The Venus Flytrap, a carnivorous plant that would scare the hell out insects and arachnids for a simple reason that it catches and digests them gives a helping hand to scientists to save the environment. Taking inspiration from this creepy plant, researchers at Northwestern University have developed a material that might clean up radioactive waste easier and much more efficiently. According to the research, the material opens its pores to capture radioactive ion cesium, after which it snaps shut to entrap it.
venus flytrap nuclear cleanup1
nuclear waste storage
Northwestern University researchers’ Venus Flytrap is a synthetic material made from layers of a gallium, sulfur and antimony compound cleans up the radioactive ion cesium, found in nuclear waste. The radioactive ion cesium is quite difficult to clean, as the ratio of harmless sodium ions to dangerous radioactive cesium ions is 1,000 to 1. But this magical material is just perfect to remove the cesium from a sodium-heavy solution. Let’s hope this development brings a new and improved change in nuclear waste removal.
Via: Treehugger
Related Stories
Scientists develop eco-friendly organoclays for making plastics nanocomposites
Until now, we have seen natural clay giving birth to artful pottery. But this time around scientists have changed its use. A team of scientists led by David Abecassis has developed a substance from natural clay that is an inexpensive, eco-friendly...
Time for UK to Think Solar (Not Nuclear) for Effective Future Energy Produce: Scientists
To plan an effective future energy production, solar rather than nuclear energy should be the UK government's priority. This is according to scientists writing this week in the journal Nature Materials. Photovoltaics, the direct conversion of...
Britain's nuclear waste to go 'deep disposal'
The British government has come up with a solution to Britain's nuclear waste. It is likely to recommend on much of the waste that should be buried in deep disposal sites. Draft recommendations are to be released by a government advisory body. It is...
New Canadian nuclear waste management plan approved
Nuclear power is a necessary evil of today. In Canada, the nuclear power generates electricity. The problem with this kind of power source lies in the waste that is generated. Canada has come up with a newly approved nuclear waste management plan to...
Everything I need to know about atmospheric electricity generator
The impact of atmospheric energy in the form of lightening accompanied by thunders has been probably experienced by all of us during thunderstorms or dust storms. If we can grab even a mere part of this energy, the energy scarcity of the entire world will
