Environment

Recent news:

Illustration of alpha-lipoic acid molecular structure, as clear bubbles on a light blue background

New recyclable adhesives can be easily adapted for medical, consumer and industrial applications

August 23, 2024

Messersmith Lab has created a family of polymers from a stabilized alpha-lipoic acid which could lead to versatile, high-performance and environmentally friendly recyclable adhesives.

computer graphic showing towers of red and blue DNA and flames

Putting on the heat

June 11, 2024

Professor Seung-Wuk Lee discusses pyroelectricity: the finding that viruses can generate electricity when exposed to heat, and how this may pave the way for next-generation biosensors and diagnostic tools.

Tony Consiglio, Alan Maida and Boris Rubinsky in their Etcheverry Hall lab. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)

Cool it down

June 11, 2024

How isochoric preservation can protect food, organs — and even the planet. Professor Boris Rubinsky discusses the state of the art in cryogenics and preservation.

computer graphic showing towers of red and blue DNA and flames

Viral Pyroelectricity with Seung-Wuk Lee

June 10, 2024

Professor Seung-Wuk Lee discusses pyroelectricity: the finding that viruses can generate electricity when exposed to heat, and how this may pave the way for next-generation biosensors and diagnostic tools.

digital photo mockup of new climate hub building

Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub: Berkeley’s new home for climate innovation

May 20, 2024

Professor David Schaffer will lead the new Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub, an incubator that will provide resources and support to entrepreneurs in renewable energy and clean technology.

photo of Dueber in lab coat working at lab bench

Berkeley’s ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship combats climate change

May 17, 2024

Professors John Dueber and David Schaffer are featured in this article highlighting campus research and entrepreneurship in sustainability.

photograph of coral in the ocean, from the Smithsonian Institute

Rubinsky’s coral preservation work featured on PBS News

February 8, 2024

Professor Emeritus Boris Rubinsky’s isochoric vitrification method of preserving coral samples in suspended animation is part of recent emergency efforts to save dying coral reefs. The method is being used by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Herr Lab receives grant to study marine symbiosis in a warming world

November 23, 2023

The Herr Lab has been awarded a 3-year ‘Symbiosis’ grant from the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, geared towards designing and disseminating microfluidic tools to power new understanding of marine symbiotic systems – like coral reefs – adversely impacted by rising sea temperatures and other climate-associated stresses. Herr’s lab welcomes two new postdoctoral scholars, Drs. Fangchen Liu and Cyril Deroy, and is collaborating with experts in coral systems from the Carnegie Institution for Science (Prof. Phillip Cleves) and the University of Miami (Prof. Nikki Traylor-Knowles).

cover of Time Magazine Best Inventions of 2023 issue

Two alumni innovations named to Time 2023 Best Inventions

November 2, 2023

Two PhD alumni have innovations named to the Time Magazine 200 Best Inventions of 2023 list. The Cala kIQ, developed by Cala Health, founded by alumna Kate Rosenbluth, is a wearable device that assists patients with Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s. Proven 40 OS is a fertilizer using naturally occurring microbes to reduce emissions and pollution while producing higher crop yields – developed by Pivot Bio, founded by alumnus Karsten Temme.