Today's Tech News: Notable or Not?

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-3d-bridge-greener.html "topology optimization algorithms produce geometries impossible for commercial concrete nozzles to fabricate without days of manual redesign... overcome analyzing hardware constraints (bead thickness, minimum turning radii, continuous toolpath) generating printable designs in minutes on laptop... up to 76% less material consumption narrowing printed bead width from 4 to 1 cm... fabricated 2.3-m-long compression-only concrete bridge that supports >2k lbs with virtually no mechanical bending"

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1127339 "electrochemical cell dissolves limestone in acidic environment at 1 electrode releasing CO2 easily captured (no scrubbing), 2nd electrode: dissolved calcium precipitates out as calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) reacted with silica producing cement... easily turned on/ off matching intermittent renewable electricity input... potentially eliminates roughly 8% global CO2 emissions caused by heating limestone to massive temperatures and due to the chemical reaction itself releasing CO2 byproduct" Related: Basalt could be the key to greener and cheaper cement https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1127865

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-03-eco-friendly-plastic-plates-steel.html "fiber-reinforced polymer plates... chemically inert so potential 2 to 3X longer infrastructure lifespan, 80% lighter than steel... does not rust/ cause concrete cracks especially in coastal/ humid areas... lower-energy fabrication using recycled plastic waste... honeycomb/ mesh pattern allows wet concrete to flow through during pouring creating superior bonding... bends further before failing providing visible deformation before structural collapse, tensile strength/ load capacity meets/ exceeds code... bridges, sea walls" Related: Beyond sunlight: A molecular “bridge” protects metals from rust, day and night https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1123051

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-future-bendable-concrete-3d.html#google_vignette "no heavy machinery placing steel/ wood beam frame... longer-lasting less maintenance... resist tension/ compression... precisely mixed, measured/ printed... polyvinyl alcohol, fly ash, silica fume  ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers... 4 different mixes with up to 11.9% higher strain capacity... large quantities short polymeric fibers... technology could help astronauts explore planets... greater resilience to natural disasters" Related: Spray 3D concrete printing simulator boosts strength and design https://techxplore.com/news/2025-11-spray-3d-concrete-simulator-boosts.html Iran's scientists are turning ceramics into concrete as part of the search for a better cement formula https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-27964-0

https://environmentenergyleader.com/stories/sustainable-3d-printed-concrete-breakthrough-from-uva-engineers,55803   "graphene boosts concrete strength 23%, limestone/ calcined clay cement reduces carbon emissions 31%...  partnership with VTRC allowed the UVA team to explore the material’s potential in transportation infrastructure, offering insight into real-world applications... the VTRC collaboration was essential in uncovering the fundamental properties of this new concrete" Related: Impact printing is a cement-free alternative to 3D-printed structures https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/10/impact-printing-is-a-cement-free-alternative-to-3d-printed-structures Revolutionary compression-cast concrete: a greener, stronger future https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/106802 NTU Singapore scientists develop 3D concrete printing method that captures carbon dioxide https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1068413 Novel approach slashes CO2 emissions by approximately 40% c...

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-07-energy-storing-supercapacitor-ancient-materials.html "water, cement and highly conductive carbon black... low cost... concrete house foundation store full day energy adding little or no cost still providing structural strength... concrete roadway contactless charging... make wire-like structures extremely large surface area within relatively small volume... potassium chloride electrolyte soaked... 45 m^3 store 10 kW-hours, enough for household... for foundation, sweet spot 10% carbon black" Related: Coffee grounds offer performance boost for concrete https://techxplore.com/news/2023-08-coffee-grounds-boost-concrete.html Uncovering the potential health benefits of alcoholic beverages derived from spent coffee grounds https://phys.org/news/2023-09-uncovering-potential-health-benefits-alcoholic.html Using 'spent' coffee and tea to boost shelf life and nutritional value of cakes https://phys.org/news/2023-09-spent-coffee-tea-boost...

https://windeurope.org/newsroom/news/windeurope-ceo-visits-german-cement-plant-thats-running-on-blade-waste/ "waste management company Geocycle is pioneering this recovery technology through cement co-processing at the Holcim Lägerdorf plant in Northern Germany... [longer term, the] wind industry is working with the chemicals and composites industries to develop technologies to recycle blade waste, but it’ll be 2030 before they’re fully deployable at scale" Related: How to make roads with recycled waste and pave the way to a circular economy https://techxplore.com/news/2021-11-roads-recycled-pave-circular-economy.html Scientists develop a 'cosmic concrete' that is twice as strong as regular concrete https://techxplore.com/news/2023-03-scientists-cosmic-concrete-strong-regular.html Developing self-sensing metamaterial concrete for smart infrastructure systems https://techxplore.com/news/2023-03-self-sensing-metamaterial-concrete-smart-infrastructure.html Biochar-infuse...