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Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Fermented fibers could tackle both world hunger and fashion waste - Engineering - Energy & Green Tech
The leftover yeast from brewing beer,
wine or even to make some pharmaceuticals can be repurposed to produce
high-performance fibers stronger than natural fibers with significantly less
environmental impact, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn
State. Credit: Penn State
A fermentation byproduct might help
to solve two major global challenges: world hunger and the environmental impact
of fast fashion. The leftover yeast from brewing beer, wine or even to make
some pharmaceuticals can be repurposed to produce high-performance fibers
stronger than natural fibers with significantly less environmental impact,
according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State and published in
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The yeast biomass—composed of
proteins, fatty molecules called lipids and sugars—left over from alcohol
and pharmaceutical production is regarded as waste, but lead author Melik
Demirel, Pearce Professor of Engineering and Huck Chair in Biomimetic Materials
at Penn State, said his team realized they could repurpose the material to make
fibers using a previously developed process.
The researchers successfully
achieved pilot-scale production of the fiber—producing more than 1,000
pounds—in a factory in Germany, with continuous and batch production for more
than 100 hours per run of fiber spinning.
They also used data collected
during this production for a lifecycle assessment, which assessed the needs and
impact of the product from obtaining the raw fermentation byproduct through its
life to disposal and its cost, and to evaluate the economic viability of the
technology. The analysis predicted the cost, water use, production output, greenhouse gas emissions and more at every stage.
Ultimately, the researchers found
that the commercial-scale production of the fermentation-based fiber could
compete with wool and other fibers at scale but with considerably fewer
resources, including far less land—even when accounting for the land needed to
grow the crops used in the fermentation processes that eventually produce the
yeast biomass.
"Just as hunter-gatherers domesticated sheep for wool 11,000 years ago, we're domesticating
yeast for a fiber that could shift the agricultural lens to focus far more
resources to food crops," said Demirel, who is also affiliated with the Materials Research
Institute and the Institute of Energy and the Environment, both at Penn State.
"We successfully demonstrated
that this material can be made cheaply—for $6 or less per kilogram, which is
about 2.2 pounds, compared to wool's $10 to $12 per kilogram—with significantly
less water and land but improved performance compared to any other natural or
processed fibers, while also nearly eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. The
saved resources could be applied elsewhere, like repurposing land to grow food
crops."
Waste not, want not
Demirel's team has spent over a
decade developing a process to produce a fiber from proteins. Inspired by
nature, the fiber is durable and free of the chemicals other fibers can leave
in the environment for years.
"We can pull the proteins as
an aggregate—mimicking naturally occurring protein accumulations called
amyloids—from the yeast, dissolve the resulting pulp in a solution, and push
that through a device called a spinneret that uses tiny spigots to make
continuous fibers," Demirel said, explaining the fibers are then washed,
dried and spun into yarn that can then be woven into fabric for clothes.
He also noted that the fibers are
biodegradable, meaning they would break down after disposal, unlike the
millions of tons of polyester clothing discarded every year that pollutes the
planet.
"The key
is the solution used to dissolve the pulp. This solvent is the same one used to
produce Lyocell, the fiber derived from cellulose, or wood pulp. We can recover
99.6% of the solvent used to reuse it in future production cycles."
The idea of
using proteins to make fiber is not new, according to Demirel, who pointed to
Lanital as an example. The material was developed in the 1930s from milk
protein, but it fell out of fashion due to low strength with the advent of
polyester.
"The issue has always been performance and cost," Demirel said, noting the mid-20th century also saw the invention of fibers made from peanut proteins and from corn proteins before cheap and stronger polyester ultimately reigned.
Replacing conventional fabric fibers —
like cotton — with the novel material could free up land, water and other
resources to grow more food crops and reduce fast fashion waste, according to
the project's lead researcher Penn State Professor Melik Demirel. Credit: Penn
State
Freeing land from fiber to produce food
Beyond producing a quality fiber,
Demirel said, the study also indicated the fiber's potential on a commercial
scale. The models rolled their pilot-scale findings into simulated scenarios of
commercial production. For comparison, about 55,000 pounds of cotton are
produced globally every year and just 2.2 pounds—about what it takes to make
one T-shirt and one pair of jeans—requires up to 2,642 gallons of water. Raw
cotton is relatively cheap, Demirel said, but the environmental cost is
staggering.
"Cotton crops also use about
88 million acres, of farmable land around the world—just under 40% of that is
in India, which ranks as 'serious' on the Global Hunger Index," Demirel
said.
"Imagine if instead of growing
cotton, that land, water, resources and energy could be used to produce crops
that could feed people. It's not quite as simple as that, but this analysis
demonstrated that biomanufactured fibers require significantly less land, water
and other resources to produce, so it's feasible to picture how shifting from
crop-based fibers could free up a significant amount of land for food
production."
In 2024, 733 million people—about
one in 12—around the world faced food insecurity, a continued trend that has
led the United Nations to declare a goal of Zero Hunger to eliminate this issue
by 2030. One potential solution may be to free land currently used to grow
fiber crops to produce more food crops, according to Demirel.
Current production methods not only
use significant resources, he said, but more than 66% of clothing produced
annually in the U.S. alone ends
up in landfills. Demirel's approach offers a solution for both problems, he said.
"By leveraging
biomanufacturing, we can produce sustainable, high-performance fibers that do
not compete with food crops for land, water or nutrients," Demirel said.
"Adopting biomanufacturing-based protein fibers would mark a significant advancement
towards a future where fiber needs are fulfilled without compromising the
planet's capacity to nourish its growing population. We can make significant
strides towards achieving the Zero Hunger goal, ensuring everyone can access
nutritious food while promoting sustainable development goals."
Future of fiber
Demirel said the team plans to
further investigate the viability of fermentation-based fibers at a commercial
scale.
The team includes Benjamin Allen,
chief technology officer, and Balijit Ghotra, Tandem Repeat Technologies, Inc.,
the spin-off company founded by Demirel and Allen based on this fiber
production approach. The work has a patent pending, and the Penn State Office
of Technology Transfer licensed the technology to Tandem Repeat Technologies.
Other co-authors include Birgit Kosan, Philipp Köhler, Marcus Krieg, Christoph
Kindler and Michael Sturm, all with the Thüringisches Institut für Textil- und
Kunststoff-Forschung (TITK) e. V. in Germany.
"In my lab at Penn State, we demonstrated we could physically make the fiber," Demirel said. "In this pilot production at the factory, together with Tandem and TITK, we demonstrated we could make the fiber a contender in the global fiber market. Sonachic, an online brand formed by Tandem Repeat, makes this a reality. Next, we will bring it to mass market."
Provided by Pennsylvania State
University
Source: Fermented fibers could tackle both world hunger and fashion waste
'Rotten egg' gas could be the answer to treating nail infections, say scientists - Medical research - Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Hydrogen
sulfide, the volcanic gas that smells of rotten eggs, could be used in a new
treatment for tricky nail infections that acts faster and with fewer side
effects, according to scientists at the University of Bath and King's College
London (KCL).
The research is published in Scientific Reports.
Nail infections are mostly caused by fungi and
occasionally by bacteria. They are very common, affecting between 4 and 10% of
the global population, rising to nearly half those aged 70 or over. These
infections can lead to complications, particularly in vulnerable groups such as diabetics and the elderly, but are notoriously difficult
to treat.
Current treatments include oral antifungals taken in
pill form, and topical treatments applied directly to the nail. Oral antifungals take around 2–4 months to act and are reasonably
effective, but they carry risks of side effects, especially in patients with
other medical conditions.
Treatments applied directly to the nail are safer, but
they often take much longer to work, sometimes taking even years to work, and
they frequently relapse or fail. This is largely because it's very difficult to
get the drug to penetrate through the nail to where the infection resides.
Even the most effective topical treatments have
relatively low cure rates, so there is a clear need for new therapeutic
approaches that are safe, effective, and capable of reaching microbes embedded
deep within the nail.
A team from the University of Bath and King's College
London has now found that hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a small, naturally occurring
gas, could be developed into a promising new treatment.
Previous work has shown that it penetrates the nail
plate far more efficiently than existing topical drugs, and now the team has
demonstrated that it has strong antimicrobial activity against a wide range of
nail pathogens, including fungi that are resistant to common antifungal
treatments.
In laboratory tests, the team used a chemical that breaks down to release the hydrogen sulfide gas and found that it acts in a unique way, disrupting microbial
energy production and triggering irreversible damage, ultimately killing the
fungi.
Dr. Albert Bolhuis, from the University of Bath's
Department of Life Sciences, said, "Thanks to its ability to efficiently
reach the site of infection and its novel mode of action, we believe that a
topically applied medicine containing hydrogen sulfide could become a highly effective new treatment for nail infections,
which avoids the limitations of current therapies.
"Our research lays the foundation for a
compelling alternative to existing treatments, with the potential to improve
outcomes for patients suffering from persistent and drug-resistant fungal nail
infections."
Hydrogen sulfide is known for its pungent smell of
rotten eggs, and has some toxicity. However, researchers believe the amounts
required are well below toxicity levels and the correct formulation will limit
any unpleasant odors.
The research has so far only been done in vitro, but
the team hopes to develop a treatment that could be used in patients in the
next five years.
Professor Stuart Jones, Director of the Center for
Pharmaceutical Medicine Research at KCL said, "We are looking forward to
translating these findings into an innovative topical product that can treat
nail infection."
Source: 'Rotten egg' gas could be the answer to treating nail infections, say scientists
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Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Bionic leg's pilot performance spotlights its technology and the role of teamwork - Robotics - Engineering
The
Italian team has published a focus article in Science Robotics on the Omnia bionic leg, which took first
place in the leg prosthesis race at Cybathlon 2024. The Omnia prosthesis was
developed at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia by the joint Rehab
Technologies IIT-INAIL Lab coordinated by Matteo Laffranchi. Credit:
IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia/Cybathlon
One
year after the international Cybathlon 2024 competition, an Italian team has published a focus article in Science
Robotics on the Omnia bionic leg, which took first place in the leg
prosthesis race.
The article highlights the experience of
Andrea Modica, a transfemoral amputee and the device's pilot, who successfully
completed nine out of 10 tasks in 2 minutes and 57 seconds. The Omnia
prosthesis was developed at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT—Italian
Institute of Technology) by the joint Rehab Technologies IIT-INAIL Lab,
coordinated by Matteo Laffranchi.
The Cybathlon 2024 marked the debut of
Omnia, a novel lower limb prosthetic prototype designed for individuals with
transfemoral amputations. This system includes a knee (Unico) and an ankle
(Armonico), both motorized. Omnia was the only device to reach the "Leg
Prosthesis" final without using commercial components. Its pilot, Andrea
Modica, successfully completed nine out of 10 tasks, including navigating a
balance beam while carrying buckets, ascending and descending stairs with
objects, and traversing an inclined plane.
Andrea Modica is a transfemoral amputee
who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident in 2021. Since then, Modica has shown
remarkable determination, first returning to sports, then progressing to
Paralympic-level skiing, and stepping into the world of competitive prosthetic
technology. He is currently a support technician at Rehab
Technologies—INAIL-IIT lab.
Modica
was not only the pilot for the Omnia system but also an active contributor to
its design and optimization. His insights, gained by comparing Omnia with his
daily-use prosthesis, helped the research team to shape key improvements in
both the software and hardware of the device. From adjusting stiffness to
fine-tuning propulsion, each component was tailored to match the varied demands
of the Cybathlon's obstacle-based tasks. During months of training, Modica
repeatedly practiced each task to improve precision, efficiency, and safety.
Reflecting on the event, Andrea Modica
described it as a deeply meaningful experience, not just for the achievement,
but for the community he found among other competitors. His role in shaping
Omnia exemplifies IIT's user-centered philosophy, where real-world feedback
drives innovation.
The standout feature of the Omnia system is the communication between the two prosthetic components, Unico and Armonico, which exchange information from integrated sensors and adjust parameters for optimal performance across various tasks. The Unico knee combines hydraulic and electric technologies. The hydraulic system effectively aids in level walking or descending, ensuring quiet, smooth movement and energy efficiency.
In
contrast, the electrical technology, supported by a patented system, provides
active assistance during tasks such as climbing stairs, ascending steep slopes,
or standing from a seated position. In the complete Omnia leg configuration,
the transition between hydraulic and electric modes occurs automatically,
thanks to the synergy of the two prostheses and advanced implemented
algorithms.
The Unico prosthesis is equipped with a
battery that lasts a full day under maximum usage and is suitable for both
right and left knee prosthetics, supporting up to 125 kilograms. The device is
customizable based on the user's height and can be adjusted at the software
level to match daily activity patterns, whether sedentary or active.
The Armonico ankle features an elastic
foot coupled with an innovative screw mechanism, assisting the user during the
initial foot strike by reducing heel impact for enhanced comfort and preventing
tripping by lifting the toe during each step. Unlike passive foot prostheses,
Armonico actively amplifies the ankle's flexion angle, providing enhanced
stability on sloped surfaces and ensuring a more natural movement. It is
available in both right and left configurations and has a battery life of 24
hours.
Source: Bionic leg's pilot performance spotlights its technology and the role of teamwork
AI teaches itself and outperforms human-designed algorithms - Machine learning & AI
Like
humans, artificial intelligence learns by trial and error, but traditionally,
it requires humans to set the ball rolling by designing the algorithms and
rules that govern the learning process. However, as AI technology advances,
machines are increasingly doing things themselves. An example is a new AI
system developed by researchers that invented its own way to learn, resulting
in an algorithm that outperformed human-designed algorithms on a series of
complex tasks.
For decades, human engineers have
designed the algorithms that agents use to learn, especially reinforcement
learning (RL), where an AI learns by receiving rewards for successful actions.
While learning comes naturally to humans and animals, thanks to millions of
years of evolution, it has to be explicitly taught to AI. This process is often
slow and laborious and is ultimately limited by human intuition.
Taking their cue from evolution, which
is a random trial and error process, the researchers created a large digital
population of AI agents. These agents tried to solve numerous tasks in many different,
complex environments using a particular learning rule.
Overseeing
them was a "meta-network," a parent AI that analyzed how well the
agents performed and then changed the learning rule so the next generation of
agents could learn faster and perform better. This allowed the system to
discover a new learning rule, DiscoRL, which the researchers called Disco57
(evaluated on 57 Atari games), that was superior to any previously designed by
humans.
The
team then used Disco57 to train a new AI agent and compared its performance
against some of the best human-designed algorithms, such as PPO and MuZero.
First, it was trained on well-known Atari games, and then on unseen challenges,
including games like ProcGen, Crafter and NetHack.
The
results were outstanding. On the Atari Benchmark (a set of classic Atari video
games used to evaluate AI performance), the DiscoRL-trained achieved better
results than all human-designed algorithms. When confronted with unseen
challenges, it performed at a state-of-the-art level, proving the system had
discovered its own learning rule.
"Our findings suggest that the RL algorithms required for advanced artificial intelligence may soon be automatically discovered from the experiences of agents, rather than manually designed," wrote the researchers in their paper published in the journal Nature. "This work has taken a step towards machine-designed reinforcement learning algorithms that can compete with and even outperform some of the best manually-designed algorithms in challenging environments."
Source: AI teaches itself and outperforms human-designed algorithms
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