Environment

Supersonic revival: NASA developing quieter, more fuel-efficient supersonic commercial jet

By April Gocha / March 8, 2016

NASA recently announced that it is spending $20 million to push supersonic jet travel back into commercial reality. The funding is going to a team led by Lockheed Martin for preliminary design work on a reimagined supersonic jet that could take to the skies by 2020.

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Better batteries? Study uncovers potential hidden impact of oxide nanoparticles on earth microbiome

By April Gocha / March 4, 2016

A new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Minnesota shows that nanoparticles of lithium battery catalyst nickel manganese cobalt oxide may harm important bacteria that reside in the soil and have untold environmental consequences.

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More ‘green’ for clean energy: DOE launches $40M effort to advance materials research for renewable energy

By Stephanie Liverani / February 26, 2016

This week, the U.S. Department of Energy launched a $40 million effort to improve materials for clean energy solutions that will “give American entrepreneurs and manufacturers a leg up in the global race for clean energy,” says a DOE news release.

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Flush what you knew about clean energy: Researchers discover new way to use wastewater for power

By Stephanie Liverani / February 23, 2016

Step aside wind and solar power. Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a way to maximize the amount of electricity that can be generated from the wastewater we flush down the toilet.

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It’s electric: Conductive concrete cost-effectively heats up to melt away snow and ice

By April Gocha / February 15, 2016

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed a winning recipe for electrically conductive concrete that can gently heat up to melt away icy accumulations, yet remain safe to the touch.

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Developing chromium capture technology prevents poisoning of solid oxide fuel cells

By April Gocha / February 2, 2016

Researchers at the University of Connecticut are working on a solution to fuel cell degradation by developing a capture technique that can grab chromium within a fuel cell, preventing it from reaching and poisoning the cell’s cathode.

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Thinking outside the windmill: Innovative tree-like structures turn vibrations into energy

By Stephanie Liverani / February 2, 2016

A project at Ohio State University is testing a new tool that resembles a tree-like structure for harvesting energy that uses vibrations from wind, traffic on a bridge, and even seismic activity to generate power.

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Going green: ACerS member pioneers sustainable approach for high-purity silica production

By April Gocha / January 14, 2016

University of Michigan researcher and ACerS member Richard Laine is pioneering a new approach to reduce, reuse, and recycle—his technique for production of high-purity silica reduces energy consumption while simultaneously utilizing agricultural waste.

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Power shift: Three clean energy trends we saw in 2015 thanks to materials science

By Stephanie Liverani / December 29, 2015

Materials science has been and will continue to be at the forefront of clean energy innovations. In 2015, we reported on three major clean energy trends thanks to advanced materials and engineering.

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What works for penguins could work for planes: Secrets of the feather show how to prevent ice formation

By April Gocha / December 21, 2015

New research shows that when it comes to anti-icing surfaces, the animal world’s most dapper creatures have a few tricks on their flippers.

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