A new study by MIT researchers and their collaborators at national laboratories quantifies I-129 release under three different scenarios: direct disposal in deep underground repositories, dilution and release, and filters to capture I-129. France's practice of reprocessing releases 90% of I-129 into the biosphere, while U.S. approach l...
Researchers propose utilizing nuclear waste for long-term hydrogen production, offering a sustainable pathway to reduce environmental hazards. Several innovative technologies harness radioactivity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen without emitting carbon dioxide.
Researchers have discovered how to convert discarded plastics into valuable carbon-based materials, including graphene, nanotubes, and porous carbon. These materials show promise for use in environmental remediation, batteries, and supercapacitors.
Researchers have identified a previously unknown bacterium in the Natronincolaceae family that plays a crucial role in converting organic waste into renewable natural gas. The newly discovered microbe tolerates high ammonia levels, allowing it to thrive in systems where other methane producers would fail.
A new method to recycle PA-66, a type of polymer found in fishing nets and automotive parts, has been developed. The process involves introducing melamine into melted waste, resulting in a nylon material with improved properties that can be reprocessed up to three times.
A new composite material made from a recyclable polymer infused with microscopic droplets of liquid metal alloy can be broken down through a simple chemical process, freeing the metal for reuse. The material also has self-healing properties, allowing it to be cut, rearranged, and bonded back together using only heat and pressure.
Two WPI projects harness AI to transform waste into energy and improve recycling. A digital twin simulates a complex chemical process, while an AI-powered robotic system identifies materials for recycling. These innovations aim to reduce municipal solid waste and support the circular economy.
Researchers used boron isotope fingerprinting to study how boron moves within dissolving glass. They found that diffusion through an altered surface layer becomes a key mechanism controlling the release of boron from glass over time.
Critical raw materials are projected to grow from 1 million tonnes in 2022 to between 1.2 and 1.9 million tonnes by 2050. Europe can recover more of these essential materials by improving collection, design, and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Researchers at Wuzhou University and Guangzhou University in China explored gemstone polishing waste as a possible additive in cement. Their study found that the waste significantly enhances thermal conductivity up to 159% and reduces electrical resistivity by up to 94% in cement, revealing an unexpected potential for 'smart' materials.
The Australian National University (ANU) has developed a technology that can recover untapped critical resources such as copper and lithium from mining waste. The BERST system, inspired by nature, uses nanotechnology to separate and extract high-purity minerals and metals, while turning dirty water into clean water.
A new study found that nearly half of UK households underestimate how much plastic they throw away each week, with online shoppers being the most unconscious consumers. The research calls for supermarkets to change infrastructure and systems to promote reuse and refill schemes.
A new gas-solid separation method promises cleaner and cheaper recycling of critical elements. The technique uses flash Joule heating to extract REEs in seconds without water or acids, achieving over 90% purity and yield for REE recovery.
Research highlights that wealthy countries waste more food, but urbanization is narrowing this gap. Global food waste has increased by 24% since 2004, with rising waste in middle-income countries driven by economic growth and urbanization.
Researchers from UCLA presented findings on targeted radioactive therapy, new SBRT approaches and advances in MRI- and 5DCT-guided imaging. The LUNAR clinical trial looked at adding a targeted therapy before ablative radiotherapy for men with recurrent prostate cancer.
The research team developed an artificial plant device that simulates plant transpiration, collecting and purifying radioactive cesium using sunlight alone. The technology significantly reduces the concentration of cesium in contaminated soil within 20 days.
Researchers developed a new behavioral model for waste separation, incorporating external factors and demographic variables. The Theory of Planned Behavior + External influences + Heterogeneity (TPB + E + H) framework increases explanatory power and provides a flexible platform for policy-level interventions.
Microbial communities around alkali waste barrels have low diversity and are dominated by alkalophilic bacteria, similar to those found at hydrothermal vents. The ecological effects of caustic alkaline waste dumping are expected to take thousands of years to cease.
Researchers found that caustic alkaline waste in corroded metal barrels off Los Angeles created extreme environments mirroring natural hydrothermal vents. The discovery suggests the waste has persisted for over half a century, joining DDT as a persistent pollutant with long-term environmental impacts.
A new study from Mizzou's College of Veterinary Medicine analyzed the effects of radioactive iodine therapy on thyroid cancer in dogs. The research found that tailoring the dose of radiation more precisely for each dog could improve outcomes and potentially lead to more targeted care.
Researchers at MIT introduce the concept of a neutrino laser that uses cooled radioactive atoms to produce amplified neutrino beams. By cooling rubidium-83 to near absolute zero, the team predicts accelerated radioactive decay and production of neutrinos. This innovation could lead to new applications in medicine and communication.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that adding an electrical jolt to fermentation increases the yield and speed of platform chemicals from industrial food waste. Combining two bacterial species also enhances targeted chemical production and produces hydrogen gas as a byproduct, reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers from Edith Cowan University have developed a method to incorporate waste plastics into pavement material, offering a dual benefit of improving road strength and reducing plastic pollution. The study highlights the potential for repurposing household plastics to create more sustainable and resilient roads.
A new study found that fostering lasting habits of frugality is more effective in reducing household food waste than short-term interventions or nudges. Long-standing tendencies to conserve resources were the strongest predictor of food-saving behavior.
Researchers at the University of Sharjah have developed a novel waste-to-carbon technology that utilizes shrimp shells and heads to produce activated carbon. The material exhibits excellent CO2 capture performance and long-term stability, offering a promising candidate for industrial carbon capture applications.
A new UConn study finds that composting programs can reduce organic waste in landfills by 30% per household per week. However, the cost of implementing and maintaining these programs is often too high, making them unfeasible for many municipalities.
Researchers successfully treat mouse tumor with radioactive carbon ion beam, achieving complete control without major neurological side effects. The BARB project advances image-guided particle therapy using exotic beams, showing feasibility and effectiveness.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a nanocatalyst that converts food waste into sustainable aviation fuel. The team's findings, published in Science Advances, demonstrate the production of an alternative to traditional jet fuel using non-noble metal carbide catalysts.
Researchers are developing a new system to use nuclear waste to produce valuable tritium, which could power over 500,000 homes for six months. The system uses a particle accelerator to jump-start atom-splitting reactions in the waste, producing more tritium than traditional fusion reactors.
Researchers in Spain and Italy design a new type of asphalt that uses recycled materials from cigarette butts to improve its crack resistance. The additive increases the material's ductility and flexibility, while also reducing manufacturing temperature and energy consumption.
Researchers at KIMS developed a highly durable non-precious metal-based hydrogen evolution catalyst, enabling the production of clean hydrogen by directly utilizing waste alkaline wastewater. The technology reduces costs and environmental pollution, with potential applications in mobility and power industries.
A team at Binghamton University has developed a process to convert food waste into biodegradable plastic, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offering a sustainable alternative. The process utilizes bacteria to synthesize polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastic, which can be harvested and shaped into various products.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of anomalous radioactive decay in cobalt-57 under ultrasonic stimulation, supporting the Deformed Space-Time (DST) theory. The findings suggest energy-dependent space-time distortions that violate local Lorentz invariance, leading to a departure from conventional exponential decay laws.
A Korean research team used machine learning to identify a new material that can effectively remove iodate from contaminated water. The multi-metal LDH developed in this study showed exceptional adsorption performance, removing over 90% of iodate.
An interdisciplinary team at Flinders University has developed a safer and more sustainable approach to extract and recover gold from ore and electronic waste. The new method uses a low-cost and benign compound to extract gold, which can then be selectively bound to a novel sulfur-rich polymer, allowing for high-purity gold recovery.
A new recycling technology has been developed to turn used tires into raw materials for rubber and nylon, achieving high selectivity of up to 92% and a yield of 82%. The process uses dual catalysis to convert waste rubber into valuable chemicals.
Researchers at UCL found that low-risk thyroid cancer patients can safely forego radioactive iodine treatment after surgery, allowing them to spend more time with family. This could impact hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, particularly younger parents and those living in the UK.
Australians waste 7.6 million tonnes of food annually, with poor label design and inconsistent packaging being key reasons for this problem. Clearer date labels and storage advice could drastically reduce edible food waste.
Researchers have discovered a new method to enhance brain waste clearance by precisely stimulating the lymphatics under skin on the neck and face. This non-invasive approach may offer a safer alternative to current treatments for age-related neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute propose a new therapy for lymphoma using radioimmunotherapy with terbium-161, which could target smaller tumours and increase survival rates. The isotope's conversion and Auger electrons allow for precise treatment of cancer cells in the bloodstream.
Scientists develop sustainable alternative to cement, using recycled glass and construction waste to create durable and green construction material. The breakthrough innovation offers practical applications in urban infrastructure development and disaster-prone regions.
Researchers developed a new method to identify hazardous chemicals in sewage sludge and electronic waste, revealing toxic compounds like PFAS, bisphenols, and phthalates. The study highlights the need for better monitoring tools and treatment strategies to address circular economy goals.
Research from the University of Adelaide found that nutrition-conscious consumers have habits reducing food waste, with 1030 Australians surveyed.
The study evaluates Hengshui City's 'zero-waste city' initiative, which integrates biogas production, electricity generation, heat recovery, and organic fertilizer manufacturing. The project achieves significant emission reductions, with a 64% decrease in CO2 equivalent emissions per year.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed new membranes for desalination that can help eliminate brine waste and produce more sustainable freshwater. The membranes are packed with charge and increase conductivity, allowing them to move more salt with less power.
A research project at the University of Tennessee is developing a method to turn mixed wood waste into a densified material with high strength and toughness. The approach involves removing lignin and compressing the wood, resulting in a substance comparable to steel.
A professor argues that profit-driven policies on waste are exacerbating global inequalities, blaming consumers while industry produces more waste. The book 'Waste: The Basics' calls for responsible consumption and production, regulatory incentives, and national regulations to hold industry accountable for product waste and contamination.
Zheming Wang, a PNNL scientist, has been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science as an AAAS Fellow. His research focuses on the chemistry underlying radioactive and advanced energy materials, with notable contributions to studying f block elements.
A new enzyme discovered can extract high-value molecules from lignin, a forestry by-product, using a hydrogen peroxide-driven process. This breakthrough could support the development of green chemistry 'enzyme factories' to produce valuable chemicals.
A new study reveals that blockchain-powered freshness tracking can minimize food waste and increase efficiency in retail supply chains. Smart contracts can ensure fair pricing and compensation for suppliers, creating a win-win scenario.
New research suggests converting whey waste into a valuable food product is feasible with significant industry-wide potential. Only a small number of cheese manufacturers have adopted innovative technologies and business models to upcycle whey, highlighting the need for clearer incentives and enabling conditions.
Researchers developed a recycling process for cement waste into a low-carbon, high-strength material that can replace traditional Portland cement. The new cement blend reduces carbon intensity and enables new uses for construction and demolition waste.
Researchers assessed the environmental impact of five waste-to-nutrition technologies in France, finding that their efficiency is variable. They compared these technologies with existing waste recovery methods, such as anaerobic digestion and composting.
Physicists have measured a nuclear reaction that can occur in neutron star collisions, providing direct experimental data for a process previously only theorized. The study provides new insight into how the universe's heaviest elements are forged, with potential applications in nuclear reactor physics.
A research project from Politecnico di Milano proposes a novel method to recycle used vegetable oil into valuable resources like bio-lubricants and air purification devices. The project optimizes waste treatment processes while reducing waste and promoting European independence in critical raw material supply.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated the environmental benefits of turning CO₂ emissions into key chemical ingredients for essential consumer goods. The study found that waste CO₂ can be part of the solution rather than the problem, reducing GWP by around 82% for paper mill emissions.
Researchers from Shinshu University investigated erythritol slurry as a promising heat transfer medium for thermal storage and transport. Their findings could help guide the design of industrial waste heat recovery systems, advancing energy efficiency and carbon neutrality.
A 42-page document called the Key Information File contains crucial information about a final repository in Sweden. The researchers aim to create a habit of sharing and renewing knowledge through playfulness and curiosity.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a process to recover nickel from spent batteries and convert it into a nanocatalyst that reduces CO2 into valuable methane. This innovation has the potential to reduce waste and provide a sustainable fuel source.
A new PEC strategy converts PS waste into valuable products, offering a promising solution for sustainable plastic waste treatment. The researchers achieved efficient oxidative degradation of PS under sunlight illumination.