After graphene, carbon nanocones are now an exciting form of carbon for material scientists. As the name suggests, they are conical structures made up of carbon, where graphene sheets are folded like a party cap with a height and diameter of a few nanometers (1 nanometer = 1/1,000,000,000th of a metre). With unique properties due to their conical shape, they have a wide range of applications, including being used as a tip of the probe of a high precision microscope used to record activity at an atomic level.
A new study from arid Bikaner in Rajasthan has demonstrated a novel, farm-level strategy to tackle the interconnected crises of water scarcity, energy demand, and climate change. It demonstrates that simple changes to crop choice and soil management can dramatically improve the sustainability of farming systems.