Material & Energy

Taking the First Steps Towards the Optimal Production of Biofuels

Partial density of states for 2,3-butanediol with accompanying partial charge density images; isosurface of 0.0075 electrons/Bohr3. The gray, red, brown, and pink spheres are Ru, O, C, and H atoms, respectively. Credit: DOI: 10.3389/fenrg.2021.781001From Plants to Jet fuelA long-overlooked first step in producing sustainable aviation fuels will start with the ideal arrangement of molecular...

Tiny Electrical Vortexes Close Gap Between Ferroelectric and Ferromagnetic Materials

The image represents the 3D model of the polarization pattern in the ferroelectric PbTiO3 representing the cycloidal modulation of the vortex core. Credit: University of WarwickFerromagnetic materials possess a self-generating magnetic field; ferroelectric materials create their own electrical field. Electric and magnetic fields are important. Physics tells us that they are entirely different classes...

A New Way to Store Sustainable Energy: ‘Information Batteries’

What if surplus renewable energy could be stored as computation instead? that’s the thinking behind “information batteries.” Photo/ISTOCK.A future powered by sustainable energy sources can save the globe from drastic climate change and reduce energy expenses. But the renewable resource has an intermittency issue-- the sun offers no power during the night, while winds...

Next-Generation Computer Chips Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

A Q&A with two scientists aiming to overcome limitations in computing power and energy efficiency deliberately by designing brand-new microchips (CMOS silicon chips).A brief history of microelectronics and CMOS silicone chipsOur laptop computers and smartphones are portable yet powerful due to silicon microelectronics, also known as integrated circuits or chips, the tiny minds behind...

Tiny Photonic Chip Provides a Big Boost in Precision Optics

A 2 mm by 2 mm integrated photonic chip developed by Jaime Cardenas, assistant professor of optics, and PhD student Meiting Song (lead author) will make interferometers—and therefore precision optics—even more powerful. Potential applications include more sensitive devices for measuring tiny flaws on mirrors, or dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere, and ultimately, quantum...

The United States isn’t Considering Canadian Oil Pipeline Shutdown, Claims White House

CALGARY (Bloomberg)-- The White House pledged to talk about a crucial pipeline that lugs Canadian crude via Michigan with the northern neighbor, emphasizing the United States is not considering a shutdown of the conduit the state's governor wants to be shuttered.The U.S. and Canadian governments will certainly "engage constructively" on the future of Enbridge...

UEC Acquires Rosatom’s Uranium One Properties, Making the Biggest Uranium Miner in the U.S.

Uranium Energy (NYSE-AM: UEC) has agreed to purchase all of Uranium One Americas Inc.'s (U1A) outstanding shares for a total purchase cost of US$ 112 million, which includes cash and the substitution of US$ 19 million in reclamation debt.The fourth-largest uranium producer in the world, U1A is a division of Uranium One Inc., a...

Discovering the Technology To Create Unbreakable Compound Glass Screens

The University of Queensland has made a groundbreaking advancement in producing composite glass, potentially eliminating the issue of cracked phone screens.However, Led by Dr. Jingwei Hou, Professor Lianzhou Wang, and Professor Vicki Chen, an international team of researchers has developed a method for creating next-generation composite glass for various applications, including LED lighting,...

New Photonic Chip for Isolating Light May Be Key to Miniaturizing Quantum Technology

Our electrical supply depends heavily on high-voltage direct current cables that can efficiently transfer electricity across great distances. Therefore, improving their performance is a significant challenge. Researchers from the Technology University of Chalmers in Sweden have developed a novel insulation material that is up to three times less conductive with the intention of enhancing...