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We all create it, even if we usually don’t like to think about it: waste. And the journal Science devotes its new issue to the subject. It delves¹ into the problems—home garbage, plastics, metal, water, even everyone’s favorite, sludge—and discusses research into policy and scientific solutions.

Take biosolids. They encompass² industrial waste from food production, to agricultural waste to the stuff that gets flushed. Researchers say organics-filled wastewater takes about 15 gigawatts per year in the U.S., but we could be generating electricity with that stuff. They point to one promising³ technology, a microbial fuel cell: bacteria use the waste as food and release electrons that are captured by an electrode.

The waste could also be used to produce compounds such as biofuels or other industrial chemicals. For instance, microbes can turn waste into hydrogen peroxide—useful for industrial bleaching⁴.

More research is needed to scale up these systems – finding the best microbes, and lowering the cost of the electrodes. But the authors say the promise of both energy and chemical production is a strong incentive⁵ to move from bio-waste to bio-use. Because waste is a terrible thing to waste.

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1 delves
v.深入探究，钻研( delve的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
That delves the grave duly. 误不了你的洞房。来自互联网 The exhibition delves deep into the physics, aromatics and even the timbre of flatulence. 此次展览向人们介绍了人体物理、气味甚至肠胃胀气的声音等各方面知识。来自互联网

2 encompass
vt.围绕，包围；包含，包括；完成
参考例句：
The course will encompass physics,chemistry and biology.课程将包括物理、化学和生物学。 The project will encompass rural and underdeveloped areas in China.这项工程将覆盖中国的农村和不发达地区。

3 promising
adj.有希望的，有前途的
参考例句：
The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。 We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 bleaching
漂白法，漂白
参考例句：
Moderately weathered rock showed more intense bleaching and fissuring in the feldspars. 中等风化岩石则是指长石有更为强烈的变白现象和裂纹现象。 Bleaching effects are very strong and show on air photos. 退色效应非常强烈，并且反映在航空象片上。

5 incentive
n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机
参考例句：
Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。 He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。