Recovering waste heat
Thermoelectric materials convert temperature differences into electric voltages and vice versa. The Peltier Effect, which allows voltages to provide either heating or cooling, is used in portable coolers and in some car seats. But the Seebeck Effect, which produces electricity from temperature differences, has far more potential for practical use.
Trouble from tropical fish
One of the highlights of visiting tropical destinations such as the Caribbean and the South Pacific is the profusion of colorful tropical fish that inhabit the warm waters of these places. Climate change is raising water temperatures far from the tropics and tropical fish are migrating to entirely new locations. While this may sound like a good thing, is definitely isn’t.
Light rail systems really help
More and more American cities have been adding or expanding light rail systems in recent years. Notable examples over the past decade include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Dallas and Denver.
Hellbender populations
North America’s largest salamander is disappearing at an alarming rate. Hellbenders commonly reach two feet in length and have a life span of up to 30 years. They are the third-largest salamander in the world, after the Chinese giant salamander and the Japanese giant salamander.
Throwing away fish
The worldwide fishing industry is in danger. If current trends continue, it could collapse by 2050 because three-quarters of the world’s fish stocks are being harvested faster than they can reproduce. Some 80% of fish species already are fully exploited or are in decline and the great majority of all large predatory fish already are gone.
Turning food waste into biogas
Turning food waste into fuel is not a new idea, but it is one that is finally starting to catch on in a big way. A growing number of wastewater treatment plants across the country are participating in the effort to recycle food waste and produce biogas.
Polluted beaches
Few things are more beloved in the summer than a trip to the beach. It’s a time to relax and take in the calming beauty of the sand and surf. If you enjoy swimming, however, you might want to consult the National Resource Defense Council’s new ‘Testing the Waters’ report.
Urban heat is not a myth
It has long been observed that metropolitan areas are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas as a result of human activities. These areas are known as urban heat islands.
Organic flow batteries
The rapid expansion of the use of solar and wind power is driving a growing interest in energy storage systems because in order to fully exploit these sources we need to be able to store the energy they produce for use when we need it.
Coral and sunscreen
Summer is in full swing. With temperatures at their peak and beach vacations underway, most of us have probably stocked up on sunscreen. We slather it on children to prevent painful burns and apply it to ourselves to avert skin cancer. But as much as sunscreen protects our skin from harm, it can do just the opposite to coral reefs.
Energy scavenging
In recent years, we have become familiar with the concept of energy vampires: small devices around the house like phone chargers that steadily use up energy a little at a time. We’ve all been encouraged to avoid wasting energy in this way by unplugging these things.
Storing carbon under the sea
There are many strategies at play for reducing the carbon emissions that are driving global climate change. These include reducing energy demand through conservation and efficiency measures and changing over to renewable energy sources. But despite these efforts, the burning of fossil fuels continues to dominate the world’s energy sources because fossil fuels are plentiful and cheaper than the alternatives.
A dangerous world for birds
As wind farms become more and more commonplace, one frequently hears about the dangers that wind turbines pose to birds. Multiple studies have looked at bird mortality due to collisions with these machines.
Cyanobacteria
In early August, nearly half a million people in Toledo, Ohio were told not to use their tap water for drinking, cooking or bathing. The cause was a bloom of algae in Lake Erie, in this case a microbe known as cyanobacteria, which produces a dangerous toxin called microcystin.
Overfishing and coral
Climate change has been blamed for the rapid decrease in coral cover in the Caribbean over the past few decades. But new research suggests that the impacts of pollution and overfishing may have been underrated. This is good news, experts say, because these problems are easier to address and reverse.
Replacing diesel in island countries
The economies, societies and ecosystems of small island countries have been burdened by the need to import fuels throughout the fossil fuel era. Most of these countries generate their electricity using imported diesel fuel, which is extremely expensive, vulnerable to disruption, and environmentally damaging.
Energy from humidity
The majority of methods we use for generating electricity convert mechanical energy into electrical energy in some fashion. We may utilize nuclear power or burning coal or rushing water or wind but we end up spinning a turbine to create electricity. Over time, we have developed numerous ways to initiate the motion in a generator.
Cigarette butts
When we talk about the hazards of cigarettes, we typically focus on health risks – lung cancer, heart disease, or the dangers of secondhand smoke.
Tesla-powered buildings
