Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) are a technology that can turn light into electricity, just like solar panels. However, instead of taking their energy from the sun, TPVs make use of the light emitted by a hot object in close proximity. We demonstrated a new record-breaking efficiency of more than 40% for TPVs, enabling the viability of this technology for ‘thermal battery’ energy storage.

All known animals hear using an organ in their body, with the notable exception of a curious spider. We found that the orb-weaving spider breaks this limitation by outsourcing its hearing to its gigantic, reconfigurable, and regenerative web.  

Over the next 30 years, the expansion of cities will threaten global biodiversity unless we change the way that they are built.  Greener cities can become part of the solution to the global biodiversity crisis.  

Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are increasing in frequency, and many locations are experiencing repeated disasters. Each disaster can create legacy conditions that affect the outcome of the disasters that follow. New research is helping to understand and predict these important legacies.

Using some common household cleaning products lead to the formation of indoor pollutants. During realistic use, we observed for the first time that chemical vapors from certain cleaning products can rapidly change into small airborne particles harmful to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. This has consequences for professional cleaners and people frequently exposed to cleaning products.

Imagine telling explorers of the New World that the Fountain of Youth was hidden in their cells. That's probably what Kristen C. Browder's team could say after successfully reversing the biological clock of living mice. According to their results, the secrets of rejuvenation seem to be buried in the heart of each of our cells, in other words, in our genes.