Are microbial fuel cells ready to power the world?
For decades, researchers have been trying to capture the electrons from bacteria to generate electricity in microbial fuel cells. So, are scientists finally starting to gain traction? XiaoZhi Lim reports
Concrete revolution: how the world's most consumed material is tackling its emissions
Concrete is one of the world’s most consumed materials – second only to water. But production of the binding cement is a major emitter of CO2. So how can emissions be curbed? Maria Burke reports.
Cleaning up laundry: the promise and challenges of eco-friendly detergents
Traditional laundry detergents have a bad reputation when it comes to the environment. Could a range of new ‘sustainable’ products be the answer? Jasmin Fox-Skelly reports.
Solar catalysts: a path to green feedstocks from plastic waste
Emerging research could take plastics recycling in a new direction, using solar energy – or light-catalysed reactions – to convert polymers into valuable chemicals. Lou Reade reports