A promising alternative to traditional plastic may have emerged, bringing hope in the battle against plastic pollution. Researchers have unveiled newly developed “bioplastic” pellets, offering a sustainable option that could surpass the environmental impact of current plastic materials used in bottles and various objects.

Published in RCS Sustainability, a recent paper sheds light on the potential of these pellets, which serve a dual purpose. Not only do they function as absorbents, effectively extracting phosphate from water—a critical step in addressing global water security concerns—but they also hold promise as agricultural fertilizer, providing a sustainable solution to nutrient depletion in soil.

Evaporation, the ubiquitous process of water transforming into vapor, has long been attributed solely to heat. However, groundbreaking research from MIT reveals a previously overlooked factor: light. In a series of meticulous experiments, scientists have demonstrated that light striking the interface between air and water can trigger evaporation independently of heat.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study by Professor Gang Chen and his team unveils a phenomenon dubbed the “photomolecular effect.” This effect, observed when light interacts with water molecules at the surface, leads to their liberation into the air, challenging the conventional understanding of evaporation.