Technology
Offshore wind power for the future
Wind power is catching on, and in many places it is price-competitive with electricity generated from coal-fired power plants. So far, nearly all of the wind-power capacity has been installed on land. Coastal oceans represent a vast untapped resource of wind energy worldwide. [Read more…] about Offshore wind power for the future
Time to green ‘urban street canyons’
Urban living can be green. City dwellers typically have smaller living spaces and rely more on walking and public transportation. They are also apt to have less lawn to mow and shorter commutes. But one thing that remains in short supply in urban centers: fresh air. [Read more…] about Time to green ‘urban street canyons’
From military weapons to environmental monitoring tools
For most of us, unmanned aerial vehicles … commonly called “drones” … are associated with the military. These pilot-less aircraft, which can be controlled remotely, are used for stealth reconnaissance and attacks when manned flight is too dangerous. [Read more…] about From military weapons to environmental monitoring tools
Cleaning up coal
Coal has been under a lot of fire lately. Environmentalists blame its CO2 emissions for exacerbating climate change. When burned, coal emits mercury into the atmosphere, where it later contaminates lakes and lake fishes. Coal is also a source of noxious air pollutants, like ozone and nitric oxide, which exacerbate asthma and emphysema. [Read more…] about Cleaning up coal
The trash-to-gas concept
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States consumes over 367 million gallons of gasoline each day—the majority of which is derived from imported oil. [Read more…] about The trash-to-gas concept
Bumps in the Alaska Highway
In 1942 the Alaska Highway was built as an Army Supply route, with the goal of connecting the 49th state with the contiguous U.S. It was an epic task that involved carving through mountainous arctic forest. Following World War II the 1,500 mile road – which traverses British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alberta – was noted for its ruggedness. [Read more…] about Bumps in the Alaska Highway
Are cloth napkins better?
It seems like a no-brainer. Substitute reusable cloth napkins for paper ones, and you’ll save a tree. Use cloth instead of paper towels and handkerchiefs instead of tissues, and you’ll save a lot of trees. [Read more…] about Are cloth napkins better?
Is geo-engineering the solution to global warming?
When a major volcano erupts, it can inject sulfurous gases into the upper atmosphere—the stratosphere—about 5 miles above the Earth’s surface. These gases form tiny particles, known as aerosols, that reflect sunlight. For the couple of years that they spend in the stratosphere, before they mix down and are deposited on Earth’s surface, these sulfate aerosols cool our planet. [Read more…] about Is geo-engineering the solution to global warming?
Drought relates to India's power outage
On the last day of July, nearly 10% of the world’s population was left in the dark when three of India’s electric power grids failed. Some six hundred million people were impacted by the most extensive blackout in history. Miners were trapped underground, passengers were stranded on trains, and water supplies were interrupted.
Rethinking nuclear power…
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According to the World Nuclear Association, there are more than 430 nuclear power reactors globally, providing roughly 14% of the world’s electricity. [Read more…] about Rethinking nuclear power…
Can chemical exposure make you fat?
Bisphenol-A – commonly called BPA – is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. These products have a variety of uses, from lining canned foods to making the plastics preferred for food containers and baby bottles. [Read more…] about Can chemical exposure make you fat?
Diesel emissions are carcinogenic
More carcinogenic than second-hand smoke – that’s how the World Health Organization recently described diesel fuel emissions. [Read more…] about Diesel emissions are carcinogenic
The Chinese know it; what’s wrong with us?
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In 1974, Stanford biologist Paul Ehrlich proposed a simple equation to measure human impact on the environment: Impact = population x affluence x technology. [Read more…] about The Chinese know it; what’s wrong with us?
Keeping the military on a black-gold diet
