A new European research project, SMARTS, aims to improve air travel efficiency by redesigning flexible airspace sectors using artificial intelligence. The €2million project will create accurate predictive models and develop innovative sector configuration plans to reduce passenger delays, increase productivity, and lower emissions.
Researchers in Chile developed a prototype using microorganisms to remove VOCs and PAHs from indoor air, achieving efficiencies above 90%. The system can operate for 8 months without losing efficiency. This breakthrough offers a potentially low-cost solution to improve indoor air quality.
Researchers at NTU Singapore found that indoor air quality can affect creativity, with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from products like detergents and perfumes affecting participants' ability to build 3D models. By reducing TVOC levels by 72%, creative potential can be improved by 12%.
Research from the University of Gothenburg found that trees surrounded by grass are stronger, taller, and cooler than those with paving close to the trunk. The study suggests investing in good soil and water for trees in urban areas where optimal conditions can be challenging.
A new study reveals that wildfires have worsened air quality in the western US, mainly due to increased frequency and ferocity of fires, resulting in a significant increase in premature deaths. The study found black carbon concentrations rose 55% annually in fire-prone areas, contributing to a decline in air quality.
Researchers develop a method to verify whether carbon in concrete comes from air or raw materials. By analyzing carbon isotopes, they can confirm direct air capture and certify offsetting CO2 emissions. This technology is crucial for the construction industry and supports a circular economy.
A new study finds that the US Clean Air Act led to a 3.5% increase in lifetime earnings of $21,400 for the average US worker due to reduced airborne lead exposure. Improved air quality also resulted in increased employment and lower rates of disability and public assistance.
Commercially available NPBI-based air purifiers significantly reduced airborne virus infectivity, eliminating up to 99.98% of COVID-19, flu and RSV viruses in real-world concentrations.
A systematic review of air filtration systems found little evidence to support their effectiveness in reducing the risk of viral infections. The study analyzed 32 studies and found no strong evidence that air treatment technologies can protect people from catching airborne respiratory or gastrointestinal infections.
A team of researchers from McGill University, UCLA, and Princeton has found an inexpensive, sustainable way to cool buildings in hot climates using radiative cooling materials. They achieved temperatures several degrees below the ambient temperature, without compromising healthy ventilation air changes.
Researchers have created a hierarchically porous bifunctional catalyst that enhances the transport of reactants and products in zinc-air batteries. The pyrolysis-free strategy allows for improved durability and efficiency, making it an important step towards commercializing this technology.
Researchers have developed a high-performance magnesium-air primary battery using nitrogen-doped nanoporous graphene as air electrodes, offering superior performance to platinum cathode-based batteries. The battery's porous electrode structure facilitates air transport and prevents rapid corrosion of the Mg electrode.
Researchers observed and analyzed approximately 17,000 images from the Subaru Telescope to identify 13 extensive air showers. This new method can determine individual particle types, advancing understanding of these cosmic-ray phenomena.
A new electrochemical route converts N2 and O2 in air to HNO3 with high efficiency, avoiding traditional high-temperature processes. The process produces 141.83 μmol·h−1·g−1 of HNO3 productivity.
Researchers at DESY have developed a method to deflect laser beams in air without contact, preserving the beam's quality. The technique uses acoustic density waves to create an invisible grating that changes the direction of the laser light.
Research finds soil heat extremes are underestimated and intensifying climate change effects, with a stronger trend in the soil than in the air. Soil moisture plays a crucial role in these extreme temperatures, particularly in forests where trees can reduce evaporation losses.
A model has been developed to estimate the changes in air radiation dose rates caused by rainfall, enabling accurate quantification of long-term decreasing trend of air dose rates. The study found that increased soil moisture content provides enhanced radiation shielding effect, leading to post-rainfall decrease in air dose rates.
A new approach reduces computational demands by 84% and enables daily estimation of emissions for major pollutants in urban areas. This leads to a notable 7.1% reduction in root mean square errors in 7-day PM2.5 forecasts, contributing to healthier air for all.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed small robotic devices that can change their shape in mid-air using a Miura-ori origami fold, enabling battery-free control over descent. The devices can transition from tumbling to falling states, allowing for precise landings in turbulent wind conditions.
Researchers at West Virginia University have developed a technology that can capture carbon dioxide from the air of buildings and use it to produce methanol, a common chemical with numerous applications. The process is expected to increase the sustainable supply of methanol while removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a molecularly engineered hydrogel that can create clean water from hot air, using solar energy. The device produces up to 7 kilograms of water per kilogram of gel materials, with potential applications for drought-stricken areas and countries lacking access to clean water.
Researchers at Oregon State University found that glacier ice melts twice as fast with pressurized air bubbles than without them, which could explain part of the observed melting rate difference. This discovery has significant implications for climate models and predicting ice melt rates.
A new study by Edith Cowan University has discovered zinc-air batteries as a superior alternative to lithium-ion, offering low costs, environmental benefits, and high theoretical energy density. The breakthrough redesigns the batteries using natural resources like zinc from Australia and air, enhancing their viability for sustainable e...
Researchers found that the flu blocks lung liquid secretion, allowing staph to infect lungs. Treatment with a CFTR-activating drug like ivacaftor restores liquid secretion and protects against staph infection.
UVA professor Patrick Hopkins is developing a 'freeze ray' technology to cool electronics in spacecraft and high-altitude jets, which can't be cooled by nature due to the vacuum of space. The technology uses heat-generating plasma to create localized cooling, and has been granted $750,000 by the Air Force.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new type of storage container that effectively prevents surface contamination for at least six weeks. The technology relies on an ultraclean wall with tiny bumps and divots, which attracts VOCs in air inside the containers.
Researchers assessed air quality after a freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, finding hazardous gases like acrolein reached dangerous levels. The study highlights the importance of complementary stationary and mobile air-quality assessment techniques to ensure public safety during cleanup activities.
A research group from Nagoya University simulated clear air turbulence using Japan's fastest supercomputer. They found that wind speed disturbances occur due to the collapse of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability waves, creating turbulence in the absence of visible clouds or other atmospheric disturbances.
The study of fluid dynamics involved in forming horizontal air cavities and the transition between floating and skipping, reveals complex interactions at the air-water interface. The pulling angle plays a significant role in shaping hydrodynamics, with larger angles resulting in different air-cavity lengths and skipping distances.
Air traffic cannot become climate-neutral solely by replacing fossil fuels with synthetic ones; reductions in air traffic are necessary. Non-CO2 effects, like particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, play a major role in aviation's overall climate impact.
Recent studies have measured the impact of sudden wind gusts around city buildings on aircraft stability, revealing significant safety challenges for air taxis. To address this, regulations are being compiled globally to ensure safe operation in urban environments.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a solar-powered reactor that captures CO2 from industrial processes or directly from the air and converts it into sustainable fuels. The technology also uses plastic waste, converting it into glycolic acid and other valuable chemical products.
Researchers at MIT have developed a superabsorbent material that can soak up record amounts of moisture from the air, even in dry conditions. The material is made by infusing hydrogel with lithium chloride and has shown to absorb and retain unprecedented amounts of water vapor.
Researchers at Waseda University have developed a novel, completely solid, rechargeable air battery that uses a benzoquinone-based negative electrode and solid Nafion polymer electrolyte. The battery exhibits high performance and close to maximum capacity, overcoming metal-based battery limitations and liquid electrolyte safety concerns.
A Finnish study found that people experiencing indoor air symptoms experience varying degrees of functional impairment, ranging from mild to severe. The severity of symptoms is linked to the presence of diagnosed illnesses and other health problems.
Researchers found an astonishing record of biodiversity trapped on air quality filter samples in the UK, including over 180 plant and animal species. The study suggests that existing air quality monitoring networks could be used to track terrestrial biodiversity on a continental scale.
A new, energy-efficient approach to removing CO2 directly from air has been developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and licensed to Holocene. The technology uses an aqueous solution containing receptors called Bis-iminoguanidine to absorb carbon dioxide, which can then be stored deep underground.
EPFL scientists develop a novel concept, called the active 'plasmacoustic metalayer', which can be controlled to cancel out noise. The device is more compact than conventional solutions, absorbing 100% of incoming sound intensity and offering tunable acoustic reflection over a broad bandwidth.
A study by University of Technology Sydney found that plants can remove 97% of toxic compounds, including cancer-causing pollutants, from indoor air in just eight hours. This breakthrough discovery highlights the critical role played by indoor plants and green walls in improving air quality.
A team of engineers at UMass Amherst has created a device that can continuously harvest electricity from humidity in the air using nanopores in materials. The 'generic Air-gen effect' allows nearly any material to be engineered for this purpose, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution.
A new study shows that masking and portable air cleaners significantly reduced the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in two Swiss schools during the Omicron wave. The researchers detected salivary and airborne virus concentrations in air samples and students, with a 70% decrease in viral transmission under mask mandates.
Research reveals that soot particles in the Amazon rainforest come primarily from African bushfires, not regional fires. This discovery highlights the significant role of atmospheric transport in distributing pollutants across continents.
Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a zinc-air battery with an open circuit voltage of over 2V, overcoming the major bottleneck for metal-air batteries. By arranging acidic/alkaline electrolytes in tandem, they were able to generate a higher voltage and improve output power density.
Researchers are working on a new concept for lithium-air batteries that could lead to significant improvements in energy storage capacity. A collaborative project in Germany aims to test new materials and components to enhance the stability of these battery cells. The goal is to overcome technical challenges such as unstable electrolyt...
A new paper proposes solidifying air as a medium to reduce energy consumption and costs in transporting hydrogen by sea. The process, called Solid Air Hydrogen Liquefaction (SAHL), has the potential to lower energy consumption for liquefying hydrogen by 25-50%.
Researchers call for national governments to establish mandatory requirements for building ventilation performance, citing a global indoor-air crisis and the need for real-time ventilation rates. The authors note that without this action, poorly ventilated buildings will remain common, posing a risk of airborne transmission.
Researchers at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have developed an air-breathing cathode for alkaline nickel-zinc batteries, improving cycling stability and energy efficiency. The novel battery exhibits ultra-long lifespan and high energy efficiency, surpassing conventional Ni-Zn batteries.
Researchers have identified optimal flight routes for solar-powered airships, which can significantly reduce both transport costs and CO2 emissions of air travel. With a maximum of five percent of carbon dioxide generated compared to conventional air transport, solar airships offer a promising alternative.
A new study reveals an association between poor air quality in India and impaired cognition in infants under two. The study found that air quality was poorer in homes that used solid cooking materials like cow dung cake, and that reducing cooking emissions could have benefits to infants' emerging cognitive abilities.
New research using social media advertising data provides insights into the adoption of air conditioning units worldwide, particularly in heat-vulnerable regions. The study found that middle-aged, highly educated, married males, and parents with small children are more likely to express online interest in AC units.
Scientists from NTU Singapore have developed a sustainable cooling method for servers in data centers, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 26%. The new spray cooling system can handle high computing power servers in smaller spaces, leading to significant space savings and energy efficiency.
Researchers have developed a plant-based film that gets cooler when exposed to sunlight and comes in various colors, promoting passive daytime radiative cooling. The material can rival residential air conditioners in cooling power and has potential applications in buildings, cars, and other structures.
Researchers are using air flow modeling and simulations to understand how pathogens transport through spaces, shedding light on the impact of building design on human health. The study aims to develop interdisciplinary ventilation strategies to mitigate microbe spread and improve disease prevention.
Researchers from USTC introduced a 'bubble diode' concept to address the issue of bubble precipitation in fast-charging Zn-air batteries. The design guides the development of bubble-free electrodes, leading to improved energy density, safety and environmental friendliness.
Researchers developed a machine learning model that maps graphene-gas molecule van der Waals complex bonding evolution for selective gas detection. The model achieved 100% accuracy in distinguishing between different atmospheric environments, showcasing its potential for environmental monitoring and non-invasive medical diagnosis.
Australian scientists have discovered an enzyme called Huc that converts air into energy by using the low amounts of hydrogen in the atmosphere. This discovery opens the way to create devices that produce energy from thin air, offering a sustainable alternative to solar-powered devices.
The UCF Advanced Air Mobility Conference aims to generate knowledge on the significance and feasibility of AAM, exploring law's impact on its development and potential benefits for urban mobility. Researchers will discuss issues such as property law, jurisdiction, safety, and social equity.
Researchers have reviewed novel porous materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for their potential to advance metal-air batteries. These frameworks exhibit unique molecular structures that enable high porosity with uniform distribution of catalytic sites, making reactions more predictable.
A cheap charcoal air filter can significantly improve in-vehicle air quality, reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels by up to 90%. The study found that NO2 concentrations were on average 14.3 times lower with activated carbon filters fitted compared to pollen filters.
Researchers at The University of Manchester have developed stable, porous materials that capture and separate benzene, a volatile organic compound and major air pollutant. These materials, UiO-66 and MFM-300, demonstrate high adsorption of benzene at low pressures and concentrations.