Across some of the planet’s driest regions, engineers are racing to turn humidity into a reliable tap, using materials that ...

It’s also biodegradable, cheap, and widely available. Researchers chose balsa wood for its sponge-like structure, which helped them build a stable, reusable material. Lithium chloride, the salt used ...

(Nanowerk Spotlight) One-third of the global population lacks access to clean water, with the challenge most severe in arid regions that make up 41% of Earth's land surface. The atmosphere holds vast ...

Engineers have developed a new sponge that can remove metals -- including toxic heavy metals like lead and critical metals like cobalt -- from contaminated water, leaving safe, drinkable water behind.

Why does a slightly damp sponge absorb water so much better than the same sponge when it is bone dry? And why does Earth have an iron core, rather than one made of another abundant element such as ...

Sponges by design are meant to absorb, but if you think all they’re absorbing is soapy dishwater then you need to tone down your cleanliness optimism. Sponges are many people’s go-to tool for ...

Scientists have created a reusable, biodegradable sponge that can readily soak up oil and other organic solvents from contaminated water sources, making it a promising alternative for tackling marine ...