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Energy

Interdisciplinary Research Centre
 

Designing the future of clean energy: Janus heterobilayers lead the way

Janus heterobilayers -- dual-sided materials with unique properties -- may be the key to efficiently creating clean hydrogen fuels.

Hazardous reactions made safer through flow technology

Researchers have designed a high-performance, open-access continuous flow process to safely produce key antibacterial drugs from bio-based furfural.

New auditory brainstem implant shows early promise

Investigators are developing a new type of auditory brainstem implant that is designed to be soft, and flexible and address limitations of models currently in use. These implants may one day benefit people who can't receive a cochlear implant, such as those with Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and other severe inner ear abnormalities. In a new preclinical study, researchers report on benefits in large animal models, and based on the results, hope for future trials in humans.

Log in to your computer with a secret message encoded in a molecule

Molecules like DNA are capable of storing large amounts of data without requiring an energy source, but accessing this molecular data is expensive and time consuming. Researchers have now developed an alternative method to encode information in synthetic molecules, which they used to encode and then decode an 11-character password to unlock a computer.

New gene editor enables greater precision

A new gene editor may soon open the door to gene therapies for a wider array of diseases.

New insights into quantum physics

A new study explores how EOS transmits ultrashort laser pulses through crystals that change in response to an applied electric field. This technique allows researchers to accurately capture the shape and timing of electric fields across a broad range of frequencies.

Bismuth's mask uncovered: Implications for quantum computing and spintronics materials

Whether bismuth is part of a class of materials highly suitable for quantum computing and spintronics was a long-standing issue. Research has now revealed that the true nature of bismuth was masked by its surface, and in doing so uncovered a new phenomenon relevant to all such materials.

Learning as an adventure: The lecture theater in the spaceship

In Project Chimera, a game lab combines a VR computer game with educational problems in order to convey scientific content in a motivating way.

Resistance is futile: Superconducting diodes are the future

Researchers have discovered the mechanism for supercurrent rectification, in which current flows primarily in one direction in a superconductor. By using a specific iron-based superconductor, they were able to observe this phenomenon over a broad range of magnetic and temperature fields. This understanding paves the way for the design and construction of superconducting diodes and other ultra-low energy electronics.

A novel hybrid charge transfer crystal with reversible color-changing property

Charge transfer, or the movement of electrons, can occur either within a molecule or between two molecules. Combining the two types of charge transfer is challenging. Now, scientists have developed a hybrid charge transfer crystal using a novel pyrazinacene molecule. This crystal is capable of reacting with naphthalene to produce a reversible color shift, from greenish-blue to red-violet. Such color-changing crystals can have various potential applications in materials science.

New dual-atom catalyst boosts performance of zinc-air batteries for real-world applications

A research team has unveiled a breakthrough in improving the performance of zinc-air batteries (ZABs), which are an important energy storage technology. This breakthrough involves a new catalyst that significantly boosts the efficiency of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a crucial process in ZABs. The development could lead to more efficient, long-lasting batteries for practical applications.

Researchers develop new metallic materials using data-driven frameworks and explainable AI

Found in knee replacements and bone plates, aircraft components, and catalytic converters, the exceptionally strong metals known as multiple principal element alloys (MPEA) are about to get even stronger through to artificial intelligence. Scientists have designed a new MPEA with superior mechanical properties using a data-driven framework that leverages the supercomputing power of explainable artificial intelligence (AI).

Research reveals why next-generation engine noise grinds our gears

A breakthrough study has revealed why emerging electric aircraft engine technology sounds so annoying -- and how to fix it.

Focused ultrasound halts growth of debilitating brain lesions

A new, incision-free technique developed at UVA Health to treat debilitating brain lesions called cerebral cavernous malformations, or cavernomas, has shown great promise in early testing, halting the growth of the lesions almost entirely.

Professor Lorand Bartels re-appointed as chair of Trade and Agriculture Commission

Latest news from Faculty of Law - Thu, 15/05/2025 - 12:54

Professor of International Law Lorand Bartels has been re-appointed as Chair of the Government Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) to which he was originally appointed in 2021. The Commission scrutinises new free trade agreements (FTAs) once they are signed to assess the impact on animal welfare, environmental and health and safety standards (other than food). They are independent of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and DBT ministers play no part in the TAC’s advice on FTAs. Recent reports have offered advice to the Government on the Accession Protocol of the UK to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. For more information please see the Government website .

Light-driven cockroach cyborgs navigate without wires or surgery

have created a new type of insect cyborg that can navigate autonomously -- without wires, surgery, or stress-inducing electrical shocks. The system uses a small ultraviolet (UV) light helmet to steer cockroaches by taking advantage of their natural tendency to avoid bright light, especially in the UV range. This method not only preserves the insect's sensory organs but also maintains consistent control over time.

Understanding carbon traps

As industries seek innovative solutions for carbon capture, scientists have turned to advanced materials that efficiently trap and store carbon dioxide (CO ) from industrial emissions. A recent study sheds light on the gas adsorption physics of so-called Calgary Framework 20 (CALF-20), a zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF). While applying a combination of advanced techniques, the scientists reveal the material's unique adaptability under varying conditions.

Researchers discover a more eco-friendly approach to study light and matter interaction -- could revolutionize development of emerging technologies

Researchers have developed a simple method to explore a complex area of quantum science. The discovery makes research in this field cheaper and more accessible, which could significantly impact the development of future laser, quantum and high-tech display technologies.

New study offers insights into designing safe, effective nasal vaccines

Most vaccines -- and boosters -- are injected directly into muscle tissue, usually in the upper arm, to kickstart the body's immune system in the fight against disease. But for respiratory diseases like COVID-19, it can be important to have protection right where the virus enters: the respiratory tract. In a new study, researchers found that nasal vaccine boosters can trigger strong immune defenses in the respiratory tract, even without the help of immune-boosting ingredients known as adjuvants. The findings, researchers suggest, may offer critical insights into developing safer, more effective nasal vaccines in the future.

Successful experiments at GSI/FAIR uncover new island of asymmetric fission

An international team of scientists has identified an unexpected region of heavy, neutron-deficient isotopes in the nuclear chart where nuclear fission is predominantly governed by an asymmetric mode.