Skip to main content

Scientists have developed a new salt-filled asphalt that prevents ice from forming on roads

When winter hits the United States and the roads begin to freeze, driving becomes a considerably more dangerous activity. Icy roads make for hazardous driving conditions, and ice collected over a particularly frigid winter can take weeks to clear away. That’s why a team of researchers at Turkey’s Koc University created an asphalt mixture that is embedded with salt, so roads can de-ice themselves. Roads paved with the salt-embedded asphalt should be able to prevent ice from gathering at all.

One of the problems with existing ice removal products is that if they don’t work when first applied to roads, they don’t stick around for very long, since melting snow and passing cars tend to wash them away. To combat endless applications, the Turkish research team designed their new road material to release a de-icing compound incrementally. The asphalt is embedded throughout with de-icer, so that even with heavy traffic over time, each exposed level of asphalt reveals a new layer of the salt solution.

Recommended Videos

Theoretically, the salt-embedded asphalt will prevent ice from forming in the first place. Regular rock salt has been a common de-icing solution in the past, but it can do damage to the concrete beneath the ice you’re trying to melt. More industrial de-icing solutions often include chemicals that are dangerous to the environment. The Koc University research team used a compound called salt potassium formate instead, since it has been widely approved as an environmentally friendly de-icing solution. The salt potassium formate is embedded in bitumen, a standard component of regular asphalt. The engineered asphalt also includes styrene-butadiene-styrene, a water-repellent polymer that will help prevent ice from forming on the surface.

A possible downside of the ice-proof roads will be the wear and tear to cars and tires. Any salt compound can do corrosive damage to the structural integrity of tires and the underbelly of cars themselves. Although the researchers haven’t released car-tested data, the asphalt has been tested in the lab for longterm durability. The bitumen embedded with salt potassium formate was as sturdy as regular bitumen. In lab trials, the de-icing asphalt released the salt solution for two months. Researchers expect the compound to work for years when applied to real public roads, as car traffic peels away new layers of salted asphalt over time.

Chloe Olewitz
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chloe is a writer from New York with a passion for technology, travel, and playing devil's advocate. You can find out more…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more