Energy and Resources – Page 3 – PossibleThreat Articles

Forward or backward? New pathways for protons in water or methanol

October 8, 2019 0 Comments Biochemistry, Chemistry, Energy and Resources, Fuel Cells, Inorganic Chemistry, Nature of Water, Organic Chemistry, Physics

A collaborative ultrafast spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations study shows that proton vacancies in the form of hydroxide/methoxide ions are as relevant for proton transfer between acids and bases as hydrated excess protons, thus pointing for a clear demand for refinement of the microscopic picture for aqueous proton transport – in solution as well as in hydrogen fuel cells or transmembrane proteins – away from currently often assumed dominant role of hydrated excess protons.

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China is on track to meet its emissions goals for 2020

October 7, 2019 0 Comments Air Quality, Energy and Resources, Energy and the Environment, Energy Issues, Energy Policy, Environmental Policies, Environmental Science, Petroleum, STEM Education

Polluting emissions from Chinese thermal power plants declined significantly between 2014 and 2017, according to new research. The study analyzed data from 2014, when China introduced the ambitious Ultra-Low Emissions (ULE) Standards Policy for renovating coal-fired power stations to limit air pollutant emissions, to 2017.

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The benefits of updating agricultural drainage infrastructure

October 7, 2019 0 Comments Energy and Resources, Energy Policy, Environmental Issues, Environmental Policy, Mining, Nature of Water, Petroleum, Sustainability

The massive underground infrastructure that allows farmers to cultivate crops on much of the world's most productive land has outlived its design life and should be updated, according to a new study. Installing higher-capacity pipes and conservation practices would yield a wide range of production and environmental benefits.

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Pressure may be key to fighting climate change with thermoelectric generators

October 7, 2019 0 Comments Climate, Energy and Resources, Energy and the Environment, Environmental Science, Materials Science, Petroleum, Renewable Energy, Thermodynamics

Pressure improves the ability of materials to turn heat into electricity and could potentially be used to create clean generators, according to new work.

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Determining the activity of noble-metal-free catalyst particles

October 4, 2019 0 Comments Alternative Fuels, Chemistry, Energy and Resources, Fuel Cells, Inorganic Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Nature of Water, Organic Chemistry

Chemists have developed a new method with which they can characterize individual noble-metal-free nanoparticle catalysts. The particles could be a cheap alternative to precious metal catalysts for obtaining hydrogen from water by means of electrolysis.

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Eco-friendly electrochemical catalysts using solar cells to harvest energy from the sun

October 3, 2019 0 Comments Chemistry, Energy and Resources, Energy Technology, Fuel Cells, Graphene, Optics, Petroleum, Solar Energy

A research team develops an eco-friendly device that uses solar energy to catalyze an electrochemical oxidation reaction with high efficiency.

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Inventing the world's strongest silver

October 2, 2019 0 Comments Chemistry, Energy and Resources, Engineering and Construction, Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Physics, Spintronics

A team of scientists has made the strongest silver ever — 42 percent stronger than the previous world record. It's part of a discovery of a new mechanism at the nanoscale that can create metals much stronger than any ever made before — while not losing electrical conductivity.

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Why some greens turn brown in historical paintings

October 2, 2019 0 Comments Chemistry, Early Climate, Energy and Resources, Inorganic Chemistry, Optics, Origin of Life

Enticed by the brilliant green hues of copper acetate and copper resinate, some painters in the Renaissance period incorporated these pigments into their masterpieces. However, by the 18th century, most artists had abandoned the colors because of their tendency to darken with time. Now, researchers have uncovered the chemistry behind the copper pigments' color change.

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Inspired by Northern clingfish, researchers make a better suction cup

October 2, 2019 0 Comments Civil Engineering, Energy and Resources, Engineering and Construction, Fish, Marine Biology, Materials Science, Nature, Sea Life

Scientists, inspired by the clingfish's suction power, set out to develop an artificial suction cup that borrows from nature's design. Their prototype actually performed better than the clingfish.

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Planes and vehicles main culprits masking iconic natural sounds in peaceful national parks

October 2, 2019 0 Comments Acoustics, animals, Disaster Plan, Dolphins and Whales, Energy and Resources, Energy Policy, Environmental Policies, Nature, Travel and Recreation

A team of scientists characterized the predominant human noise sources in 66 national parks in the US, in an effort to help parks better manage the noise problem.