Overpacking isn't exactly an option for trips into space, even for longer trips like an eventual manned mission to Mars. Now, researchers are recruiting microorganisms to solve the problem, by engineering them to make nutrients and 3D-printable plastics out of human waste.
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Industrial activity like coal-burning and mining has greatly increased the amount of mercury in our environment. Scientists have now developed a low-cost polymer that can soak up mercury in its most harmful forms, raising the prospect of a cheap and sustainable way to clean up the mess.
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Scientists have created what they claim is "the world’s first machine to convert light directly into walking." It actually undulates more than walks, and could ultimately be used for applications such as the transportation of small objects within inaccessible spaces.
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A team of biomedical engineers at Duke University has developed a heat-sensitive biopolymer that could mean diabetics need as little as one injection a month to control their glucose levels.
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Our love affair with technology is leading to a whole lot of environmental problems, including a growing stockpile of discarded devices. What if there was a way for our unwanted electronics to break down so we wouldn't even need to think about the environmental impact of disposing of them?
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MIT researchers have developed a new way to make smaller circuits that would allow more of them to be crammed onto microchips. The new technique could make patterns smaller than 10 nm by combining several processes already used, which means they could be implemented relatively easily and cheaply.
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Getting rid of plastic waste remains a Sisyphean task despite our best efforts to tackle the problem. But what if we could create a super-durable plastic alloy out of two of the biggest sources of packaging waste and use less oil at the same time?
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How drugs are delivered can make these weapons more effective against disease. Researchers are developing "mini-suitcases" that can release drugs exactly when and where they're needed. These packages could also be useful in agriculture, to protect seeds and deliver fertilizer more efficiently.
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Engineers at Stanford have developed a new component to help stretch the potential of wearable electronics.
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Graphene could certainly be described as a wonder material. Silly Putty, on the other hand … well, it's an old-school kids' toy. Scientists recently combined the one with the other, however, to create sensors capable of unprecedented sensitivity.
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