2024-08-01 Latitude38.com July Caption Contest - 2nd Place

 My submission took 2nd place, and is featured in the August edition of Latitude38.com's magazone

Biodegradation of polyethylene by the marine fungus Parengyodontium album

 

Biodegradation of polyethylene by the marine fungus Parengyodontium album 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172819

"Plastic pollution in the marine realm is a severe environmental problem. Nevertheless, plastic may also serve as a potential carbon and energy source for microbes, yet the contribution of marine microbes, especially marine fungi to plastic degradation is not well constrained. We isolated the fungus Parengyodontium album from floating plastic debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre and measured fungal-mediated mineralization rates (conversion to CO2) of polyethylene (PE) by applying stable isotope probing assays with 13C-PE over 9 days of incubation. When the PE was pretreated with UV light, the biodegradation rate of the initially added PE was 0.044 %/day. Furthermore, we traced the incorporation of PE-derived 13C carbon into P. album biomass using nanoSIMS and fatty acid analysis. Despite the high mineralization rate of the UV-treated 13C-PE, incorporation of PE-derived 13C into fungal cells was minor, and 13C incorporation was not detectable for the non-treated PE. Together, our results reveal the potential of P. album to degrade PE in the marine environment and to mineralize it to CO2. However, the initial photodegradation of PE is crucial for P. album to metabolize the PE-derived carbon."

 

Shocking images show the world's biggest garbage dump as clean-up intensifies at fungus-infested site twice the size of Texas

New Research Breakthrough: 19x Energy Jump in Capacitors

High energy density in artificial heterostructures through relaxation time modulation

1. DOI: 10.1126/science.adl2835
   
2. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl2835
• "Electrostatic capacitors are foundational components of advanced electronics and high-power electrical systems owing to their ultrafast charging-discharging capability. Ferroelectric materials offer high maximum polarization, but high remnant polarization has hindered their effective deployment in energy storage applications. Previous methodologies have encountered problems because of the deteriorated crystallinity of the ferroelectric materials. We introduce an approach to control the relaxation time using two-dimensional (2D) materials while minimizing energy loss by using 2D/3D/2D heterostructures and preserving the crystallinity of ferroelectric 3D materials. Using this approach, we were able to achieve an energy density of 191.7 joules per cubic centimeter with an efficiency greater than 90%. This precise control over relaxation time holds promise for a wide array of applications and has the potential to accelerate the development of highly efficient energy storage systems."
  
3. https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a60732620/capacitor-energy-storage-breakthrough
   

• "In a study published in Science, lead author Sang-Hoon Bae, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and materials science, demonstrates a novel heterostructure that curbs energy loss, enabling capacitors to store more energy and charge rapidly without sacrificing durability."
  
• "Researchers believe they’ve discovered a new material structure that can improve the energy storage of capacitors."
• "The structure allows for storage while improving the efficiency of ultrafast charging and discharging."
• "The new find needs optimization but has the potential to help power electric vehicles."

2024-05-01 Wednesday - 4th Place in the Latitude38 April Photo Caption Contest

[image source: Latitude38.com, May 2024 edition]

 

https://www.latitude38.com/issues/may-2024/

A Beautiful New Sea Shanty Song...by Elle Cordova

 

 

 

To find, again, The Heart of Mother Ocean...

[image credit: DimaDim_art on pixabay.com]

In 2022, when I decided to leave the Pacific Coast, and look for a small town to endure the time I would need to have work done on my boat - I didn't imagine staying for more than 6-12 months.

After having the boat destroyed in early April 2023 - the refuge I had established became a place of healing - and a place to endure the vicissitudes of fate - until a clearer path ahead emerged.

Looking back now, over the last 14 months - I also see that this isolation was necessary - to find again that spark of joy for Mother Ocean.

The longer I abide here, the deeper the desire will grow to return to the ocean again.

It is a bit of a paradox - to find again my love for a thing, I must first abandon it.

My Photo Caption Submission - Makes Top-10 for Latitude38 February 2024 magazine

 

[image credit: Latitude38.com - February 2024 magazine]

My submission placed in the top-10 for the Latitude38 sailing magazine's February edition Photo Caption Contest.

(some of my finest writing)