Articles tagged with Clays
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A new seafloor study revealed that a thin, clay-rich layer hidden beneath the seafloor enabled the 2011 Japan earthquake to rupture all the way to the trench, producing massive displacement. This finding could help scientists better understand and respond to other intense earthquakes and tsunamis.
Quick clay's instability is caused by salt ions washing out, making it prone to catastrophic landslides. Researchers aim to find more environmentally friendly stabilization methods using molecular dynamics simulations.
A team of researchers has discovered a novel method for capturing carbon dioxide using clay minerals, expanding the portfolio of absorbent materials for addressing climate change. The study, published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, found that certain types of clay can selectively absorb CO2 from the air at low humidity levels.
New modeling by Southwest Research Institute-led researchers suggests that asteroid Donaldjohanson formed around 150 million years ago when a larger parent asteroid broke apart. The mission's data could shed light on the asteroid's peculiar shape and surface geology.
The study introduces a game-changing concept in dual-mode display design by uniting luminescence and coloration within a single device. The device leverages smectite clay to stabilize europium(III) complexes for vibrant luminescence and heptyl viologen derivatives for striking color changes.
Researchers have uncovered clay tablets with ancient cuneiform writing, game boards, and large structural remains at the ancient Mesopotamian site of Kurd Qaburstan in Iraq. The study sheds new light on literacy, urban development, and social inequality in this Middle Bronze Age city.
The Nick Cobb Memorial Scholarship honors an exemplary graduate student in the field of lithography. Clay Klein, a PhD candidate at JILA and the University of Colorado, Boulder, will receive the $10,000 award for his research on EUV scatterometry and its applications.
A Dartmouth-led study suggests using clay to convert CO2 into food for zooplankton, which expel it as carbon-filled feces in the deep sea. This method accelerates the ocean's natural cycle for removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Researchers from UniSA have developed a simple strategy to increase seawater evaporation rates, making desalination more energy-efficient and sustainable. By introducing clay minerals into a photothermal hydrogel evaporator, they achieved a 18.8% higher evaporation rate for seawater compared to pure water.
A research team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg observed how sediment particles align during deposition in real-time using state-of-the-art technology. They found that clay particles adopt a certain orientation very early on, contradicting a common hypothesis about the alignment of clay particles.
Researchers from the University of Bologna identified correlations between ancient cylinder seal designs and proto-cuneiform signs in southern Iraq. The study, published in Antiquity, sheds light on the birth of writing and may help decipher unknown signs.
Researchers propose that Mars' early thick atmosphere could have been locked up in the planet's clay surface due to slow chain reactions between rocks and gases. The clay is estimated to hold up to 80% of the initial, early atmosphere, potentially recovered and converted into propellant for future missions.
A team of researchers from Aalto University has developed a bio-based binder material that can significantly reduce carbon emissions from infrastructure construction. The technology binds CO2 gas in a stable, solid carbonate form within the cementitious clay layer, making ground improvement itself carbon-negative.
Researchers from Shinshu University developed a novel method to produce optical materials by using plasma etching on pencil lead, enabling structural colors and invisible characters. The technique could pave the way for sustainable optical materials with tailored reflectance spectra.
Researchers are uncovering daily life in ancient India through newly analyzed Proto-Sarada inscriptions, including administrative documents and clay seals. The project aims to create a comprehensive edition of these inscriptions, shedding light on the social, economic, and cultural history of pre-modern South Asia.
A study by Concordia researchers analyzed data from 13 Canadian utilities covering 26,000 km of pipes and 62,000 failures. They found age, material, and diameter were the most associated factors with breaks, but also revealed less well-known effects of pipe protection methods, soil types, and seasonal variations.
Scientists used lithium isotope data to show that continental clay export promoted organic carbon burial and thus atmospheric oxygenation during the Cambrian period. This finding challenges traditional views on marine oxygen levels during this time, suggesting a complex interplay between oceanic and atmospheric processes.
Researchers found that hydrogen can be stored in depleted oil and gas reservoirs without getting stuck, as long as the rock is properly sealed. The study also showed that residual natural gas can be released from the rock into the hydrogen when injected, making it a potentially viable option for seasonal and long-term storage.
The Indian Institute of Science has developed new concrete materials using excavated soil, reducing the need for natural sand and minimizing carbon dioxide emissions. The innovative materials show improved compressive strength and reduced waste, offering a scalable solution to the construction sector's environmental challenges.
A research team at Lehigh University has received a three-year, $2 million grant from the Department of Energy to develop an alternative concrete binder using low-temperature calcined clays. The goal is to produce a material with properties similar to Ordinary Portland Cement but without greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers found that electrostatic charges, structural features of carbon molecules, and surrounding metal nutrients play major roles in soil's ability to trap carbon. The study aims to help predict which soil chemistries are most favorable for trapping carbon.
A clay mineral called smectite, formed through plate tectonics, efficiently traps organic carbon and could help buffer global warming. Smectite's accordion-textured folds effectively trap dead organisms, preventing them from being consumed by microbes.
Researchers will track how key minerals form in a watershed to build a fuller picture of the processes that allow soil to store carbon as organic matter. Understanding these mechanisms can help develop practices and incentives for a carbon market economy, potentially harnessing Earth's natural mechanisms to combat climate change.
Researchers discovered that blending crushed rock with arable soil could help reduce global temperatures. The process, known as enhanced chemical weathering, works by releasing calcium and magnesium from rocks, which bind atmospheric carbon dioxide and prevent its release back into the atmosphere.
A new UCF project aims to examine a method to keep carbon from escaping soils and trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere. Researchers will focus on histosols in the Everglades Agricultural Area, adding fine minerals to prevent carbon release.
Researchers at UBC Okanagan have developed a new method to incorporate used plastic bottles into clay soil stabilization in landfills, strengthening the soil and preventing pollutants from escaping. This innovative approach has the potential to divert millions of metric tons of plastic waste from landfills each year.
Researchers analyzed ancient Wari pottery to understand how the empire spread its aesthetic. They found that potters across the empire created their own ceramics, decorated in traditional Wari style, with distinct chemical signatures from different regions. This bottom-up approach highlights local agency and economies' importance.
Researchers are exploring how a kind of clay can soak up carbon dioxide and store it, potentially reducing the impact of climate change. The study found that carbon dioxide is more stable in wet clay nanopores than in plain water.
A new study published in Earth Science Frontiers elucidates the role of nanopores in accumulating shale oil in the Gulong-Qingshankou reservoir in China. The research found that well-developed nanopores and nanofissures play a crucial role in storing shale oil, leading to a high source-reservoir ratio.
The construction of dams and changes in land use have significantly impacted the amount of sediment rivers carry to oceans. Sediment transport has decreased by 49% globally due to dam construction, while increasing on 36% of rivers in the south, primarily driven by deforestation.
Researchers analyzed 96 fired clay fragments across 11 islands to reconstruct ancient trade routes in the Caribbean. The study found that the cultural hub was centered on the northwest coast of Hispaniola, challenging previous assumptions about the region's historical significance.
A new study in Frontiers in Earth Science questions the link between climate change and ecosystem diversity during the origin of dinosaurs in Argentina. The researchers found that variations in species abundance cannot be explained by climatic changes, instead attributing it to preservation and sampling biases.
A new study proposes designing permeable pavements to reduce flood impacts in Australia, with the potential to store up to 50% of rainfall and reduce urban flooding by up to 50%. The proposed system takes into account local soil types and rainfall intensity, and has been tested on 107 towns and cities across Australia.
Researchers from Japan and Australia developed a clay film that preserves the quality of fruits like apples by reducing oxygen supply and ethylene diffusion. The film maintained a low respiration rate without depriving the fruit of oxygen, preventing decay.
Researchers have discovered a practical and inexpensive way to produce non-toxic, recyclable, and sustainable colors using nanotechnology and nature's approach. The method mimics normal color mechanisms in nature, creating physical colors from almost transparent materials like clay suspended in water.
A new study suggests that clay minerals like smectite could store the missing water on Mars. Researchers found that iron-rich smectite can form at depths of up to 30 km, making it a potential reservoir for the planet's lost water.
Researchers at MLU and Brazilian University of Pará create climate-friendly cement alternative by replacing limestone with Belterra clay, a previously unused overburden from bauxite mining. The new cement is just as stable as traditional Portland cement and reduces CO2 emissions during production.
A new ancient shark species, Durnonovariaodus maiseyi, has been identified from a 150 million-year-old fossil found in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation of England. The discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution and diversity of hybodontiform sharks, which were closely related to modern sharks.
Researchers discovered that certain soil bacteria can break down large carbon-based molecules using enzymes, potentially leading to rapid release of CO2 from soil. This finding challenges current models of carbon storage in soil and highlights a key role for biology in climate change.
New research suggests that weathering of rocks at Earth's surface may be weaker in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than previously estimated. The team found an additional source of sodium in river waters across the globe, not from weathered silicate rocks as assumed, but from very old clays being eroded in river catchments.
Researchers discovered diverse microbes in Chile's Atacama Desert clay layers, which could indicate the presence of microorganisms on Mars. The study provides a guide for searching for life on the red planet, informing where to look and which instruments to use.
Scientists at EPFL's LMS have developed a geoelectrochemical system that enhances biocement production and improves soil stabilization for low-permeability clay soils. The method harnesses bacterial metabolism and electric current to produce calcite crystals that durably bond soil particles together.
Researchers at Cornell University found that acidic fluids may have destroyed biological evidence hidden within Mars' iron-rich clays, making it difficult to search for life on the red planet. The study's lead author suggests that searching for organic compounds on Mars is a challenging task due to the degradation of biological material.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that clay layers do not always protect groundwater from arsenic contamination. In fact, distant municipal pumping can trigger the release of arsenic below such clay layers, putting thousands of people at risk in Bangladesh and potentially other regions worldwide.
Researchers discovered a community of bacteria as dense as the human gut living in tiny clay-filled cracks in solid rock millions of years old. The bacteria's presence suggests that life can thrive in conditions similar to those on Mars, where nutrient availability may be limited.
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that when particles are wet and dry, thin solid bridges formed between larger clumps increase aggregates' stability. The size of particles plays a crucial role in determining how strongly they stick together.
University of Guelph researchers have developed a new tool for studying nuclear waste storage using antimatter. This breakthrough may help in designing safer underground vaults for permanent storage of radioactive waste. The study also reveals intriguing properties of clays that could be useful in other industries.
Researchers found that clay can improve the degradability of feedstuffs in lactating cows, reducing aflatoxin and subacute ruminal acidosis symptoms. Clay was added to six different feedstuffs at varying percentages, showing improved digestibility and fat utilization.
Researchers found that different clay minerals interact with organic matter to varying degrees, affecting carbon sequestration. Smectite and kaolinite form stable complexes with organic substances, while mica and chlorite bind tightly with continental carbon.
Scientists have developed a new method to detect signs of early life in ancient rock formations by analyzing high concentrations of potassium. This approach is promising as it could help identify the presence of microorganisms in sedimentary rocks dating back 2.1 billion years.
A new study from Stanford University suggests a way to map precisely where and how to use groundwater recharge to refill aquifers and stop sinking in California's Central Valley. The model, based on remote sensing data, indicates areas of high subsidence risk and optimal recharge locations.
A joint research team discovered that macroscopic frictions between clay mineral surfaces originate from interatomic electrostatic forces. This finding may facilitate the development of friction-reducing solid lubricants and a deeper understanding of earthquake-causing fault slip mechanisms.
Researchers have discovered a possible cure for obesity using clay materials that can attract and trap fat droplets in the gut, preventing their absorption. This breakthrough could lead to greater weight loss with fewer side effects, making it an exciting avenue for weight loss research.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University have discovered that a type of clay can kill certain bacteria causing infections in wounds. The clay's antibacterial properties were tested against various bacterial strains, including those resistant to antibiotics.
Researchers at Arizona State University and the Mayo Clinic have found that certain blue clays may help fight disease-causing bacteria in wounds, including those resistant to antibiotics. The study's findings build on earlier research into the antibacterial properties of these clays.
Research reveals that intensive groundwater pumping can lead to arsenic contamination in aquifers supplying 1 million people's drinking water and irrigation for crops. Satellite-derived measurements predict arsenic concentrations in groundwater by monitoring ground sinking.
Researchers created a transparent hybrid film combining natural clay minerals and dyes that changes color in response to environmental humidity. The novel mechanism involves the confinement of dye molecules within nanometer-scale gaps, allowing for reversible color change without breaking chemical bonds.
Researchers at KAIST have identified flammable ice formed in oceans through clay minerals in sedimentary deposits. They proposed a new principle for gas hydrate formation and found that electric fields can promote hydrate nucleation.
A study has revealed that women played a significant role in transporting Corded Ware pottery across the Baltic Sea, with many arriving from Estonia and Finland. The research found that these female artisans mixed crushed ceramic fragments into Finnish clay to create their distinctive pots.
Researchers have identified diatoms as a weak layer responsible for submarine mega-slides, which can trigger tsunamis. The discovery sheds light on the geological processes that govern these massive slides, which can move millions of cubic kilometers of material.