We could grow jet fuel on gum trees — if there's anywhere left to plant them
21 September, 2016 by Lauren DavisScientists are one step closer to using Australia's iconic gum trees to develop low-carbon renewable jet and missile fuel.
Emission-free conversion of natural gas to liquids
15 August, 2016Scientists have used a novel ceramic membrane to make the direct, non-oxidative conversion of gas to liquids possible for the first time — reducing cost, eliminating multiple process steps and avoiding any carbon dioxide emissions.
Bionic leaf 2.0
09 June, 2016 by Adam FloranceA team from Harvard has created a 'bionic leaf' that converts sunlight directly into a biomass fuel with 10 times the efficiency of natural systems.
Driving on coffee
09 May, 2016 by Adam FloranceSwinburne University researchers have been collecting used coffee grounds from local cafes, drying them out and testing them as a construction material. You may soon be driving over the results.
Cactus inspires fuel cell efficiency
02 May, 2016 by Adam FloranceThe water-retention strategies of the cactus have inspired a team of scientists to make more efficient fuel cells for electric cars.
UK solar energy company invests in USyd start-up
13 April, 2016University of Sydney spin-off company Gelion has secured an $11 million investment in its plan to make commercially viable, nanostructured, gel-based batteries.
The European bioeconomy under the microscope
04 March, 2016Comprehensive data on the European bioeconomy — that is, those parts of the economy that use renewable biological resources from land and sea to produce food, materials and energy — has been released for the first time.
Crystals increase microbes' methane emissions
18 February, 2016Researchers have discovered how to increase the amount of methane gas emitted by naturally occurring microbes living in coal seams and on food waste.
Enhanced energy harvesting with smart materials
02 February, 2016Researchers have found a way to enhance smart materials known as electrostrictive polymers to improve their mechanical energy harvesting performance — that is, the ability for electronic devices to pull ambient energy from their surrounding environment and convert it into electrical energy for stored power.
Wrinkle-free fabric that's environmentally friendly
29 January, 2016Researchers have reported a method for making wrinkle-resistant cotton fabrics that is said to be more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than current techniques.
Molecular engineering for more efficient solar cells
22 January, 2016 by Adam FloranceThe goal of creating weather-resistant, highly efficient photovoltaic cells is two steps closer, thanks to research by two independent teams of Australian and Swiss scientists.
Efficient energy generation from gravity
09 December, 2015Architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars has developed a method to generate free energy in a sustainable way. The patent-pending technique, which sees energy released by perpetually unbalancing a weight, offers an alternative to solar and wind technology.
National Geosequestration Laboratory to boost CCS research
24 July, 2015Ian Macfarlane has opened the National Geosequestration Laboratory, a $48.4 million facility which is set to play a major role in advancing research for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology in Australia.
CSIRO to commercialise safflower oil technology
13 July, 2015A worldwide licence agreement will see CSIRO commercialise GO Resources' technology for the production of super-high oleic safflower oil (SHOSO) — a plant-sourced alternative to petroleum-based raw materials and traditional sources of oleic acid (an industrially significant fatty acid).
Clean tech lab to make products "benign by design"
11 September, 2014 by Lauren DavisIn November 2013, Flinders University officially opened its Clean Technology Laboratory - a $1.1 million initiative to research and develop sustainable manufacturing methods.
