Two research teams from the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló and the Universitat de València have developed a material and its synthesis method based on multivariate-modulated metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that can be used as a catalyst, particularly for the conversion of CO₂ into formate (for example, sodium formate is used in food preservation and airport de-icing operations).

The new material offers several technical advantages, including enhanced activity compared to conventional metal–organic frameworks, high selectivity in converting CO₂ into products of industrial interest, the ability to modulate structural and functional properties, reduced energy costs, and strong potential for adaptation to different metals, modulators and catalytic applications.

The material, which has been experimentally validated at laboratory scale and protected through the filing of a Spanish patent application, is seeking collaboration with companies for the development and adaptation of the technology to specific applications through tailored agreements and subsequent licensing. The technology aligns with decarbonization and circular economy strategies, and the synthesis method shows potential scalability for industrial applications.

Researchers with Lehigh University’s Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, led by anthropologist David G. Casagrande, have identified two urgent challenges the United States faces in adapting to climate change: a potential disaster insurance crisis and the lack of comprehensive relocation policies for communities facing chronic flooding.

Researchers at the University of Maine and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are collaborating on a new way to dry non-aggregated cellulose nanofiber—a material that could replace plastics in a wide range of products.