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Wood-Based ‘Thermal Battery’ Could Help Buildings Slash Energy Use
Engineers at UT Dallas have turned ordinary wood into a kind of thermal battery that can store and release heat without electricity. The durable, leak-free material could one day help buildings stay comfortable while using far less energy.
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Turning Desert Sand Into Sustainable Building Material
Concrete is straining the planet’s sand supplies, but researchers in Norway and Japan have found a way to turn fine desert sand into strong paving stones. Their plant-based “botanical sand concrete” could ease pressure on rivers and mountains while tapping an overlooked resource.
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Superhot Geothermal Could Power Clean Energy and Data Centers
New research from Stanford suggests heat from deep underground could help power a fully renewable energy system, slashing land use, storage needs and pollution while supporting the growth of energy-hungry data centers.
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Turning Farm Waste Into Climate-Friendly Building Materials
A new study from the University of East London suggests that crop leftovers usually burned or left to rot could instead be turned into building materials that store carbon for decades. The work highlights a largely untapped climate solution hiding in plain sight on farms around the world.
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New AI Model Flags Hidden Risks in Disinfected Drinking Water
Disinfecting drinking water saves lives, but it can also create hundreds of little-known chemical byproducts. A new AI model from Stevens Institute of Technology is helping scientists quickly flag which ones may be most toxic — and guide future regulations.
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2025 Sustainability & Climate Research: Scalable Solutions, Real-World Impact
In 2025, university researchers advanced sustainability and climate solutions across materials, energy, ecosystems and environmental health, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future. Scalable solutions Research in 2025 moved decisively beyond theory to deliver practical, scalable innovations. Across materials science, energy systems, food production and environmental monitoring, researchers developed technologies that cut emissions, convert…
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Purple Grain Crops as Living Biosensors Could Transform Farming
A research team has engineered grasses to turn purple when they detect specific chemicals, creating living biosensors that could help farmers spot problems early and protect global grain supplies.
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PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Tied to Billions in Infant Health Costs
A new University of Arizona-led study finds that PFAS contamination in drinking water harms infant health and carries at least $8 billion a year in U.S. economic costs. The work strengthens the case for stricter regulation and cleanup of these “forever chemicals.”
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Researchers Sound Alarm on Escalating Plastic Pollution Fueled by Climate Change
Researchers from Imperial College London have issued a clarion call to combat the escalating threats posed by intertwined plastic pollution and climate change. In a comprehensive review published in the journal Frontiers in Science, these scientists underscore the need for immediate international efforts to curtail the deluge of microplastics contaminating the environment. “Plastic pollution and…
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AI’s Energy Consumption Lower Than Expected, New Study Finds
New research from the University of Waterloo and the Georgia Institute of Technology challenges common perceptions regarding the energy consumption of artificial intelligence (AI). The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, reveals that AI’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is minimal and could potentially offer benefits for environmental sustainability and economic efficiency…
