The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University is a university that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
3D nanotech blankets offer new path to clean drinking water
Researchers have developed a new material that, by harnessing the power of sunlight, can clear water of dangerous pollutants. Created through a combination of soft chemistry gels and electrospinning — a technique where electrical force is applied to liquid to craft small fibers — the team constructed thin fiber-like strips of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a […]
Carbon capture from constructed wetlands declines as they age
Constructed wetlands do a good job in their early years of capturing carbon in the environment that contributes to climate change – but that ability does diminish with time as the wetlands mature, a new study suggests. Researchers examined soil core samples taken from two constructed freshwater wetlands and compared them to data from previous […]
A simpler, more efficient device for harvesting water from the air
A new type of prototype water harvester promises to be simpler and more efficient than traditional variations of the device at pulling drinking water from the air, a new study suggests. Built using temperature-sensitive materials, a nickel titanium-based dehumidifier could pull more water out of the atmosphere in 30 minutes on average than an alternative […]
Study suggests US droughts, rainy extremes becoming more severe
Severe drought in the American Southwest and Mexico and more severe wet years in the Northeast are the modern norm in North America, according to new research – and the analysis suggests these seasonal patterns will be more extreme in the future. The middle of the United States, meanwhile, can expect bigger swings between wetter […]
In coastal communities, sea level rise may leave some isolated
Amid the threat of dramatic sea level rise, coastal communities face unprecedented dangers, but a new study reveals that as flooding intensifies, disadvantaged populations will be the ones to experience some of the most severe burdens of climate change. While accelerating sea level rise will result in widespread intermittent flooding and long-term inundation in many […]
Ultrasound may rid groundwater of toxic ‘forever chemicals’
New research suggests that ultrasound may have potential in treating a group of harmful chemicals known as PFAS to eliminate them from contaminated groundwater. Invented nearly a century ago, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals,” were once widely used to create products such as cookware, waterproof clothing and personal care items. Today, scientists […]
Ohio’s droughts are worse than often recognized, study finds
A new type of analysis suggests that droughts in Ohio were more severe from 2000 to 2019 than standard measurements have suggested. Researchers at The Ohio State University developed impacts-based thresholds for drought in Ohio, looking specifically at how corn yield and streamflow were affected by various drought indicators, such as notable changes in soil […]
Current estimates of Lake Erie algae toxicity may miss the mark
Study suggests harmful algal bloom toxicity varies over the summer.
Using satellites to track groundwater depletion in California
New twist on old tech offers novel monitoring solution.