More than 2 billion people don’t have access to clean drinking water. As the leading cause of hospitalization in emerging countries, germs in drinking water account for 1.2 million deaths every year. The world needs a solution to achieve U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 6.1: universal access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. But existing solutions are neither affordable nor accessible to the people who need them the most.

The construction industry commonly uses lightweight aggregate — characterized by a bulk density lower than normal aggregates because of its porous structure — for applications such as lightweight concrete, insulating concrete, fire-resistant concrete, etc. Traditional lightweight aggregate is manufactured by mining natural materials such as slate or shale. The process includes crushing the mined material, screening it, and feeding it to a rotary kiln. As the material is heated, it turns into a partial liquid phase, where certain chemical compounds release gases that create porous structures in the lightweight aggregate.

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has been wreaking havoc on vital global crops, including corn, wheat, and rice, in more than 100 countries. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the impact of fall armyworm is economically profound, with damages ranging from $1 billion to $3 billion annually and crop yield reductions of up to 50%. However, widely used chemical defenses against the fall armyworm can impact other species and lead to resistance in the pests. Furthermore, existing treatment methods come with hefty registration costs and have a history of drawing public scrutiny. Available biological alternatives are limited by poor shelf life, field instability, unpredictable performance, and high production costs.

Excess nitrogen and phosphorus in surface waters cause harmful algae blooms, and in densely populated watersheds, human urine and feces in wastewater significantly contribute to this nutrient pollution. Many wastewater plants are at capacity and struggle to meet tightening nutrient removal regulations, prompting them to pass on the cost of related sewer upgrades, in the form of connection and usage fees, to building developers.

Processed foods are a staple in the American diet, comprising more than half of adult energy intake. When eaten in excess, these shelf-stable, convenient, and tasty foods are known contributors to obesity, heart disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders. However, changing habits and taste preferences to encourage healthier eating is a challenge. Processed foods are known for their excellent sensory properties and high palatability but are often calorically dense and contain elevated levels of starches, sugars, saturated fat, and salt, and low amounts of beneficial macro and micronutrients. Food is a complex matrix of fats, fibers, starches, sugars, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water, all of which contribute to sensory qualities such as texture, mouthfeel, and flavor perception that are critical in the experience of food consumption.