Archive for February 2025

Dwindling reservoirs, prolonged droughts, and increasing demand create a concerning outlook for US water resources. However, a promising area of materials science research may offer a new approach to sourcing this essential resource: pulling water directly from the atmosphere through atmospheric water harvesting (AWH).    Researchers have developed highly porous materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)…

We often picture beaches changing with the seasons: harsh winter storms eroding sand, leaving beaches narrow, while gentler summer waves replenish the sand, widening them again. This “winter-narrow/summer recovery” model is so ingrained it’s even in textbooks. But new research is challenging this long-held view, particularly for beaches in Southern California. This research focuses on…

Addressing the impacts of stormwater pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial processes is an ongoing challenge. This pollution fuels detrimental effects such as algae blooms and the depletion of vital minerals like phosphate, copper, and zinc. Current solutions for pollutant removal often prove costly and offer limited reusability, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable and…