Duncan Whitmore

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A light-altering paint boosts food security

Dec 10, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore

Spotted: A sustainable agricultural system doesn’t just mean lowering food waste and emissions, it also means ensuring food security for all. Growing more produce while using fewer resources and less land is central to this. Hoping to do just that, researchers at the Universities of Bath and Cambridge have developed a simple spray coating for greenhouses that could boost crop growth and yield in temperate climates such as the UK.
Space tech optimises air conditioning

Dec 6, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore |Matilda Cox

Spotted: Air conditioning generates around 3.2 per cent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. But because of the significant role they play in protecting public health, simply getting rid of cooling technologies isn’t an option – despite their sizeable carbon footprint. In fact, it’s estimated that ACs prevented almost 200,000 premature deaths related to extreme heat in 2019.
Interactive AI brings textbooks to life

Nov 27, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore |Matilda Cox

Spotted: Every child learns best in a different way, and often, reading textbooks full of static diagrams isn’t enough for many kids to grasp new concepts – particularly when it comes to science. To change that, researchers led by Ryo Suzuki at the University of Colorado at Boulder are using AI to help make educational content more interactive and engaging.
A device tackles superbugs without drugs

Nov 22, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore

Spotted: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest (and growing) global health concerns, with drug-resistant infections predicted to be responsible for a year by 2050. Now, a team of researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of California San Diego believe they may have a solution that could tackle infections in a new way. The scientists’ innovation, a unique bioelectronic device, targets infections without the use of drugs.
Extracting lithium and magnesium together

Nov 12, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore |Matilda Cox

Spotted: Lithium is an essential component in new green technologies, including EVs and renewable energy storage, as well as other electronics like smartphones. However, extracting lithium using traditional brine mining methods is both inefficient and highly unsustainable, leading to water pollution and biodiversity loss. Luckily, a team of scientists from the Monash Suzhou Research Institute may have a way to change that.
Modular nuclear plants for low-carbon power

Nov 7, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore |Matilda Cox

Spotted: Concerns over radioactive waste and potential accidents have long made nuclear a controversial energy option. But, as the need to completely phase out fossil fuels becomes more urgent, many countries are turning to nuclear to provide an additional, reliable low-carbon energy source. For instance, for the USA to meet its COP28 goals, the country needs to deploy 13 gigawatts of new nuclear energy a year from 2030.
Solar-powered desalination for groundwater

Oct 29, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore |Matilda Cox

Spotted: Over 700 million people around the world don’t have easy access to clean water. One way to boost access to safe water is through ocean desalination technologies, but this method isn’t feasible for inland communities far from the coast. Now, researchers from MIT may have a solution: a solar-powered desalination system that cleans groundwater instead of seawater.
Tackling healthcare's plastic problem

Oct 21, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore |Matilda Cox

Spotted: The desire for sustainability often needs to be balanced with other priorities. A clear example is the healthcare sector, where affordable, single-use plastics are used to maintain high standards of hygiene and patient safety, creating large amounts of waste in the process. One company working to solve this problem is BIOVOX.
Powerful climate training for public servants

Oct 15, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore |Matilda Cox

Spotted: If governments are going to meet their climate targets, then public servants and other partners require the education, tools, and resources in order to achieve these goals. At the moment, though, there’s a significant education gap, with 65 per cent of public sector workers reporting that they haven’t received any climate training. Apolitical hopes to change that.
Bone structures inspire stronger concrete

Oct 8, 2024 | springwise.com | Duncan Whitmore |Matilda Cox

Spotted: Building materials and construction are currently responsible for 11 per cent of the world’s total energy-related carbon emissions. To cut this figure, many manufacturers are turning to the most cutting-edge technologies to engineer greener materials. The natural world, however, can provide just as much help. In this spirit, scientists at Princeton University researching new ways to strengthen building materials, have sought inspiration from the human bone.