Biological cleanup discovered for certain “forever chemicals”

University of California, Riverside, chemical and environmental engineering scientists have identified two species of bacteria found in soil that break down a class of stubborn “forever chemicals,” giving hope for low-cost biological cleanup of industrial pollutants. These bacteria destroy a subgroup of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, that have...

By David Danelski | | Science / Technology

Pollution cleanup method destroys toxic “forever chemicals”

An insidious category of carcinogenic pollutants known as “forever chemicals” may not be so permanent after all. University of California, Riverside, chemical engineering and environmental scientists recently published new methods to chemically break up these harmful substances found in drinking water into smaller compounds that are essentially harmless. The patent-pending...

By David Danelski | | Science / Technology

Artificial photosynthesis can produce food without sunshine

Scientists are developing artificial photosynthesis to help make food production more energy-efficient here on Earth, and one day possibly on Mars

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Microbes can degrade the toughest PFAS

Under anaerobic conditions, common microbial communities can break the ultra-strong carbon-fluorine bond

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

PFAS chemicals do not last forever

The use of sulfite and iodide under ultraviolet light can destroy PFAS in water in a few hours

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Discovery about coral-algal symbiosis could help coral reefs recover after bleaching events

Algae’s ability to establish symbiosis in coral without photosynthesis could help fight coral bleaching

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Fighting climate change with carbon capture and utilization technologies

Two UC Riverside experts explain how carbon capture and utilization technologies work, and what needs to improve for them to deliver on their promise

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

“Magic wand” reveals a colorful nano-world

Novel color photography using a high-efficiency probe can super-focus white light into a 6-nanometer spot for nanoscale color imaging

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Using light to control materials

Supercomputers and machine learning will help scientists optimize light-driven electron transfer

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

A new water treatment technology could also help Mars explorers

A catalyst that destroys perchlorate in water could clean Martian soil

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Tiny tomatoes could mean big profits for urban agriculture

Grants support continued development of tomatoes for vertical farming

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Nanofiber filter captures almost 100% of coronavirus aerosols

The filter could help curb airborne spread of COVID-19 virus

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Electromagnetic levitation whips nanomaterials into shape

Electromagnetic field directs shape formed by gas phase metal molecules

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Cleaner water through corn

Activated carbon made from corn stover filters 98% of a pollutant from water

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Common pipe alloy can form cancer-causing chemical in drinking water

Water disinfectant reacts with chromium in iron pipes to form hexavalent chromium

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

UC Riverside research team fuels the hemp revolution

A new hemp pulping method that converts 100% of the plant to useful components moves toward commercialization

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Coveting yeast? It's much more than a loaf of bread

While quarantined bakers discover sourdough starters, bioengineers tweak yeast to produce compounds that could fight cancer

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

UC Riverside engineers are developing a test to rapidly identify body fluids at crime scenes

The disposable, low-cost tool will improve the speed and accuracy of investigations

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

Removing the novel coronavirus from the water cycle

Scientists call for more research to understand whether water treatment methods kill the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology

The shutdown brought bluer skies but more nighttime ozone to the Inland Empire

Air quality improvements lead to unique atmospheric chemical behavior

By Holly Ober | | Science / Technology