Superhydrophobic surfaces — those famously “never-wet” materials that make water bead up and roll away — have a stubborn weakness: hot water. Once temperatures climb above roughly 40 degrees Celsius, many superhydrophobic coatings abruptly lose their magic. Instead of skittering off, hot droplets start sticking, soaking into the surface texture and leaving behind wet patches and residue. A new study from mechanical engineers at Rice University describes a surprisingly straightforward fix: Instead of just engineering the surface’s chemistry and texture, they focused on engineering its heat flow.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a sunlight-driven process that converts plastic waste, including microplastics, into acetic acid—the main component of vinegar—using a bio-inspired photocatalytic system. The approach offers a potential low-emissions alternative to incineration by upcycling mixed plastics into a valuable chemical while helping address pollution in water and other environments, with future potential for scalable, solar-powered recycling and environmental cleanup.