In their recently published article in the journal ACS Synthetic Biology, Charlie Gilbert and Tom Ellis review recent efforts in the emerging field of biological engineered living materials (ELMs) in which cells are programmed to produce new and useful biological materials with unique properties.

The shoe brand Inov-8 and The National Graphene Institute (University of Manchester) have partnered to produce hiking boots with graphene-enhanced rubber grips.

Researchers including Mehdi Tajvidi of University of Maine recently reported on the use of cellulose nanocrystals to print on transparent substrates in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

A recent review article highlights the potential of biosorption via macroalgae as a wastewater treatment method. Sulfated polysaccharides in the cellular wall allow seaweeds to efficiently bind pollutants, making them potential replacements for activated carbon in wastewater treatment.

Chinese scientists from the Center for Nano Energy Materials (CNEM) of Northwestern Polytechnical University have created a compound of calcium hydroxide and graphene quantum dots in a water solution to protect ancient wall paintings.