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Categories: Energy: Technology, Environmental: Wildfires
Published Better cybersecurity with new material
(via sciencedaily.com) Digital information exchange can be safer, cheaper and more environmentally friendly with the help of a new type of random number generator for encryption. The researchers behind the study believe that the new technology paves the way for a new type of quantum communication.
Published New 'droplet battery' could pave the way for miniature bio-integrated devices
(via sciencedaily.com) Researchers have developed a miniature battery that could be used to power tiny devices integrated into human tissues. The design uses an ionic gradient across a chain of droplets -- inspired by how electric eels generate electricity. The device was able to regulate the biological activity of human neurons. This could open the way to the development of tiny bio-integrated devices, with a range of applications in biology and medicine.
Published Wildfire, soil emissions increasing air pollution in remote forests
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Nitrogen dioxide levels in remote forest areas are increasing, and wildfire and soil emissions are likely the reasons why, finds a new study.
Published Direct power generation from methylcyclohexane using solid oxide fuel cells
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Methylcyclohexane is very promising as a hydrogen carrier that can safely and efficiently transport and store hydrogen. However, the dehydrogenation process using catalysts has issues due to its durability and large energy loss. Recently, researchers have succeeded in using solid oxide fuel cells to generate electricity directly from methylcyclohexane and recover toluene for reuse. This research is expected to not only reduce energy requirements but also explore new chemical synthesis by fuel cells.
Published Researcher finds inspiration from spider webs and beetles to harvest fresh water from thin air
(via sciencedaily.com) A team of researchers is designing novel systems to capture water vapor in the air and turn it into liquid. They have developed sponges or membranes with a large surface area that continually capture moisture from their surrounding environment.
Published Math enables blending hydrogen in natural gas pipelines
(via sciencedaily.com) Mathematical modeling can show how to safely blend hydrogen with natural gas for transport in existing pipeline systems. A secure and reliable transition to hydrogen is one of the proposed solutions for the shift to a net-zero-carbon economy.
Published Scientists invent micrometers-thin battery charged by saline solution that could power smart contact lenses
(via sciencedaily.com) Scientists have developed a flexible battery as thin as a human cornea, which stores electricity when it is immersed in saline solution, and which could one day power smart contact lenses.
Published New study finds ways to suppress lithium plating in automotive batteries for faster charging electric vehicles
(via sciencedaily.com) A new study has found a way to prevent lithium plating in electric vehicle batteries, which could lead to faster charging times.
Published Despite fears to the contrary, Canadian wildfire smoke exposure was not much worse than a bad pollen day in New York City
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New Yorkers can apparently breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now. Their exposure to the smoke in June 2023 from Canadian wildfires led to only a slightly higher bump in visits to New York City hospital emergency departments for breathing problems or asthma attacks than what is seen on days when pollen counts are high. However, authors of a new study say other possible health effects, such as possible heart attacks and stroke, still need to be investigated.
Published Steam condenser coating could save 460M tons of CO2 annually
(via sciencedaily.com) If coal and natural gas power generation were 2% more efficient, then, every year, there could be 460 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide released and 2 trillion fewer gallons of water used. A recent innovation to the steam cycle used in fossil fuel power generation could achieve this.
Published 'Topological gardening' to achieve unexpected spin transport
(via sciencedaily.com) 'Trimming' the edge-states of a topological insulator yields a new class of material featuring unconventional 'two way' edge transport in a new theoretical study. The new material, a topological crystalline insulator (TCI) forms a promising addition to the family of topological materials and significantly broadens the scope of materials with topologically nontrivial properties, paving the way for novel techniques to manipulate edge transport in future electronics. For example, 'switching' the TCI via an electric field breaking the symmetry supporting the nontrivial band topology, thus suppressing the edge current.
Published New approach shows hydrogen can be combined with electricity to make pharmaceutical drugs
(via sciencedaily.com) The world needs greener ways to make chemicals. In a new study, researchers demonstrate one potential path toward this goal by adapting hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
Published Move over lithium-ion: Zinc-air batteries a cheaper and safer alternative
(via sciencedaily.com) Zinc-air batteries have emerged as a better alternative to lithium in a recent study into the advancement of sustainable battery systems.
Published REBURN: A new tool to model wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and beyond
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have developed a new tool, REBURN, that can simulate large forest landscapes and wildfire dynamics over decades or centuries under different wildfire management strategies. The model can simulate the consequences of extinguishing all wildfires regardless of size, which was done for much of the 20th century and has contributed to a rise in large and severe wildfires, or of allowing certain fires to return to uninhabited areas to help create a more 'patchwork' forest structure that can help lessen fire severity. REBURN can also simulate conditions where more benign forest landscape dynamics have fully recovered in an area.
Published Groundbreaking green propane production method
(via sciencedaily.com) New research reveals a promising breakthrough in green energy: an electrolyzer device capable of converting carbon dioxide into propane in a manner that is both scalable and economically viable.
Published Demon hunting: Physicists confirm 67-year-old prediction of massless, neutral composite particle
(via sciencedaily.com) In 1956, theoretical physicist David Pines predicted that electrons in a solid can do something strange. While they normally have a mass and an electric charge, Pines asserted that they can combine to form a composite particle that is massless, neutral, and does not interact with light. He called this particle a 'demon.' Now, researchers have finally found Pines' demon 67 years after it was predicted.
Published Without aggressive climate action, U.S. property values will take a hit from escalating wildfire risk and tree mortality, study finds
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Research attempts to quantify the value of U.S. property at risk in forested areas exposed to increased ecological disturbance associated with climate change, such as wildfire and tree mortality. Property exposed to such climate risks, especially in California, is project to climb substantially if emission-reduction measures are not taken.
Published Researchers design efficient iridium catalyst for hydrogen generation
(via sciencedaily.com) Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers converts surplus electric energy into transportable hydrogen energy as a clean energy solution. However, slow oxygen evolution reaction rates and high loading levels of expensive metal oxide catalysts limit its practical feasibility. Now, researchers have developed a new tantalum oxide-supported iridium catalyst that significantly boosts the oxygen evolution reaction speed. Additionally, it shows high catalytic activity and long-term stability in prolonged single cell operation.
Published Microbial corrosion of iron
(via sciencedaily.com) Iron is well-known for rusting, but this doesn't just happen on contact with oxygen and water. Some bacteria are also able to able to decompose iron anaerobically in a process referred to as electrobiocorrosion. The sediment-dwelling bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens uses electrically conductive protein threads for this purpose. They produce magnetite from the iron, which promotes further corrosion in a positive feedback loop.
Published Dry lightning can spark wildfires even under wetter conditions
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Dry lightning can still be disastrous even when conditions aren't so dry, a study has found. These cloud-to-ground strikes during little to no rainfall were previously thought to pose wildfire danger only if occurring with less than 2.5 mm of rain in a day (about 0.10 inches). A new study of lightning-ignited wildfires in the U.S. West found the strikes caused wildfires despite up to 7.7 mm (about 0.3 inches) of precipitation. While still a low amount of rain, the more accurate estimation could help responders detect fires earlier, especially those known as 'holdovers,' which can smolder for many days before exploding into full-blown wildfires.