Chemistry in the news

Engineering stories whose deep dive explains chemistry, 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

Lignin Carbon Fibre: Paper Waste Cuts Costs 25 Percent

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

6 min read

Aerospace, Defence & Marine

Electro Sustainable Aviation Fuel Powers First US Flight

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

6 min read

ManufacturingBreakthroughs

Radiative Cooling Fabric Keeps Skin 8°C Cooler Than Bare Skin

A new purple radiative cooling fabric reflects 88% of sunlight and stays cooler than white cotton, challenging assumptions about colour and heat.

Deep dive: How the radiative cooling fabric actually works

5 min read

HealthBreakthroughs

Cellulose Hydrogel Wearable Sensors Work at -25°C for a Week

Cellulose hydrogel wearable sensors made from cotton pulp kept detecting motion at -25°C for 168 hours, enabling cold-weather flexible electronics.

Deep dive: The Science Behind Cellulose Hydrogel Wearable Sensors

6 min read

Energy & EnvironmentInnovation

Fuel Cell Catalyst Could Power Data Centres

A new fuel cell catalyst from Washington University could let hydrogen fuel cells power data centres reliably for over 25,000 hours.

Deep dive: Inside a Hydrogen Fuel Cell's Catalyst Layer

6 min read

Energy & Environment

New Stainless Steel Green Hydrogen Breakthrough: SS-H2

A new stainless steel green hydrogen alloy, SS-H2, resists corrosion up to 1700mV using a counter-intuitive manganese passivation layer.

Deep dive: Passivation, Transpassivity and Why Voltage Matters

6 min read

Automotive & TransportInnovation

JCB Hydromax Hydrogen Speed Record Hits 406mph

The JCB Hydromax hydrogen speed record now stands at 406.320mph after twin runs at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats, doubling the old combustion mark.

Deep dive: Burning Hydrogen Instead of Converting It

7 min read

ManufacturingBreakthroughs

Cobalt Aluminum Alloy Hits 10x Steel Strength

Purdue engineers created a cobalt aluminum alloy with strength 10 times greater than steel by redesigning the metal at the nanoscale.

Deep dive: How Nanoscale Layering Defeats Brittle Fracture

5 min read

HealthBreakthroughs

Biodegradable Cancer Implant Targets Tumours Directly

A rice-sized biodegradable cancer implant delivers immunotherapy drugs directly into tumours, eliminating cancer in 60% of preclinical models.

Deep dive: How a Biodegradable Cancer Implant Controls Its Own Breakdown

6 min read