Your fridge uses tech from the 50’s, but scientists have an update

Cell Press

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Prototype thermogalvanic refrigerator 

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Credit: Yilin Zeng

Researchers report January 30 in the Cell Press journal Joule that a more efficient and environmentally friendly form of refrigeration might be on the horizon. The new technology is based on thermogalvanic cells that produce a cooling effect by way of a reversible electrochemical reaction. Thermogalvanic refrigeration is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than other cooling methods because it requires a far lower energy input, and its scalability means that it could be used for various applications—from wearable cooling devices to industrial-grade scenarios.

“Thermogalvanic technology is on its way to our lives, either in the form of clean electricity or low-power cooling, and both research and commercial communities should be paying attention,” says senior author Jiangjiang Duan of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.

Thermogalvanic cells use the heat produced by reversible electrochemical reactions to create electrical power. In theory, reversing this process—applying an external electrical current to drive electrochemical reactions—enables cooling power to be generated. Previous studies have shown that thermogalvanic cells have a limited potential to produce cooling power, but Duan’s team was able to dramatically increase this potential by optimizing the chemicals used in the technology.

“While previous studies mostly focus on original system design and numerical simulation, we report a rational and universal design strategy of thermogalvanic electrolytes, enabling a record-high cooling performance that is potentially available for practical application,” says Duan.

The cooling thermodynamic cells are based on electrochemical redox reactions involving dissolved iron ions. In one phase of the reaction, iron ions lose an electron and absorb heat (Fe3+ → Fe2+), and in the other phase, they gain an electron and release heat (Fe2+ → Fe3+). The power produced by the first reaction cools the surrounding electrolyte solution, and the heat produced by the first reaction is removed by a heat sink.

By tweaking the solutes and solvents used in the electrolyte solution, the researchers were able to improve the hydrogalvanic cell’s cooling power. They used a hydrated iron salt containing perchlorate, which helped the iron ions dissolve and dissociate more freely compared to other previously tested iron-containing salts such as ferricyanide. By dissolving the iron salts in a solvent containing nitriles rather than pure water, the researchers were able to improve the hydrogalvanic cell’s cooling power by 70%.

The optimized system was able to cool the surrounding electrolyte by 1.42 K, which is a big improvement compared to the 0.1 K cooling capacity reported by previously published thermogalvanic systems.

Looking ahead, the team plans to continue optimizing their system’s design and is also investigating potential commercial applications.

“Though our advanced electrolyte is commercially viable, further efforts in the system-level design, scalability, and stability are required to promote the practical application of this technology,” says Duan. “In the future, we aim to continuously improve the thermogalvanic cooling performance by exploring novel mechanisms and advanced materials. We are also attempting to develop diverse refrigerator prototypes towards potential application scenarios and are seeking to collaborate with innovation companies to promote commercialization of thermogalvanic technologies.”

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This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents.

Joule, Zeng et al., “Solvation entropy engineering of thermogalvanic electrolytes for efficient electrochemical refrigeration” https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(25)00003-0

Joule (@Joule_CP), published monthly by Cell Press, is a new home for outstanding and insightful research, analysis, and ideas addressing the need for more sustainable energy. A sister journal to Cell, Joule spans all scales of energy research, from fundamental laboratory research into energy conversion and storage to impactful analysis at the global level. Visit http://www.cell.com/joule. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.

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Journal

Joule

DOI

10.1016/j.joule.2025.101822 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Solvation entropy engineering of thermogalvanic electrolytes for efficient electrochemical refrigeration

Article Publication Date

30-Jan-2025

 

Archaeology: 

Ancient Greek and Roman cultures caused lead pollution in Aegean Sea region

Springer

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Lead pollution in the Aegean Sea region may have begun around 5,200 years ago, according to a paper published in Communications Earth & Environment. The findings suggest that lead pollution due to human activities began approximately 1,200 years earlier than previously thought, and that the expansion of the Roman Empire across the Aegean region led to a significant increase in lead pollution in the region around 2,150 years ago.

Andreas Koutsodendris and colleagues analysed the lead content of marine sediment cores taken from across the Aegean Sea and a sediment core taken from the Tenaghi Philippon peatland, located in northeastern Greece. They then analysed the pollen and spore content of several of the cores, combining this with similar existing data for the region and the lead content data, to investigate how the region’s ecosystems were affected by the social and cultural changes at the time.

The findings include the earliest recorded signal of probable human-caused lead pollution, occurring around 5,200 years ago in the Tenaghi Philippon core. This is approximately 1,200 years earlier than the previous earliest suspected lead pollution, recorded in cores from peatlands in the Balkan Peninsula. The authors also suggest that a change in the vegetation record and an increase in the lead pollution signal around 2,150 years ago are likely linked to the expansion of the Roman Empire into Ancient Greece at that time. This period was marked by a significant increase in the mining of gold, silver, and other metals for use in currency and other items. The increase in the lead pollution signal includes the first presence of lead in marine sediment cores, which the authors suggest is the earliest recorded probable lead pollution in a marine environment.

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Journal

Communications Earth & Environment

DOI

10.1038/s43247-024-01921-7 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Societal changes in Ancient Greece impacted terrestrial and marine environments

Article Publication Date

30-Jan-2025

Lead contamination in ancient Greece points to societal change

Heidelberg geoscientists find the oldest evidence of human-caused contamination with the heavy metal lead in the Aegean region

Heidelberg University

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Collected during expeditions with the research vessel METEOR: sediment cores from the Aegean Sea, which as natural environmental archives provide insights into the effects of early human activity on ecosystems.

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Credit: Andreas Koutsodendris

Studies of sediment cores from the sea floor and the coastal regions surrounding the Aegean Sea show that humans contaminated the environment with lead early on in antiquity. A research team led by geoscientists from Heidelberg University conducted the analyses, which revealed that human activity in the region resulted in lead contamination of the environment approximately 5,200 years ago – much earlier than previously known. Combined with the results of pollen analyses from the sediment cores, this contamination also offers insights into socioeconomic change in the Aegean, even reflecting historical events such as the conquest of Greece by the Romans.

The Aegean region gave rise to some of the earliest cultures of ancient Europe. The research team investigated when and to what extent early human activities in the region affected ecosystems both on land and in the marine environment. To this end, the team analyzed 14 sediment cores from the floor of the Aegean Sea and the surrounding coastline. One core from a peat bog offered up the earliest known evidence of environmental contamination with lead. The researchers dated this lead signal to approximately 5,200 years ago, about 1,200 years before the previously earliest known evidence of environmental contamination with the heavy metal that is traceable to human activity.

“Because lead was released during the production of silver, among other things, proof of increasing lead concentrations in the environment is, at the same time, an important indicator of socioeconomic change,” states Dr Andreas Koutsodendris, a member of the Palynology & Paleoenvironmental Dynamics research group of Prof. Dr Jörg Pross at Heidelberg University’s Institute of Earth Sciences. The sediment cores the Heidelberg scientists analyzed contained lead as well as pollen, which allowed them to reconstruct vegetation development in the Aegean region. The pollen content pointed to how the land was used. “The combined data on lead contamination and vegetation development show when the transition from agricultural to monetary societies took place and how that impacted the environment,” stresses Jörg Pross.

Lead concentration rose significantly about 2,150 years ago, accompanied by intense deforestation and increasing agricultural use, as indicated by the composition of the pollen spectra. Starting then, lead contamination is also evident in sediment from the floor of the Aegean Sea – the earliest record worldwide of human-caused lead pollution in the ocean, emphasizes Andreas Koutsodendris. “The changes coincide with the conquest of Hellenistic Greece by the Romans, who subsequently claimed for themselves the region’s wealth of resources,” adds Heidelberg archeologist Prof. Dr Joseph Maran. The Roman conquerors thus pushed the mining of gold, silver, and other metals, with ore extraction and smelting also requiring wood.

The sediment cores from the Aegean Sea were collected during expeditions of the METEOR and AEGAEO research vessels between 2001 and 2021. The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the European Union financed the research expeditions, with the DFG also funding the most recent research work. Along with researchers from Heidelberg University, scientists from Berlin, Frankfurt (Main), Hamburg, Hohenheim, Tübingen and Greece also participated in the studies. The results were published in the journal “Communications Earth & Environment”.

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Journal

Communications Earth & Environment

DOI

10.1038/s43247-024-01921-7 

Article Title

Societal changes in Ancient Greece impacted terrestrial and marine environments

Article Publication Date

30-Jan-2025

 

KTU researcher on energy revolution: sustainability is still a work in process

The energy sector is one of the largest contributors to climate change, yet it also plays a crucial role in the strategies needed to mitigate and adapt to its effects, contributing to the achievement of ambitious climate goals

Kaunas University of Technology

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Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) junior researcher Alexandra Maria Alonso Soto

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Credit: KTU

The world is experiencing more frequent and intense heat waves, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires due to rising greenhouse gas emissions. The energy sector is one of the largest contributors to climate change, yet it also plays a crucial role in the strategies needed to mitigate and adapt to its effects, contributing to the achievement of ambitious climate goals.

In this global context, Lithuania is undergoing a significant energy transformation as it moves toward a more sustainable and independent future.

By aligning its energy policies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the country is not only addressing its domestic challenges but also contributing to the broader fight against climate change. This determined effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen energy security demonstrates how even small nations can make a meaningful impact on global sustainability efforts.

“Simple actions are important. Even small changes can help reduce environmental impacts, while awareness of the current state of energy and climate policy can have a significant effect on how we adapt and try to act accordingly to achieve these shared goals,” says Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) junior researcher Alexandra Maria Alonso Soto.

Progress surpasses EU average

The Sustainable Development Goals aim to end poverty, protect the planet and achieve peace and prosperity by 2030. KTU researchers decided to focus on three of these goals and investigate how climate change mitigation policies are being applied in the energy sector.

“Affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, as well as climate action, were our focus,” says KTU PhD student Alonso Soto.

To achieve these goals, Lithuania has had to manage significant energy transitions, such as the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in 2009, which led to a major transformation of the Lithuanian energy sector. “After the plant stopped its operation, the country became dependent on energy imports of both electricity and natural gas, mostly from Russia,” says KTU researcher.

In response, Lithuania prioritised strengthening the country’s energy security and energy independence. Investments in high-voltage grid interconnections with neighbouring countries and a growing focus on renewable energy sources like wind and solar power have been central to this strategy.

By investing in renewable energy and reducing dependency on imported fuels, Lithuania is not only enhancing energy security but also advancing the global goals of clean energy and climate action.

Recent progress has been notable. Lithuania not only reached the European Union’s (EU) 2020 renewable energy target of 20 per cent by 2014, but in 2022, the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption grew almost to 30 per cent, exceeding the EU average.

As for 2023, according to the Lithuanian Ministry of Energy, 70 per cent of all electricity produced in the country came from renewable energy sources, underlining the commitment to reduce import dependency.

Once awareness is settled, actions will follow

Despite the right path, there are still many challenges that prevent Lithuania from achieving its sustainable energy goals. KTU researcher Alonso Soto mentions some: dependence on biomass and fossil fuels, limited diversification of energy sources, insufficient policy alignment and implementation, and social and economic barriers.

“Lithuania has made a great progress in increasing its renewable energy share, but biomass is a big contributor to air pollution and carbon emissions. While other renewable energy sources such as wind power are being developed, it is still in early stages compared to biomass,” she says.

In terms of policy alignment, while Lithuania adopted ambitious targets under the National Energy Independence Strategies and the National Energy and Climate Plan, there are still gaps in the coordination and implementation as well as a lack of monitoring and evaluation of these policies.

According to Alonso Soto, social acceptance of energy policies such as building stock renovation can also be a barrier due to public reluctance or lack of budget to implement the measures.

“Many Lithuanians, especially the elderly, cannot afford to renovate their homes, and some others still do not understand the benefits that such an upgrade would bring in terms of money savings, not to mention environmental impact,” explains Alonso Soto, a PhD student at KTU Institute of Environmental Engineering.

In her opinion, reinforcing educational campaigns is the action the government could take to increase public engagement and awareness: “Citizens need to get involved, understand the policies, be aware of the benefits these could bring to their lives. Once the knowledge and awareness are settled within the population’s mindsets, actions will follow.”

The article Exploring the Interplay Between Energy Policies and Sustainable Development Goals Within Lithuania’s Energy Sector: A Critical Review was published in Sustainability Journal, and can be accessed here.

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Journal

Sustainability

DOI

10.3390/su162210018 

Article Title

Exploring the Interplay Between Energy Policies and Sustainable Development Goals Within Lithuania’s Energy Sector: A Critical Review

 

Aspects of marriage counseling may hold the key to depolarizing, unifying the country, study finds

By April Toler

University of Notre Dame

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Laura Gamboa, assistant professor of democracy and global affairs at the Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame.

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Credit: University of Notre Dame

Research has shown that polarization undermines democracy by driving citizens to prioritize partisan preferences over democratic principles, encourages democratic gridlock and threatens democratic attitudes and norms, such as tolerance for opposition.

Today, Americans are grappling with deep political divides, often seeing those on the other side as untrustworthy, unpatriotic and misinformed — a rift that threatens democracy.

Could marriage counseling hold the key to a more unified country?

A recent study, published in Political Behavior and co-authored by Laura Gamboa, an assistant professor of democracy and global affairs at the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, found “reciprocal group reflection” — an intervention inspired by marriage counseling — helped reduce affective polarization among opposing political parties.

“Polarization threatens democracy, and finding ways to reduce it is vital,” Gamboa said. “This study uses a unique approach to understand why a proven depolarizing intervention works. With depolarizing efforts multiplying across the U.S., understanding not just if they work, but how and why, is more important than ever.”

The study brought together groups of undergraduate students on four university campuses who identify as Democrats and Republicans. They attended workshops designed on practices used in couples counseling that seek to elicit mutual vulnerability and compassion while working to improve the health of the marriage. Researchers partnered with Braver Angels, a non-governmental organization, to utilize the group’s “red/blue” workshops designed to apply principles from couples therapy to partisan polarization.

During the workshops, study participants mainly interacted with members of their own group, reflecting on the attitudes, beliefs and characteristics of co-partisans. When the two opposing groups met, they did not try to persuade or reach a compromise on particular issues, but focused on generating understanding and tolerance of the other side and the motivations and experiences behind their beliefs.

According to the study, the workshops helped reduce both subtle and open signs of political division, by both Democrats and Republicans. Participants were also more willing to support depolarization efforts, such as donating to programs that encourage constructive political conversations among young Americans. While the immediate effects on reducing division faded somewhat over time, participants’ willingness to support depolarization efforts remained strong even after six months, according to the study.

While other methods aim to get groups to work together on shared goals or reach agreements on specific issues, Gamboa said “reciprocal group reflection” doesn’t try to make people cooperate or compromise. Instead, it focuses on improving understanding and communication, which are important for better discussions and decision making.

“Unlike similar interventions, these workshops combine strategies proven to reduce political divisions, like sharing information about the beliefs and policies of people from the other side with activities designed to build empathy and understanding, based on ideas from social psychology,” Gamboa said.

The findings, Gamboa said, illustrate the effectiveness of depolarization when it combines both informational and emotional elements, helping to bridge divides and laying the groundwork for a healthier democracy.

Gamboa’s co-authors include Hannah Baron, Tulane University; Robert Blair and Donghyun Danny Choi, both from Brown University; Jessica Gottlieb, University of Houston; Amanda Lea Robinson, Ohio State University; Steven C. Rosenzweig, Boston University; Megan M. Turnbull, University of Georgia; and Emily A. West, University of Pittsburgh.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

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Journal

Political Behavior

DOI

10.1007/s11109-024-09993-z 

Method of Research

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Couples Therapy for a Divided America: Assessing the Effects of Reciprocal Group Reflection on Partisan Polarization

Article Publication Date

28-Jan-2025