Author: Adam Clare

Crystals Absorb CO2 Like a Sponge

This is pretty neat!

The CBC is reporting that a new form of crystal can capture CO2 in a way that seems like magic.

Chemists at the University of California Los Angeles said the crystals — which go by the name zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, or ZIFs — can be tailored to absorb and trap specific molecules.

“The technical challenge of selectively removing carbon dioxide has been overcome,” said UCLA chemistry professor Omar Yaghi in a statement.
The team of scientists created 25 ZIF crystal structures in a laboratory, three of which showed a particular affinity for capturing carbon dioxide. The highly porous crystals also had what the researchers called “extraordinary capacity for storing CO2”: one litre of the crystals could store about 83 litres of CO2.

Beijing Closing Gas Stations

Beijing is admitting that it is a dirty place and is trying to clean itself up. Because they are hosting the olympics this year, they’re trying to improve their image. To reduce the amount of air pollution in the city officials are closing gas stations and retrofitting others. I have no idea why they didn’t do this earlier, but better late than never.

By the end of May, 144 will shut because they are not expected to meet higher environmental standards, according to state media.

The remainder are to be fitted with devices to reduce the level of fumes which escape when vehicles fill up.

Ovarian Cancer Testing Improved

The CBC is reporting that researchers at Yale have found a more effective way to detect ovarian cancer.

A new blood tests has been developed that Yale researchers say can detect ovarian cancer with 99 per cent accuracy.

The test uses six protein biomarkers to identify proteins in the bloodstream that signal an ovarian tumour is present in the body. The test is 99.4 per cent effective.

Previous tests for ovarian cancer only used four protein biomarkers and recognized only 15 to 20 per cent of new ovarian tumours.

London Continues Eradication of Cars

Treehugger has a neat post up about London and how they are at the forefront of Western cities deterring car usage.

London is now announcing that it plans “to create a new network of quick, simple, and safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians that represents the largest investment in walking and cycling in the city’s history.”

This is not some token initiative, either. London is committed to spending US$975 million over the next ten years to implement five new programs “with the aim of having one in ten round trips in London each day made by bike, and saving some 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 per year .”

From Treehugger

The photo above of the bike ambulance makes me super-happy!