environmental-engineering

A study investigates spontaneous coal combustion in ultra-thick seam mining and evaluates integrated grouting and nitrogen injection for goaf fire prevention.

A professor at Northeastern University has developed a unique firefighting robot that uses liquid nitrogen instead of chemical fire retardants to extinguish flames. The technology could one day help firefighters tackle dangerous wildfires more safely while reducing harm to the environment. The idea began almost by accident nearly 20 years ago. In 2008, Professor Yiannis […] The post New Robot Use…

Nature Communications, Published online: 20 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-75847-3 Confined water selective highways within a densified photothermal membrane enable ultrafast and stable solar driven interfacial evaporation, achieving high-rate clean water production while rejecting highly concentrated ions and strongly polar VOCs, even under extreme conditions

Two faculty members from the University of Notre Dame’s College of Engineering are among the 74 early-career researchers selected to participate in the National Academy of Engineering’s Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering program. Alexander Dowling, Tony and Sarah Earley Collegiate Professor of Energy and the Environment and associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, a…

Engineers discovered that falling rainwater can unexpectedly reverse airflow deep underground, solving a mystery with important implications for mine safety. Operating a facility deep underground means constantly managing two essential challenges: air and water. Fresh air must circulate through tunnels and shafts to keep people safe, while groundwater from rainfall and underground aquifers has to…

This Collection showcases research on engineered assessment methods, contaminant transport analysis, and strategies to manage and protect groundwater resources.

Scientific Data, Published online: 27 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41597-026-07720-3 Minute-Level Dataset from a Naturally Ventilated Building for Benchmarking and Learning-Based Modeling

Flocean has announced that Flocean One, its industrial-scale subsea desalination system, has successfully reached "first water" and is now running at full production capacity. Deployed at 500 metres depth off Norway's west coast, the system is the first of its kind to operate at industrial scale, moving subsea desalination from a long-discussed concept into a working infrastructure model. The pos…

The global shortage of freshwater has become a critical challenge. Conventional water treatment relies heavily on fossil fuels and associated infrastructure, which can make it unsuitable for remote and harsh regions. In contrast, solar thermal evaporation is a promising alternative, but its application is limited by material performance and production constraints. Now, researchers from the [&#823…

USC Viterbi researchers have proved that fracture geometry can suppress unstable flow patterns and enhance fluid mixing, with implications for groundwater remediation, carbon storage, hydrogen storage and energy production. The post A New Way to Control How Fluids Move Through Rock appeared first on USC Viterbi | School of Engineering .

Sergi Garcia-Segura, an assistant professor of civil, environmental and sustainable engineering in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, right, and a student research assistant, left, examine equipment in Garcia-Segura’s laboratory on the ASU Tempe campus. Photographer: Erika Gronek/ASU Removing industrial chemicals, pha…

This case study describes the development and implementation of an interactive game of a 30-L bioreactor system in both computer and virtual reality (VR)-based versions from two angles: (1) development and integration of an interactive virtual bioreactor game system in the form of a 360-degree computer game and an immersive VR bioreactor game for a biomanufacturing laboratory course, and (2) expl…

Total dissolved solids (TDS) measurements are crucial for desalination processes, as they affect water quality, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability. This paper presents a novel solution that uses a differential pressure (DP) transmitter to measure TDS in desalination plants. The proposed method uses a dual-leg setup, with one leg filled with distilled water as a reference and…

Understanding the sedimentation behavior of dredged slurry under shear is essential for managing disposal ponds and land reclamation. This study developed a rotating shear settling device to systematically investigate the structural evolution and sedimentation response of dredged slurry (Tianjin mud) under varying shear intensities (0–4.89 s-1) and initial water contents (157%–377%). Results reve…

CLASS OF 2026 – Mitchell Kirby has a talent for converting civil and environmental engineering concepts into promising business models. As he prepares to graduate, he’s chosen to bet on a venture that takes him back to his roots. The post Fire, Water, Data:  Elements of an Engineer-Entrepreneur’s Education appeared first on USC Viterbi | School of Engineering .

This study presents the experimental and theoretical evaluation of a HDH desalination system integrating vortex tube and bubble column. The motivation stems from the need for energy-efficient and scalable solutions to address freshwater scarcity, particularly in regions with limited access to conventional desalination infrastructure. We design a system comprising an air compressor, vortex tube, b…

Mines is leading a new center to advance PFAS destruction technologies, helping industry validate, scale and deploy effective, data-driven remediation solutions.