Carbon capture sorbent charges like a battery
A new type of material can absorb carbon dioxide from the air using a charged sorbent. This relies on battery-like charging to accumulate ions in the pores of low-cost charcoal.
Bacteria could reduce N2O emissions from soil
Researchers have added nitrogen-hungry bacteria to farm soils, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Patent matters: generic Rivaroxaban green-lit
The Court of Appeal has confirmed the Patent Court’s ruling that a Bayer patent relating to the dosage of its anticoagulant medicine rivaroxaban is invalid.
Zinc's nitrogen fixing function uncovered
A genetic “off switch” that stops legume plants converting atmospheric nitrogen into nutrients has been identified and controlled for the first time by a team of international scientists, who have found that zinc plays a crucial role in the fixation process.
Membrane tackles lithium extraction challenge
A biologically inspired sieve for extracting lithium from brines has been developed by researchers in China. The design, mimicking biological ion channels, displayed impressive efficiency in separating lithium from magnesium ions.
The environmental robots mimicking maple seeds
Researchers from Finland and the US have created miniature robots inspired by the graceful twirling of falling maple seeds. These light-controlled robots could hold promise for environmental monitoring and reaching difficult-to-access areas.
Gene editing boosts camelina's biofuel oil content
A group in the US have yellowed seeds of camelina (Camelina sativa) to boost their oil content. The researchers wielded Crispr-Cas9 to knock out copies of a key gene that helps determine how much oil goes in.
EU's methane crackdown
The first EU rules to curb methane emissions from the energy sector have now become law. As well as requiring emitters in Europe to measure and monitor emissions, from 2030, the EU will impose maximum methane limits on fossil fuels placed on the European market.
Stem cell therapy hope for osteoarthritis
Patients’ own stem cells could be used to treat their osteoarthritis – a chronic joint disease that restricts mobility and impacts most elderly people – as researchers have come up with a formula to help stem cells survive after injection into joint tissue.
Algae robots designed to fight lung cancer
A microrobot has been designed to rove around lungs and disperse life-saving drugs. The tiny robots were made by bolting together green microalgae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) and PLGA polymer nanoparticles coated with red blood cell membranes, which were loaded with an anti-cancer drug.