Engineers find the hydrogel polyethylene glycol (PEG) doubles its water absorption as temperatures climb from 25 to 50 C, and could be useful for passive cooling or water harvesting in warm climates.

Super absorbent polymers (SAPs) have quietly become one of the most influential material innovations of the modern era. Known for their extraordinary ability to absorb and retain large amounts of ...

MIT engineers have created an ultrasonic device that rapidly frees water from materials designed to absorb moisture from the air. Instead of waiting hours for heat to evaporate the trapped water, the ...

The latest chemistry news, including important research advances, business and policy trends, chemical safety practices, career guidance, and more. On a rooftop in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the device ...

Ball milling liquid metal with natural plant compounds produces a black powder that purifies seawater and generates electricity using only sunlight.

Sponges for dish washing can be made of polyester, which has mechanical properties that make it useful as a cleaning material, as well as being soft to handle when dry or wet. However, the polymer is ...

The vast majority of absorbent materials will lose their ability to retain water as temperatures rise. This is why our skin starts to sweat and why plants dry out in the heat. Even materials that are ...