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Sustainable Materials

All articles tagged with #sustainable materials

Five-bacteria consortium fully mineralizes biodegradable plastic in the ocean
science25 days ago

Five-bacteria consortium fully mineralizes biodegradable plastic in the ocean

MIT researchers reveal that ocean bacteria cooperate to break down a common biodegradable plastic: Pseudomonas pachastrellae initiates depolymerization into three chemicals, but no single microbe can consume all of them; a five-species consortium with complementary metabolisms fully mineralizes the polymer, showing degradation depends on both polymer chemistry and the surrounding microbial community and suggesting routes toward engineered microbial recycling.

via MIT News|
#marine-microbiology#microbial-collaboration#plastic-biodegradation
The Splinter: A 690-HP Drivable Sports Car Built Mostly From Wood
technology27 days ago

The Splinter: A 690-HP Drivable Sports Car Built Mostly From Wood

An innovative university-origin one-off, The Splinter is a drivable sports car built largely from wood—chassis, interior, and even wheels—powered by a mid‑engine V8 with a six‑speed manual and an estimated 690 horsepower. Heat management includes reversed cylinder heads and top-exhaust routing to protect wooden components. The project, meant to demonstrate wood’s strength and renewable potential for high-performance applications, uses CTS‑V drivetrain DNA and has reportedly only been tested up to about 30 mph, leaving real-world practicality a question mark.

via Jalopnik|
#mid-engine#splinter#sustainable-materials
New Sustainable Material Poised to Revolutionize Medical Devices
technology1 year ago

New Sustainable Material Poised to Revolutionize Medical Devices

Northwestern University researchers have developed a new soft, sustainable electroactive material using peptides and plastic molecules, which could revolutionize medical devices, wearable technology, and human-computer interfaces. These materials, made from nano-sized ribbons, are energy-efficient, biocompatible, and biodegradable, offering potential for low-power electronics and smart fabrics. The study, published in Nature, highlights the material's ability to store energy and digital information, with applications in biomedical devices and renewable energy processes.

via SciTechDaily|
#biodegradable#ferroelectric-materials#medical-devices
"Self-Dyeing Vegan Leather Grown from Engineered Bacteria"
science-and-technology2 years ago

"Self-Dyeing Vegan Leather Grown from Engineered Bacteria"

Scientists at Imperial College London have developed a plastic-free, vegan leather alternative grown from bacteria that dyes itself, addressing the environmental impact of synthetic chemical dyeing in the fashion industry. By genetically engineering bacteria to produce a material and its own pigment simultaneously, the researchers have created prototypes of shoes and wallets, demonstrating the potential for more sustainable alternatives to traditional textiles. This innovative process could lead to the production of vibrant colors and patterns, offering a greener approach to fashion production.

via Phys.org|
#bacteria-grown-textiles#science-and-technology#sustainable-fashion
"Turning Agricultural Waste into Sustainable Plant-Based Plastics"
science-and-technology2 years ago

"Turning Agricultural Waste into Sustainable Plant-Based Plastics"

Scientists at Hokkaido University have developed a method to create recyclable and stable polymers from plant cellulose, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. By using commercially available molecules derived from cellulose, the researchers were able to produce a variety of polymers that can be fully recycled. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for the production of environmentally friendly materials and could lead to the development of high-performance materials for optical, electronic, and biomedical applications.

via SciTechDaily|
#cellulose#eco-friendly#plastic-alternatives
"Tea Leaves: The Next Mainstream, Affordable Battery Material"
technology2 years ago

"Tea Leaves: The Next Mainstream, Affordable Battery Material"

Researchers at Harvard University have developed a breakthrough in sodium-ion battery technology using tea leaf waste to create an affordable and sustainable battery anode, potentially providing a solution for grid-level energy storage. The new anode, named TS-1400-HCl, showed significant improvements over existing carbon anodes, with greater capacity, efficiency, and longevity. This biomass approach has the potential to offer real sustainability and positive environmental impact as a mainstream, affordable battery material, with the battery estimated to cost about $5-7 per kilogram.

via The Cool Down|
#battery-technology#energy-storage#renewable-energy
"Accidental Discovery Unveils Stronger, Cheaper Material with Dizzying Potential"
science-and-technology2 years ago

"Accidental Discovery Unveils Stronger, Cheaper Material with Dizzying Potential"

A material called Ferrock, initially developed as a cement substitute using waste steel dust and silica from pulverized glass, has shown to be stronger and more eco-friendly than concrete, with 95% of its materials being recycled. It has the potential to revolutionize building and infrastructure, offering increased strength and reduced pollution by pulling carbon dioxide from the air during the hardening process. Researchers are exploring various sustainable building materials, and while small-scale projects are currently more feasible due to the need for a reliable source of waste steel, further research into Ferrock and similar alternatives is encouraged for a greener future.

via Yahoo! Voices|
#construction#environmental-impact#ferrock
Harnessing Mussel Adhesive Technology to Tackle Invasive Species and Enhance Implant Bonding
science-and-environment2 years ago

Harnessing Mussel Adhesive Technology to Tackle Invasive Species and Enhance Implant Bonding

A recent study has uncovered new insights into the attachment fibers of zebra mussels, a damaging invasive species. Researchers discovered that a genetic transfer event over 12 million years ago endowed the mussels with the ability to produce these fibers, contributing to their global expansion. Understanding the attachment mechanisms of these mussels could lead to improved strategies against biofouling, which causes millions in damages. Additionally, the study suggests that the mussel fibers could inspire the development of sustainable materials, potentially revolutionizing the textile and technical plastics industry.

via Phys.org|
#biofouling#genetic-transfer#invasive-species
"Birch Leaves: A Sustainable Source for Organic Semiconductors through Pressure-Cooking"
science-and-technology2 years ago

"Birch Leaves: A Sustainable Source for Organic Semiconductors through Pressure-Cooking"

Physicists at Umeå University, in collaboration with researchers in Denmark and China, have discovered a sustainable alternative to producing organic semiconductors for optoelectronics. By pressure-cooking birch leaves, they have produced nanosized carbon particles with desired optical properties. These "carbon dots" emit a narrow-band, deep red light and have comparable properties to commercial quantum dots used in semiconductor materials, but without heavy metals or critical raw materials. The researchers demonstrated the potential of these carbon dots in light-emitting electrochemical cell devices, showing comparable brightness to a computer screen. This method of utilizing biomass as a raw material for organic semiconductors offers a more sustainable approach to meet the increasing demand for optoelectronic technologies.

via Phys.org|
#birch-leaves#carbon-dots#optoelectronics
"Japanese Scientists Propose Wooden Satellite for Space Exploration"
science-and-technology2 years ago

"Japanese Scientists Propose Wooden Satellite for Space Exploration"

Japanese scientists from Kyoto University, in collaboration with JAXA and NASA, are working on sending a wooden satellite called LingoSat into space. The researchers have been exploring the use of biological materials in space to reduce the environmental impact of metallic particles from traditional satellites. Wood is a compelling choice for space structures as it burns up upon re-entry into the atmosphere, unlike metals that become fine particles. The team has conducted tests on wood samples in space and found them to be resilient. The LingoSat, made from magnolia wood, is expected to launch in 2024 and will be monitored for at least six months to assess its performance in space conditions. The researchers hope that this project will demonstrate the potential of using lower-impact materials in space development.

via CNN|
#jaxa#kyoto-university#science-and-technology