Fresh Science

Sunlight is being used to convert carbon dioxide into batteries, thanks to a new technology being developed by researchers at the University of Newcastle. Currently, we mine the materials we use to make batteries. One of these materials is graphite—a type of carbon—that has specific properties that makes it good at storing electrical energy, including…

Sponges that can soak up CO2 where it’s not wanted and quickly release it somewhere beneficial—such as greenhouses—have been developed by Australian researchers. “Special sponge materials called magnetic organic frameworks, or MOFs, are highly effective at soaking up and storing gases such as CO2 at the point of emission. But we hadn’t worked out how…

Barely the size of a lentil, a charismatic sea creature may prove a barometer for climate and ocean health. Liza Roger, of The University of Western Australia, has found that two species of tropical sea butterflies have suffered from thinning shells over the last 46 years, linked to increased carbon dioxide levels and ocean acidification…

Previously unknown species of naturally-occurring bacteria have the potential to save the alumina and aluminium industries millions of dollars while helping to reduce their impact on the environment, microbiologist Naomi McSweeney has found in a collaborative project between Alcoa, CSIRO and the University of Western Australia.