In this episode:
Red mud is a toxic by-product of aluminium manufacture, and millions of tonnes of it is produced each year. The majority ends up in landfills, pumped into vast lakes or stored in dried mounds, posing a serious environmental risk. This week, researchers demonstrate how red mud can be reused to make iron, a vital component in the production of steel. As their method uses hydrogen plasma rather than fossil fuels, they suggest it could be a way to reduce the carbon emissions associated with the steelmaking industry.
Research article: Jovičević-Klug et al.
News and Views: Iron extracted from hazardous waste of aluminium production
The economics of next-generation geothermal power plants, and the folded-fabric robot that crawls like a snake.
Research Highlight: Flexible geothermal power makes it easier to harness Earth’s inner heat
Research Highlight: Origami fabric robot slithers like a snake
A computational model that predicts a person's likelihood of developing long COVID, NASA finally crack open the lid of OSIRIS-REx’s sample container, and how the ‘Moon Sniper’ craft pulled off the most precise lunar landing ever.
Nature News: Long-COVID signatures identified in huge analysis of blood protein
Johnson Space Centre: NASA’S OSIRIS-REx Curation Team Reveals Remaining Asteroid Sample
Nature News: Japan’s successful Moon landing was the most precise ever
Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Nature Podcast annual holiday spectacular
Coronapod: Omicron - your questions answered
Pluto's strange ice patterns explained by new theory
Coronapod: vaccines and long COVID, how protected are you?
How 'megastudies' are changing behavioural science
Coronapod: How has COVID impacted mental health?
What’s the best diet for people and the planet?
Audio long-read: The chase for fusion energy
Coronapod: everything we know about the new COVID variant
Researcher careers under the microscope: salary satisfaction and COVID impacts
Sea squirts teach new lessons in evolution
Coronapod: new hope from COVID antiviral drugs
The past and future of the Earth's climate
Audio long-read: How dangerous is Africa’s explosive Lake Kivu?
Podcast special: onboard the climate train to COP26
China’s COVID vaccines have been crucial — now immunity is waning
Genomics unwraps mystery of the Tarim mummies
Coronapod: can scientists harness COVID super-immunity?
Viking presence in the Americas pinpointed by ancient solar storm
Coronapod: the COVID scientists facing violent threats
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free