Harnessing science to protect planet Earth From access to safe drinking water to the development of sustainable energy sources to ridding the planet of plastic pollution, Biodesign researchers are taking their cues from the ultimate innovator — nature.
Superfund, meet super bacteria Decontamination of the nation’s numerous Superfund sites is a public health priority, but the technical challenges are daunting. Chlorinated chemicals known as TCE and perchlorate pose a particular hazard. Due to widespread use and improper disposal, these chemicals have found their way into the environment, threatening human health and surrounding ecosystems. Biodesign researchers have developed new techniques to help clean up contaminated sites using specialized bacteria. By combining the microbes with a unique metal known as zero valent iron, hazardous TCE and perchlorate can be transformed into environmentally benign end products. The process was explored at a Superfund location in Goodyear, Arizona and could provide a model for large-scale cleanup of toxic zones nationwide. Shedding new light on solar power Every hour, the sun saturates the Earth with more energy than all humans use in a year. With the world poised to double its energy consumption in just 30 years, harnessing more of this energy is a critical challenge. Solar panels can capture energy only while the sun shines. Biodesign researchers are exploring how to store solar energy in a concentrated form, to be used when and where it is needed. Inspired by the way plants and other photosynthetic organisms collect and use the sun’s radiant energy, researchers are refining technologies that capture sunlight and store it as carbon-free or carbon-neutral fuels.
11
