Soft and stiff polymer
Researchers in the US have taken inspiration from nature to create materials that combine stiff and elastic parts. Their multimaterial was created from cis-cyclooctene, a commodity monomer, with stiff sections generated by shining light on them.
Rubisco resurrected
The enzyme Rubisco, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, is the enzyme that incorporates CO2 into plants during photosynthesis – capturing more than 400bn t CO2/year. Now, using computational and synthetic approaches, scientists have resurrected and studied 4bn-year-old Rubisco enzymes in the lab, a process they call ‘molecular palaeontology’.
Antibiotics in waterways
Levels of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in aquatic environments in the UK pose a significant risk of encouraging antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to new research. This was true for both untreated and treated wastewater released into waterways (Env. Int., 2022, 169, 107488).
Edible oil recall
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), a state-owned standards regulator, has ordered the recall of 10 brands of edible oil from the Kenyan market for failing an iron fortification test.
Carbon storage concern
The UK will need to step up offshore carbon storage capacity if it is to deliver its net zero emissions plans, according to the Royal Society.
Kenya lifts GMO Ban
The government of Kenya has lifted the ban on the cultivation of genetically modified organism (GMO) crops and authorised the import of food crops and animal feeds produced by biotech innovations.
Bridge scour sensor
Scour is the primary cause of bridge collapse globally, responsible for between 20 and 100 bridge collapses each year in the US alone. It occurs when water flowing under a bridge washes away sediment near the base of the pillars, or piers, holding it up, making the whole structure much less stable (see page 18). Flooding exacerbates the problem, by increasing the speed and volume of the flowing water.
Green H2 options
BP is looking to develop two hydrogen projects on Teesside that could together deliver up to 15% of the UK government’s hydrogen target. The HyGreen facility would be one of the biggest green hydrogen operations in the UK, and BP’s first in the country. BP also plans to develop one of the UK’s largest blue hydrogen production facilities (H2Teesside) which was recently shortlisted for UK government support.
Concrete from waste
A more sustainable concrete made by replacing synthetic reinforcement materials with natural fibres performs well compared with conventional materials, claims an international group of researchers. In the new version, binder and aggregate are replaced by industrial byproducts and waste-based materials.
Gold test for whisky
A colour test for whisky ageing has been devised using gold nanoparticles. The gold particles turned red in the presence of colour and flavour compounds that gradually imbue the whisky as it ages in wooden barrels (ACS Appl. Nano Mater; doi: 10.1021/acsanm.2c03406).