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The science of sweating still holds surprises

Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered an overlooked physical process that significantly impacts sweat's cooling effect in hot, dry environments. The study found that temperature and humidity can create an opposing upward flow near the skin, canceling out airflow and increasing body heat storage.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2026

Supercritical fluids once thought uniform found to contain liquid clusters

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology experimentally demonstrated the existence of nanometer-sized liquid clusters in supercritical fluids, overturning the prevailing notion of a single phase. These clusters persisted for up to an hour and have significant implications for industrial processes and natural environments.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalCommunications Physics·DateSep 30, 2025

How extratropical ocean-atmosphere interactions can contribute to the variability of jet streams in the Northern Hemisphere

Researchers from Kyushu University found that ocean-atmosphere coupling enhances teleconnection patterns, leading to more meandering jet streams and extreme weather events. The study highlights the significance of extratropical ocean-atmosphere interactions in climate variability.

SourceKyushu University·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 28, 2024

Study advances understanding of anthropogenic effects on climate change

A University of California, Riverside-led team found that anthropogenic aerosol-driven changes in ocean circulation and interbasin heat transport are more effective in altering oceanic heat distribution than those driven by globally increasing greenhouse gases. This advance in understanding will help develop climate mitigation strategies.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 30, 2023

CityU awarded invention: Soft, ultrathin photonic material cools down wearable electronic devices

A research team at CityU developed a multifunctional composite polymer coating with both radiative and non-radiative cooling capacity, enhancing heat dissipation in wearable electronics. The cooling interface achieved temperature drops of over 56°C, improving the performance of skin electronic devices.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 29, 2023

Researchers develop new faster charging hydrogen fuel cell

A new method to improve solid-state hydrogen fuel cell charging times has been developed by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney. The study used a semi-cylindrical coil heat exchanger, which significantly improved heat transfer performance and reduced charging time by 59%. This innovation has the potential to revolution...

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 12, 2022

Story tips: Drought-resistant crops, hydropower, AI for atomic measurement, controlling refrigerants and recycling e-waste

Researchers at ORNL developed a theory that thylakoids help plants tolerate harsh conditions, while a digital platform informs on hydropower development. AI-powered neutron scattering can also accelerate experiments, and e-waste recycling is being explored.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalAdvanced Engineering Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 1, 2022

New energy systems could cause a sea change in energy efficiency during shipping

Researchers have created two novel heat recovery systems for LNG ships, boosting energy efficiency by up to 25%. The systems use the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to recover heat from engine exhaust gas, with substantial improvements in performance depending on fluid combinations.

SourceNational Korea Maritime and Ocean University·JournalEnergy Conversion and Management·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 4, 2021

Scientists use sintered porous media to build compact, efficient heat exchangers

Researchers from The University of Electro-Communications and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology found that sintering porous media inside heat transfer tubes increases the area available for heat exchange, reducing thermal resistance and enhancing heat transfer performance. Heat transfer in these tubes is five times greater...

SourceThe University of Electro-Communications·JournalApplied Thermal Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2021

University of Illinois researchers design extreme heat exchanger using metal 3D printing

Researchers at the University of Illinois designed a tube-in-tube heat exchanger with significantly higher volumetric power density than current state-of-the-art devices. The optimized design enables more efficient energy transfer in industries requiring compact and high-performance heat exchangers.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJoule·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 9, 2021

Packages to simplify deep renovation of buildings

A European project developed standard solutions for energy refurbishment, considering various climate zones. These packages include prefabricated façades, decentralized ventilation systems, and smart ceiling fans to reduce energy consumption and improve comfort. Pilot sites showed significant savings and improvements in tenant well-being.

SourceEurac Research·TypeCase study·DateSep 8, 2021

How do lakes affect energy, heat, and carbon exchange processes in mountainous areas?

Research reveals lakes promote latent heat mixing but suppress carbon dioxide exchange compared to other land surfaces. The findings published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences highlight the need for future field experiments to investigate energy and carbon dioxide exchange at different scales.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 6, 2021

New approach could make HVAC heat exchangers five times better

Researchers discovered that adding an organic solvent to common water-based turbulent heat exchange systems can boost their capacity to move heat by 500%. This approach achieves 10 times more improvement than other methods, revolutionizing heat exchange in HVAC and large-scale applications. The additive is non-corrosive, non-flammable,...

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 1, 2019

A sound way to turn heat into electricity

Researchers have developed small acoustic heat-engine devices that convert waste heat into sound and then into electricity. The technology shows promise for harnessing solar energy and cooling electronics, with plans to test the devices within a year at military radar facilities and universities.