Carbon Monoxide

A new reactor converts carbon monoxide into acetic acid, using tiny copper cubes as a catalyst. The device is relatively simple and can operate for long periods, allowing the unwanted waste gas to be turned into an industrially useful product.

Artificial leaves can convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into energy or even be used to produce fuels. Now, researchers from Cambridge have developed a new version that can produce synthetic gas (or syngas) without releasing carbon dioxide.

Over the last few years humans have tried to mimic nature with artificial leaves, but they’re never quite up to scratch. Now, researchers have designed a new version that could work under real-world conditions, sucking carbon dioxide out of the air and creating oxygen and synthetic fuels.

Researchers at MIT have developed a new membrane-based system that can convert carbon dioxide emissions into useful alternate fuels. The process has been effectively demonstrated on a small-scale and the researchers hope to ultimately adapt the system to conventional fossil fuel-based power plants.

The humble leaf, which collects sunlight and uses that energy to turn carbon dioxide into fuel for the plant, has inspired scientists. Researchers have developed a molecule that uses sunlight to convert the problematic carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, which can then be stored as a fuel source.

The new Ryobi Ultra Quiet Garage Door Opener can double as a carbon monoxide sensor, wireless speaker, fan or parking assistant if you're open to mixing and matching the brand's plug-and-play modules.

Not content with vacuums and fans, Dyson is expanding into the realm of air purification with its Pure Cool purifier fan, which was unveiled today. Building on the company's Air Multiplier technology, it's designed to filter ultrafine particles, which are a major component of air pollution.

The idea of getting caught in a building fire is terrifying. The 5aver won't help douse the flames, but the grab-and-go combination of lantern, alarm and mask is designed to help you find your way to safety in a hurry.

The CitiSense sensor provides smartphone users with real-time air quality readings for their immediate environment.

U.S. and Swiss researchers have developed a prototype solar reactor that directly converts the Sun’s rays into fuels that can be stored, allowing the energy to be used at night or transported to locations where it is needed.

Until lower emission vehicles start to dominate the roads, researchers have found that pedestrians may be able to reduce the amount of traffic pollution they breathe in simply by crossing the street.

The DUSTBOT project recently demoed two multifunctional robots aimed at keeping town streets clean and door-to-door garbage pickup.