Giant Leaps Toward a Sustainable Economy & Planet: Innovate Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow
In the last 200 years, our population has grown from 1 billion to 7.6 billion and is projected to be nearly 10 billion by 2050. We will need to adapt to meet the rising demand for food, water and energy. At the same time, rapid, exponential advances in science and technology continue to revolutionize how we live, think and work. Can technology, innovation and the marketplace converge to continue to generate economic growth areas in the global economy? Can humankind create a future in which the demands for food, energy, clean water, climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity, and poverty reduction are reconciled?
Giant Leaps in Sustainability Giant Leaps in Sustainability News Feed from Purdue University News Service
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Photo, video gallery looks back at Purdue research
on December 9, 2019 at 5:00 am
Ready to look back on 2019? Here is a photo and video gallery capturing Purdue research highlights during the university’s 150th anniversary this past year. […]
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Spero Renewables signs $2 million DOE agreement to advance ‘wood-based’ plastic technology
on November 12, 2019 at 5:00 am
Spero Renewables LLC, a clean tech company based in Santa Barbara, California, announced Tuesday (Nov. 12) a $2 million cooperative agreement with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the Department of Energy to advance its proprietary plastics technology developed from surplus wood. […]
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Photo gallery highlights Purdue’s Giant Leaps research
on October 10, 2019 at 1:26 pm
How will astronauts manage nourishment and medication to survive long ventures in space? Humans and computers interact daily, so why do jokes fall flat for Alexa and Siri? Can service dogs help veterans with PTSD live healthier lives? […]
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New materials to help stop lithium-ion battery fires, explosions and improve battery performance
on October 2, 2019 at 4:00 am
From automobiles and planes to laptops and e-bikes, lithium-ion batteries have been blamed for causing fires in high-tech devices. Now, Purdue University scientists have come up with patented techniques that may cut down the risk from these popular batteries, which are found in everyday devices such as phones and tablets. […]
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In a flash: New technique to improve ductility of ceramic materials for missiles, engines, drinking mugs
on September 24, 2019 at 4:00 am
Something as simple as an electric field could soon make wartime missiles or drinking mugs easier to produce and more resilient for fracture. […]
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Startup developing solar-powered crop-drying devices for small farmers receives grants worth $150,000
on September 18, 2019 at 4:00 am
.JUA Technologies International, a Purdue University-affiliated startup developing solar-powered crop-drying devices, has received federal and state grants worth $150,000 to help further develop the technology. […]
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Purdue team gets $3 million to explore consequences of sustainability policies
on September 11, 2019 at 4:00 am
A rapidly growing global population in the midst of a changing climate had led to serious sustainability issues and choices surrounding water, food and energy. These stresses and the policy responses will vary by locality, but they will have global repercussions that will ultimately affect the success of those choices. […]
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Barrier-breaking Land O’Lakes Inc. leader to speak at Purdue
on September 5, 2019 at 4:00 am
Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes Inc., will take part in an interview-style Q&A session, 'A Conversation with Beth Ford,' from 9-10:30 a.m. Sept. 17 in Stewart Center’s Fowler Hall at Purdue University. The event is free and open to the public. […]
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Nation’s first digitally operated nuclear reactor dedicated at Purdue University
on September 3, 2019 at 5:50 pm
How reliable and resilient is an all-digital nuclear reactor? Scientists and engineers at Purdue University hope to answer that question by supporting public and private research partnerships at a first-of-its-kind, digitally operated nuclear reactor, licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. […]
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‘Google of microbes’ could provide digital data from bacteria to solve world problems in health, crops
on August 29, 2019 at 4:00 am
It may be an unsettling thought for some – but the human body is home to trillions of “good and bad” bacteria, viruses and other tiny organisms called microbes. But the scientific big data communities recognize the value of good microbes because they show promise in curing diseases and improving crop yields. […]
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Science to reveal how long highway construction should actually take
on August 28, 2019 at 7:34 pm
Wonder why your commute or vacation route has had a lane closed down for so long? […]
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Novel device to improve powder flow
on August 28, 2019 at 4:00 am
Anyone who has tried to pour powdered sugar into a jar knows that sometimes beating the sides of the container or package is the only way to make it flow. That same process is used in making medicines and products such as powdered milk, where workers routinely hammer on the sides of large bins to unstick the powdery mixture. […]
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Autonomous robots enter fields to collect precise soil samples, help farmers improve yields, reduce environmental impact, save money
on August 28, 2019 at 4:00 am
Collecting precise soil samples is essential for farmers because a small amount of soil determines the amount of nutrients needed for acres of crops and can determine crop yields. […]
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Savor and save wine – one glass at a time
on August 27, 2019 at 4:00 am
A young entrepreneur who is commercializing a product that cuts down wine waste one bottle at a time is seeing growing interest across the country – both online and from wine tasting rooms. […]
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Final schedule announced for Purdue’s nuclear innovation summit
on August 27, 2019 at 4:00 am
Nuclear power will be the focus at next week’s 'What IF Nuclear Innovation Could Save the World?: Atoms for Humanity.' […]
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New technology may help repel water, save lives through improved medical devices
on August 22, 2019 at 4:00 am
Imagine a better windshield that easily repels water and requires less wiping. Now imagine if that same technology could allow doctors to better detect disease or abnormalities in patients. […]
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Keynote speaker from U.S. Department of Energy added for nuclear innovation summit
on August 21, 2019 at 4:00 am
The various roles that nuclear power plays in space exploration, medicine, robotics and sustainability will be the focus of “What IF Nuclear Innovation Could Save the World?: Atoms for Humanity” on Sept. 3-5. […]
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Celebrate 60: Technology transportation program marks milestone of advancing safer drives
on August 21, 2019 at 4:00 am
Transportation incidents like poor bridge or highway performance often leave drivers wondering if their local roads and bridges are adequate. A nationwide effort that began in Indiana and New York – and is now celebrating its 60th anniversary – aims to ensure the safety of local drivers. […]
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Electronic merge: Expanded ion beams light new way for next-generation electronic devices, energy storage, smart homes
on August 15, 2019 at 4:00 am
A new type of lens is lighting the way for expanded uses of large ions and building blocks for new materials. The lens may also address one of the fundamental bottlenecks for generating bright ion beams. […]
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Wi-Fi ‘antenna’ provides options for rural areas
on August 13, 2019 at 4:00 am
Ah, the joys of living out in the country: the quiet, the space and the peacefulness. Then there’s the internet connection, which can go from bad to worse quickly in many rural areas. […]
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Crop report panel says, ‘We’re in uncharted territories’ in terms of yield and revenue projections for Indiana’s cash crops
on August 12, 2019 at 8:13 pm
'This was not a normal year,' said Greg Matli, Indiana state statistician for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service, regarding the 2019 USDA crop report. 'Nothing like 2019 has happened in our history before.' […]
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Improved Reflex app from brightlamp unlocks ‘the diagnostic power of the pupil,’ provides diagnostic data for concussions in seconds
on August 8, 2019 at 4:00 am
Capturing objective data in about five seconds that can aid concussion diagnoses through an iPhone, the Reflex PLR Analyzer, an industry-disruptive diagnostic tool for traumatic brain injury and various cognitive issues, is rapidly advancing in the healthcare market with the launch of a new version of Reflex, brightlamp’s premier mobile pupillometer technology. […]
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‘What IF We Could Immerse Ourselves in Future Tech?’
on August 5, 2019 at 4:00 am
How can we create digital, healthy and sustainable communities of tomorrow? […]
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‘What IF Nuclear Innovation Could Save the World?’
on August 1, 2019 at 6:19 pm
What role can nuclear power play in getting humans to Mars or eliminating climate change? Not to mention its increasing role in medicine and safety and security. […]
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Acid may be key ingredient for better adhesive strength, electronic components
on July 31, 2019 at 4:00 am
An acid used for medicine and to flavor some drinks soon may help make electronic components and certain adhesives more durable and better for the environment. […]
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Transforming biology to design next-generation computers, using a surprise ingredient
on July 25, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Moore’s law – which says the number of components that could be etched onto the surface of a silicon wafer would double every two years – has been the subject of recent debate. The quicker pace of computing advancements in the past decade have led some experts to say Moore’s law, the brainchild of Intel co-founder Gordon Moore in the 1960s, no longer applies. Particularly of concern, next-generation computing devices require features smaller than 10 nanometers – driving unsustainable increases in fabrication costs. […]
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Purdue scientists show how soybeans may get more nitrogen from atmosphere
on July 25, 2019 at 4:00 am
Plant breeders could theoretically increase soybean crop yields if they could control the number of nodules on plant roots since they are responsible for fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Increased crop yield is key to feeding a global population expected to surpass 9 billion people by 2050. […]
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Cold, dry planets could have a lot of hurricanes
on July 24, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Nearly every atmospheric science textbook ever written will say that hurricanes are an inherently wet phenomenon – they use warm, moist air for fuel. But according to new simulations, the storms can also form in very cold, dry climates. […]
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The organic label doesn’t tell the full story
on July 8, 2019 at 5:07 pm
The label on organic, fair-trade coffee and clothing doesn’t always tell the full story. […]
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Out with the old, in with the new
on July 8, 2019 at 3:00 pm
California vineyard owners are carefully watching grapes mature on the vine this summer, just one in a list of responsibilities that determines their chances at a successful season. […]
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First all-digital nuclear reactor system in the U.S. installed at Purdue University
on July 8, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Nuclear power plants generate 20% of the nation’s electricity and are the largest clean energy source in the U.S. But to further offset climate change, the nuclear energy sector needs to extend the lifetime of existing facilities as well as build new ones. […]
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Study highlights nitrogen efficiency gains in corn hybrids over 70 years
on July 8, 2019 at 4:00 am
During the past 70 years, hybrid corn varieties have increased both yield and nitrogen use efficiency at nearly the same pace, largely by preserving leaf function during grain filling. The Purdue University study’s findings offer strategies for corn breeders who want to continue to improve yields and nutrient efficiencies. […]
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Hybrid magnet excitation system leads to smaller, more efficient generators
on July 2, 2019 at 4:00 am
Electric generators have a plethora of uses – ranging from automotive to aircraft to microgrids. There is currently a strong desire to reduce the size and increase the efficiency of the devices. […]
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Dirty secret: Dry cleaning can be environmental mess, but Purdue graduates are developing faster, cleaner, less expensive method
on June 27, 2019 at 4:00 am
The most commonly used chemical in the dry cleaning industry is a solvent called perchloroethylene, or PERC. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified the chemical as a likely carcinogen, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has linked acute exposure to it as causing dizziness, blurred vision and loss of coordination. […]
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Pesticides found in monarchs’ milkweed near farm fields
on June 26, 2019 at 2:46 pm
Conservation organizations across the United States plant milkweed to combat the loss of monarch butterflies, whose populations have declined around 90 percent in the last two decades. Where they plant may be important, according to a Purdue University study that finds evidence of agricultural pesticides on milkweed near farm fields. […]
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Interdisciplinary research pushes science in new directions
on June 24, 2019 at 2:40 pm
A completely new approach to discovering pharmaceutical biologics to fight infectious diseases, new therapies for autism, and exploring a newly discovered intermediate between classical and quantum computing are the latest interdisciplinary projects underway at Purdue University's Discovery Park. […]
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Appetizing equation: Use the power of math to improve food texture, consistency
on June 19, 2019 at 4:00 am
The word starch brings to mind for many people either a food component or something used to stiffen clothing – but its use covers much territory. Starch is used in a wide variety of food and non-food settings. In fact, the global corn starch market is expected to reach $34 billion by 2025. […]
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This brew’s for you … thanks to a novel heating system
on June 13, 2019 at 4:00 am
Just in time for summer – a new technology to improve the taste, quality and shelf life of juice and other beverages, and help craft brewers make more beer. […]
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Keeping it fresh: Food packaging technology receives top honor
on May 22, 2019 at 4:00 am
A large-scale manufacturing process to improve food packaging and keep groceries fresher longer has received top honors at one of the world’s largest technical conferences for the packaging industry. […]
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Cities living with a strong chance of rain
on May 21, 2019 at 4:44 pm
Heavy rain can overwhelm municipal infrastructure and lead to flooding that can threaten lives and property. The U.S. alone spends millions - and sometimes billions - of dollars per year on flood recovery, and more is spent around the world. […]
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Agricultural researchers can quickly measure plant growth, health with inexpensive drones, laptops and a software app
on May 16, 2019 at 4:00 am
Agricultural researchers have long used small-plot trials to test a myriad of practices, such as selecting the best seeds, fertilizer and crop-control products, and depending on their eyes and opinions to determine what works best. […]
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New nitrogen fertilizer texture may reduce nitrate levels, make water safer
on May 15, 2019 at 4:00 am
Nitrate levels in water resources have increased in many areas of the world, largely because of applications of some types of fertilizers in agricultural areas. Since the mid-1920s, the deposits of nitrogen into land has more than doubled, leading to higher levels of nitrate in water resources. […]
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Advancement in driverless aircraft could direct the future of drones, flight
on May 9, 2019 at 4:00 am
Billions of dollars are being spent by aviation giants and aerospace startups to create driverless flying vehicles that can meet the growing need for rapid and flexible travel and delivery. Anyone who has tried to navigate major metro areas like New York City or Los Angeles knows the hassles associated with sharing the roads and air with millions of other people. […]
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How would you survive on Mars?
on April 24, 2019 at 1:27 pm
The Resilient ExtraTerrestrial Habitats Institute is working to ensure that the first long-term settlement on other planetary bodies are safe from hazards such as a meteoroid colliding with the moon or violent sandstorms on Mars. […]
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Large-scale forest carbon sequestration could cause food prices to skyrocket
on April 22, 2019 at 4:00 am
The Paris Agreement calls for reducing greenhouse gases enough to keep global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius from preindustrial levels. This could be done by reducing emissions or capturing and storing atmospheric carbon. […]
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Up in arms: Insect-inspired arm technology aims to improve drones
on April 16, 2019 at 2:28 pm
A drone delivery is great – on a perfect, sunny day. But what about when it’s windy? Most drones are not able to withstand wind because of their fixed-arm design. […]
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How to feed the world and preserve the environment
on April 9, 2019 at 12:44 pm
Farmers bear much of the burden for growing the food to feed billions of people as the world’s population continually trends upward. […]
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Technology shown to turn municipal wastewater algae into specialty chemicals for biofuels, bioplastics
on April 4, 2019 at 4:00 am
A startup is advancing a unique way to transform algae used to purify municipal wastewater into specialty bio-based chemicals such as biofuels or bioplastics that could help reduce the risk of toxic algae blooms that often kill fish and surrounding wildlife. […]
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Fueling the future: Tapping into 100-year supply of natural gas
on April 2, 2019 at 4:00 am
It is a figure that has been thrown around quite a bit lately in the energy debate – the United States has enough energy in shale to provide all of the nation’s transportation fuels for 100 years. But two challenges remain – how to tap into that supply and how to process it into fuel at a reasonable price. […]
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Brooklyn Bugs chef, Purdue prof ask: ‘What IF eating insects saved the planet?’
on March 29, 2019 at 4:00 am
What if you could save the planet by eating bugs? That not only might be a possibility, but in some parts of the world, eating insects isn’t a novel idea. Some researchers and chefs are working to demystify the concept of edible insects. […]