Energy crisis? Send for Professor Popcorn!

People all over Europe are concerned that they might not have enough heat in their homes this winter. There's less gas around, due to the war in Ukraine - and up to now 40% of the heat in European homes has comefrom burning gas. So there might have to be cuts in some places. And because it's become very expensive, some people may turn their heating down to save money.

One way we can use less energy and stay warm is by having homes that are well insulated. Insulation is like wrapping a building in an overcoat, by adding layers of material to the walls. That means we can burn less gas and so emit less CO2 to stay warm. Today, however, most insulation materials are made from chemicals that we get from oil, and so making these in the first place also emits CO2.

However, more and more people are finding ways to use  natural materials to insulate homes - wood, plant fibres, even sheep's wool.

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Professor Popcorn to the rescue!

This is where Professor Alireza Kharazipour comes in to the story. He was at the cinema a few years ago. He was munching on some popcorn when he had a brainwave. Those little puffed up balls were, he realised, a little bit like a kind of plastic called polystyrene. And polystyrene is often used to insulate buildings. "What if I could do the same with popcorn?" wondered the professor.

It's taken years of research work in the professor's university, but this year a company in Germany is working on making insulation from popcorn that it hopes to start selling. It could be cheaper and more environmentally friendly that many other materials, they reckon.

For now, of course, "Professor Popcorn" and his wacky idea can't help us keep warm this winter. But over on the WoW! News app, where you can see the professor and find out more about his invention, we've also got some clever ways that you can use your own "superpowers" to help your family beat the chill.