Call it the wonder plant – a flower that can either absorb toxic metals and radiation out of the soil or prevent most of them from entering its system and be safe to consume, depending on the variety. It’s also beautiful, native to the Americas, and begins to bloom in July. It’s the sunflower, and its ability to heal the environment has inspired one U.Va. undergraduate … [Read more...] about Sunflowers: Nature’s Radiation Cleanup Crew and Soil Restorers
environmental cleanup
Discovering Aerographene: The World’s Least Dense Solid
Aerographene, also known as graphene aerogel, is a fascinating material that was discovered by scientists at Zhejiang University in China. It is the world's least dense solid, with a density of only 160 g/m3 (0.0100 lb/cu ft; 0.16 mg/cm3; 4.3 oz/cu yd), which is less dense than helium. This material has attracted a lot of attention due to its unique properties and potential … [Read more...] about Discovering Aerographene: The World’s Least Dense Solid