Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
10 results for "sustainable science"
American researchers just cracked a major barrier in making solar panels more affordable, achieving 24.3% efficiency using copper instead of expensive silver. The breakthrough could slash solar costs while maintaining near-identical performance.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F1b%2Fd1%2F1bd13e5f-b965-47b7-85a7-c1e653cecb61%2Ftobacco.jpg)
Researchers engineered tobacco plants to produce five therapeutic psychedelics, making it easier to study treatments for depression and PTSD. The breakthrough could replace harmful harvesting practices with sustainable medicine production.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have discovered how to transform waste plastic bottles into L-DOPA, a crucial medication for Parkinson's disease. This breakthrough could revolutionize both pharmaceutical manufacturing and plastic recycling.
Australian researchers discovered how to transform discarded peanut shells into high-quality graphene, the wonder material that powers modern technology. The breakthrough could solve two problems at once: reducing 10 million tons of annual waste while making graphene cheaper and greener to produce.
A failed experiment at Cambridge led to a breakthrough that could make life-saving medicines faster and cleaner to develop. The discovery uses simple LED light instead of toxic chemicals to modify complex drug molecules.
Scientists in Australia just cracked the code on producing a crucial medical imaging material with less waste and lower costs. The breakthrough could make cancer and heart disease diagnosis more accessible worldwide.
Japanese researchers just cracked a major problem: cooling technology that reaches near absolute zero without rare metals or liquid helium. The breakthrough could make MRI machines and quantum computers more accessible worldwide.
Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered a room-temperature method using natural salt solutions that extracts more usable fuel from plants while cutting energy costs. The breakthrough could finally make plant-based fuels competitive with fossil fuels.
Scientists in Tokyo just solved a major hurdle that's been blocking safer, faster-charging batteries from replacing the lithium-ion technology that powers most of our devices today. The breakthrough could mean fewer battery fires and quicker charging times for everything from phones to power grids.
Researchers have developed a new sunscreen using lignin from wood that provides exceptional sun protection while lasting longer and being gentler on skin. This breakthrough could address growing safety concerns while offering better protection against skin cancer.