Beyond lithium: Why potassium batteries could change everything
Potassium-ion batteries are showing great promise as a powerful and affordable energy storage solution—and may even outperform the more well-known sodium-ion batteries in some...
Common “forever chemical” may harm brain development in males
Chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been used in products like waterproof clothing, non-stick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foam...
Scientists create bendable, long-lasting zinc-ion battery with new gel electrolyte
Scientists in China have developed a new type of bendable battery that keeps working even when twisted or folded, offering exciting possibilities for powering...
Stretchable smart sensor could spot water pollution in just a blink
Clean water is essential for our health, food, cities, and industries.
Yet, detecting water pollution quickly and accurately remains a big challenge—especially in places without...
Sunlight and a sponge: A simple way to turn seawater into drinking water
Most of the water on Earth is salty ocean water—not suitable for drinking.
While desalination plants can remove the salt and make seawater drinkable, they...
New AI-designed materials could cut energy bills and tame heat
Imagine a future where your home stays cool in the summer without blasting the air conditioner—and your electricity bill is much lower.
Thanks to a...
Gut bacteria might help protect us from toxic ‘forever chemicals’
chemicals called PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals."
These man-made substances are found in everyday items like non-stick pans, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and...
How rare earths move through deserts and ice
Rare earth elements might sound like something out of science fiction, but they’re real—and essential to the modern world.
Used in everything from smartphones and...
How a shoebox-sized battery could power a clean energy future
A major step forward in clean energy has just been achieved in Germany.
At the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology, Europe’s largest vanadium redox flow...
Scientists create super sponge that turns air into clean water
Scientists from around the world have created a powerful new material that can pull clean drinking water directly from the air—and it’s so light,...