Can desert sand be used to build houses and roads?

Concrete gets a makeover with desert sand and plant-based additives

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

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Ren Wei, postdoctoral fellow at NTNU’s Department of Manufacturing and Civil Engineering. 

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Credit: Photo: NTNU

The globe may be running out of sand suitable for concrete. Researchers are therefore testing a possible solution for using desert sand as a material.

The world's most important building material

Concrete is the world's most widely used building material – second only to water. Globally, more than four billion tonnes of cement are produced every year. Concrete consumption is so enormous that it accounts for around eight percent of the world's CO₂ emissions.

To make concrete, sand is needed, and not just any sand: it must be of the right size and shape. Therefore, rock is crushed into gravel and sand, and river sand is excavated on a large scale. This results in major natural interventions and an increasing scarcity of suitable sand.

Herein lies the paradox: While we empty rivers and crush mountains to obtain sand, there are enormous amounts of sand in the world's deserts. However, it is too fine-grained to be used in traditional concrete. Can this "useless" sand become a resource?

New solution: Botanical sand concrete

"Researchers have discussed for many years whether desert sand can be used in concrete. The challenge is that desert sand is so fine-grained that it is not suitable as a fastener in concrete. In other words, the concrete will not be hard enough to be used in various construction projects," says Ren Wei, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Manufacturing and Civil Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Ren Wei and several researchers at NTNU and the University of Tokyo have made a prototype of a new material: botanical sand concrete. It combines desert sand with plant-based additives and is made by pressing desert sand and tiny pieces of wood, along with heat.

Works on pavements and walkways

The researchers tried many different ways to create this material. They tested different temperatures, how hard they pressed, and different types of sand. They found that desert sand actually works great when used in this way. The new material became so strong that it can be used to make paving stones for pavements and walkways.

In the study "Botanical sandcrete: An environment-friendly alternative way to the mass utilization of fine (desert) sand", the researchers have made a comparative analysis with botanical sand concrete made with desert sand and other types of sand.

"All the experiments so far have been carried out in the laboratory at the University of Tokyo. We tested how various factors affect the strength and density of the materials, including temperature, mixing ratio, pressure, pressing time and different types of sand," says Ren Wei.

Can save major interventions in nature

If it turns out that botanical sand concrete can be used for various construction projects, it can reduce the need to crush mountains and collect river sand – and thus save nature from major interventions. In addition, it can help to exploit sand resources that currently create challenges in desert areas.

"The production process is relatively simple, so in principle the material can be made in many places. But we need to test more, including how it can withstand cold, before it can be used out in Norway," says Ren Wei.

Possible solution to global paradox

Ren Wei emphasizes that in order to get the greatest possible environmental benefit, desert sand must be used in the area it is available so that shipping desert sand around the world does not become the new environmental culprit.

Currently, the researchers envisage use indoors, but with further development, botanical sand concrete can become part of the sustainable building materials of the future – and perhaps solve a global paradox: that we crush mountains while drowning in sand

Reference: Ren Wei, Tsukamoto Atsuki, Guomin Ji, Yuya Sakai :
«Botanical sandcrete: An environment-friendly alternative way to the mass utilization of fine (desert) sand"ttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.114078

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Journal

Journal of Building Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.jobe.2025.114078 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Botanical sandcrete: An environment-friendly alternative way to the mass utilization of fine (desert) sand

 

New species of ladybird beetle discovered on Kyushu University campus

New beetle discovery on campus marks the first major update to Japanese ladybird classification in 50 years

Kyushu University

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Researchers discovered a new ladybird beetle species, Parastethorus pinicola, on a Japanese black pine at Kyushu University’s Hakozaki Satellite. The beetle measures approximately one millimeter in length.

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Credit: Munetoshi Maruyama / Kyushu University

Fukuoka, Japan—University campuses are often places of learning and discovery, but rarely do researchers find a new species living right on their doorstep. However, that is exactly what happened when a research team from Kyushu University discovered a new species of ladybird beetle, Parastethorus pinicola, on a pine tree at Kyushu University’s Hakozaki Satellite.

The discovery, published in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, was part of a three-year study that revises the classification of the tribe Stethorini —a group of tiny ladybirds known for preying on spider mites—in Japan for the first time in over 50 years.

“I knew that this group of ladybirds often inhabits pine trees. Since there are Japanese black pines growing at the Hakozaki Satellite, I decided to look there, and that is where I found the new species,” explains Ryōta Seki, a PhD student at the Entomological Laboratory, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironment Sciences, and the first author of the study. “Normally, insect collectors do not pay much attention to pine trees, which is perhaps why scientists have overlooked this species for so long.”

The new species, named Parastethorus pinicola—meaning “pine dweller”—is a minute black beetle. It measures just over one millimeter in length.

“Small black ladybirds like these have not been studied much because they are incredibly difficult to identify,” says Seki. “They are barely larger than a grain of sand, and they all look identical. You cannot tell the species apart without dissecting them and examining their reproductive organs under a microscope. Because of this difficulty, there were many misidentifications in past records.”

To resolve these long-standing classification issues, the team examined approximately 1,700 specimens. In the process, they determined that the common ladybird known in Japan as Stethorus japonicus is actually the same species as Stethorus siphonulus, which is widely distributed from China to Southeast Asia.

The review also led to the discovery of a second new species from Hokkaido, named Stethorus takakoae. Seki dedicated this specific name to his grandmother, Takako Ōtsuki, to honor her steadfast support of his entomological pursuits since childhood.

“Standardizing these names is important because it allows us to share data and research with other countries in Asia,” Seki notes. “It clarifies that this is a widespread species found from the tropics to temperate Japan.”

For Associate Professor Munetoshi Maruyama of the Kyushu University Museum, who supervised the study, the discovery highlights the importance of looking closer at the world around us.

“People rarely notice such small insects. But as our study showed, even in a city or on a university campus, there are unknown species living right beside us,” says Maruyama. “These ‘minor’ insects support our ecosystems. I hope this discovery makes people interested in the diverse and fascinating world that exists unnoticed at our feet.”

(Written by Science Communicator Intern, Ken Eguchi)

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For more information about this research, see “Review of the genera Stethorus and Parastethorus from Japan (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),” Seki Ryōta, Maruyama Munetoshi, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 10.37520/aemnp.2025.021

About Kyushu University
Founded in 1911, Kyushu University is one of Japan's leading research-oriented institutions of higher education, consistently ranking as one of the top ten Japanese universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World Rankings. Located in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu—the most southwestern of Japan’s four main islands—Kyushu U sits in a coastal metropolis frequently ranked among the world’s most livable cities and historically known as Japan’s gateway to Asia. Its multiple campuses are home to around 19,000 students and 8,000 faculty and staff. Through its VISION 2030, Kyushu U will “drive social change with integrative knowledge.” By fusing the spectrum of knowledge, from the humanities and arts to engineering and medical sciences, Kyushu U will strengthen its research in the key areas of decarbonization, medicine and health, and environment and food, to tackle society’s most pressing issues.

A new species of ladybird beetle discovered on a Japanese black pine at Kyushu University’s Hakozaki Satellite [VIDEO] 

Researchers at Kyushu University discovered a new ladybird beetle species, Parastethorus pinicola, on a pine tree at their Hakozaki Satellite. The finding was part of a major taxonomic review of the tribe Stethorini in Japan involving 1,700 specimens. The study describes two new species and corrects long-standing classification errors, proving that unknown biodiversity can still be found in the middle of a city—even on a university campus.

Credit

Kyushu University/ Alfredo Javier (Pidot)

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Journal

Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae

DOI

10.37520/aemnp.2025.021 

Method of Research

Systematic review

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Review of the genera Stethorus and Parastethorus from Japan (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

 

Second-hand vape plumes could form lung-damaging radicals

American Chemical Society

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Electronic cigarettes — or vapes — can release puffs of vapor in aromatic clouds. The health risks of breathing in this secondhand or passive vapor aren’t fully understood. So, researchers reporting in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology conducted a preliminary study on lingering vape plumes in indoor environments. They found that aged vapor contained fine particles with several metals and highly reactive compounds, which together produce radicals that might damage lung tissue if inhaled.

“Our study reveals that the chemical cocktail of metal nanoparticles and reactive peroxides in aged e-cigarette aerosols creates a unique profile of respiratory health risks, highlighting that secondhand vapor is something by-standers shouldn't have to breathe,” says Ying-Hsuan Lin, the corresponding author of the study from the University of California, Riverside.

Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes don’t create smoke; they create vapors that could expose non-users to harmful substances. Early studies showed that these secondhand vape aerosols contain volatile organic compounds that react with indoor ozone, creating new compounds, such as peroxides. Additionally, vape liquids and puffs commonly contain heavy metals, as well as other metals that could easily react with peroxides to produce potentially damaging compounds like free radicals.

In another step toward understanding the potential health effects of secondhand vape plumes, Lin and colleagues examined how  ozone indoors impacts the metal and peroxide composition of vape aerosols. They also wanted to see what happens when these substances react in wet environments, simulating what might happen inside the lungs.

For their experiments, the researchers created a simplified vape liquid with one flavoring ingredient (a floral-smelling terpene) and no nicotine, loaded it into two different vape pens with refillable cartridges, and puffed it into a chamber with ozone in the air. After 90 minutes, they collected the aged aerosols for analysis. The particles from both pens contained iron, aluminum and zinc ions, as well as trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and tin. And the two sets of aged aerosols had similar levels of peroxides. The smallest particles, classified as ultrafine particles, contained higher percentages of metals and peroxide compounds compared to larger aerosols.

To preliminarily understand how aged aerosols react with lung fluids, the researchers placed the samples in a water-based solution. The aged aerosols created radicals with the ultrafine particles producing 100 times more radicals relative to their weight as compared to larger particles. Because ultrafine particles can get deep into humans’ lungs and enter the sensitive, fluid-lined alveoli, the researchers say the results indicate these particles’ potential to damage lung tissues and lower respiratory function.

The researchers acknowledge that the study was done under controlled laboratory conditions, and more research is needed using real-world indoor environments and commercially available e-cigarette liquids. Regardless, these results suggest that repeated exposure to aged vape plumes could negatively impact lung health, especially for individuals with pre-existing lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly referred to as COPD.

The authors acknowledge funding from the University of California, the Office of the President Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program and a NRSA T32 training grant.

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Its mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community and champion scientific integrity, and its vision is a world built on science. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

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Journal

Environmental Science & Technology

DOI

10.1021/acs.est.5c11870 

Article Title

“Interplay of Metals and Organics in E‑Cigarette Aerosols Enhances the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species within Ultrafine Particles: Implications for Passive Vaping Exposures”

 

University of Ottawa launches medical hub to accelerate AI-driven health breakthroughs

The Ottawa Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (OMARI) aims to empower responsible medical AI advances to strengthen healthcare systems and improve patient care.

University of Ottawa

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Led by Canada Research Chair in Medical Artificial Intelligence Dr. Khaled El Emam, the Ottawa Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (OMARI) serves as a resource hub designed to harness and scale medical AI to expedite new research discoveries, enhance education, and help achieve better health equity with data-driven tools.

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Credit: University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa is launching a new center for research, education and innovation in medical Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate cross-cutting collaborations while sharpening the university’s competitive edge in the this rapidly changing landscape.

Led by Canada Research Chair in Medical Artificial Intelligence Dr. Khaled El Emam, the Ottawa Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (OMARI) will serve as a resource hub for harnessing and scaling medical AI to expedite new research discoveries, enhance education, and help achieve better health equity with data-driven tools.

Housed within the Faculty of Medicine, OMARI aims to showcase the power of AI implementation in partnership with the university’s world-class affiliated hospitals and research institutes, while helping to strengthen collaborative teams, prepare medical students to continually innovate and establish Ottawa’s flourishing research ecosystem as a recognized leader in this ultra-competitive field.

Empowering ‘communities of practice’ to co-create medical AI solutions

“We want to motivate clinicians, researchers, and students to bring their innovations from the lab into the real world. Innovation and commercialization can—and should—happen together,” says Dr. El Emam, Full Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health and Senior Scientist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute.

OMARI will help researchers spin off companies from their labs, allowing them to bring their best ideas to market. The institute will highlight non-traditional funding sources that are currently underused, including foundations that support medical AI and company funding through philanthropic groups. OMARI should create a common hub to identify investigators’ needs and to address gaps, steering researchers to access resources such as computing power, software, talent, and funding.

“We want to build communities of practice so that investigators and students working on similar problems or using similar tools can share ideas and benefit from each other’s experience,” Dr. El Emam says. “Our goal is to move as quickly as possible to stay competitive.”

Clearing hurdles & maintaining excellence in medical AI

OMARI’s initial focus centers on advancing medical research and ethically deploying AI tools, but upcoming phases will move deeply into education. 

“We teach students the basics, but we also want them to learn how to use AI to code faster and produce analysis results more quickly. This idea applies to all areas: we want students to use AI effectively in their subjects, and we also want to use AI to improve education overall,” says Dr. El Emam, who teaches a machine learning course.

Learn more about the Ottawa Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (OMARI) .

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Method of Research

News article