Campus Stories

  1. This UW-Madison spinoff is making environmentally friendly cement. The secret ingredient is pollution.

    Photo: Research engineer Casey Jones inspects a drying belt at Alithic's demonstration plant in Madison, which combines carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with ash and other industrial wastes to make a low-cost, carbon-negative building material. Photo credit: Chris Hubbuch/Wisconsin Energy Institute

    December 1, 2025

    Alithic combines carbon dioxide, coal ash to make cheaper, stronger building material Taken individually, coal ash and excess carbon dioxide are harmful pollutants. Combined in just the right way, they form a durable, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly building material. University of Wisconsin–Madison spinoff Alithic is leveraging this unique formula to turn waste streams from liabilities into profits, […]

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