Like all great researchers, we love spending time learning about the latest breakthroughs across science and technology. Here's what we found this week.
EV batteries can last over 20% longer by avoiding less powerful cells.
Chalmers University of Technology | Henrik Dahlberg. The batteries in electric vehicles consist of multiple interconnected cells, with overall battery performance held back by cells that wear out and degrade sooner. Models suggest that a battery architecture that allows weak cells to be bypassed individually can improve EV battery lifespan in high-voltage vehicles, thereby reducing replacement costs. (More)
> Why do batteries lose their capacity to store power over time?
> Power cells can wear out more quickly through fast charging.
Tardigrades inspire a new method of cryopreserving red blood cells in mice.
American Chemical Society | Staff. Storing red blood cells typically involves adding glycerol to prevent the formation of damaging ice crystals, but removing glycerol before transfusion damages the cells. A new method instead uses a protein fragment that tardigrades use to survive extreme environments and has been used to reduce freezer burn, with up to 89% of mouse red blood cells fully recovering. (More)
> What are tardigrades, and what allows them to survive decades without water?
> Tardigrades can survive over 1,000 times more radiation than humans thanks to a bubble wrap-like protein.
Microplastics become chemically active in water-rich environments.
Columbia University | Staff. Although plastic is not supposed to react with other chemicals—explaining its use in food and water packaging—researchers found that microplastics interact with water to facilitate the transfer of electrons needed for chemical reactions. Their increased surface-to-volume ratio creates more chemically active locations, which may produce biologically harmful reactive radicals. (More)
> The use of sewage sludge to fertilize farmland has introduced microplastics into human food chains.
> Microplastic deposits in major arteries have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Deep-sea rocks can spontaneously catch fire during laboratory processing.
USGS | Staff. Seafloor massive sulfides contain elements critical to various modern technologies, but extracting them requires extensive refinement. Scientists found that some of these rocks can heat up and combust when brought to the surface and exposed to air, introducing a potential hazard to deep-sea mining operations. (More)
> Watch a 3D visualization of how deep-sea mining machines collect resources.
> Deep-sea mining may provide enormous economic benefits at the cost of losing ecosystems and potential lifesaving medicines.
