Washing dilemma
Washing clothes has a huge environmental impact. Treated textiles promise to reduce wash frequency but may pose bigger drawbacks, Maria Burke reports.
PD progress
Farnesol, found in herbs and fruits, prevents and reverses brain damage linked to Parkinson’s disease in mice, report US researchers. It does this by deactivating a key protein associated with disease progression.
Plastics rethink
Much of the discussion on plastic waste has focused on recycling and reuse, as well as replacement by other materials or approaches, like refillable containers. While these discussions are entirely relevant and worthwhile, the whole issue ultimately comes down to the willingness of consumers to sort and collect plastic waste or take their own refillable containers to supermarkets or other retail outlets to restock their preferred products.
Rechargeable salt battery
The commercial battery with the highest energy density is the lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) battery. Developed in the 1970s, this non-rechargeable battery is still widely deployed in military, space, utility metering and GPS tracking applications. It uses thionyl chloride as the catholyte, lithium metal as the anode and amorphous carbon as the cathode.
Data with discovery
Machine learning technology is being harnessed by researchers in the hunt for the next generation of antibiotics and antivirals, reports Jon Evans
Cannabis and lab facilities
Further easing of import restrictions by the UK Government will provide faster access to patients prescribed cannabis-based medicines — removing yet another barrier in a market expected to grow in the coming years. The use of legal cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans (CBPMs) is expected to be worth £2.3bn by 2024.
Future engineers
This new breed of data-driven service engineer will be able to identify and fix potential problems with machinery before they cause an issue on the line, and, potentially, before a manufacturer even realises there is a problem. Read the comment from Eddie Storan, Head of Global Service, Domino Printing Sciences.
Biosurfactant bonanza
Biosurfactants derived from microbial sources rather than petrochemicals promise applications beyond cleaning products – including as food ingredients. Lou Reade reports
Efficient urea synthesis
Researchers in Texas and Singapore have developed a way to make urea for fertiliser that makes use of renewable electricity and saves on emissions from fossil fuels.