{"id":4056,"date":"2024-08-22T17:40:38","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T17:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=4056"},"modified":"2024-10-16T20:40:03","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T20:40:03","slug":"researchers-uncover-electrical-solution-to-combat-coastal-erosion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/researchers-uncover-electrical-solution-to-combat-coastal-erosion\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers Uncover Electrical Solution to Combat Coastal Erosion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Researchers from Northwestern University have demonstrated a groundbreaking technique to combat coastal erosion using mild electrical currents. This innovative method, inspired by marine organisms, could provide a lasting and eco-friendly solution to protect global coastlines against the threats of climate change.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New research from Northwestern University has revealed a groundbreaking technique that could revolutionize coastal protection against erosion caused by climate change and rising sea levels. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s43247-024-01604-3\" title=\"\">study<\/a>, published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, details how a mild zap of electricity can transform seawater-soaked sand into a rock-like solid, potentially safeguarding coastlines for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inspired by shell-forming sea creatures, the researchers utilized naturally dissolved minerals in seawater to create a natural cement, binding sand grains without requiring traditional construction materials. Unlike mollusks that use metabolic energy, the scientists harnessed electrical energy to initiate the chemical reaction, thereby addressing both economic and environmental challenges in coastal protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOver 40% of the world\u2019s population lives in coastal areas,\u201d lead author Alessandro Rotta Loria, the Louis Berger Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern\u2019s McCormick School of Engineering, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.northwestern.edu\/stories\/2024\/august\/fighting-coastal-erosion-with-electricity\/\">news release<\/a>. \u201cBecause of climate change and sea-level rise, erosion is an enormous threat to these communities. Through the disintegration of infrastructure and loss of land, erosion causes billions of dollars in damage per year worldwide.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional methods to combat coastal erosion, such as constructing sea walls or injecting cement into the ground, are costly and often fail to provide long-lasting solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Sea walls, too, suffer from erosion,&#8221; Rotta Loria added. &#8220;Injecting cement and other binders into the ground has a number of irreversible environmental drawbacks. It also typically requires high pressures and significant interconnected amounts of energy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rotta Loria\u2019s team devised a technique leveraging mild electrical currents to induce mineral formation. These minerals, when interacting with sand, act as a binding agent, converting the sand into a robust and durable structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAfter being treated, the sand looks like a rock. It is still and solid, instead of granular and incohesive,\u201d Rotta Loria added. \u201cThe minerals themselves are much stronger than concrete, so the resulting sand could become as strong and solid as a sea wall.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This innovative approach could not only protect coastlines but also offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, estimated to be just $3 to $6 per cubic meter of electrically cemented ground compared to up to $70 for conventional methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study indicates significant potential for widespread applications, from stabilizing sand dunes to reinforcing existing marine structures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We can use it to strengthen the seabed beneath sea walls or stabilize sand dunes and retain unstable soil slopes,\u201d said Rotta Loria. \u201cThe applications of this approach are countless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Going forward, the team plans to test this technique in real-world coastal settings, aiming to validate laboratory results in dynamic marine environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supported by the Army Research Office and Northwestern\u2019s Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience, this research points towards an eco-friendly, efficient and sustainable solution to one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. As coastal communities worldwide face the increasing threat of erosion, Rotta Loria\u2019s innovative method provides a beacon of hope for more resilient and sustainable coastal infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New research from Northwestern University has revealed a groundbreaking technique that could revolutionize coastal protection against erosion caused by climate change and rising sea levels. The study, published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, details how a mild zap of electricity can transform seawater-soaked sand into a rock-like solid, potentially safeguarding coastlines for generations. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"New research from Northwestern University has revealed a groundbreaking technique that could revolutionize coastal protection against erosion caused by climate change and rising sea levels. The study, published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, details how a mild zap of electricity can transform seawater-soaked sand into a rock-like solid, potentially safeguarding coastlines for generations.&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4056"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4056\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4190,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4056\/revisions\/4190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}