Engineering stories whose deep dive explains organic chemistry and fuels, ready to use as a starter, a reading task or a real-world example. Each one links to the GCSE and A level curriculum.
ManufacturingInnovation
Engineers have made lignin carbon fibre using paper-making waste and nanotubes, halving petroleum use and cutting production costs by 25 percent.
Deep dive: Turning Waste Wood into Structural Fibre
Aerospace, Defence & Marine
Infinium's electro sustainable aviation fuel, made from captured CO₂ and renewable electricity, powers its first US commercial passenger flight with no aircraft modifications.
Deep dive: The chemistry of making jet fuel from CO₂
ChemicalsBreakthroughs
Scientists embedded engineered bacteria into plastic that fully self-destructs in 6 days, leaving no microplastics. Discover how this living material works.
Deep dive: how self-destructing living plastic actually works
Chemicals
A new two-stage catalyst process converts plastic waste into jet fuel at near-ambient pressure, achieving over 82% yield. Published in Nature Energy.
Deep dive: The Chemistry Behind Plastic Waste Jet Fuel