New Atlas

Energy Audio available

Real-world-ready artificial leaf can pluck carbon dioxide out of thin air

Michael Irving February 13, 2019

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 have developed a new design of artificial leaf that's able to pull carbon dioxide out ...

Space Audio available

Liquid lake on Mars might be evidence the Red Planet is still volcanically active

Michael Irving February 12, 2019

Last year a huge lake of liquid water was apparently found beneath the ice at the Martian south pole. A new study has now examined how it might have gotten there, and concluded that Mars must have had volcanic activity much more recently than is normally believed, and may even still be active today.

A visualization of the south pole of Mars, where a huge lake of liquid water is ...

Science

Bacteria used to neutralize algae-bloom toxin

Ben Coxworth February 11, 2019

When algal blooms occur in lakes, the over-abundant cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce a toxin known as microcystin. Now, Ohio-based scientists are using OTHER types of bacteria to neutralize that toxin, in a process that could be cheaper and more eco-friendly than the alternatives.

Science Audio available

Experimental device easily measures fluoride in drinking water

Ben Coxworth February 11, 2019

Although a certain amount of fluoride is added to municipal water supplies to help prevent tooth decay, too much can actually have the opposite effect – particularly on children. A new device could allow officials to detect those overly-high levels, cheaper and easier than ever before.

The SION-105 device can reportedly be used on-site, by people with little training

Materials Audio available

Traitor bacteria help build graphene water filter that kills other bacteria

Michael Irving January 17, 2019

Water filters get less effective as bacteria builds up on their surface. Now, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new type of membrane that reduces such biofouling by actively killing bacteria with graphene – and in an interesting twist, it’s built by bacteria.

Researchers have used bacteria to build a new water filter that kills other bacteria

Digital Cameras

Aerial photography captures the beauty of how water shapes our planet

Rich Haridy January 15, 2019

Water.Shapes.Earth is a spectacular photographic project from veteran artist and storyteller Milan Radisics. The project tells the story of how water shapes the planet using aerial photography to deliver a series of stunning images that sit on the border between abstract art and documentary realism.

Low tide at blue hour reveals a muddy riverbed of fishbone shaped streams in the middle ...

Good Thinking

Watergen tech produces clean drinking water in your car

Ben Coxworth January 9, 2019

If you get thirsty while driving, you may soon be able to drink water generated by a system that's built right into your car. The technology could reportedly also provide water for the onsite rinsing of dirty work equipment, or for keeping automotive sensors and engine parts clean.

When Automotive AWG users want some water, they just use a dispenser

Science

MIT system uses sunlight to produce super-heated steam

Ben Coxworth December 12, 2018

Back in 2014, MIT scientists developed a graphite/carbon "sponge" which used sunlight to convert water into steam. They've now improved on the design, creating a device that produces super-heated steam. It could be used in remote regions to sterilize medical equipment, among other applications.

The system has been tested on a rooftop, where it produced 146 ºC (295 ºF) steam ...

Science Audio available

Explosive experiments with lab-made lava reveal hidden volcanic physics

Michael Irving December 11, 2018

To investigate the physics of interactions between lava and water, researchers from the University at Buffalo have conducted experiments on lab-made lava – with some explosive results.

An explosive experiment with lab-made lava

Space Audio available

NASA probe finds water on asteroid Bennu

Michael Irving December 10, 2018

NASA’s asteroid-hunting probe OSIRIS-REx, only arrived at the asteroid Bennu a week ago, and it’s already made a startling discovery. After analyzing data gathered by the craft, the team found that Bennu is rich in water molecules, locked away in clay minerals.

A mosaic image of the asteroid Bennu, snapped by OSIRIS-REx from a distance of 24 km ...