The sun-powered sponge, created by researchers in ACS Energy Letters, has the potential to revolutionize desalination methods. Most of Earth’s water is found in oceans, which are too salty for human consumption. Traditional desalination plants require large amounts of energy, but this innovative sponge-like material uses sunlight and a simple plastic cover to produce freshwater.

Previous attempts at creating spongy materials have been made using hydrogels inspired by loofahs. However, these hydrogels are limited in their ability to transport liquid water or water vapor due to their squishy and liquid-filled nature. In contrast, the researchers behind this new sponge-like material used a more rigid aerogel containing solid pores that can efficiently release water through evaporation.

The team developed a paste of carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofibers, which they 3D-printed onto a frozen surface to create a sponge-like material. Each layer solidified before the next was added, resulting in evenly distributed tiny vertical holes. The researchers tested square pieces of the material at different sizes and found that the larger pieces released water through evaporation at rates as efficient as the smaller ones.

In an outdoor test, the sponge-like material was placed in a cup containing seawater and covered by a curved plastic cover. Sunlight heated the top of the spongy material, evaporating just the water into water vapor. The vapor collected on the plastic cover and dripped into a funnel and container below. After 6 hours in natural sunlight, the system generated about 3 tablespoons of potable water.

This revolutionary sponge has the potential to provide a simple, scalable solution for energy-free desalination. With funding from various organizations, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the researchers continue to explore the possibilities of this innovative material.

As the number of people living with HIV continues to rise globally, a concerning trend has emerged: the virus is increasingly affecting individuals aged 50 and above. In sub-Saharan Africa, this age group now accounts for over one-quarter of all HIV cases. Despite this shift, many prevention and treatment campaigns still focus on younger adults, neglecting the unique needs and challenges faced by older individuals.

Research conducted at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) in collaboration with Wits University has shed light on the complexities surrounding HIV among older populations. The study revealed that older adults often harbor misconceptions about their susceptibility to the virus, making it harder for them to take preventive measures or seek testing.

“Perceptions on who acquires HIV are limited,” explains Dr. Luicer Olubayo, a researcher at SBIMB and lead author of the study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal. “Intervention campaigns mainly targeted at the youth don’t help, as older adults believe they’re not at risk.”

Furthermore, stigma surrounding HIV remains a significant barrier to treatment among older adults, delaying diagnosis and limiting access to care. Interventions could focus on repeated testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and awareness campaigns tailored to this age group.

Interestingly, the study found that age, education, gender, and where people live all affect their risk of HIV. Widowed women had the highest HIV rate (30.8%), possibly due to losing a partner to HIV, stigma, and limited power to negotiate condom use. People without formal education and those with low income also faced higher rates of HIV infection.

The study’s longitudinal data provided valuable insights into the HIV epidemic among older adults in sub-Saharan Africa over time. This information can inform interventions and support mental health and overall well-being initiatives.

As the world pushes towards achieving UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 targets by 2030, it is crucial to recognize that prevention and treatment campaigns must adapt to the shifting demographics of HIV. By targeting the 50+ age group specifically, we can address this growing epidemic effectively and ensure equitable access to care for all individuals affected by the virus.

In conclusion, as the world continues to grapple with the complexities of HIV among older populations, it is essential that awareness campaigns are tailored to meet their unique needs. Only through a concerted effort can we hope to overcome the stigma surrounding HIV and provide adequate support to those most vulnerable – the 50+ age group.

Scientists at ETH Zurich have made a groundbreaking discovery – they’ve created a living building material that captures CO2 from the air using photosynthetic bacteria. This innovative material has the potential to revolutionize the way we build and sustain our cities.

The research team, led by Professor Mark Tibbitt, has successfully incorporated cyanobacteria into a printable gel, creating a structure that grows and actively removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The special thing about this living material is its ability to store carbon not only in biomass but also in minerals, making it an effective solution for carbon sequestration.

“We utilize this ability specifically in our material,” says Yifan Cui, one of the lead authors of the study. “Cyanobacteria are among the oldest life forms in the world. They are highly efficient at photosynthesis and can utilize even the weakest light to produce biomass from CO2 and water.”

The team has also optimized the geometry of the structures using 3D printing processes, increasing the surface area and promoting the flow of nutrients to keep the cyanobacteria alive and efficient.

This living material has significant implications for urban planning. The researchers envision it as a low-energy and environmentally friendly approach that can bind CO2 from the atmosphere and supplement existing chemical processes for carbon sequestration.

“We want to investigate how the material can be used as a coating for building façades to bind CO2 throughout the entire life cycle of a building,” says Professor Tibbitt.

The concept has already caught the attention of architects, who have taken up the idea and realized initial interpretations in an experimental way. Two installations at the Architecture Biennale in Venice and Milan showcase the potential of this living material in sustainable urban planning.

One installation uses the printed structures as living building blocks to construct tree-trunk-like objects that can bind up to 18 kg of CO2 per year, about as much as a 20-year-old pine tree in the temperate zone. The other installation investigates the potential of living materials for future building envelopes, using microorganisms to form a deep green patina on wooden shingles.

The photosynthetic living material was created thanks to an interdisciplinary collaboration within the framework of ALIVE (Advanced Engineering with Living Materials), an ETH Zurich initiative that promotes collaboration between researchers from different disciplines in order to develop new living materials for a wide range of applications.