The material at the heart of this technology is a blend of wood, lithium chloride, and a solar-absorbing surface made of carbon nanotubes. These ingredients form a strong, porous sponge that can ...

Engineers have developed a new sponge that can remove metals -- including toxic heavy metals like lead and critical metals like cobalt -- from contaminated water, leaving safe, drinkable water behind.

Why does a slightly damp sponge absorb water so much better than the same sponge when it is bone dry? And why does Earth have an iron core, rather than one made of another abundant element such as ...