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Category: energy – Page 12

Revolution in friction: A way to make super-smooth materials

Scientists from the Faculty of Physics and Applied Informatics at the University of Lodz have published an article on friction in the journal Small. Their research on “bismuth islands” moving on the surface of graphite confirmed the existence of a totally new form of so-called superlubricity—a friction-free contact between two solid bodies.

This discovery could revolutionize the way we design nanoscale machines, and even vehicles, in the future. By understanding these processes, we can create devices that can operate much more efficiently, saving on energy and resources.

Scientists led by Dr. Hab. Paweł Kowalczyk, associate professor at the University of Lodz, have discovered a new phenomenon related to the disappearance of friction—superlubricity. This special phenomenon was observed at the contact of two solid materials, bismuth and graphite.

Personal Flying Vehicle With 500-Mile Range Announced

A new hybrid–electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle aimed at personal ownership and flying has been introduced by a London startup.

The three-seater Sigma flying vehicle from AltoVolo would feature a tilting jet propulsion system with a promise of a range of 500 miles and a cruising speed of 220 mph.

The vehicle would use batteries for vertical take-off and landing and liquid fuel for long-range flight, according to the company.

The hidden cost of hydropower: Biodiversity at risk

Two recent studies published in Biological Conservation and Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, led by researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlight the profound impacts of hydropower on biodiversity in river channels and at the land-water surface.

The studies demonstrate that these effects arise from impoundment upstream of the dams, disruptions to the natural flow, sediment, and thermal regimes in downstream channels and floodplains, altering habitat conditions and environmental cues vital for many species to complete their life cycles.

The authors provide an overview of measures aimed at mitigating these adverse effects. They underscore the importance of systematic planning, long-term monitoring, adaptive management, and decision-making involving multiple actors to ensure and call for a critical reassessment of hydropower’s status as an often claimed environmentally friendly energy source.

Bio-concrete from urine: Researchers develop sustainable building material

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have used microbial processes to produce environmentally friendly bio-concrete from urine as part of a “wastewater-bio-concrete-fertilizer” value chain. With the project extension granted by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts, the focus now shifts to product optimization and practical testing.

Concrete is booming. Around 4 billion tons of cement are processed into concrete and used worldwide every year. With serious consequences for the environment.

“Conventional cement is typically fired at temperatures around 1,450 degrees. This consumes a lot of energy and releases large quantities of greenhouse gases,” says Professor Lucio Blandini, Head of the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart.

Math shaken: 200-year-old algebra rule falls to Geode number discovery

A mathematician has solved a 200-year-old maths problem after figuring out a way to crack higher-degree polynomial equations without using radicals or irrational numbers.

The method developed by Norman Wildberger, PhD, an honorary professor at the School of Mathematics and Statistics at UNSW Sydney, solves one of algebra’s oldest challenges by finding a general solution to equations where the variable is raised to the fifth power or higher.

Cement That Converts Heat Into Energy — The Future of Buildings

A groundbreaking cement developed by Chinese scientists can now generate electricity from heat—thanks to a bio-inspired design that mimics plant stems. By combining hydrogel layers with traditional cement, this innovation enhances ion flow and delivers record-high thermoelectric efficiency. This breakthrough could power smart infrastructure, allowing buildings, roads, and bridges to self-generate electricity for sensors, lighting, and more—ushering in a new era of energy-smart cities.

In extreme conditions, heat does not flow between materials—it bounces off

A new study published in Nature Communications shows, for the first time, how heat moves—or rather, doesn’t—between materials in a high-energy-density plasma state.

The work is expected to provide a better understanding of inertial confinement fusion experiments, which aim to reliably achieve fusion ignition on Earth using lasers. How heat flows between a hot plasma and a material’s surface is also important in other technologies, including semiconductor etching and vehicles that fly at hypersonic speeds.

High-energy-density plasmas are produced only at extreme pressures and temperatures. The study shows that interfacial thermal resistance, a phenomenon known to impede in less extreme conditions, also prevents between different materials in a dense, super– state.

Electrosynthesis of urea from flue gas achieves high efficiency with no ammonia byproducts

Urea, with the formula CO(NH2)2, is a chemical compound that is widely used in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture and various industries. Conventionally, this compound is produced via a two-step process that entails the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen (N₂) and its subsequent reaction with carbon dioxide (CO₂).

This reaction occurs at and under , leading to the formation of a compound called ammonium carbamate. This compound is then decomposed at lower pressures, which ultimately produces and water.

Traditional processes for producing urea are very energy intensive, meaning that to produce desired amounts of urea they consume a lot of electrical power. Over the past few years, some engineers have thus been trying to devise more energy-efficient strategies to synthesize urea.