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Energy

Interdisciplinary Research Centre
 

Engineering quantum entanglement at the nanoscale

Researchers have developed a drastically smaller and more energy efficient method of creating coveted photon pairs that influence each other from any distance. The technology could transform computing, telecommunications, and sensing.

Researchers develop breakthrough one-step flame retardant for cotton textiles

Although extremely flammable, cotton is one of the most commonly used textiles due to its comfort and breathable nature. However, in a single step, researchers can reduce the flammability of cotton using a polyelectrolyte complex coating.

Wind turbines impair the access of bats to water bodies in agricultural landscapes

Bats depend on open bodies of water such as small ponds and lakes for foraging and drinking. Access to water is particularly important for survival in the increasingly hot and dry summers caused by climate change, the time when female bats are pregnant and rear their young. A scientific team has now shown that access to drinking sites is hampered by wind turbines in agricultural landscapes: Many bat species avoid the turbines and water bodies located close to the turbines for several kilometers.

DNA nanorobots can alter artificial cells

Scientists have succeeded in controlling the structure and function of biological membranes with the help of 'DNA origami'. The system they developed may facilitate the transportation of large therapeutic loads into cells. This opens up a new way for the targeted administration of medication and other therapeutic interventions. Thus, a very valuable instrument can be added to the toolbox of synthetic biology.

Researchers unveil 'surprising' breakthrough in carbon nanotube recycling, paving way for sustainable materials

In a significant step toward creating a sustainable and circular economy, researchers have demonstrated that carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers can be fully recycled without any loss in their structure or properties. This discovery positions CNT fibers as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials like metals, polymers and the much larger carbon fibers, which are notoriously difficult to recycle.

Sodium-ion batteries need breakthroughs to compete

A thorough analysis of market, technological, and supply chain outcomes for sodium-ion batteries finds that significant advances are needed before commercialization.

Scientists develop 'Malteser-like' molecules with potential applications in targeted drug delivery

Scientists have taken a major step forwards in tackling one of the greatest abiding challenges in chemistry, by learning how to program the self-assembly of molecules in such a way that the end result is predictable and desirable. Their 'Malteser-like' molecules could one day have a suite of applications -- from highly sensitive and specific sensors, to next-gen, targeted drug delivery agents.

Inorganic and biocatalysts work together to reduce CO2

In order to recover valuable substances from CO2, it must be reduced in many individual steps. If electrocatalysis is used for this, many potentially different potential molecules are formed, which cannot necessarily be used. Biocatalysts, on the other hand, are selective and only produce one product -- but they are also very sensitive. An international research team has developed a hybrid catalysis cascade that makes use of the advantages of both processes.

How households can cut energy costs

Giving people better data about their energy use, plus some coaching, can help them substantially reduce their consumption and costs, according to a new study.

New method forecasts computation, energy costs for sustainable AI models

The process of updating deep learning/AI models when they face new tasks or must accommodate changes in data can have significant costs in terms of computational resources and energy consumption. Researchers have developed a novel method that predicts those costs, allowing users to make informed decisions about when to update AI models to improve AI sustainability.

Differences in strength by position among football players

It's long been known that different positions on the football field fit different body types. A study led by the University of Kansas has gone beyond knowing that linemen are bigger with more body mass than receivers and tested a team of college football starters, finding differences in strength, power, jumping ability and more. The findings could help improve strength training designed to optimize performance for different types of players, researchers argue.

Team makes sustainable aviation fuel additive from recycled polystyrene

A new study overcomes a key obstacle to switching commercial aircraft from their near-total reliance on fossil fuels to more sustainable aviation fuels. The study details a cost-effective method for producing ethylbenzene -- an additive that improves the functional characteristics of sustainable aviation fuels -- from polystyrene, a hard plastic used in many consumer goods.

From microplastics to macro-impact: Plastic recycling challenges

The use of plastic has skyrocketed over the past decade. Recent statistics reveal that in 2021, each person in the European Union (EU) generated an average of 36 kg of plastic packaging waste.

Light, flexible and radiation-resistant: Organic solar cells for space

Radiation testing suggests that solar cells made from carbon-based, or organic, materials could outperform conventional silicon and gallium arsenide for generating electricity in the final frontier, a study suggests.

New insights into acoustic bubbles give boost to future applications

A research team found a key indicator for the chemical activity of acoustic microbubbles and a correlation between the temperature of a liquid and that of the microbubbles generated.

Harnessing corrosion: Scientists transform dealloying into sustainable lightweight alloy design

Alloying, the art of blending metals with other elements, has long been a cornerstone of materials science and metallurgy, creating materials with tailored properties. In contrast, dealloying has been known primarily as a corrosive process that degrades materials over time by selectively removing elements, weakening their structure. Now, researchers have turned these two seemingly counteracting processes into an innovative harmonic synthesis concept.

Harnessing microwave flow reaction to convert biomass into useful sugars

Researchers have developed a new process that uses microwave flow reaction and recyclable solid catalysts to efficiently hydrolyze polysaccharides into simple sugars. The developed device utilizes a continuous-flow hydrolysis process, where cellobiose is passed through a sulfonated carbon catalyst that is heated using microwaves, resulting in the efficient conversion of cellobiose to glucose.

Revealing the 'true colors' of a single-atom layer of metal alloys

Researchers have demonstrated that the direction of the spin-polarized current can be restricted to only one direction in a single-atom layer of a thallium-lead alloys when irradiated at room temperature. The discovery defies conventions: single-atom layers have been thought to be almost completely transparent, in other words, negligibly absorbing or interacting with light. The one-directional flow of the current observed in this study makes possible functionality beyond ordinary diodes, paving the way for more environmentally friendly data storage, ultra-fine two-dimensional spintronic devices, in the future.

Breakthrough study reveals the secrets behind cordierite's anomalous thermal expansion

Cordierite, the material behind heat-resistant pizza stones, has been shown to resist changes in size despite significant temperature fluctuations. The reasons for this have been largely unexplained until now. New findings have profound implications for the design and development of advanced materials.

Sarah Hall appointed as specialist trade policy advisor

http://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/news/feed.rss - Fri, 10/01/2025 - 14:40
Professor Sarah Hall has been appointed as specialist trade policy advisor to the House of Lords' International Agreements Committee. In this role, she will provide expert impartial advice on trade related matters to support the Committee's scrutiny work for the next five years. This builds on a similar role Sarah previously held for the House of Lords European Affairs Committee and reflects her leadership at the intersection between geography and public policy. The Chair of the Committee, Lord Goldsmith KC said "We are delighted to welcome Professor Hall as our trusted source of advice to assist our scrutiny work. She brings a wealth of knowledge in international trade to the Committee, and has previous experience of working with parliamentary select committees." Further details about the appointment and the work of the Committee can be found on its webpages.