This substance could revolutionize human waste
Researchers at McMaster University have developed a method to convert one billion discarded tires annually into a hybrid silicone material, reducing the carbon footprint of production by up to 40 percent. By freezing tire crumb to 200-250 microns and coating the outer 10 microns with silicone, the team created a durable composite that retains performance while lowering greenhouse gas emissions from 6-16 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram to 0.6 kilograms. This breakthrough, commercialized through the startup NeoPera, successfully transformed waste into functional products like hockey pucks and asphalt remediation agents, offering a scalable solution to the global tire disposal crisis.
En mission scientifique dans l’Atlantique | ARTE Regards
A five-week expedition aboard the research vessel Meteor, led by marine biologist Torben Rill, explores the Atlantic Ocean down to 5,000 meters to challenge the assumption that deep-sea environments are biologically uniform. Despite initial setbacks including 12 hours lost to equipment failure and the logistical challenge of processing 9 tons of scientific gear, the team discovered unexpected biodiversity on rocky manganese crusts amidst sedimentary plains. The mission involves 50 personnel, including 28 scientists, who utilize specialized cameras and sediment traps to document how ocean currents create microhabitats supporting diverse species previously thought to inhabit only uniform, monotonous deep-sea floors.