The idea is to develop a way to remove valuable metals from wastewater using specially created beads of resin. Wastewater from places such as recycling plants often contains precious metals in bits too small to be efficiently filtered by conventional methods. To gather these tiny particles it I possible to use beads made of a resin based on polystyrene, which bond with the dissolved metals and makes them easier to remove. This not only purifies the water, but also allows the...

In an effort to re-use the million of tons of building rubble produced each year, a way to recycle concrete with lightning was found. The lightning bolts of a short duration are more likely to pass through a solid. The idea is to produce lightning bolts and direct them to the concrete. As the lightning follows the path of least resistance, it separates the material into its fundamental components. A concrete recycling plant using the lightning method could be a reality in as...

Replacing lithium with sugar could create stronger, long-lasting batteries with more energy storage capabilities. The idea is to heat sucrose to as high as 2,700 °F in an oxygen-free atmosphere. This process, called pyrolysis, results in a hard carbon powder that can be embedded in a sodium-ion battery to create a storage capacity 20 percent greater than conventional hard carbon.

A new way of boiling water without creating bubbles could help to reduce the risk of explosions in nuclear reactors and chemical plants. The technique is based on Leidenfrost effect, which causes water dropped on an extremely hot surface to evaporate and form a vapor layer on which the liquid floats without bubbling. Once the surface layer cools, however, the vapor layer collapses and the water will begin to bubble violently. To counteract this, it is possible to develop a...

The Wave Glider robot smartphone app will let armchair divers check on the location of the nearest Great White Shark from the safety of their living room. The wave- and solar-powered Wave Glider is an autonomous robot with exceptional endurance, able to find and follow tagged sharks, as well as other sea life. It is developed to track tagged fish and animals through a Wi-Fi network. The current methods used to track marine life--tagging and catching or satellite relays--both lack...

The idea is to develop a new transparent solar cell that will replace the glass of home windows, windshields, and even touchscreens. The solar cell will be 70% transparent and made from lightweight and flexible plastic-like materials. Even the metal that will transfer the charge will be transparent, made of a silver nano wire that will be virtually invisible. The manufacturing process will be inexpensive, and the material can also be made as a liquid and sprayed onto a surface much...

The turbine will be easily assembled and pack flat for transport. It will be retrofitted on a roof without the need for a supporting unit, and will be a self-starting turbine, able to cope with variable wind speeds. The turbine design will be adapter to sizes from 1 to 24kW, and its minimal noise will make it both wildlife and neighbor friendly.

The same chemical used as a pigment in breakfast cereals could lead to the creation of LEDs that are grown or printed on the surface of paper. To create the printable diodes, it is necessary to first grew nanometer-sized zinc oxide crystals by coating paper in a polymer, seeding it with a solution containing zinc, and then coating it again with another polymer. The paper is then dipped in a mixture that encourages the zinc to grow into upright hollow rods, with yet another polymer...

Researchers have discovered a molecule that can destroy cavity-causing bacteria in less than one minute, and could even be added to candies. The molecule will kill Streptococcus Mutans after being held the mouth for 60 seconds, and will also continue to kill the bacteria for several hours after use. It can be used in a number of products, including chewing gum, mouthwash, and toothpastes.

A new polymer that kills bacteria and germs when exposed to sunlight could open the door to a wide range of self-cleaning furniture and gadgets. The titanium dioxide-doped polymer coating works through an electrochemical reaction. UV light from the sun causes the titanium dioxide to produce free radicals, which degrade cell walls and cell DNA, thus destroying bacteria and fungi. Smudges and fingerprints also disappear from the material after an hour of exposure to sunlight.