sustainability

  • A small, green pineapple shaped structure stands upright on a metal surface.

    Living building material sucks CO2 out of the air

    A new 3D-printable building material could help reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and infrastructure in the future.

  • A researcher wearing a blue glove picks up one of the devices, which look like a long stem with electronics at the top.

    Artificial leaf uses light to turn CO2 into valuable chemicals

    Decades of research has lead to self-contained solar panels that convert carbon dioxide into valuable chemical products.

  • A profile view of the statue The Thinker by Auguste Rodin against a blue background.

    ‘Super’ AI uses less power by mimicking the human brain

    "Modern AI like ChatGPT is awesome, but it's too expensive. We're going to make sustainable AI."

  • A green glass cup is packed between two white, styrofoam like pieces.

    Coffee and mushroom spores make a green plastic alternative

    Researchers have shown that coffee grounds and Reishi mushroom spores can be 3D printed into a compostable alternative to plastics.

  • A neon sign reads "Cheese" against a dark background.

    Cheese made with peas tastes like the real thing

    A version of a popular cooking cheese made with 25% pea protein is a step towards more sustainable dairy products with nutritional benefits.

  • Orange pill bottles with money inside.

    Eco-friendly tool could bring down drug costs

    Researchers have developed a method that could lower medicine costs and contribute to cleaner energy and sustainability.

  • A woman holds a pink flower in her mouth as she stands in front of a yellow background.

    Ultrasounds could help turn flowers into food ingredients

    Flowers like marigolds and roses may have a place in sustainable food production, according to new research.

  • Kamcev holds a filter device in one hand and places the electrodes in it with tweezers in the other.

    New tech helps turn seawater into drinking water

    New water purification technology helps turn seawater into drinking water without tons of chemicals, researchers report.

  • The material is coarse and has a design reminiscent of egg crate foam.

    Sustainable wall coverings cut humidity indoors

    Researchers have developed a new building component that can be used to dehumidify busy rooms.

  • A power plant emits brown clouds of smoke via smokestacks at sunset.

    AI air pollution takes deadly health toll

    Air pollution from AI is expected to result in as many as 1,300 premature deaths a year by 2030 in the United States, researchers say.

  • Rows of electricity pylons connected by power lines against an orange sky.

    Different training could cut AI power use by 30%

    "If we can reduce the energy consumed by AI, we can reduce AI's carbon footprint and cooling requirements..."

  • A drop of water splashes into more water.

    New device pulls water out of desert air

    "This whole idea seemed like science fiction, but this is possible, and we're actually doing it."