Today’s Solutions: January 14, 2025

Red worm bloodworm on a black background.

The mystery of bloodworm "copper" fangs solved

There are plenty of unusual creatures in the world, from weird species of worms with multiple branching bodies, to spooky parasites which eat and replace fish tongues. Another fascinating creature is the bloodworm, which is famous for its unusual fang-like jaws. These unique protrusions are Read More...

Animation of a strange metal which holds superconducting properties.

‘Strange metal’ may be the future for a more energy efficient world

Strange metal behavior was first noticed around 30 years ago. These materials are composed of copper-oxides and carry the properties of being high-temperature superconductors. This means they can transfer electricity very efficiently, withstanding much higher temperatures with less energy loss than Read More...

New material can pull precious

New material can pull precious metals such as lithium from wastewater

Wastewater is often polluted with heavy metals such as copper that could actually be of use, but the problem is that we haven’t had a way to separate these metals from the other contaminants in the water. Today’s wastewater cleaning process simply pulls out everything from nutrients and Read More...

Lining hospital beds with copp

Lining hospital beds with copper could save thousands of lives each year

Hospital beds are among the most contaminated surfaces in medical settings. Every year, nearly 2 million Americans get sick because of that, while around 100,000 lose their lives, making hospital beds the eighth leading cause of death in the US. Researchers have spent years looking for ways to Read More...