Wildfire ‘char’ may help suppress methane
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 14-Jan-2026 12:11 ET (14-Jan-2026 17:11 GMT/UTC)
A new study shows there is something of value to be found and learned from in the remnants of wildfires, says professor and co-author Pei Chiu. Wildfires lead to the production of a large quantity of carbon-rich material known as wildfire char that can reduce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Engineers at Duke University have developed a wireless patch that can non-invasively measure skin and tissue stiffness at depths of up to a couple of inches. Already smaller than a smartwatch, the device could be a gateway into a wide array of medical applications such as the monitoring of wound healing, chronic conditions like skin cancer, fluid management during resuscitation efforts and muscle rehabilitation.