Tag: Material

CO2 can be stored in construction waste. Now, a female-founded Bristol startup is lowering emissions by transforming biological waste from industry and agriculture into building materials. Key here: a pilot factory in Lisbon, where the waste is mixed with adapted fungus cells and sustainable chemicals, before being processed in closed-loop and automatised systems. After four weeks, the material is...

An innovative powder staunches heavy bleeding. Meanwhile, a British research team has developed a double-impact dressing from plant-based polymers to reduce wound infections. To do so, they created two very similar nanofibres from furan polyamide. One fibre received two additional carbon atoms to make it water-repellent, while an antibiotic was incorporated into the second fibre. Both were woven into...

Some cosmetic containers can be composted at home. Following a similar idea, a Spanish startup has developed an ultra-thin, biodegradable packaging film from plant-based starch, which is certified for home composting. Despite being only 7 micrometres thick, the thermoplastic substitute for fossil-based film is mechanically tearproof at 114N/mm2 and manufacturing costs are comparable to traditional polyethylene products. A patent...

A smart vice is making laptops safe from theft. In Spain, meanwhile, a startup has developed a flexible bike lock comprising three cables, which help secure both saddle and wheels. All three cables are connected to a central, mechanised lock. The core consists of a braided steel cable, which is enclosed by short, hardened, interlocking steel sleeves. Those, again,...

Pharmaceutical residues can be removed from effluent using pine bark. Now, a Singapore-based research team is looking to pomegranate peel to remove 4-nitrophenol from water. The toxin is used when producing dyes, pesticides and analgesics. The pomegranate peel is converted to biochar at 600° before being ground to nanoparticles through ultrasound treatment. The particles’ surface attracts the nitrophenol, which...

Tomato waste can protect tinned food. Meanwhile another Italian startup is aiming to extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables - using waste from liquorice production. Certain materials in the ‘sweet root’ are effective against bacteria, viruses and fungal spores. In a patented process, root hairs from the plant are extracted then converted into nanoparticles, which are used...

Foliage can be used to make sustainable paper and packaging material. Similarly, a Swedish startup is using seagrass that has been washed ashore to manufacture environmentally-friendly yarn. Until now the plant, which is present in large quantities on beaches, has simply been discarded. A recent feasibility study has shown it can be made into yarn without the addition of...

In the absence of DNA, hair molecules could hold the key to criminal cases thanks to a special protein fragment (peptide). Now, research conducted by a California-based team has highlighted how a different peptide could be crucial in the fight against skin cancer. Dangerously advanced melanoma cause the body’s catestatin levels to drop. In normal circumstances, catestatin promotes immune,...