Each year 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle 89 billion liters of water, and the energy required to manufacture and transport this bottled water severely drains our limited supply of fossil fuels.
But MIT chemist Dan Nocera has discovered a way to make plastic water bottles more environmentally friendly.
Using a special catalyst, Nocera’s new photosynthetic process can power a home using only sunlight and a bottle of water.
Next week, NISE Net (Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network) celebrates NanoDays, a nationwide series of events and activities at your local science centers dedicated to the wondrous world of nanotechnology.
So what exactly is nanotech, you may ask, and how is it crucial to the future of engineering? Watch the video above to find out.
The imaginative building, also called a sub- or sea-scraper, was designed by Sarly Adre bin Sarkum of Malaysia and intended to contrast with the above-ground entries that dominated the competition.
Who would have thought that frogs would inspire engineers to create new biofuels? Well, the Tungara frog, which resides in Central America, seems to have done just that.
The Tungara frog creates very long-lived foam nests for its newborn tadpoles. Engineers from University of Cincinnati, in yet another example of biomimicry, found the frogs’ design inspirational and helpful in constructing an innovative artificial photosynthetic foam.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’d like to bring you some of our favorite stories about engineers going green. Read up and don’t forget to wear the right color today!
