Welcome to our latest science and technology news roundup. We’ve picked our favourite stories from the news over the last few weeks to share with you.
This month we take a look at the new contender entering the arena for renewable fuel sources, the most water-repellent surface ever created, a 3D printed rocket engine nozzle for deep space, tougher ceramics with extra electrons and a scientific article on a novel environmentally friendly acid-based catalyst with graphene oxide foundations. We’ve also included a few headlines that have piqued our advanced materials interest and a spooky Halloween special read! Plus, watch NASA’s VIPER moon rover navigating a moon-inspired obstacle course and if you haven’t listened yet, check out episode 6 of Goodfellow’s Innovation Discussed podcast.
Major new fuel source ‘could replace any diesel engine globally and cut all CO2 emissions’
A new fuel contender drives into the renewable fuel arena. Compatible with internal combustion engines with zero emissions, ammonia can be produced from renewable sources, contains three times more energy than hydrogen and is environmentally friendly when mixed with water.
Find out more about this alternative fuel and the ammonia projects underway around the world.
Waterproofing breakthrough: Scientists create the most water-repellent surface ever
Scientists claim to have made the world’s “slipperiest liquid surface”, based on and repelling water, this breakthrough is made from a silicon “liquid-like” coating and has potential applications in heat transfer in pipes, de-icing and anti-fogging.
How NASA 3D printed a rocket nozzle for deep space
NASA’s 3D printed aluminium alloy rocket engine nozzle is lightweight yet able to withstand extreme temperature and pressure. This exciting new innovation hopes to advance deeper space exploration and greater payload capacities - a win for the additive manufacturing sector.
Electron-rich metals make ceramics tough to crack
With excellent properties to withstand extremely high temperatures, resist corrosion and surface wear, while remaining lightweight, this advanced material is advantageous in many applications. But it does have an Achilles heel – it cracks under stress.
Now ceramics can say goodbye to its weakest link thanks to University of California San Diego researchers. Enhancing ceramics with extra valence electrons from high-entropy carbides can make them tougher. Find out more.
Customise Your Own High-Entropy Alloys Today
STUDY: Graphene oxide immobilised 2-morpholinoethanamine as a versatile acid-based catalyst for synthesis of some heterocyclic compounds and molecular docking
Graphene is the miracle material of today. Take an in-depth look at the science behind how a novel heterogeneous organo-catalyst was synthesised based on the natural material graphene oxide using a non-toxic, green and simple method, the promising results and potential applications.
Shop now: Goodfellow's Graphene Product Range
Headlines that intrigued our advanced materials science curiosity...
- Nearby asteroid may contain elements 'beyond the periodic table', study finds
- Scientists solve mystery of precious metals in Earth's mantle
- Queen guitar legend Brian May helps analyse NASA's OSIRIS-Rex asteroid samples
- HALLOWEEN SPOOKY SPECIAL: Why scientists are reanimating spider corpses for research
WATCH:
VIDEO: Watch NASA's VIPER moon rover conquer a lunar 'obstacle course'
