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A concrete solution: Recycled concrete and CO2 from the air are made into a new building material

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A new kind of concrete could reduce emissions from the construction industry. Calcium carbonate concrete is made from waste concrete and carbon dioxide from the air or industrial exhaust gases. It shows promise as a future construction material, especially in places where natural resources are limited.

The modern world is built from concrete. Every tall building in every city on Earth uses the durable and versatile material to give it shape and strength.

The concrete industry therefore is enormous, and this comes at a cost: It is estimated that around 7 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions come from the manufacture and use of cement, the main component of concrete. And a large proportion of this 7 percent is due to the necessary use of calcium, which is usually obtained by burning limestone. [Read more…] about A concrete solution: Recycled concrete and CO2 from the air are made into a new building material

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  • Researchers generate ‘the highest laser intensity ever reached’
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    Researchers generate ‘the highest laser intensity ever reached’Recently, laser scientists at the Center for Relativistic Laser Science (CoReLS) within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea realized the unprecedented laser intensity of 1023 W/cm2. This has been a milestone that has been pursued for almost two decades by many laser institutes around the world. An…
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  • For girls, learning science outside linked to better grades, knowledge
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    For girls, learning science outside linked to better grades, knowledgeIn a new study, North Carolina State University researchers found that an outdoor science program was linked to higher average science grades and an increase in a measure of science knowledge for a group of fifth grade girls in North Carolina. The findings, published in the International Journal of Science Education,…
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  • About
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    Science & Technology News aims to be one of the top and most trusted information providers in the sector. We publish stories ranging from technological advancements here on Earth and up to what is beyond in the realms of the unknown galaxies – and everything in between. This news website is…
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Exotic matter is in our sights

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Physicists have created a new way to observe details about the structure and composition of materials that improves upon previous methods.

Conventional spectroscopy changes the frequency of light shining on a sample over time to reveal details about them.

The new technique, Rabi-oscillation spectroscopy, does not need to explore a wide frequency range so can operate much more quickly. This method could be used to interrogate our best theories of matter in order to form a better understanding of the material universe. [Read more…] about Exotic matter is in our sights

New electronic paper displays brilliant colours

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Imagine sitting out in the sun, reading a digital screen as thin as paper, but seeing the same image quality as if you were indoors. Thanks to research from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, it could soon be a reality.

A new type of reflective screen – sometimes described as ‘electronic paper’ – offers optimal colour display, while using ambient light to keep energy consumption to a minimum.

Traditional digital screens use a backlight to illuminate the text or images displayed upon them. This is fine indoors, but we’ve all experienced the difficulties of viewing such screens in bright sunshine. Reflective screens, however, attempt to use the ambient light, mimicking the way our eyes respond to natural paper. [Read more…] about New electronic paper displays brilliant colours

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  • New material to treat wounds can protect against resistant bacteria
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    New material to treat wounds can protect against resistant bacteriaResearchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed a new material that prevents infections in wounds – a specially designed hydrogel, that works against all types of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant ones. The new material offers great hope for combating a growing global problem. The World Health Organization describes antibiotic-resistant…
    Tags: material, researchers, chalmers, technology, chemistry
  • Smart technology is not making us dumber
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    Smart technology is not making us dumberThere are plenty of negatives associated with smart technology – tech neck, texting and driving, blue light rays – but there is also a positive: the digital age is not making us stupid, says University of Cincinnati social/behavioral expert Anthony Chemero. "Despite the headlines, there is no scientific evidence that…
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Turning plastic into foam to combat pollution

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Biodegradable plastics are supposed to be good for the environment. But because they are specifically made to degrade quickly, they cannot be recycled.

In Physics of Fluids, by AIP Publishing, researchers from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand have developed a method to turn biodegradable plastic knives, spoons, and forks into a foam that can be used as insulation in walls or in flotation devices.

The investigators placed the cutlery, which was previously thought to be “nonfoamable” plastic, into a chamber filled with carbon dioxide. As pressure increased, the gas dissolved into the plastic. [Read more…] about Turning plastic into foam to combat pollution

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  • New global rules curb unrestricted plastic waste exports
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    New global rules curb unrestricted plastic waste exportsGovernments at the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) of the Basel Convention acted to restrict rampant plastic waste exports by requiring countries to obtain prior informed consent before exporting contaminated or mixed plastic waste. A deluge of plastic waste exports from developed countries has polluted developing countries in Southeast…
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Meringue-like material could make aircraft as quiet as a hairdryer

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An incredibly light new material that can reduce aircraft engine noise and improve passenger comfort has been developed at the University of Bath.

The graphene oxide-polyvinyl alcohol aerogel weighs just 2.1kg per cubic metre, making it the lightest sound insulation ever manufactured. It could be used as insulation within aircraft engines to reduce noise by up to 16 decibels – reducing the 105-decibel roar of a jet engine taking off to a sound closer to that of a hair-dryer.

The aerogel’s meringue-like structure makes it extremely light, meaning it could act as an insulator within aircraft engine nacelles, with almost no increase in overall weight. The material is currently being further optimised by the research team to offer improved heat dissipation, offering benefits to fuel efficiency and safety. [Read more…] about Meringue-like material could make aircraft as quiet as a hairdryer

Space scientists solve a decades-long gamma-ray burst puzzle

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An international team of scientists, led by astrophysicists from the University of Bath in the UK, has measured the magnetic field in a far-off Gamma-Ray Burst, confirming for the first time a decades-long theoretical prediction – that the magnetic field in these blast waves becomes scrambled after the ejected material crashes into, and shocks, the surrounding medium.

Black holes are formed when massive stars (at least 40 times larger than our Sun) die in a catastrophic explosion that powers a blast wave.

These extremely energetic events drive out material at velocities close to the speed of light, and power bright, short-lived gamma-ray flashes that can be detected by satellites orbiting the Earth – hence their name, Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). [Read more…] about Space scientists solve a decades-long gamma-ray burst puzzle

Introducing play to higher education reduces stress and forms deeper connection material

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A new study found higher education students are more engaged and motivated when they are taught using playful pedagogy rather than the traditional lecture-based method.

The study was conducted by University of Colorado Denver counseling researcher Lisa Forbes and was published in the Journal of Teaching and Learning.

While many educators in higher education believe play is a method that is solely used for elementary education, Forbes argues that play is important in post-secondary education to enhance student learning outcomes. [Read more…] about Introducing play to higher education reduces stress and forms deeper connection material

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  • New review says the ineffective 'learning styles' theory persists in education
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    New review says the ineffective 'learning styles' theory persists in educationA new review by Swansea University reveals there is widespread belief, around the world, in a teaching method that is not only ineffective but may actually be harmful to learners. For decades educators have been advised to match their teaching to the supposed 'learning styles' of students. There are more…
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  • Top educational apps for children might not be as beneficial as promised
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    Top educational apps for children might not be as beneficial as promisedLog on to any app store, and parents will find hundreds of options for children that claim to be educational. But new research suggests these apps might not be as beneficial to children as they seem. A new study analyzed some of the most downloaded educational apps for kids using…
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  • Experts call for more pragmatic approach to higher education teaching
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    Experts call for more pragmatic approach to higher education teachingMillions of students around the world could benefit if their educators adopted a more flexible and practical approach, say Swansea University experts. After analysing the techniques current being used in higher education, the researchers are calling for a pragmatic and evidence-based approach instead. Professor Phil Newton, director of learning and…
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  • Pandemic teaching transitions back to classroom with lessons learned
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    Pandemic teaching transitions back to classroom with lessons learnedThe COVID-19 pandemic created numerous changes and challenges for many people. In the education field, teachers were asked to re-create lesson plans and student interactivity in a virtual realm, something many had never experienced. During the 180th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, which will be held virtually June…
    Tags: students, educators, education, material, news

‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

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Researchers have created a plant-based, sustainable, scalable material that could replace single-use plastics in many consumer products.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, created a polymer film by mimicking the properties of spider silk, one of the strongest materials in nature. The new material is as strong as many common plastics in use today and could replace plastic in many common household products.

The material was created using a new approach for assembling plant proteins into materials which mimic silk on a molecular level. The energy-efficient method, which uses sustainable ingredients, results in a plastic-like free-standing film, which can be made at industrial scale. [Read more…] about ‘Vegan spider silk’ provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

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  • Scientists make powerful underwater glue inspired by barnacles and mussels
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    Scientists make powerful underwater glue inspired by barnacles and musselsIf you have ever tried to chip a mussel off a seawall or a barnacle off the bottom of a boat, you will understand that we could learn a great deal from nature about how to make powerful adhesives. Engineers at Tufts University have taken note, and today report a…
    Tags: silk, protein, material, form, strong, polymer, proteins, nature, cross-linking, created

Scientists make powerful underwater glue inspired by barnacles and mussels

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If you have ever tried to chip a mussel off a seawall or a barnacle off the bottom of a boat, you will understand that we could learn a great deal from nature about how to make powerful adhesives.

Engineers at Tufts University have taken note, and today report a new type of glue inspired by those stubbornly adherent crustaceans in the journal Advanced Science.

Starting with the fibrous silk protein harvested from silkworms, they were able to replicate key features of barnacle and mussel glue, including protein filaments, chemical crosslinking and iron bonding. [Read more…] about Scientists make powerful underwater glue inspired by barnacles and mussels

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  • 'Vegan spider silk' provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics
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    'Vegan spider silk' provides sustainable alternative to single-use plasticsResearchers have created a plant-based, sustainable, scalable material that could replace single-use plastics in many consumer products. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, created a polymer film by mimicking the properties of spider silk, one of the strongest materials in nature. The new material is as strong as many…
    Tags: proteins, silk, materials, protein, material, strong, researchers, nature, created, molecular

Bringing order to hydrogen energy devices

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Researchers at Kyoto University’s Institute for Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) have developed a new approach to speed up hydrogen atoms moving through a crystal lattice structure at lower temperatures. They reported their findings in the journal Science Advances.

“Improving hydrogen transport in solids could lead to more sustainable sources of energy,” says Hiroshi Kageyama of iCeMS who led the study.

Negatively charged hydrogen “anions” can move very quickly through a solid ‘hydride’ material, which consists of hydrogen atoms attached to other chemical elements. [Read more…] about Bringing order to hydrogen energy devices