A new additive consisting of oxygenated organic compounds has been developed to reduce the release of pollutants during the combustion of fossil fuels. The researchers' study found that diethyl carbonate can facilitate clean combustion of diesel fuels, reducing soot production and environmental damage.
Scientists at NIST have developed a laboratory instrument that can measure the source of carbon in materials, enabling new applications in biofuels and bioplastics industries. The instrument uses cavity ringdown spectroscopy to detect subtle differences in CO2 wavelengths, allowing for accurate measurement of heavy CO2 concentrations.
CISTAR will develop new fuels and chemicals from shale gas using modular processing plants, reducing carbon emissions and energy costs. The center is expected to inject $20 billion annually into the economy and maintain manufacturing competitiveness.
Researchers at UT Austin found that fossilized hair is extremely rare, unlike feathers, due to its composition and preservation conditions. The team analyzed a massive database of fossilized body coverings to determine the frequency of different types of body coverings in exceptional sites.
A new study by Cornell University shows that deforestation significantly impacts global warming, even if fossil fuel emissions are eliminated. Tropical deforestation can lead to a 1.5 degree increase in global warming, making it an important consideration for climate policy.
Researchers found that a heat treatment under hydrogen doubles the life span of charge carriers in metal oxide photoelectrodes, leading to improved photocurrent under sunlight. This breakthrough could potentially reduce costs and increase stability for commercialization.
Researchers found natural geologic methane emissions were three to four times lower than previously estimated numbers, suggesting anthropogenic fossil methane emissions are higher. The study suggests reducing methane emissions from fossil fuels may be an even more important factor in reducing global warming.
A newly discovered infant ape skull from 13 million years ago provides insights into the evolution of human ancestors. The fossil, nicknamed Alesi, reveals a brain cavity, inner ears, and unerupted teeth that indicate it belonged to a new species, Nyanzapithecus alesi.
A Caltech team has identified a new additive that selectively converts CO2 into fuels containing multiple carbon atoms, including ethylene, ethanol, and propanol. The reaction resulted in an 80% conversion rate, with only 20% going into hydrogen and methane.
A new study by James Hansen's team estimates that to limit global warming, we need negative emissions through technologies like carbon capture. If emissions continue high, young people may have to spend up to 500 trillion euros on CO2 extraction, but rapid phase-down of fossil fuels can achieve this at relatively low cost.
Using infrared spectroscopy and statistical analysis of organic molecules in fossil leaves, researchers have solved long-standing questions about extinct plant relationships. The study reveals that ancient plant species grouped according to well-established botanical relationships, shedding light on their evolution.
A new study finds that increased air pollution particles in the air can cut life expectancy by 9-11 years, with a significant difference in estimated costs between the US and EU. The study uses a lifetable of 100,000 people to simulate the effect of long-term exposure to increased air pollution.
A new extinct species, 'Archaeoteleia astropulvis', a 100-million-year-old fossil wasp, has been named after David Bowie's alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The discovery highlights the importance of understanding extant fauna to interpret fossils.
Researchers have developed an efficient catalyst that converts CO2 from the air into synthetic natural gas in a 'clean' process using solar energy. The catalyst produces almost pure methane without side products and operates at mild temperatures, making it viable for industrial activities.
EPFL scientists have developed an Earth-abundant catalyst to split carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon monoxide, producing liquid fuels from renewable sources. The catalyst achieved a high efficiency of 13.4% in converting CO2 to CO using solar energy.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new method to produce plastics precursors using environmentally friendly catalysts and hydrogen peroxide. This approach can reduce the use of olefin molecules derived from fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers from Penn State and Florida State University have developed a new, industrially scalable catalyst that splits water into hydrogen with minimal external energy. The molybdenum disulfide alloy improves the efficiency of the process, enabling cheaper production of clean hydrogen fuel.
A WSU study reveals that US consumers are interested in using more renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, with many willing to shift their appliance usage to achieve this goal. The researchers propose developing an app prototype to monitor electricity sources in real-time, empowering consumers to make informed decisions.
A rare tooth discovery in Mississippi, USA, has revealed that horned dinosaurs, closely related to Triceratops, roamed freely across eastern North America during the Late Cretaceous period. The fossil, dated to around 68-66 million years ago, challenges previous assumptions about the separation of western and eastern continents.
A team of UCLA chemists has developed a new technique for breaking carbon-hydrogen bonds and making carbon-carbon bonds, enabling the creation of new molecules. This method uses silicon and boron as abundant and inexpensive catalysts, potentially leading to more efficient production of fuels and pharmaceuticals.
A newly published study documents an orchid fossil trapped in Baltic amber, shedding light on the family's evolutionary history. The discovery, published in Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, pushes the record for oldest orchid fossil to over 45 million years.
Researchers have successfully developed a high-efficient, stable, and multifunctional Na-Fe3O4/HZSM-5 catalyst for direct production of gasoline from CO2 hydrogenation. The catalyst exhibited 78% selectivity to C5-C11 hydrocarbons under industrial conditions.
The discovery of Vouivria damparisensis, an early titanosauriform, provides important evidence on the evolution of brachiosaurid sauropods and their spread across Europe. The fossil reveals that Vouivria died at a young age, weighed around 15,000 kg, and was over 15 meters long.
Scientists at USC Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute have created a new method to generate hydrogen fuel from methanol, producing a carbon-neutral and potentially carbon-positive energy source. The research aims to develop renewable sources of energy that can mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The article highlights that climate change threatens the sustainability of the fossil fuel industry, with emissions accounting for two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions. The industry faces increasing pressures due to carbon-based businesses and economies facing impediments to consumption, according to Jim Krane and Ritchie D. Priddy.
The European Union has funded two projects at Goethe University Frankfurt: one on producing environmentally friendly fuels from bacteria that can use carbon dioxide as a feedstock, and another on understanding how bacteria manipulate the ubiquitin system to their advantage in infectious diseases such as Salmonella and Shigella.
Researchers have re-evaluated and re-classified Diandongosuchus fuyuanensis, a reptile previously labeled as a poposauroid, linking it to the phytosaurs. The fossil's shape reveals its connection to this extinct group of semi-aquatic reptiles that lived during the Triassic Period.
A study by Cardiff University researchers found that both the UK and US prioritize renewable energy sources over fossil fuels in their energy systems. The public in both countries express concerns about water contamination and long-term impacts of horizontal drilling for shale energy.
The study presents a detailed methodology for calculating renewable energy potentials using global or regional databases. It forecasts significant fossil fuel savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, especially in Russia's Far East and coastal regions.
Scientists have discovered a 430 million-year-old crustacean fossil, named Cascolus ravitis, in recognition of Sir David Attenborough's contributions to natural history. The exceptionally well-preserved fossil reveals details about the animal's body plan, limbs, and respiratory-circulatory physiology.
A new study confirms that sharks arose from a group of bony fishes called acanthodians, using an extraordinarily well-preserved fossil of an ancient sharklike fish. The research identifies the fossil as an important transitional species pointing to sharks as acanthodians' living descendants.
A team of researchers has discovered the oldest fossil human cranium in Portugal, dating back 400,000 years. The cranium is significant because it is well-dated and associated with abundant faunal remains and stone tools, including bifaces.
Global energy subsidies have substantial social welfare and economic costs, particularly for the poorest households. Repealing these subsidies could provide enough money to eliminate worldwide hunger and malnutrition multiple times over.
Goethe University Frankfurt scientists create high-value short-chain fatty acids from sugar with brewer's yeast, suitable for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and fuels. The new technology has the potential to replace fossil fuels with yeasts-based biofuels.
New research identifies the oldest bison fossils and constructs a bison genealogy establishing that a common maternal ancestor arrived in North America. The study clarifies the earliest parts of the bison family tree using ancient DNA extraction and sequencing techniques.
Researchers developed a high-throughput method to identify new photoanode materials, doubling the number of compounds with potential for use in solar fuels. The approach combines computational and experimental approaches, revealing how to 'tune' properties to make better photoanodes.
Researchers have discovered 12 new photoanodes that can split water using sunlight, a significant step towards creating practical solar fuels. The new materials discovery pipeline promises to speed up the development of commercially viable solar fuels.
The task force proposes strategies to recycle carbon dioxide and remove large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, complementing carbon-free approaches like electrification. These approaches aim to produce an overall emissions reduction of at least one billion tons of carbon dioxide per year.
A new study confirms the existence of 'living fossils' by measuring evolutionary rates in the tuatara, a reptile that has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. The research found that the tuatara's anatomy is remarkably conservative and shows slow evolution compared to its fossil relatives.
A remarkable 250 million-year-old fossil found in China shows an embryo inside the mother, providing clear evidence for live birth. The discovery rewrites the understanding of reproductive evolution in a wide group containing birds, crocodilians, dinosaurs, and pterosaurs.
Researchers developed a method to produce a metal nanopowder fuel with high energy content, stable in air and igniting only when ignited. The resulting material has an energy density of at least 89 kilojoules/milliliter, significantly superior to hydrocarbons.
Delicate fossil remains of tomatillos found in Patagonia, Argentina, show that the nightshade family existed 52 million years ago, far earlier than previously thought. The discovery provides a rare link between ancient and modern plants, challenging traditional views on plant evolution.
Researchers found that measuring carbon isotope 13C can identify distortion in radiocarbon age of materials caused by fossil fuel emissions. This method allows for accurate age determination, even when atmospheric CO2 levels are high.
A-LEAF project, led by ICIQ, aims to build a photovoltaic device mimicking photosynthesis to produce clean fuels and raw materials using sunlight, water, and CO2. The project seeks to develop sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
A team of international scientists has discovered beta-keratin in a 130 million-year-old bird feather fossil, providing evidence that melanosomes are present in these structures. This finding sheds new light on the molecular preservation of tissues in ancient fossils.
Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have created a new delafossite-based catalyst that converts CO2 into liquid hydrocarbon-based fuels, including diesel. This breakthrough process removes harmful CO2 from the atmosphere and offers a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A new technology, hydrothermal liquefaction, converts sewage sludge into biocrude oil with properties similar to fossil fuels. The process produces a high-quality biocrude that can be refined to yield fuels such as gasoline and diesel.
A consumer tax on fossil fuels could lower its use and encourage cleaner alternatives, a new study suggests. The research proposes a Pigouvian tax as an effective way to balance economic needs with environmental protection.
A 110-million-year-old snake-like reptile fossil from Brazil, named Tetrapodophis, has been reexamined by researchers. The fossil lacks many key snake features, such as recurved teeth and a snake-like skull, instead displaying traits similar to water-dwelling reptiles.
A genuine fossilized brain from a 133 million-year-old dinosaur has been discovered in Sussex, England, revealing remarkable preservation of the fine network of blood vessels. The brain structure and meningeal arrangement show striking similarity to modern birds and crocodilians, suggesting functional parallels.
Rates of childhood pneumonia vary globally with solid fuel use; efficient stoves can reduce indoor pollution and improve child health. Improved cooking fuels may significantly benefit children's health worldwide.
The discovery of a 66-million-year-old bird fossil in Antarctica reveals the oldest known syrinx, a vocal organ that produces bird calls. The finding indicates that this organ may have originated late in the evolution of birds, suggesting that other dinosaurs were unable to produce similar sounds.
Scientists have discovered a new species of fossil crocodile that had complex, mammal-like teeth, which allowed it to crunch through the exoskeletons of insects. The tiny 'crocodile' was less than 2 feet in length and lived in the Kem Kem Beds in Morocco during the Cretaceous period.
Researchers at UTA have demonstrated that polyaniline, an organic semiconductor polymer, can convert carbon dioxide into alcohol fuels without a co-catalyst. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more energy-effective solar fuel cells.
A recent study challenges the assumption that biofuels are carbon neutral, finding a net increase in CO2 emissions from their use in the US. The research suggests that crop-based biofuels like corn ethanol and biodiesel offer only modest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers generated methane from carbon dioxide in one enzymatic step using a light-driven bacterium. This breakthrough could lead to large-scale capture of environmentally damaging byproducts and conversion into alternative fuels.
A fossil discovered in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History has revealed a new genus and species of dolphin, Arktocara yakataga, which lived in subarctic waters around 25 million years ago. The finding confirms that the South Asian river dolphin belongs to one of the oldest lineages of toothed whales still alive today.
A recent study on the internal anatomy of a fossil human relative's heel bone reveals greater similarities with gorillas than chimpanzees. The researchers discovered that this fossil, from the StW 352 Australopithecus africanus, exhibited gorilla-like levels of joint mobility and structural reinforcement.
Researchers at U of T have developed a technique to convert climate-warming carbon dioxide into useful chemicals, such as methanol and ethanol, by consuming the greenhouse gas. The breakthrough uses nanoneedles to catalyze the reaction, producing CO2 reduction faster than any catalyst previously reported.
A new study by the University of Leicester has identified details in fossil vertebrate eyes that shed light on how vertebrates evolved their complex eyes. The research shows that ancient species of hagfish could see, while living counterparts are blind, revealing a 'reverse evolution' process.