Removing Microplastics Now

Earlier this week we featured an article about two highschool students that developed a novel water filtration device that uses sound waves to remove microplastics from water. They are now working on a way to implement this technology across a wide range of industries and use cases that are badly in need of such a device.

However, researchers just recently discovered another method of removing microplastics contamination from drinking water that is right at your fingertips.

A group of scientists discovered that simply boiling water can remove between 25% and 90% of the microplastics present.

In a study conducted by Guangzhou University, researchers tested two types of tap water—hard water and soft water. Hard tap water is richer in minerals, especially calcium carbonate (limescale), compared to soft water. Anyone who uses an electric kettle or coffee maker is familiar with the limescale buildup that requires periodic cleaning. When the scientists boiled the hard tap water, the calcium carbonate precipitated out of the solution, effectively trapping a variety of plastic particles ranging in size from 5 to 10 micrometers. Remarkably, 90% of these particles were captured in the limescale layer.

The researchers noted, This simple boiling water strategy can ‘decontaminate’ [nano and microplastics] from household tap water and has the potential for harmlessly alleviating human intake of NMPs through water consumption,” in their paper published in February. Even in soft water, which contains less calcium carbonate, roughly 25% of the microplastics were removed. It’s worth noting that most bottled water sold in the U.S. is hard water, as is much of the tap water across the country. Some brands use reverse osmosis or other methods to dissolve minerals, then sell the water as either soft water or ‘mineral water’ after re-adding minerals.

It is estimated that there may be as much as 7 credit cards’ worth of plastic circulating in your body at any given time. While the long-term effects of this contamination are still unknown, studies in mice have found microplastics in every organ, including the brain and placenta.

If you don’t want to wait for the slower, more comprehensive solutions, like the sonic filter, filtering and boiling your drinking water could be a great option. Or just drink tea I guess.

94-Year-Old Becomes Oldest to Tackle World’s Fastest Zip Line

A 94-year-old Englishman, David Aris, took on the world’s fastest zip line to raise money for his local hospice care. David, a great-grandfather, lost his wife, June, to cancer five years ago. St John’s Hospice, which cared for June in her final months, also provided end-of-life care for a friend of David’s, Mr. Kilby.

David and Narelle, Mr. Kilby’s 70-year-old widow, visited Zip World in Penrhyn Quarry, Wales, where they rode the zip line, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h), to raise funds for the hospice.

“I’d heard of the zip line, but I didn’t consider it until Narelle suggested it,” David told the media. “When I called to book and mentioned I was 94, they said I was likely the oldest person to try it, and it turned out to be true!”

David described the experience as nerve-wracking but exhilarating, noting that the ride was over in less than a minute due to its speed.

David and Narelle have raised over £9,500 through JustGiving to support the hospice that helped them during a difficult time.

Carbon Dioxide Bricks

A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo, in collaboration with Tokyo University of Science and Taiheiyo Cement Corporation, has developed a groundbreaking method to recycle concrete from a demolished school building and carbon dioxide from the air into new bricks strong enough to be used in house construction.

The process involves pulverizing the old concrete into a fine powder, which is then mixed with captured carbon dioxide. The mixture is then pressurized in layers using molds and heated to form solid concrete blocks. This innovative technique not only makes it easier and more feasible to recycle old materials but also traps carbon dioxide, reducing environmental impact. Moreover, these “refreshed” blocks can be reprocessed into new blocks if the buildings are later demolished.

The researchers explain that the recycled concrete blocks undergo a carbonation process over three months, which typically takes years in natural conditions. During this process, compounds like portlandite and calcium silicate hydrate in the concrete are transformed into calcium carbonate, strengthening the material over time. To expedite this process while ensuring the recycled blocks remain strong, the team pressurizes the carbonated powder with a calcium bicarbonate solution, then dries it to solidify the blocks. This recent experiment builds on previous efforts by layering and compacting the material inside molds, resulting in denser and stronger blocks compared to earlier methods.

This research is part of the C4S project (Calcium Carbonate Circulation System for Construction), led by Professor Takafumi Noguchi, with material development headed by Professor Ippei Maruyama. The project’s goal is to create durable recycled concrete blocks, known as “calcium carbonate concrete,” by incorporating carbon dioxide from the air or industrial exhaust. “As part of the C4S project, we intend to construct a real two-story house by 2030,” says Professor Maruyama. “In the coming years, we plan to scale up to a pilot plant, improve production efficiency, and develop larger building elements as we work towards commercializing this material.”

The Pillars of Creation

A team at NASA has unveiled a breathtaking new visualization of the Pillars of Creation, a stunning space formation made famous by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in 1995. These ethereal structures, located at the heart of the Eagle Nebula, have captivated astronomers and the public alike for decades.

The new 3D visualization, is a combination of data from the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA’s cutting-edge James Webb Space Telescope. The visualizer presents a detailed multi-wavelength movie that allows viewers to explore the towering star-birthing structures in three dimensions. This immersive experience goes beyond the flat, two-dimensional images typically captured by telescopes, taking viewers on a journey through the pillars’ intricate structures. Having multiple space telescopes that view different aspects and layers is what gives us the ability to reconstruct these object more clearly.

NASA noted that this new visualization demonstrates how two of the world’s most powerful space telescopes work together to provide a more comprehensive portrait of the pillars. Hubble captures objects glowing in visible light, which are at thousands of degrees, while Webb’s infrared vision, sensitive to cooler objects at just hundreds of degrees, penetrates through dust to reveal stars embedded within the pillars.

“When we combine observations from NASA’s space telescopes across different wavelengths of light, we broaden our understanding of the universe,” said Mark Clampin, Director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The Pillars of Creation region continues to offer us new insights that hone our understanding of how stars form. Now, with this new visualization, everyone can experience this rich, captivating landscape in a new way.”

The Eagle Nebula, home to the Pillars of Creation, stretches 9.5 light-years across and lies in the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way in the constellation Serpens. The towering pillars span more than twice the distance from our sun to its nearest star, making them an awe-inspiring feature of our galaxy.

Teens Create Ultrasound Waves Device to Remove Microplastics

Two high school students have developed a novel water filtration device that uses sound waves to remove microplastics from water. The device, which leverages high-frequency acoustic waves to trap up to 94% of microplastic particles in a single pass, has shown promise in lab tests. The students are now using prize money from a prestigious award to scale up their invention.

Microplastics are pervasive, found in the atmosphere, on Mount Everest, and in the deepest parts of the ocean. They have also been detected in various human organs. Their ability to effect human hormone production and health is a very real concern. Addressing this widespread contamination is challenging, but Justin Huang and Victoria Ou from Woodlands, Texas, may have found a solution.

Their device, no larger than a pen, uses ultrasonic sound waves to push microplastics away from the water’s exit point. This method improves on previous designs that used ultrasonic waves to address microplastics in wastewater and drinking water.

After receiving the Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations and first place in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, Huang and Ou plan to refine their technology. They hope to enhance it with professional equipment and prepare it for large-scale production.

During their research, they discovered that wastewater treatment plants lack effective microplastic regulation due to cost and regulatory gaps. Huang and Ou envision their technology being used in wastewater treatment plants, industrial textile facilities, rural water sources, laundry machines, and even fish tanks.