Environment

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Catalyst Efficiently Turns Carbon Dioxide into Useful Fuels and Chemicals

By converting CO2 into complex hydrocarbon products, a new catalyst could aid in large-scale efforts to recycle excess carbon dioxide.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Copolymer Removes Toxins from Water

Researchers have demonstrated that they can attract, capture, and destroy perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of federally regulated substances nicknamed “the forever...

Briefs: Materials

Process Turns Plastic Bags into Adhesives

A chemical process converts polyethylene plastic into a strong, valuable adhesive.

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

3D Printing with Wood-Based Ink

By emulating the natural cellular architecture of wood, green products such as clothes, packaging, and furniture can be manufactured with unique properties.

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

AI Improves Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries and Fuel Cells

A new machine learning algorithm could make smartphones charge faster and increase the time between charges for electric vehicles.

Blog: Materials

A Recycling Breakthrough: Researchers Discover a Molecule That 'Zips Up'

The "polymer of squares” could one day enable the use of plastic products many times over.

Articles: Energy

2020 Create the Future Design Contest: Sustainable Technologies/Future Energy Category Winner — Flash Graphene

A new process can turn bulk quantities of just about any carbon source into valuable graphene flakes.

On-Demand Webinars: Energy

Watch Live at 11 am ET: The 2020 Create the Future Contest Awards

For the first time, the winners of the Create the Future Design Contest will be announced live! Join us for this special one-hour presentation as we honor our 2020 Grand Prize...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Method Turns Fruit Peels into New Batteries

Orange peels are used to extract and reuse metals from lithium-ion batteries to create new batteries.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Smart Window Improves Energy Efficiency of Buildings

A customizable smart window harnesses and manipulates solar power to save energy and cut costs.

Briefs: Materials

Faster-Degrading Plastic for Marine Uses

This material could reduce persistent plastic accumulation in the environment.

Briefs: Materials

Electricity-Free Radiative Cooling System

The system is effective in urban environments where there are tall buildings on all sides.

Briefs: Materials

Sunlight Converts Emissions into Useful Materials

An environmentally friendly method upcycles carbon dioxide emissions into polymers and other materials.

Briefs: Software

Industrial-Grade Open Source

Open source microcontroller technologies in industrially hardened form factors address critical applications.

5 Ws: Green Design & Manufacturing

5 Ws of Algae-Based Flip-Flops

Would you take a walk in biodegradable flip-flops?

Blog: Electronics & Computers

How to Test a Living Sensor, Made with Bacteria

Dr. James Rees is spending the time in his lab testing sensors made from bacteria.

Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition

Portable Tool Analyzes Microbes in the Environment

This device could be used to find threats to ecosystems.

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Wraparound Sensors

These sensors monitor electrical loads from household appliances to support grid operations.

Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing

Smart Sponge for Environmental Remediation

This highly porous sponge absorbs more than 30 times its weight in oil and can be reused up to several dozen times.

Briefs: Nanotechnology

Nanosensors for Real-Time Plant Health Monitoring

This approach allows scientists to study the communication within plants, providing valuable insights to improve crop yields.

Briefs: Materials

Reverse Fuel Cell Converts Waste Carbon to Valuable Chemicals

The technology could lead to production of fuels, building materials, and other products in a carbon-neutral way.

Briefs: Transportation

Nature-Inspired Green Energy Technology

A new design enables artificial photosynthesis to generate fuel that can power homes and vehicles.

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Biohybrid Can Turn Carbon Dioxide into New Products

Applications exist both on Mars and on Earth.

Blog: Green Design & Manufacturing

Is Water Vapor the Next Energy Source? Lightning Researchers Test the Idea

"Who knows? Maybe one day we will have roofs covered with humidity panels together with solar panels," TAU professor Colin Price told Tech Briefs.

Application Briefs: Test & Measurement

Selecting Pressure Sensors for Autoclaves

Find the right pressure sensors for your sterilization applications.

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

'Artificial Leaf' Produces Clean Gas

This method of producing clean syngas could be used to develop a sustainable liquid fuel alternative to gasoline.