Futurity covers research news from the top universities in the US, UK, Canada and Australia
Investing in natural gas export facilities “is a bet against what US firms excel in—developing and commercializing new technologies and products,” says economist Frank Wolak.With…
New research reveals how cells extrude cellulose—findings that could improve biofuel production and help better fight bacteria.Understanding the production and deposition of cellulose, the primary…
An insight into the properties of fullerene could lead to a new class of electronic acceptors for better and cheaper organic solar cells, report researchers.Organic…
The United States could eliminate its need for crude oil by using a combination of coal, natural gas, and non-food crops to make synthetic fuel,…
The city’s aging natural-gas pipeline system is to blame, according to a new study by researchers at Boston and Duke Universities. Their findings appear this…
A high-resolution climate record spanning 2,000 years shows how Maya political systems developed and fell apart in response to climate change, researchers report.The role of…
“Algal biofuels are not quite ready for prime time,” says Joel Cuello, co-author of a new report evaluating the alternative fuel’s current drawbacks and its…
Researchers have developed a solar cell made entirely of carbon, an inexpensive substitute for the pricey materials currently used in conventional solar panels.“Carbon has the…
A new, inexpensive catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells could put platinum out of business, say researchers who’ve developed an alternative out of cobalt, graphene, and…
Over a period of five months following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, bacteria consumed at least 200,000 tons of oil and natural gas that…
Global climate models may be overstating the warming properties of black carbon particles, according to recent field tests.“Our results don’t change the fact that things…
Scientists have combined spinach’s photosynthetic protein, which converts light into electrochemical energy, with silicon in a new “biohybrid” solar cell.“This combination produces current levels almost…
A new computer model can identify the best molecular candidates for removing carbon dioxide, molecular nitrogen, and other greenhouse gases from power plant flues.The model…
Refrigerating coal-plant emissions would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 90 percent—at a cost of 25 percent efficiency.Based on computations done on a spreadsheet…
A new type of power cell can convert mechanical energy—from walking, for example—to chemical energy and store the power until it is released as electrical…
The economy of one of the world’s least-developed countries could actually benefit from climate change by increasing exports of corn to the US and other…
Most earthquakes in the Barnett Shale region of North Texas occur within a few miles of one or more injection wells used to dispose of…
Engineers have used inexpensive materials to create a solar cell certified at a world-record 7.0 percent efficiency.The research paves the way for solar cells that…
Natural gas is a good transition step on the road to greener energy sources like wind, solar, and nuclear power, says a new study.Lawrence M.…
A new way of making biofuel produces 20 times more energy than existing methods by adding bacteria that turn by products into electricity.The results of…