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Fishbone-derived catalyst turns agricultural plastic waste into olefin-rich bio-oil

Researchers developed a fishbone-derived catalyst that turns low-density polyethylene agricultural film into olefin-rich liquid products with yields up to 89.32 wt.% and olefin selectivity of 84.03%. The catalyst, combined with phosphoric acid and iron, promotes carbon-carbon bond cleavage and regulates dehydrogenation reactions.

SourceShenyang Agricultural University Collaborative Journals·JournalSustainable Carbon Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2026

World’s first semiconductor maser

A research team has created a silicon-carbide-based maser that operates continuously above room temperature, enabling new applications in communication and sensing. The maser amplifies microwave radiation and has high frequency stability, making it suitable for precise magnetic field measurements.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2026

Plasma and lemon juice: Milder method retrieves nearly 95% of critical minerals in battery waste

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to recover nearly all critical minerals from spent lithium-ion batteries, including metals like lithium and graphite. The process uses microwave-induced plasma treatment with room-temperature solvents, resulting in high recovery rates and minimal environmental impact.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 25, 2026

Rapid microwave method creates high performance carbon material for carbon dioxide capture

Researchers developed a fast and energy-efficient way to produce advanced carbon materials capable of capturing carbon dioxide, dramatically reducing production time while improving adsorption performance. The new material demonstrates exceptional ability to capture and selectively separate carbon dioxide from gas mixtures.

Microwaves for energy-efficient chemical reactions

Researchers from the University of Tokyo developed a method to use microwaves to heat specific areas in industrial processes, reducing energy costs and improving selectivity in chemical reactions. This technique has the potential to optimize catalyst design, improve durability, and scalability for eco-friendly industrial processes.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2025

Green chemistry breakthrough: Microwave-assisted synthesis of biomass-derived N-doped carbon dots for metal ion sensing

This study introduces a novel method of synthesizing nitrogen-doped carbon dots using microwave technology from biomass, providing a green and effective approach to metal ion detection. The research offers a clear path to more efficient and environmentally friendly metal ion sensing.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalCarbon Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2025

Isotopic transient study elucidates reaction rate enhancement by microwave heating in dry reforming of methane

This study uses Steady-State Isotopic Transient Kinetic Analysis to investigate the effects of microwave heating on Dry Reforming of Methane. The results show that microwave activation induces the formation of reactive coke, enhancing the reaction rate and reducing surface intermediate concentrations.

SourceIndustrial Chemistry & Materials·JournalIndustrial Chemistry and Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 14, 2025

Breakthrough in laser-induced electromagnetic pulses: new study reveals key mechanisms and control methods

Researchers have discovered how to tune electromagnetic pulse intensity by adjusting laser energy and gas jet pressure, enabling controlled EMP applications. The study identified four primary sources of EMPs and found a correlation between EMP intensity and electron acceleration.

SourceNuclear Science and Techniques·JournalNuclear Science and Techniques·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 17, 2025

Ultra-broadband near-field Josephson microwave microscopy

Researchers have created a superconducting Josephson probe microscope that combines high sensitivity, resolution, and low bias magnetic fields. The device enables spatial-resolved microwave imaging with sub-micrometer resolution, making it suitable for applications in quantum computing, magnonics, and high-frequency electronics.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 24, 2025

Light from artificial atoms

Researchers at TU Wien and ISTA have developed artificial atoms made of superconducting circuits that can be tuned to specific energy values. These 'artificial atoms' enable the storage and retrieval of light, opening up new possibilities for quantum experiments.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 17, 2025

Heterogeneous photocatalyst achieves record-breaking performance for CO2 conversion

A new microwave-assisted synthesis route has improved the performance of a coordination polymer photocatalyst, achieving a record-breaking value for CO2-to-formate conversion with a nearly ten-fold increase in apparent quantum yield. The improvements are attributed to well-crystallized material and surface area increases.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 26, 2024

Multispectral smart window: a step towards healthier indoor environments

The multispectral smart window technology regulates visible light while blocking microwave signals, improving energy savings and privacy protection. It outperforms existing technologies in response time, transmittance adjustment range, haze adjustment range, driving voltage, and optical modulation mode.

Microwaving waste cooking oil into useful chemicals

A team from Kyushu University has developed a zeolite catalyst that can be heated using microwaves to speed up the conversion of fatty acid esters to olefins. This process improves energy efficiency and reduces carbon dioxide production, offering a more sustainable chemical industry.

SourceKyushu University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024

Microbes conquer the next extreme environment: Your microwave

A study found that microwaves contain a unique microbial community, comprising 747 different genera, which resembles those on solar panels and kitchen surfaces. The diversity of the microbiome varies between single-household kitchens, shared domestic spaces, and laboratory microwaves.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateAug 8, 2024

New membrane technology developed by NYU Abu Dhabi researchers could lead to more effective and efficient water purification systems

The NYU Abu Dhabi team has developed a new type of dual-faced membrane that effectively purifies water from contaminants and boasts strong antibacterial properties. The microwave-mediated synthesis method allows precise control over the membrane's properties, enabling efficient removal of pollutants.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 8, 2024

Rice lab finds faster, cleaner way to extract lithium from battery waste

A new process by Rice University researchers recovers up to 50% of lithium in spent LIB cathodes in just 30 seconds, overcoming a significant bottleneck in LIB recycling technology. The microwave-based method uses a readily biodegradable solvent and achieves efficiencies similar to conventional heating methods but much faster.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2024

What waves know about their surroundings

Researchers at TU Wien have developed a theory to extract information from waves, allowing for precise measurements of objects in space. The theory reveals that the information content of a wave depends on its interaction with the object's properties, enabling customised waves to be generated for optimal information transfer.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024

Compositional and hollow engineering of silicon carbide/carbon microspheres as high-performance microwave absorbing materials with good environmental tolerance

The research develops composite microspheres with a hollow structure, enhancing microwave absorption performance and stability in extreme environments. The results show that SiC/C composite materials demonstrate outstanding wave absorption and radar stealth performance, unaffected by temperature and environmental conditions.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024

The coldest lab in New York has a new quantum offering

Researchers at Columbia University have successfully created a unique quantum state of matter called a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) out of molecules. The breakthrough, achieved by cooling sodium-cesium molecules to just five nanoKelvin, has the potential to advance powerful quantum simulations and unlock new areas of research.

SourceColumbia University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2024

CityUHK develops world-leading microwave photonics chip for high-speed signal processing

A research team from City University of Hong Kong has developed a world-leading microwave photonic chip capable of performing ultrafast analog electronic signal processing. The chip, 1,000 times faster and consuming less energy than traditional processors, has wide applications in 5/6G wireless communication, AI, and computer vision.

Gas on the run – ALMA spots the shadow of a molecular outflow from a quasar when the Universe was less than one billion years old

Researchers observed molecular gas outflow from quasar J2054-0005 using ALMA, revealing suppression of star formation in its host galaxy. The findings confirm theoretical predictions and provide strong evidence for powerful molecular gas outflows in early Universe quasars.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 1, 2024

Tiny electromagnets made of ultra-thin carbon

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed tiny electromagnets made of ultra-thin carbon, graphene, using terahertz pulses. The graphene discs briefly turned into strong magnets, with magnetic fields in the range of 0.5 Tesla, and showed promise for developing future magnetic switches and storage devices.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 4, 2023

Discovery made by University of Warsaw scientists may enable network interface for quantum computers

Scientists at the University of Warsaw have developed a device that can convert quantum information between microwave and optical photons, enabling a crucial part of quantum network infrastructure. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in quantum computing, radio-astronomy, and high-speed internet connections.

SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalNature Photonics·DateOct 5, 2023

Front cover highlights "innovative approach" of research into 2D materials

Lancaster University researchers have developed a novel scanning thermal microscopy approach to directly measure the heat conductivity of two-dimensional materials. This breakthrough enables the creation of efficient waste heat scavengers generating cheap electricity, new compact fridges, and advanced optical and microwave sensors and ...

SourceLancaster University·JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 18, 2023