Articles tagged with Charcoal
A discarded ornamental shrub can now power electric buses thanks to a new material that triples the energy density of previous devices. The material, called PHAC, shows high surface area and mesopore volume, enabling rapid ion transport and long cycle life.
Researchers explore converting bioprecursors into fossil-free graphite, providing sustainable alternatives to traditional materials. This transition has significant implications for industrial decarbonization and the development of eco-friendly technologies.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology found that biochar significantly reduces DDT uptake by earthworms in contaminated soil, halving the toxin's presence. This method could enable farming on land deemed unusable due to environmental risks.
A 13,000-year history of vegetation and fire in Albany Pine Bush reveals pine-oak forest dominance with frequent fires. Pollen and charcoal samples indicate moister climates in recent millennia.
Researchers have developed a slow-release system using bamboo vinegar and activated bamboo charcoal to combat acne. The study shows that the refined bamboo vinegar, adsorbed by the bamboo charcoal, exhibits a gradual release rate over two hours, effectively demonstrating its potential as an anti-acne cosmetic raw material.
A team of scientists from Heriot-Watt University has developed an AI-powered platform called PrISMa to accelerate the discovery of top-performing materials for carbon capture applications. The platform uses advanced simulations and machine learning to identify cost-effective and sustainable material-capture process combinations.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge developed a low-cost and energy-efficient method to make materials that can capture carbon dioxide directly from the air. The charged charcoal sponge uses reversible bonds with hydroxides to capture CO2, requiring lower temperatures and renewable electricity for regeneration.
Researchers have created high-resolution maps showing the potential for biochar to sequester large amounts of carbon, with Bhutan and India leading the way in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The study suggests that biochar production can remove up to one billion metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere annually.
Researchers uncover charcoal drawings at Gua Sireh Cave, dating back to the 1600s and 1800s AD, depicting Indigenous resistance to frontier violence. The site's unique artwork sheds light on the region's complex history of colonization and territorial violence.
Researchers used radiocarbon dating and time-series modeling to study the timing and causes of megafauna extinctions at Rancho La Brea Tar Pits. The team found that a sharp decline in population occurred between 13,070 to 12,900 years ago, coinciding with warming and drying climate change and increased fires sparked by humans.
Researchers have found sedimentary archives in sand dunes that can reconstruct reliable, multi-millennial fire histories. The discovery aims to expand scientific understanding of fire regimes around the world and uncover the role of humans on fire history.
Adding Amazonian dark earth to soils increases plant growth by 3-8 times compared to control soil. The nutrient-rich soil also supports a greater biodiversity of beneficial bacteria and archaea, which transform chemical particles into nutrients. This 'secret weapon' could help speed up forest restoration projects worldwide.
Fungal spores found in dung indicate large animals went extinct in two waves in the Colombian Andes, with major impacts on ecosystems. The study reveals that megafauna existed for thousands of years before disappearing and reappearing again, highlighting the sensitivity of habitats to local herbivore declines.
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.
A study found that a commercial water purifier may have caused Mycobacterium abscessus infections in 4 cardiac surgery patients due to chlorine depletion. The hospital's water system was contaminated via municipal water, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and preventing mycobacteria.
Researchers discovered that certain microorganisms dominate burned soil after a wildfire, with some species increasing in abundance and others consuming charcoal. This finding could help revive megafire dead zones and provide insights into the human microbiome's response to stress.
Researchers at University of California, Riverside, have developed a method to convert plastic waste into highly porous charcoal that captures carbon and improves soil water retention. The char can also act as a natural fertilizer, but further work is needed to substantiate its utility in agriculture.
A £7M NIHR award will scale clean energy access to improve health, gender equality and climate in sub-Saharan Africa. The project aims to address household air pollution, a significant risk factor for global disease, and will focus on informing national strategies to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 7.
Research team analyzes impact craters to understand environmental effects of small asteroid collisions. They found distinctive charcoal assemblages, suggesting that fragments of trees shattered by impacts were intermixed with local material ejected from the crater.
Scientists have developed a new method to distinguish between normal land structures and small asteroid craters by analyzing charcoal samples, revealing 30% of impact sites remain unlocated. The study found unique characteristics in impact charcoals that differ from wildfire charcoals.
Research found that acidic activated charcoal from Shinshu Ina's specialty Akamatsu tree suppresses weight gain due to a high-fat diet by increasing bile acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, and fatty acid excretion. No damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa or lungs was observed.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University discovered charcoal remnants from olive trees at the Chalcolithic site of Tel Zaf, indicating intentional cultivation around 7,000 years ago. This marks the earliest evidence of domestication of a fruit tree worldwide.
A new study suggests that wildfires can lead to increased soil carbon stocks in savannahs and grasslands, potentially offsetting short-term emissions. The research found that fires could store up to 90 million tonnes of carbon per year, but the breakdown rate of charcoal in soils remains uncertain.
Access to modern cooking fuels like gas and electricity improves health and frees up time for women to seek information and education, ultimately leading to reproductive rights. The study found a significant connection between modern energy access and lower fertility rates in countries with high initial fertility rates.
A new study suggests that human presence on the Falkland Islands dates back to around 3450 B.C.E., with evidence of fire activity and stone projectile points consistent with Indigenous South American technology. The research indicates that people likely visited the islands for short-term stays, leaving few cultural materials behind.
A new study in PNAS reveals that a rainforest in the Putumayo region of Peru has been home to relatively unaltered forest for 5,000 years. Researchers found microscopic silica and charcoal in the soil, which indicate that humans coexisted with nature without altering the environment.
Researchers found evidence of intensive land use for farming and fishing over 3,500 years ago in the Llanos de Mojos region of Bolivia. This discovery counters the often-held notion of a pristine Amazon before Europeans arrived and provides new insights into the history of culturally diverse but understudied cultures.
Researchers from the University of Vienna detected high concentrations of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFR) in charcoal samples from fires worldwide. These toxic chemicals can persist for years and may harm ecosystems and human health, posing a significant threat after landscape fires.
A team of researchers discovered ancient human landscape modifications in Amazonia, revealing a 2,000-year-old civilization that used fire to clear patches and alter the forest composition. The findings contradict previous theories on extensive savannah formations during the current Holocene period.
Researchers at UT Institute of Agriculture use gas chromatography-olfactometry to identify 49 odorants in Tennessee whiskey, including nine new discoveries. The study reveals that the Lincoln County Process decreases malty and rancid aromas while retaining desirable flavors.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of ancient banana cultivation in the Western Torres Strait, dating back over 2,000 years. The findings challenge the common view that Australia's first peoples were solely hunter-gatherers.
A Penn State researcher challenges the prevailing view that indigenous peoples' fires had a minor ecological impact. Instead, Abrams argues that indigenous peoples played a significant role in managing forests through frequent, low-intensity fires. This management approach allowed for extensive agriculture and supported wildlife habitats.
Researchers have discovered that charcoal nanoparticles can effectively combat damaging levels of superoxides, which are toxic at high concentrations. The nanozymes could aid in the treatment of COVID-19 patients by reducing radical oxygen ions produced in response to an injury or stroke.
Researchers confirm three historic earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault in the Monterey Bay Area, occurring in 1838, 1890, and 1906, using a new model that accounts for charcoal inbuilt ages. The study uses a technique called wiggle matching to determine precise dates and recurrence intervals.
African charcoal production supports nomadic lifestyles, while its large-scale use contributes to deforestation. Despite efforts to regulate, charcoal remains a significant source of energy worldwide, with millions of metric tons produced annually.
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have developed a low-cost technique to convert brewery waste into carbon, which can be used as a renewable fuel or in water filters. The method creates activated carbon and carbon nanotubes from barley waste, reducing emissions linked with the agriculture sector and creating a high-value product.
A new study analyzing sediment cores from Swamp Lake reveals that climate has been the main driver of fire activity in the Sierras over the past 1,400 years. The researchers found that warmer and drier conditions promote fire, suggesting future fires may be more extensive than observed in the last century.
A new approach combines acyclovir with activated carbon particles to improve the effectiveness of a common herpes medication. The combination reduces viral load and inflammation while minimizing side effects like kidney damage.
Research suggests that wildfires can effectively 'lock away' carbon for years to come through the production of pyrogenic carbon, or charcoal. This process helps compensate for carbon emissions from fires and could provide a significant buffer against future climate change.
Researchers investigated emissions from waterpipes using electrical heating elements (EHEs) and charcoal, finding that EHEs reduced some toxicants but increased others. Emissions of acrolein, a highly reactive irritant, were several orders of magnitude higher with EHE use compared to charcoal.
Researchers have identified key compounds responsible for the flavor and aroma of Tennessee whiskey. By studying the effects of the Lincoln County Process, distilleries can optimize their production to achieve the desired flavor profile.
Research found that hookah tobacco smoking impairs blood vessel function, similar to cigarette smoking, due to high levels of carbon monoxide. Hookah smoke exposes users to additional toxic substances from charcoal combustion products.
A study of 341,730 Chinese adults found long-term use of solid fuels for cooking associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular death. Switching to electricity or gas reduced the negative impact of previous solid fuel use.
A study analyzed prairie fire charcoal deposits to examine fire activity over the last millennium in Montana, revealing high activity during 1100-1650 CE and a strong link between humans and climate on fire regimes. Climate records showed that more than half of the fire deposits coincided with modest or short wet periods.
A study of 271,217 Chinese adults found that using solid fuels for cooking and heating was associated with a higher risk of death. Switching to cleaner fuels like gas, electricity, or central heating significantly reduced mortality rates.
Researchers found charcoal accelerates fine roots decomposition, leading to increased CO2 emissions in boreal forests. High charcoal concentrations resulted in greater root mass loss over two years.
A study by Rice University researchers found that soil charcoal behaves differently than other forms of soil carbon, becoming more patchy and concentrated in low-lying areas. Charcoal's benefits as a soil amendment include reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and improving crop productivity.
Researchers Victoria Hudspith and Claire Belcher found that different types of plants burned at varying temperatures and that certain flower shapes made them more likely to be destroyed by fire. This discovery affects the interpretation of charred flowers as a source of information about ancient flowering plants.
A recent study by UC chemists found that the heat of a hookah pipe can kill 80% more lung cells than traditional charcoal, making it a surprising health culprit for smokers. The study suggests that the use of electronic heating disks may be particularly hazardous to health.
A new study from Michigan State University found that local perceptions of illegal biodiversity exploitation and environmental insecurity can help predict buy-in for risk-management strategies. Understanding local attitudes and behaviors is crucial to addressing wildlife crime and its ramifications.
A recent study published in HortScience provides new recommendations to increase the stock of blight-resistant American chestnut trees. Genetic engineering is proposed as a solution, with the addition of one gene, oxalate oxidase, protecting the tree from the fungus. The study also examined optimized propagation protocols using activat...
Scientists have created a sustainable and safe igniting fluid from waste paper, offering a potential solution for reducing harmful emissions from charcoal grills. The new compound, gamma-valerolactone (GVL), can safely start charcoal fires and light glass lamps without producing smoke or odors.
New research from the University of Cincinnati found residues of chromium, arsenic, and cadmium in simulated hookah/steam stones smoking scenarios, raising concerns about the safety of these alternatives to cigarette smoking. The study suggests that most toxic metals came from charcoal used to heat the apparatus.
New research shows that climate change mitigation efforts in Brazil's steel industry have failed to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Instead, programs under the Kyoto Protocol led to a doubling of carbon dioxide emissions, from 91 million to 182 million metric tons of CO2 between 2000 and 2007.
Charcoal rot, caused by fungi like Macrophomina phaseolina, thrives in hot and dry conditions, exacerbating crop yields. Researchers are now focusing on breeding drought-resistant soybean lines that can combat the disease.
The CU-Boulder toilet uses concentrated sunlight to heat human waste, disinfect pathogens, and produce biochar, which can increase crop yields and sequester carbon dioxide. The project aims to improve sanitation in developing countries, reducing deaths from food and water tainted with fecal matter.
Researchers have successfully produced hydrogen from water using high-grade charcoal and other forms of carbon, paving the way for an alternative, cost-effective method. This breakthrough could potentially replace traditional methods that rely on expensive catalysts or electric current.
The article describes progress in introducing cleaner cook stoves to developing countries, cutting fuel use and air pollution exposure. The new stoves can reduce climate-warming emissions and improve health outcomes for millions of people worldwide.
Researchers found that 10% of dissolved organic carbon in rivers comes from charcoal, highlighting the need for greater consideration of carbon sequestration techniques. The study's findings have implications for mitigating climate change by improving our understanding of the environmental fate of charcoal.
A cluster of 12 unusual stones was discovered in a prehistoric rock-shelter near Boquete, Panama, dating back to 4,000 years ago. The cache is believed to have been used by a shaman or healer for ritual practices.