of at least 1 million, 106 of which have done …
New land creation on waterfronts increasing, study finds Read More »
A new study shows the bird’s distribution and ecology on Grand Bahama before the hurricane struck. But the team says that the warbler may now only survive on neighbouring Abaco island, after hurricane Dorian destroyed the bird’s forest habitat on Grand Bahama. The research comes from the same team that found what is thought to …
Endangered Bahamas bird may be lost from island following hurricane Read More »
A new paper studying terrestrial amplification focuses on how geochemical records of past climate on land and at the sea surface allow scientists to better predict the extent to which land will warm more than oceans — and will also get drier — due to current and future greenhouse gas emissions. “The core idea of …
Past records help to predict different effects of future climate change on land and sea Read More »
Previously, researchers have suggested that sunlight-driven evaporation could be a low-energy way to purify water, but this approach doesn’t work well when it’s cloudy. One solution could be temperature-responsive hydrogels, specifically poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAm), that switch from absorbing water at cooler temperatures to repelling it when heated. However, conventional PNIPAm gels can’t generate clean water …
This loofah-inspired, sun-driven gel could purify all the water you’ll need in a day Read More »
“With this tool, utilities can quickly determine which customers to reduce power to, and for how long, while limiting the amount of time in a year that any one customer is affected,” says Ali Fattahi of Johns Hopkins University. “Direct load control contracts affect only households that volunteer (in exchange for a break on their …
A University of Utah-led study explored the potential of using dust to shield sunlight. They analyzed different properties of dust particles, quantities of dust and the orbits that would be best suited for shading Earth. The authors found that launching dustfrom Earth to a way station at the “Lagrange Point” between Earth and the sun …
Geoengineering to cool earth: Space dust as Earth’s sun shield Read More »
