Carbon nanosponges can soak up oil 100 times their own weight
Some of the greatest environmental disasters due to human
activity is oil spilled over the ocean’s surface and wrecking
marine ecosystems. The infamous images of the oil spill that was
caused in the Middle East during the early 90’s and marine life
soaked and chocked to death in a layer of thick black oil have
haunted the world for long. This, of course, is no isolated
incident and genetic engineers have since long tried to come up
with efficient oil feeding bacteria that will help in cleaning
up the oil mess. Researchers at Rice University and Penn State
University have turned toward nanotechnology and have now
synthesized a material that could potentially be a live saver in
the years to come. They have created a new carbon sponge
material that is manufactured by adding a dash of boron to
carbon nantotubes, which make the material a lot spongier,
light, ultra durable and gives them an incredible ability to
soak up oil. The carbon nanosponges creat