Scientists are making inroads with the use of organic materials in solar cells. A research team has recently developed a pair of solar–powered glasses that could eventually power hearing aids or other mobile devices.
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Can a tattoo monitor glucose levels? Researchers have developed biosensing tattoo ink that identifies metabolic processes through reactions in interstitial fluid—which could eventually provide data on an individual’s medical condition.
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The U.S. celebrates its independence today, and part of that celebration is watching a fireworks display. Did you know that fireworks are a result of a chemical reaction with gunpowder? Here is a look at what goes into the making of fireworks.
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Rice University researchers have developed an environmentally friendly membrane distillation system that harnesses solar energy for purifying water. The technology could soon be scaled to provide clean water to remote locations, including areas that lack clean water.
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Scientists at Rice University and Tianjin University have developed a method of making graphene foam blocks out of powdered sugar and nickel powder using 3–D laser printing—an approach that could pave the way for mass production of graphene.
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A research group in China has created electrodes for potassium-ion batteries made from rusty stainless steel mesh. The result is an environmentally friendly, stable, and less expensive battery suitable for electronic devices.
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Could paint be the next material to generate hydrogen fuel? Researchers recently developed a way to produce hydrogen fuel from solar energy and humid air. They mixed synthetic molybdenum sulfide with titanium oxide to create a paint that produces hydrogen fuel from solar energy and moist air.
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Researchers have developed a computational method to predict how metals react in water. Their “group additivity” approach to Pourbaix diagrams enables them to determine metals’ potential for corrosion.
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Electric cars may soon see another resurgence, as a research team from Purdue University recently developed a flow battery that recharges instantly—by replacing spent battery fluids with electrolytes.
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Researchers from Rice University and the Research Center “E.Piaggio” of the University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology have collaborated on a prosthetic device that provides sensory feedback to the user in addition to the device’s normal functionality.
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