'Just do it!’ Wisconsin couple built a net-zero home:
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| 'Just do it!’ Wisconsin couple built a net-zero home - Yale Climate Connections - Energy |
Apr 25 · Stay in the know about climate impacts and solutions. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Yale Climate Connections
A few years ago, Jacqueline Freidel and her husband built their new home near Madison, Wisconsin, complete with four bedrooms and an open-concept floor plan.
But the couple’s house has a hidden feature - it runs entirely on electricity and is net-zero, meaning it produces just as much energy as it uses every year.
Freidel: “If you were walking by and didn’t know anything about the house, you might not even guess that it is net-zero energy and all-electric.”
Freidel is an energy efficiency consultant. But she says anyone can build a net-zero ... Read more ...
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'Leave politics to the politicians’: why rural Queensland is a hotbed of renewable energy:
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| 'Leave politics to the politicians’: why rural Queensland is a hotbed of renewable energy - Guardian - Energy |
Apr 2 · Agriculture was once king in Glen Beasley’s neighbourhood on Queensland’s Darling Downs, a vast agricultural area about 200km west of Brisbane. “It was all grain, beef, timber and a bit of coal,” he says.
Then a high voltage power line was built through his family farm outside Chinchilla in 1984. The whispers of gas came with the turn of the millennium, and by the early 2010s, the coal seam gas industry was booming. Gas company Arrow Energy now holds a tenement over his property and a few doors down, there’s a coal seam gas waste facility.
“Now we have traffic lights in town, more shops, and there’s a lot more people around,” Glen’s wife, Barbara Beasley, says. “But when ... Read more ...
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'Privileged access’: pro-plastic lobbyists at UN pollution talks increase by a third:
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| 'Privileged access’: pro-plastic lobbyists at UN pollution talks increase by a third - Guardian - Energy |
Apr 2 · Fossil fuel and petrochemical campaigners at Ottawa summit outnumber scientists, EU and Indigenous delegates
The number of fossil fuel and petrochemical industry lobbyists has increased by more than a third at UN talks to agree the first global treaty to cut plastic pollution, analysis shows.
Most plastic is made from fossil fuels via a chemical process known as cracking, and 196 lobbyists from both industries are at the UN talks in Ottawa, Canada, where countries are attempting to come to an agreement to curb plastic production as part of a treaty to cut global plastic waste, according to analysis by the Center for International Environmental Law (Ciel).
The 196 ... Read more ...
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A better way to predict Arctic riverbank erosion:
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| A better way to predict Arctic riverbank erosion - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · But there's a caveat to this concern: Existing models have predicted a more dramatic rate of Arctic riverbank erosion than has actually been observed. In a new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, Madison Douglas and Michael Lamb set out to determine why.
To do this, the team created a model that couples the movement of sediment, such as sand and mud, with permafrost thaw to determine riverbank erosion. The model better reproduces erosion observations on parts of the Yukon River in Alaska. This is because in real-world scenarios, the rate of erosion is slowed by an insulating layer of thawed sediment. Rather than the warmer river water ... Read more ...
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A Call for Climate Justice at the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights:
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| A Call for Climate Justice at the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights - Union of Concerned Scientists - Global Warming |
Apr 25 · This week, the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights (IACHR) started to hear testimony at the University of the West Indies, near Bridgetown, Barbados, addressing one of the most pressing global issues of our time: climate change and its implications on human rights. Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Research Scientist Carly Philips (pictured on the left above) testified on April 24. With dozens testifying over three packed days, the court heard powerful statements focused on impacts to small nation-states, connections between climate and health, calls for intergenerational justice, and - the focus of UCS’s input - state obligations to reduce corporate emissions. All testimony was ... Read more ...
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A Chemical Mystery Solved -- The Reaction Explaining Large Carbon Sinks:
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| A Chemical Mystery Solved -- The Reaction Explaining Large Carbon Sinks - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · A mystery that has puzzled the scientific community for over 50 years has finally been solved. A team from Linköping University, Sweden, and Helmholtz Munich have discovered that a certain type of chemical reaction can explain why organic matter found in rivers and lakes is so resistant to degradation. Their study has been published in the journal Nature.
"This has been the holy grail within my field of research for over 50 years," says Norbert Hertkorn, scientist in analytical chemistry previously at Helmholtz Munich and currently at Linköping University.
Let us take it from the beginning. When, for example, a leaf detaches from a tree and falls to the ground, ... Read more ...
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A framework to compare lithium battery testing data and results during operation:
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| A framework to compare lithium battery testing data and results during operation - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · Existing methods to estimate the amount of Li in batteries rely on capacity measurements, describing how much charge a battery can hold, and coulombic efficiency values, which indicate how much charge a battery retains during cycles. Yet these measurements are not always accurate, as they do not account for unpredictable side reactions, self-discharge, and other effects affecting a battery's performance.
"The primary objective of our study was to find a reliable methodology to compare battery testing data and operating results from various sources and conditions, as this could help to advance battery technology and development," Boryann Liaw, co-author of the paper, told Tech ... Read more ...
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Airborne single-photon lidar system achieves high-resolution 3D imaging:
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| Airborne single-photon lidar system achieves high-resolution 3D imaging - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Single-photon lidar uses single-photon detection techniques to measure the time it takes laser pulses to travel to objects and back. It is particularly useful for airborne applications because it enables highly accurate 3D mapping of terrain and objects even in challenging environments such as dense vegetation or urban areas.
"Using single-photon lidar technology on resource-limited drones or satellites requires shrinking the entire system and reducing its energy consumption," said research team member Feihu Xu from University of Science and Technology of China.
"We were able to incorporate recent technology developments into a system that, in comparison to other ... Read more ...
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Anthropologist documents how women and shepherds historically reduced wildfire risk in Central Italy:
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| Anthropologist documents how women and shepherds historically reduced wildfire risk in Central Italy - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · The latest research paper from environmental anthropologist and University of California, Santa Cruz Professor Andrew Mathews explores these issues in the Monte Pisano region of Central Italy. The paper is published in the journal Ambio.
In particular, Mathews found that peasant women, who historically collected leaf litter in the forests, and shepherds, who grazed their flocks and conducted occasional managed burns, were critical in maintaining fire-resistant landscapes. Yet the social status of these groups meant the importance of their work went unrecognized.
In Monte Pisano and much of the broader Mediterranean, forests and other plant communities have been shaped by ... Read more ...
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Atlanta’s population could boom as people flee sea level rise, wildfires, and hurricanes:
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| Atlanta’s population could boom as people flee sea level rise, wildfires, and hurricanes - Yale Climate Connections - Policy |
Apr 26 · Join Bob Henson and attribution science experts for a webinar on Friday, May 3 at 12 p.m. Eastern.
Stay in the know about climate impacts and solutions. Subscribe to our newsletters.
Stay in the know about climate impacts and solutions. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Yale Climate Connections
“A climate-driven migration has already begun,” writes climate change journalist Abrahm Lustgarten in his must-read book, “On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America,” which I reviewed in my previous post. And few places in the U.S. will likely see more climate migrants than Atlanta, which lies close to coastal areas of the Southeast ... Read more ...
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Behind the billionaire climate tax:
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| Behind the billionaire climate tax - Heated World |
Apr 25 · The climate crisis is extremely unaffordable. That’s the conclusion of a new study published in Nature last week, which found that global warming will cost $38 trillion every year by 2050. For comparison, the entire global economy is about $100 trillion per year.
But one economist has a novel idea about how to pay for at least part of the bill. At a meeting of the world’s wealthiest countries and banks last week, Esther Duflo proposed that the richest people should compensate poor people for the climate damages they disproportionately caused. That money would be raised through a climate tax on billionaires and large corporations.
Duflo is the youngest person and second ... Read more ...
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Biden administration creates new rule to speed up clean energy transmission:
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| Biden administration creates new rule to speed up clean energy transmission - Greenbiz |
Apr 25 · The Department of Energy finally streamlines permitting requests and requires only one environmental impact statement for each project.
Transmission lines carrying renewable energy. Photo: Shutterstock/lovelyday12
The U.S. Department of Energy will become a "one-stop-shop" for permits for new electricity transmission projects under a rule announced by the Biden administration. The move is intended to make building green energy projects simpler and faster, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters.
The rule will create a new program, the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorization and Permits (CITAP), which will be the lead agency handling permits for ... | By Leah Garden Read more ...
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Biden targets fossil fuel power sector with tough new carbon rules:
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| Biden targets fossil fuel power sector with tough new carbon rules - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · The United States on Thursday announced sweeping new rules requiring coal-fired plants to eliminate nearly all their carbon emissions or commit to shutting down altogether, a keystone of President Joe Biden's agenda to confront the climate crisis.
Hailed by environmental groups as a "gamechanger," the regulations take effect from 2032 and will also mandate that new, high capacity gas-fired plants slash their carbon dioxide output by the same amount - 90 percent - a target that would require the use of carbon capture technology.
It comes as Democratic incumbent Biden faces a tough election rematch against Republican Donald Trump in November, with climate action seen as ... Read more ...
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Book review: “On the Move” is a must-read account of U.S. climate migration:
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| Book review: “On the Move” is a must-read account of U.S. climate migration - Yale Climate Connections - Weather |
Apr 25 · Join Bob Henson and attribution science experts for a webinar on Friday, May 3 at 12 p.m. Eastern.
Stay in the know about climate impacts and solutions. Subscribe to our newsletters.
Stay in the know about climate impacts and solutions. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Yale Climate Connections
“A climate-driven migration has already begun,” writes climate journalist Abrahm Lustgarten in his must-read book, “On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America.”
“In the United States,” he continues, “a quiet retreat from the front lines of Western wildfires and Gulf Coast hurricanes is hollowing out small towns. These are the ... Read more ...
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Book review: “On the Move” is a must-read account of U.S. climate migration » Yale Climate Connections:
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| Book review: “On the Move” is a must-read account of U.S. climate migration » Yale Climate Connections - Propublica |
Apr 11 · Another great American migration is now underway, this time forced by the warming that is altering how and where people can live. For now, it’s just a trickle. But in the corners of the country’s most vulnerable landscapes - on the shores of its sinking bayous and on the eroding bluffs of its coastal defenses - populations are already in disarray.
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A couple of miles west of downtown Slidell, Louisiana, and just upstream from the ... | By Jeremy Schwartz, April 25, 6 p.m. EDT Read more ...
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California battery storage increasing rapidly, but not enough to end blackouts, Gov. Newsom says:
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| California battery storage increasing rapidly, but not enough to end blackouts, Gov. Newsom says - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · Gov. Gavin Newsom said on April 25 that California continued to rapidly add the battery storage that is crucial to the transition to cleaner energy, but admitted it was still not enough to avoid blackouts during heat waves.
Standing in the middle of a solar farm in Yolo County, Newsom announced the state now had battery storage systems with the capacity of more than 10,000 megawatts - about 20% of the 52,000 megawatts the state says is needed to meet its climate goals.
"This is critical to how we achieve 100% clean energy by 2045," Newsom said. "Batteries allow us to use clean energy captured by solar and other renewable sources at all times of the day, especially when ... Read more ...
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Can Climate Change Accelerate Transmission of Malaria? Pioneering Research Sheds Light on Impacts of Temperature:
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| Can Climate Change Accelerate Transmission of Malaria? Pioneering Research Sheds Light on Impacts of Temperature - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite that spreads from bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. If left untreated in humans, malaria can cause severe symptoms, health complications and even death.
In tropical and subtropical regions where malaria is prevalent, scientists are concerned that climate warming might increase the risk of malaria transmission in certain areas and contribute to further spread. However, there is still much to learn about the relationship between temperature and the mosquito and parasite traits that influence malaria transmission.
In "Estimating the effects of temperature on transmission of the human malaria parasite, ... Read more ...
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Cat hides in Amazon return package - then ends up in California 700 miles from home:
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| Cat hides in Amazon return package - then ends up in California 700 miles from home - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · A cat went missing after hiding in an Amazon return package. Then her Utah owner got a call - from hundreds of miles away - that "changed everything."
On April 10, Galena the kitty "vanished" from her home in Lehi, her owner, Carrie Stevens Clark, said in an April 21 Facebook post.
Clark said she searched "every nook and cranny" in the home before flooding the neighborhood, a suburb of Salt Lake City, with fliers and posting on social media.
"Nothing made sense!!," Clark said.
Then came an unexpected breakthrough. Seven days later, Clark got a call saying Galena had been found in California and identified with her microchip, she said.
Galena, it turned ... Read more ...
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Chinese automakers redefine the car as a living space at Beijing Auto Show:
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| Chinese automakers redefine the car as a living space at Beijing Auto Show - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · How about turning a car's front bucket seats 180 degrees so they face the rear seats and extending out a table so the occupants can play cards or eat a meal? Or a 43-inch (109 centimeter) screen for the passengers in the back seat?
The seemingly never-ending efforts of China's electric car makers to redefine the automobile went on display Thursday at the opening of the nation's largest annual auto show. They are forcing established makers such as Volkswagen and Nissan to change the way they develop cars to remain players in what is the world's largest auto market.
Nissan joined Toyota in announcing a tie-up at the Beijing Auto Show with a major Chinese technology company ... Read more ...
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Climate Change Could Become the Main Driver of Biodiversity Decline by Mid-Century:
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| Climate Change Could Become the Main Driver of Biodiversity Decline by Mid-Century - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Global biodiversity has declined between 2% and 11% during the 20th century due to land-use change alone, according to a large multi-model study published in Science. Projections show climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by the mid-21st century.
The analysis was led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and is the largest modelling study of its kind to date. The researchers compared thirteen models for assessing the impact of land-use change and climate change on four distinct biodiversity metrics, as well as on nine ecosystem services.
GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY ... Read more ...
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Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century, analysis suggests:
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| Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century, analysis suggests - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Global biodiversity has declined between 2% and 11% during the 20th century due to land-use change alone, according to a large multi-model study published in Science. Projections show climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by the mid-21st century.
The analysis was led by the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and is the largest modeling study of its kind to date. The researchers compared thirteen models for assessing the impact of land-use change and climate change on four distinct biodiversity metrics, as well as on nine ecosystem services.
Land-use change is ... Read more ...
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Corals bred in a zoo have joined Europe's largest reef. This is offering scientists hope:
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| Corals bred in a zoo have joined Europe's largest reef. This is offering scientists hope - PHYS.ORG - Biology |
Apr 26 · Just like the animals on Noah's Ark, the corals arrived in a pair. On Monday, divers with gloved hands gently nestled the self-bred corals from the World Coral Conservatory project among their cousins in Europe's largest coral reef at the Burgers' Zoo in the Netherlands.
"This is the first project where we started to keep these corals with a known origin. As we know exactly where they're coming from, they have the potential to be placed back into the wild. … So it is very important to keep these corals, as it's going not very well in the wild," Nienke Klerks, a biologist at the Royal Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, told The Associated Press.
It's among several projects worldwide ... Read more ...
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Deer are expanding north, and that's not good for caribou: Scientists evaluate the reasons why:
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| Deer are expanding north, and that's not good for caribou: Scientists evaluate the reasons why - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Over the past century, white-tailed deer have greatly expanded their range in North America, explains Melanie Dickie, a doctoral student with UBC Okanagan's Wildlife Restoration Ecology Lab.
In the boreal forest of Western Canada, researchers have considered that both changing climate and increased habitat alteration have enabled deer to push farther north. Climate change can create milder winters, while habitat alteration from forestry and energy exploration creates new food sources for deer.
As they conclude their study, researchers caution that what is good for the deer isn't necessarily suitable for other species, such as the threatened woodland ... Read more ...
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Did climate chaos cultivate or constrain 2023's greenery?:
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| Did climate chaos cultivate or constrain 2023's greenery? - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · In a recent publication in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, a research team led by Academician Piao Shilong from the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences at Peking University delved into the topic. The paper, titled "Vegetation Greenness in 2023," offers a detailed analysis of the interplay between vegetation greening and climate change.
The greening of vegetation is one of the most significant features of changes in the Earth's biosphere during the modern period of climate warming. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, warming climate, and land use changes are the main drivers affecting global vegetation greening.
Under the long-term warming ... Read more ...
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Diversity and Productivity Go Branch-in-Branch:
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| Diversity and Productivity Go Branch-in-Branch - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Climate change can be characterized as the Grim Reaper or some other harbinger of dire times for humanity and natural environment, including forests. Previous studies reporting a decline in forest productivity due to climate warming and long-term drought may suggest that trees' survival hangs in the balance.
Now, a study by an international group, including Kyoto University, found that forests with higher trait diversity not only adapt better to climate change but may also thrive.
The study, conducted by researchers from Lakehead University, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, and Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, unveiled how tree functional ... Read more ...
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Electric cars and digital connectivity dominate at Beijing auto show:
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| Electric cars and digital connectivity dominate at Beijing auto show - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · Global automakers and EV startups unveiled new models and concept cars at China's largest auto show on Thursday, with a focus on the nation's transformation into a major market and production base for digitally connected, new-energy vehicles.
Toyota and Nissan both announced tie-ups with major Chinese technology companies as they strive to meet customer demand for AI-enabled online connectivity in cars, from social media apps to autonomous driving features.
Electric vehicles accounted for about a quarter of all auto sales in China last year. Hybrids, which have trailed EVs, are expected to be a growing segment going forward.
China's largest EV maker, BYD, showed ... Read more ...
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Energy trades could help resolve Nile conflict:
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| Energy trades could help resolve Nile conflict - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · Scientists have shed light on a new, transformative approach that could help resolve a dispute over the Nile river's water resources.
The Nile is one of the longest rivers globally and spreads over 11 countries in East Africa, supplying water, energy production, environmental quality and cultural wealth. However, the use of Nile resources has been a long-standing source of tension, often overshadowing opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit.
But as the demand for energy, water, and food in Africa is steadily increasing, the study, led by The University of Manchester in collaboration with regional organizations, offers a glimmer of hope at a ... Read more ...
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Engineers uncover key to efficient and stable organic solar cells:
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| Engineers uncover key to efficient and stable organic solar cells - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · Organic photovoltaics (OPV), which employs cost-effective, printable, and environmentally friendly polymer semiconductors, holds tremendous potential for generating sustainable and renewable energy. However, due to the soft nature of polymers, achieving OPV devices with both high efficiency and long operation stability has been a long-standing research challenge.
By investigating the ultrafast charge dynamics using femtosecond laser pulses, the researchers first discovered that controlling the degree of aggregation of the polymerized Y6 acceptors (Y6-PAs) plays a crucial role in promoting electricity generation.
This nanoscale percolation not only enhances charge ... Read more ...
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EPA’s New Power Plant Rules Have Dropped. What Happens Next?:
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| EPA’s New Power Plant Rules Have Dropped. What Happens Next? - Legal Planet |
Apr 25 · EPA has just issued a cluster of new rules designed to limit carbon emissions from power generators. Once upon a time, the presumption would have been that the rules would quietly go into effect, until someday a court rules on their validity. These days, we can expect a lot of action to be begin almost right away.
First, we are likely to lawsuits filed before opponents have even had a chance to read the new rules. Opponents see the new rules as vulnerable because the Supreme Court struck down Obama’s earlier rules in West Virginia v. EPA. (Here’s a brief explanation of that decision.) EPA believes - and I agree - that it has avoided the fatal flaw the Court saw in the ... Read more ...
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Estimating Emissions Potential of Decommissioned Gas Wells from Shale Samples:
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| Estimating Emissions Potential of Decommissioned Gas Wells from Shale Samples - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Extracting natural gas from shale formations can provide an abundant, lower-carbon footprint fossil fuel, but also creates concerns over increased methane emissions. A team led by Penn State researchers has developed a new tool that can estimate the emission potential of shale wells after they are no longer active.
The findings, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, revealed that methane begins diffusing from the shale formation after a well is decommissioned and that this represents a notable source of methane emissions -- comparable to the most significant emissions during drilling and operation of the well.
"Natural gas is an important energy ... Read more ...
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Fact Brief - Is Antarctica gaining land ice?:
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| Fact Brief - Is Antarctica gaining land ice? - Skeptical Science |
Apr 27 · Sea ice forms during the Antarctic winter and retreats during the warmer months. Such freeze-thaw cycles have no impact on sea levels since they happen within the ocean. However, Antarctic land ice has seen a net decrease, resulting in a significant increase in fresh water flowing into the sea. That does affect global sea levels.
The behavior of Antarctic land ice varies from region to region. In particular, the West Antarctic Peninsula has seen drastic ice retreat. On the other hand, East Antarctica's land ice has remained relatively stable to date. But if global warming crosses a specific threshold, serious loss is expected to occur. The planet has already moved a third of ... Read more ...
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Five Major Climate Policies Trump Would Probably Reverse if Elected:
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| Five Major Climate Policies Trump Would Probably Reverse if Elected - New York Times - Climate Section |
Apr 26 · He has called for increased oil production and said that electric vehicles will result in an 'assassination’ of jobs.
Former President Donald J. Trump has vowed to “cancel” President Biden’s policies for cutting pollution from fossil-fuel-burning power plants, “terminate” efforts to encourage electric vehicles, and “develop the liquid gold that is right under our feet” by promoting oil and gas.
Those changes and others that Mr. Trump has promised, if he were to win the presidency again, represent a 180-degree shift from Mr. Biden’s climate agenda.
When he was president, Mr. Trump reversed more than 100 environmental protections put in place by the Obama ... | By Lisa Friedman Read more ...
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Five things we learned at the China Auto Show:
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| Five things we learned at the China Auto Show - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · One of China's largest auto shows kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, with electric vehicle makers keen to show off their latest designs and high-tech accessories to consumers in the fiercely competitive market.
Here are the key developments from Auto China's first day of action:
The consumer tech giant is the latest entrant to China's cut-throat EV market, with its new SU7 model the star of the show.
Less than one month after its launch, almost 76,000 pre-orders have been placed, Xiaomi said, an accumulation of orders that will take months to deliver given its current production capacity.
Xiaomi boss Lei Jun was swarmed at Auto China on Thursday by legions of ... Read more ...
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Global battery rollout doubled last year – but needs to be six times faster, says IEA:
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| Global battery rollout doubled last year – but needs to be six times faster, says IEA - Guardian - Energy |
Apr 2 · Energy watchdog warns pace must accelerate to hit targets after new batteries increased capacity by 130%
The rollout of batteries across the global electricity industry more than doubled last year but will need to be six times faster if the world hopes to meet its renewable energy targets, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
A report from the global energy watchdog found that new batteries totalling 42 gigawatts (GW) were plugged into electricity systems around the world last year, increasing total capacity by more than 130% from the year before to 85GW.
However, the IEA warned that an estimated 1,500GW of energy storage would be required worldwide ... Read more ...
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Going with the flow: Research dives into electrodes on energy storage batteries:
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| Going with the flow: Research dives into electrodes on energy storage batteries - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 24 · Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have emerged as promising solutions for stationary grid energy storage due to their high efficiency, scalability, safety, near-room-temperature operation conditions, and the ability to size power and energy capacities independently. The redox reactions in a redox flow battery occur at the surfaces of the electrodes in contact with the electrolyte. Any modifications to the electrode surface can affect the electrochemical activity and affect the overall battery performance.
In an effort to extend the lifespans of VRFBs, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists and collaborators from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ... Read more ...
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Heavy rains and flooding kill dozens as extreme weather racks Kenya:
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| Heavy rains and flooding kill dozens as extreme weather racks Kenya - Washington Post - Climate and Environment |
Apr 25 · NAIROBI - Devastating floods during Kenya’s rainy season, aggravated by climate change, have killed at least 38 people and displaced thousands as rivers burst their banks and inundated low-income neighborhoods.
Social media sites were awash Thursday with images and videos of people on rooftops of submerged houses. Residents across Nairobi neighborhoods used boats to rescue those stranded by the rising floodwaters.
Venant Ndighila, the emergency response manager of the Kenya Red Cross, said 38 deaths and 11,275 displaced people have been reported across the country. He warned about accompanying risks, including disease outbreaks and the disruption of goods and ... | By Thursday evening, Kwamboka said, the volunteers had managed to get some clothes and blankets for most of the displaced in her area. “Now we have to see how the women and children will have dinner as we wait for tomorrow,” she said. Read more ...
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Herds of endangered hippos trapped in mud in drought-hit Botswana:
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| Herds of endangered hippos trapped in mud in drought-hit Botswana - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · Herds of endangered hippos stuck in the mud of dried-up ponds are in danger of dying in drought-struck Botswana, conservation authorities told AFP Friday.
Southern Africa has been affected by severe drought, caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has threatened harvests and plunged millions into hunger. Several countries in the region have recently declared a state of national disaster.
Near the vast wetlands of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana, the dried-up Thamalakane River has forced herds of hippos to head for natural water reserves close to the tourist town of Maun.
"The river system dries up and animals are in a compromised situation," said ... Read more ...
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Herring Arrives Earlier in the Wadden Sea Due to Climate Change:
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| Herring Arrives Earlier in the Wadden Sea Due to Climate Change - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Due to the changing climate, young herring arrive in the Wadden Sea earlier and earlier in spring. That is shown in a new publication by NIOZ ecologists Mark Rademaker, Myron Peck and Anieke van Leeuwen, in this month's journal Global Change Biology. "The fact that we were able to demonstrate this, was only due to very consistently, for more than 60 years, and continuously sampling the fish every spring and every fall with exactly the same fyke every time," Rademaker says. "Recognizing this kind of change requires extreme precision and endurance!"
NIOZ fyke
Since 1960, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, has been measuring the number and species of fish ... Read more ...
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High-energy-density capacitors with 2D nanomaterials could significantly enhance energy storage:
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| High-energy-density capacitors with 2D nanomaterials could significantly enhance energy storage - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 24 · Though the prototype device is just 1-inch by 1-inch, scaled-up versions of this innovation could potentially revolutionize energy storage systems across various industries, including medical, aviation, auto (EV), consumer electronics and defense.
Dielectric capacitors, critical components of electronic devices and energy storage systems, are known for their ability to discharge high amounts of energy quickly, making them crucial for high-power applications.
"High-energy and high-power capacitors are essential for a reliable power supply, especially as we shift to using more renewable energy sources. However, current dielectric capacitors don't store as much energy as ... Read more ...
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Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada:
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| Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · Japanese auto giant Honda announced Thursday the largest automotive investment in Canada's history, worth Can$15 billion (US$11 billion), for a massive new EV battery and vehicle assembly plant.
Honda chief executive Toshihiro Mibe told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other officials that electric vehicles (EVs) will start rolling off the new assembly line in 2028.
Once fully operational, the factory will have a production capacity of 240,000 vehicles per year, and a batteries output of 36 GWh per year.
"The world is changing rapidly, and we must work toward realizing carbon neutrality to sustain the global environment," Mibe ... Read more ...
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Honda Commits to E.V.s With Big Investment in Canada:
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| Honda Commits to E.V.s With Big Investment in Canada - New York Times - Climate Section |
Apr 25 · The Japanese automaker, which has been slow to sell electric vehicles, said it would invest $11 billion to make batteries and cars in Ontario.
Honda Motor on Thursday said it and several suppliers would invest $11 billion to build batteries and electric cars in Ontario, a significant commitment from a company that has been slow to embrace the technology.
Like Toyota and other Japanese carmakers, Honda has emphasized hybrid vehicles, in which gasoline engines are augmented by electric motors, rather than cars powered solely by batteries. The Honda Prologue, a sport-utility vehicle made in Mexico, is the company’s only fully electric vehicle on sale in the United ... | By Jack Ewing Read more ...
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How Abrupt U-Turns Are Defining U.S. Environmental Regulations:
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| How Abrupt U-Turns Are Defining U.S. Environmental Regulations - New York Times - Climate Section |
Apr 26 · The polarization of politics means that rules are imposed, gutted and restored with each election. Experts say that’s bad for the economy.
The Biden administration’s move on Thursday to strictly limit pollution from coal-burning power plants is a major policy shift. But in many ways it’s one more hairpin turn in a zigzag approach to environmental regulation in the United States, a pattern that has grown more extreme as the political landscape has become more polarized.
Nearly a decade ago, President Barack Obama was the Democrat who tried to force power plants to stop burning coal, the dirtiest of the fossil fuels. His Republican successor, Donald J. Trump, effectively ... | By Coral Davenport Read more ...
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How Brands Can Help Communities Thrive in a Changing Climate:
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| How Brands Can Help Communities Thrive in a Changing Climate - Sustainable Brands |
Apr 26 · While heat is the leading cause of weather-related illnesses and deaths in both Canada and the US, companies can explore nature-based solutions to help reverse this trend and foster spaces where people can thrive.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 2023 was the warmest year on record, recognizing many significant climate events. In Canada, communities were devastated by record-breaking heat.
Dense urban environments, along with outdoor workers, are disproportionally affected by extreme heat. Heat is the leading cause of weather-related illnesses and deaths in both Canada and the United States. While this data is troubling, ... Read more ...
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How electric vehicle drivers can escape range anxiety:
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| How electric vehicle drivers can escape range anxiety - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · Two of the biggest challenges faced by new and potential electric vehicle (EV) drivers are range anxiety and speed of charging, but these shouldn't have to be challenges at all. That is according to a study by Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and the University of Delaware, U.S. Researchers discovered that a change in refueling mindset, rather than improving the size or performance of the battery, could be the answer to these concerns.
The transition from filling up at a petrol station to recharging your electric vehicle in the most convenient location for you, requires a whole new way of thinking about refueling a car. However, new EV drivers often remain in their ... Read more ...
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How Electric Vehicle Drivers Can Escape Range Anxiety:
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| How Electric Vehicle Drivers Can Escape Range Anxiety - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Two of the biggest challenges faced by new and potential electric vehicle (EV) drivers are range anxiety and speed of charging, but these shouldn't have to be challenges at all. That is according to a study by Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and the University of Delaware, USA. Researchers discovered that a change in refuelling mindset, rather than improving the size or performance of the battery, could be the answer to these concerns.
The transition from filling up at a petrol station to recharging your electric vehicle in the most convenient location for you, requires a whole new way of thinking about refuelling a car. However, new EV drivers often remain in their ... Read more ...
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How groups execute the new plan could mean the difference between saving what’s left on Florida’s 360-mile-long coral reef and another summer of catastrophic loss.:
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| How groups execute the new plan could mean the difference between saving what’s left on Florida’s 360-mile-long coral reef and another summer of catastrophic loss. - Washington Post - Climate and Environment |
Apr 26 · In Florida, swaths of coral paint a colorful landscape across the ocean floor and serve a key role in its ecosystem.
But last summer, amid the longest marine heat wave in decades, many were scorched - drained of color and their survival left in question. It’s a scenario becoming much more common.
KEY LARGO, Fla.
With milk crates of corals in hand and scuba tanks strapped to their backs, Sam Burrell and his team disappeared under the water’s choppy surface. Heavy, breaking waves crashed against the charter boat anchored miles off the coast.
With each breath they let out, they descended beneath the surface and felt a sense of relief: On this November morning, ... Read more ...
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How marketing classes can rescue 'ugly produce' from becoming food waste:
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| How marketing classes can rescue 'ugly produce' from becoming food waste - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Indeed, some estimates suggest that approximately 40 percent of fruits and vegetables never even leave farms. Much of it gets rejected by wholesalers and retailers based on irregularities in weight, size or shape.
This desire for cosmetically appealing food also extends to consumers, as we often prefer picture-perfect produce. Unsurprisingly, this wanton waste takes a significant environmental toll, with an estimated eight to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions tied to unconsumed food.
Showing ugly produce some love
Some companies have taken strides to counter food waste. A prominent example in the United States is Misfits Market, which launched in ... Read more ...
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How much energy can offshore wind farms in the U.S. produce? New study sheds light:
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| How much energy can offshore wind farms in the U.S. produce? New study sheds light - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · For electric grid operators, knowing how much wind power these offshore turbines can harvest is critical, but making accurate predictions can be difficult. A team of CU Boulder scientists and their collaborators are working to tackle the challenge.
In a paper published March 14 in Wind Energy Science, a team led by Dave Rosencrans, a doctoral student, and Julie K. Lundquist, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences, estimates that offshore wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean region, where the U.S. plans to build large wind farms, could take away wind from other turbines nearby, potentially reducing the farms' power output by more than ... Read more ...
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How to access $6.97 billion from the EPA’s green bank:
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| How to access $6.97 billion from the EPA’s green bank - Greenbiz |
Apr 26 · The Climate United Coalition has billions of dollars to give out to advance decarbonization. Here’s how to qualify.
Invest in urban decarbonization. Graphic: Sophia Davirro
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the nonprofit organizations that will receive some of its $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, including $6.97 billion to the Climate United Coalition.
Comprising Calvert Impact, Community Preservation Corporation and Self-Help, Climate United specializes in making green loans to fund specific decarbonization projects while also transforming existing traditional mortgages and project financing markets into greener ... | By Leah Garden Read more ...
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In eco-minded California, there's still no constitutional right to clean air and water:
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| In eco-minded California, there's still no constitutional right to clean air and water - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · California may be a leader in the fight against climate change, but the state is years, even decades, behind other states when it comes to granting environmental rights to its citizens.
While a handful of other state constitutions, including those of New York and Pennsylvania, declare the people's rights to clean air, water and a healthy environment, California's does not.
That could change as soon as November. Under a proposal moving through the Legislature, voters would decide whether to add one sentence to the state constitution's Declaration of Rights: "The people shall have a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment."
The proposed green amendment ... Read more ...
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In south China, silkworm farmers reel from deadly floods:
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| In south China, silkworm farmers reel from deadly floods - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Hose in hand, 40-year-old Zhu Huangyi cleans a small concrete room once home to his silkworms, two thirds of which were lost in deadly floods hitting southern China this week.
Just two hours from the economic powerhouse and megacity of Guangzhou, surrounded by lush subtropical vegetation, lies the village of Sancun, one of the worst hit by the recent bad weather.
Around a quarter of households in the village make their living from raising silkworms, insects that secrete precious fibers essential to the textile industry.
Although the water levels had dropped by the time AFP arrived, it reached two meters in some areas - with devastating consequences for residents ... Read more ...
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Indian nuclear facilities found to have radioactive influence on Southern Tibetan Plateau:
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| Indian nuclear facilities found to have radioactive influence on Southern Tibetan Plateau - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · A study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters has shed light on the long-range transboundary transport of radioactive iodine-129 (129I) from the Indian nuclear fuel reprocessing plants (NFRPs) to the Southern Tibetan Plateau (STP).
This study, conducted by researchers from the Institute of Earth Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), provides a new understanding of the transport of airborne radioactive pollutants from low to high altitudes, and may have implications for environmental protection on the Tibetan Plateau.
The Tibetan Plateau, known as the "Third Pole of the Earth" and the "Roof of the World," is a remote, isolated, and ... Read more ...
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Indigenous lands feel cruel bite of green energy?transition:
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| Indigenous lands feel cruel bite of green energy?transition - Climate Change News - Land |
Apr 26 · Comment: Mining companies have been offered a path to sustainability but few are taking it – Indigenous people need to be at the table demanding change
Members of Indigenous organizations in the province of Cotopaxi protest against mining in their territories, in Latacunga, Ecuador, March 27, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Karen Toro)
Rukka Sombolinggi, a Torajan Indigenous woman from Sulawesi, Indonesia, is the first female Secretary General of AMAN, the world’s largest Indigenous peoples organization.
Gathered in NYC in mid-April, 87 Indigenous leaders from 35 countries met to hammer out a set of demands?to address a common scourge: the green energy transition that ... | By Rukka Sombolinggi? Read more ...
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Is Bipartisan Climate Policy Possible in the US?:
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| Is Bipartisan Climate Policy Possible in the US? - Sustainable Brands |
Apr 24 · The reality of climate change’s existence is not the debate that voters are interested in anymore: They have experienced it firsthand and care about solutions.
Well into a major global election year - and with climate, environment and energy measures all on the ballot - can climate action ever be bipartisan in the US?
Judging from the ways that legacy politicians and media talk about the climate crisis, it doesn’t seem possible: Climate solutions are pinned as part of the “liberal agenda,” painted as anti-business, and a keystone issue that fuels the cultural and political divide in the US.
But, if you talk to voters, it’s an entirely different story: Gone are the ... Read more ...
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Key Solar Panel Ingredient Is Made in the U.S.A. Again:
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| Key Solar Panel Ingredient Is Made in the U.S.A. Again - New York Times - Climate Section |
Apr 25 · REC Silicon says it will soon start shipping polysilicon, which has come mostly from China, reviving a Washington State factory that shut down in 2019.
Reporting from Moses Lake, Wash.
A factory in Moses Lake, Wash., that shut down in 2019 will soon resume shipping a critical ingredient used in most solar panels that for years has been made almost exclusively in China.
The revival of the factory, which is owned by REC Silicon, could help achieve a longstanding goal of many American lawmakers and energy executives to re-establish a complete domestic supply chain for solar panels and reduce the world’s reliance on plants in China and Southeast Asia.
REC Silicon ... | By Ivan Penn Read more ...
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Key to Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells:
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| Key to Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · A team of researchers led by Professor Philip C.Y. Chow from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has made a significant breakthrough in the field of organic photovoltaics.
Organic photovoltaics (OPV), which employs cost-effective, printable, and environmentally friendly polymer semiconductors, holds tremendous potential for generating sustainable and renewable energy. However, due to the soft nature of polymers, achieving OPV devices with both high efficiency and long operation stability has been a long-standing research challenge.
In response to this breakthrough, Prof Philip C.Y. Chow expressed his enthusiasm, stating: "Our ... Read more ...
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Large methane mitigation potential through prioritized closure of gas-rich coal mines:
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| Large methane mitigation potential through prioritized closure of gas-rich coal mines - Nature Climate Change |
Apr 25 · Large-scale closure of coal mines is required for China to achieve carbon neutrality. However, what this means for methane emissions, particularly for abandoned mine methane (AMM), is highly uncertain. Here we construct a detailed and dynamic coal mine database to estimate China’s coal methane emissions during 2011–2019 and evaluate future emission trajectories based on different mine closure policies. We find that AMM emissions have been largely underestimated, which leads to an increased proportion of AMM in China’s total coal methane emissions, and are expected to become the dominant source by 2035. We develop a coal mine closure strategy prioritizing high-gas-content mines. ... Read more ...
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LGBTQ People Face Greater Climate Risks:
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| LGBTQ People Face Greater Climate Risks - Legal Planet |
Apr 26 · In August of 2005 when Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi, the combination of torrential rain and flawed infrastructure proved deadly. More than 1,800 people died and the price tag for the damage quickly rose to the tens of billions of dollars. In the chaotic disaster response that followed, several communities were disproportionately vulnerable to discrimination during recovery. Among them: LGBTQ residents. They were often overlooked in local and national relief efforts, which routinely failed to recognize households of same-sex couples as “families.” Some LGBTQ families faced separation during resettlement. Many more people struggled to apply for relief ... Read more ...
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Limiting frontline voices in the Loss and Damage Fund is a recipe for disaster:
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| Limiting frontline voices in the Loss and Damage Fund is a recipe for disaster - Climate Change News - Finance |
Apr 26 · Comment: Representatives of groups hardest-hit by the climate crisis say restrictions on their participation at the fund’s first board meeting set a worrying precedent
Youth and other civil society groups hold a protest calling for a full, funded and fair transition away from fossil fuels at the COP28 climate summit venue in Dubai, UAE on December 12, 2023. (Photo: Megan Rowling)
Isatis M. Cintron-Rodriguez is a Puerto Rican climate scientist and staff associate at Columbia University’s Earth Institute. Liane Schalatek is associate director at the Heinrich Boell Stiftung Washington with expertise in UN climate funds and finance. Lien Vandamme is senior ... | By Liane Schalatek, Lien Vandamme and Isatis Cintron-Rodriguez Read more ...
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Long-term research shows herring arrive earlier in the Wadden Sea due to climate change:
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| Long-term research shows herring arrive earlier in the Wadden Sea due to climate change - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · Due to the changing climate, young herring arrive in the Wadden Sea earlier and earlier in spring. That is shown in a new publication by NIOZ ecologists Mark Rademaker, Myron Peck, and Anieke van Leeuwen in Global Change Biology.
"The fact that we were able to demonstrate this was only due to very consistently - for more than 60 years - and continuously sampling the fish every spring and every fall with exactly the same fyke [net] every time," Rademaker says. "Recognizing this kind of change requires extreme precision and endurance."
Since 1960, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, has been measuring the number and species of fish that swim in the ... Read more ...
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Mask-inspired perovskite smart windows enhance weather resistance and energy efficiency:
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| Mask-inspired perovskite smart windows enhance weather resistance and energy efficiency - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · To overcome these challenges, researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) developed a breathable, weather-resistant, low-haze perovskite smart window inspired by medical masks, pushing forward the wide applications of smart windows in green buildings.
The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications in a paper titled "Mask-inspired moisture-transmitting and durable thermochromic perovskite smart windows."
"This mask-inspired window structure design addresses the key issues of poor weather resistance and high optical haze that have long plagued thermochromic perovskite smart windows," explained by Professor Edwin Tso Chi-yan, Associate ... Read more ...
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NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet:
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| NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 27 · NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense.
The most distant spacecraft from Earth stopped sending back understandable data last November. Flight controllers traced the blank communication to a bad computer chip and rearranged the spacecraft's coding to work around the trouble.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California declared success after receiving good engineering updates late last week. The team is still working to restore transmission of the science data.
It takes 22 1/2 hours to send a signal to Voyager 1, more than 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) away in interstellar space. The signal travel time is ... Read more ...
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Nature conservation works, and we're getting better at it, says new study:
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| Nature conservation works, and we're getting better at it, says new study - PHYS.ORG - Biology |
Apr 26 · Trends in nature conservation tend to be measured in terms of "biodiversity"—that is, the variety among living organisms from genes to ecosystems. We treasure biodiversity not only for how it enriches society and culture, but also its underpinning of resilient, functioning ecosystems that are a foundation of the global economy.
However, it is well known that global biodiversity is decreasing, and has been for some time. Is anything we are doing to reverse this trend effective?
As part of a team of researchers, we conducted the most comprehensive analysis yet of what happened when conservationists intervened in ecosystems. These were interventions of all types, all ... Read more ...
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New algorithm cuts through 'noisy' data to better predict tipping points:
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| New algorithm cuts through 'noisy' data to better predict tipping points - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · Changes in data, from wildlife population to anxiety levels, can be an early warning signal that a system is reaching a critical threshold, known as a tipping point, in which those changes may accelerate or even become irreversible.
But which data points matter most? And which are simply just noise?
A new algorithm developed by University at Buffalo researchers can identify the most predictive data points that a tipping point is near. Detailed in Nature Communications, this theoretical framework uses the power of stochastic differential equations to observe the fluctuation of data points, or nodes, and then determine which should be used to calculate an early warning signal. Read more ...
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New approach could make reusing captured carbon far cheaper, less energy-intensive:
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| New approach could make reusing captured carbon far cheaper, less energy-intensive - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · Their approach dramatically reduces the cost and energy required for these direct air capture (DAC) systems, helping improve the economics of a process the researchers said will be critical to addressing climate change.
The key is a new kind of catalyst and electrochemical reactor design that can be easily integrated into existing DAC systems to produce useful carbon monoxide (CO) gas. It's one of the most efficient such design ever described in scientific literature, according to lead researcher Marta Hatzell and her team. They have published the details in Energy & Environmental Science.
"All of my team's research projects focus on decarbonization, which I care about ... Read more ...
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New dataset sheds light on relationship of far-red sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to canopy-level photosynthesis:
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| New dataset sheds light on relationship of far-red sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to canopy-level photosynthesis - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · One promising method for assessing photosynthetic activity is through the measurement of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence, a byproduct of photosynthesis that can be detected from ground-based sensors as well as from satellites in space.
A study led by Genghong Wu, a Ph.D. student advised by Agroecosystem Sustainability Center (ASC) director Kaiyu Guan, and colleagues has utilized ground-based instruments to measure far-red sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) and various vegetation indices (VIs) that reflect plant health and activity. It compiled 15 site-years of SIF and VIs data from various crops (corn, soybean, and miscanthus) over a span of six years (2016-2021) ... Read more ...
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New process quickly transforms livestock manure into biochar:
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| New process quickly transforms livestock manure into biochar - PHYS.ORG - Biology |
Apr 26 · A technology has been developed to quickly convert livestock manure, a significant issue in animal farming, into valuable "black gold" rich in carbon within a day.
Dr. Yoo Ji-ho and his research team from the Clean Air Research Laboratory of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have developed a process that immediately converts livestock manure into biochar (biomass and charcoal) at livestock farms. Using the process developed by the research team, it is possible to convert 10 tons of livestock manure into biochar in a single day.
As of 2022, the amount of livestock manure produced was about 50 million tons, of which 87% is used as compost and liquid fertilizer ... Read more ...
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New research predicts peak groundwater extraction for key basins around the globe:
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| New research predicts peak groundwater extraction for key basins around the globe - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Scientists at Pacific Northwest and Oak Ridge national laboratories examined water, energy and food systems for 235 basins under 900 scenarios to analyze patterns in nonrenewable groundwater usage over the 21st century, as detailed in an article published in Nature Sustainability.
"The world's not running out of water, but how and where we source it looks likely to shift in the coming decades as major groundwater sources become unviable," said Sean Turner, a water resources analyst at ORNL.
Regions with the greatest current rates of depletion, including some in the United States, are more likely to face higher groundwater and food production costs by mid-century. The ... Read more ...
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New rule compels US coal-fired power plants to capture emissions – or shut down:
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| New rule compels US coal-fired power plants to capture emissions – or shut down - Guardian - Energy |
Apr 2 · New EPA directive will cut pollution equivalent to the emissions of 328m cars, but industry group decries it as a 'reckless plan’
Coal-fired power plants would be forced to capture smokestack emissions or shut down under a rule issued on Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
New limits on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric plants are the Biden administration’s most ambitious effort yet to roll back planet-warming pollution from the power sector, the nation’s second-largest contributor to the climate crisis. The rules are a key part of Joe Biden’s pledge to eliminate carbon pollution from the electricity sector by 2035 and ... Read more ...
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Philippine settlement submerged by dam reappears due to drought:
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| Philippine settlement submerged by dam reappears due to drought - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · A centuries-old settlement submerged by the construction of a dam in the northern Philippines in the 1970s has reappeared as water levels drop due to a drought affecting swathes of the country.
The ruins in the middle of Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija province are a tourist draw, even as the region swelters in extreme heat.
Parts of a church, municipal hall marker and tombstones began to resurface in March after several months of "almost no rain", said Marlon Paladin, a supervising engineer for the National Irrigation Administration.
It is the sixth time the nearly 300-year-old settlement has resurfaced since the reservoir was created to provide irrigation water ... Read more ...
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Proof of concept study shows path to easier recycling of solar modules:
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| Proof of concept study shows path to easier recycling of solar modules - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · The welds would eliminate the need for plastic polymer sheets that are now laminated into solar modules but make recycling more difficult. At the end of their useful lifespan, the modules made with the laser welds can be shattered. The glass and metal wires running through the solar cells can be easily recycled and the silicon can be reused.
"Most recyclers will confirm that the polymers are the main issue in terms of inhibiting the process of recycling," said David Young, senior scientist and group manager for the High-Efficiency Crystalline Photovoltaics group in the Chemistry and Nanoscience department at NREL. Young is lead author of a new paper outlining the use of laser ... Read more ...
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Reducing operation emissions and improving work efficiency using a pure electric wheel drive tractor:
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| Reducing operation emissions and improving work efficiency using a pure electric wheel drive tractor - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · These scenarios require electric tractors to be able to adapt to complex drive and operating environments, putting higher requirements on the design of electric tractors and their control systems. Therefore, improving the operating efficiency of electric tractors and giving full play to their traction capacity have become urgent breakthrough issues.
Specifically, existing tractors suffer from reduced traction efficiency, low fuel efficiency, and high greenhouse gas emissions when plowing on complex field surfaces.
These issues are manifested as follows: high wheel slip due to the inability to achieve differential torque distribution between the left and right drive ... Read more ...
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Researchers outline path forward for tandem solar cells:
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| Researchers outline path forward for tandem solar cells - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · The vast majority of solar modules in use today rely on a single junction, which is able to absorb only a fraction of the solar spectrum and thus are limited to how efficient they can be. Tandem solar cells, which consist of two or more junctions, hold the potential to reach much higher efficiencies. Because tandems are stacked on top of each other, the total area a module requires decreases—in turn, raising the efficiency and potentially lowering the total system cost.
Kirstin Alberi, the lead author of the journal article, titled "A Roadmap for Tandem Photovoltaics," said high-efficiency III-V multijunction solar cells have been available for decades but at small ... Read more ...
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Scientists combine a spatially distributed sediment delivery model and biogeochemical model to estimate fluxes by water:
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| Scientists combine a spatially distributed sediment delivery model and biogeochemical model to estimate fluxes by water - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · However, due to an insufficient transfer of knowledge regarding soil erosion and carbon dynamics from smaller to larger scales, existing models at a large temporal and spatial scale present conflicting views on whether the net impact of erosion on carbon cycling acts as a carbon source or sink.
In a study published in Science China Earth Sciences, researchers led by Prof. Li Zhongwu from the School of Geographic Science, Hunan Normal University, together with collaborators, have introduced an approach that combined a spatially distributed sediment delivery model and biogeochemical model to simulate erosion-induced soil organic carbon dynamic, confirming water erosion acts as a ... Read more ...
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Scientists confine, study Chinook at restored Snoqualmie River habitat:
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| Scientists confine, study Chinook at restored Snoqualmie River habitat - PHYS.ORG - Biology |
Apr 25 · In newly restored river channels on the Snoqualmie, baby Chinook salmon are confined in 19 enclosures about the size of large suitcases as they munch on little crustaceans and invertebrate insects floating or swimming by.
What's in the salmon's stomachs, tracked by scientists, could hold clues about the species' survival.
The river channels near Fall City were excavated with heavy machinery and restored over the past two years - as part of the biggest habitat restoration project completed by King County. The channels span nearly a mile and give the river room to widen and narrow and, crucially, provide slow-moving water with logs and plants in which juvenile salmon can ... Read more ...
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Scientists discover higher levels of CO2 increase survival of viruses in the air and transmission risk:
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| Scientists discover higher levels of CO2 increase survival of viruses in the air and transmission risk - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · Lead author Dr. Allen Haddrell, Senior Research Associate in Aerosol Science at the University's School of Chemistry, said, "We knew SARS-CoV-2, like other viruses, spreads through the air we breathe. But this study represents a huge breakthrough in our understanding of exactly how and why that happens, and crucially, what can be done to stop it.
"It shows that opening a window may be more powerful than originally thought, especially in crowded and poorly ventilated rooms, as fresh air will have a lower concentration of CO2, causing the virus to become inactivated much faster.
"But it also highlights the importance of our global net zero goals because the research ... Read more ...
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Scientists discover method to prevent coalescence in immiscible liquids:
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| Scientists discover method to prevent coalescence in immiscible liquids - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes how experiments they conducted led to the discovery of a way to get some fluids such as water and oil, to remain as an emulsion for long periods of time without the use of surfactants.
It is widely known that when two immiscible liquids, such as water and oil are mixed, they do not remain so for very long—they slowly separate into two layers. This is because they never really mix to begin with; instead, they coexist as droplets that coalesce when they come into contact with one another.
Because of this, chemists have developed various surfactants that force such liquids to remain "mixed" for some ... Read more ...
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Scientists Released Long-Term Data of Ground Solar-Induced Fluorescence to Improve Understanding of Canopy-Level Photosynthesis:
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| Scientists Released Long-Term Data of Ground Solar-Induced Fluorescence to Improve Understanding of Canopy-Level Photosynthesis - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · In recent years, the scientific community has increasingly turned its attention to sustainable agriculture, aiming to maximize crop yield while minimizing environmental impact. A crucial aspect of this research involves understanding the fundamental processes of plant photosynthesis and how they can be monitored at scale. One promising method for assessing photosynthetic activity is through the measurement of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence, a byproduct of photosynthesis that can be detected from ground-based sensors as well as from satellites in space.
The study led by Genghong Wu, a PhD student advised by Agroecosystem Sustainability Center (ASC) director Kaiyu Guan, ... Read more ...
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Scientists say voluntary corporate emissions targets not enough to create real climate action:
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| Scientists say voluntary corporate emissions targets not enough to create real climate action - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Relying on emissions can favor more established companies and hinder innovation, say the authors, who suggest updating regulations to improve corporate climate action.
The paper, published today in Science, is by an international team led by Utrecht University, which includes Imperial College London researchers.
Lead author of the study Dr. Yann Robiou Du Pont, from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, said, "Assessing the climate ambition of companies based only on their emissions reductions may not be meaningful for emerging companies working on green innovation."
Companies can set individual climate goals, typically ... Read more ...
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Scientists use 'leaf glow' to understand changing climate:
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| Scientists use 'leaf glow' to understand changing climate - PHYS.ORG - Biology |
Apr 25 · Leaf glow, formally known as solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), is a natural byproduct of photosynthesis. This emitted light is invisible to human eyes, but advances in sensing technology over the last decade have enabled scientists to observe this phenomenon from satellites, airplanes and field towers.
Recently published in Current Climate Change Reports, the research shows:
"Developing accurate monitoring tools is urgently needed—we are already seeing more thawing permafrost, increased wildfire frequency and intensity, higher risks to droughts, and insect outbreaks," said author Rui Cheng, an assistant professor in the Department of Bioproducts and ... Read more ...
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Securing Competitiveness of Energy-Intensive Industries Through Relocation: The Pulling Power of Renewables:
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| Securing Competitiveness of Energy-Intensive Industries Through Relocation: The Pulling Power of Renewables - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Countries with limited potential for renewables could save up to 20 percent of costs for green steel and up to 40 percent for green chemicals from green hydrogen if they relocated their energy-intensive production and would import from countries where renewable energy is cheaper, finds a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). This 'renewables pull' would create strong incentives for businesses to invest in low-emission production facilities in these renewable-rich countries. Renewable-scarce countries could put all focus on down-stream production and refinement as the smart way to secure industrial competitiveness.
"Our new study shows that ... Read more ...
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Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year:
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| Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year - Skeptical Science |
Apr 26 · This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any).
This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes a few interview snippets with John Cook and John Mason while a longer version of the interview is available on subscription based Nebula.
Support Simon Clark on patreon: https://patreon.com/simonoxfphys
THE ESCALATOR (free to republish) Read more ...
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Solar geoengineering to cool the planet: Is it worth the risks?:
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| Solar geoengineering to cool the planet: Is it worth the risks? - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Most of the current attention is focused on solar geoengineering, a strategy that involves reflecting sunlight away from Earth to cool the Earth. How much do we know about it and its risks? And where should we take it from here?
Why the growing support for solar geoengineering research?
For many years, all geoengineering research was discouraged by many scientists and experts for fear it would provide an excuse not to cut emissions. Some right-wing politicians such as Newt Gingrich promoted it as a way to reduce global warming without having to cut emissions. Geoengineering research is also controversial because there were and still are many uncertainties about its ... Read more ...
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Some anglers say Rhode Island’s Block Island wind farm has improved fishing:
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| Some anglers say Rhode Island’s Block Island wind farm has improved fishing - Yale Climate Connections - Energy |
Apr 26 · Stay in the know about climate impacts and solutions. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Yale Climate Connections
Off the coast of Rhode Island, anglers fish for striped bass, fluke, and mahi-mahi.
Smythe: “Recreational angling is a prominent, very important use of our coastal waters. It is an economically, socially, culturally important activity.”
So Tiffany Smythe of the United States Coast Guard Academy says it’s important to know how anglers feel about fishing near offshore wind turbines.
Her team surveyed about 200 recreational anglers about the Block Island Wind Farm - the nation’s first offshore wind farm.
Smythe: “We found, overall, a ... Read more ...
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Spring snow, sparkling in the sun, can reveal more than just good skiing conditions:
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| Spring snow, sparkling in the sun, can reveal more than just good skiing conditions - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · A lot, according to Mathieu Nguyen. He has just defended his doctoral thesis on the optical properties of snow at NTNU in Gjøvik.
"Snow reflects all wavelengths of light and can have very different colors depending on the conditions and the angle at which light hits it. The age and density of the snow and air pollution also affect what it looks like. Snow's appearance is a very complicated matter," Nguyen says.
He has analyzed over a thousand images of snow. The findings are published in the journal Geosciences.
"This type of method can be used in a number of sensor technologies that include everything from giving us a better decision-making basis for when ... Read more ...
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Study says it's likely a warmer world made deadly Dubai downpours heavier:
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| Study says it's likely a warmer world made deadly Dubai downpours heavier - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Between 10% and 40% more rain fell in just one day last week—killing at least two dozen people in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and parts of Saudi Arabia—than it would have in a world without the 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) warming that has come from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas since the mid-19th century, scientists at World Weather Attribution said Thursday in a flash study that is too new to be peer-reviewed.
In at least one spot, a record 11 inches (28.6 centimeters) of rain fell in just 24 hours, more than twice the yearly average, paralyzing the usually bustling city of skyscrapers in a desert.
One of the key tools in WWA's ... Read more ...
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Study shows climate change impact on China's dry–wet transition zones:
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| Study shows climate change impact on China's dry–wet transition zones - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · Climate change is significantly altering bioclimatic environments in China's dry–wet transition zones, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Hydrology.
The study examines how vegetation ecosystems respond and adapt to climate change, alongside the effects of soil water and heat processes. Bioclimatic environment change acts as a crucial link between climate change and local conditions affecting vegetation ecosystems.
"In areas where current vegetation models fall short, bioclimatic indicators offer an alternative for studying climate change impacts on ecological environments," notes Dr. Mingxing Li, the lead author of the study.
The study ... Read more ...
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Study shows the longer spilled oil lingers in freshwater, the more persistent compounds it produces:
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| Study shows the longer spilled oil lingers in freshwater, the more persistent compounds it produces - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · And, according to research published in Energy & Fuels, the longer that oil remains in freshwater, the more chemical changes it undergoes, creating products that can persist in the environment.
Approximately 600,000 gallons of oil were accidentally spilled into the environment in 2023, according to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, a group that monitors oil spills. This figure represents ocean spills as well as freshwater spills in rivers and lakes. Over time, this oil weathers and undergoes a variety of chemical transformations, which could make compounds that are more soluble in water and stick around longer.
Weathering in salt water is reasonably ... Read more ...
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Synthesis of two new carbides provides perspective on how complex carbon structures could exist on other planets:
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| Synthesis of two new carbides provides perspective on how complex carbon structures could exist on other planets - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Carbides are compounds of carbon and another chemical element. The newly synthesized carbides resemble metal-organic-like compounds and can offer new insight into the behavior of complex carbon structures under extremely high pressures and high temperatures.
The possible existence or formation of such compounds at conditions of planets' interiors may have important implications for geosciences and astrobiology, as they could be the origin of hydrocarbons and could play a role in the origin of life.
Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Leonid Dubrovinsky from the Bavarian Geoinstitute and Prof. Dr. Natalia Dubrovinskaia from the Laboratory of Crystallography at the ... Read more ...
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Targeted culling of starfish found to help Great Barrier Reef maintain or increase cover:
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| Targeted culling of starfish found to help Great Barrier Reef maintain or increase cover - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · In their paper published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, the group describes how they conducted culling operations on several parts of the Great Barrier Reef and then studied the results to learn about how such activity can benefit coral reefs in general.
Another factor in their reduction is the growing population of starfish, such as the crown-of-thorns. Just one of them, a meter in diameter, can eat 10 square meters of coral every year. In this new effort, the research team focused on helping coral survive in the Great Barrier Reef by reducing the number of starfish in the area.
To reduce the number of starfish, the research team engaged in a culling effort, which ... Read more ...
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Team develops new testing system for carbon capture in fight against global warming:
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| Team develops new testing system for carbon capture in fight against global warming - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · Now, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) aims to facilitate the development of this rapidly emerging technology that the International Energy Agency (IEA) says will be a "key technology" for combating global warming.
NIST scientists have developed a high-precision testing apparatus for benchmarking the performance of the materials, called sorbents, used in DAC plants to trap and remove carbon from the air.
The apparatus will enable the agency to develop research-grade test material (RGTM) sorbents for the DAC industry. These reference materials will be tested in the apparatus and validated to remove a certain amount of CO2 from a given amount of ... Read more ...
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Tensions rise over who will contribute to new climate finance goal:
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| Tensions rise over who will contribute to new climate finance goal - Climate Change News - Politics |
Apr 25 · Germany wants all high-emitters, especially among G20 countries, to pitch in. But China and Saudi Arabia say the responsibility lies with developed nations
COP29 incoming president Mukhtar Babayev and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock attend the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Germany. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen
As negotiations over a new global climate finance goal move into a higher gear, divisions are sharpening over who should be required to cough up the money needed to help vulnerable countries shift to clean energy and build resilience to climate change.
For German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, all “those who can” – and “in particular ... | By Matteo Civillini Read more ...
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The end of coral reefs as we know them:
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| The end of coral reefs as we know them - VOX -Environment |
Apr 26 · The biodiversity crisis, explained
More than five years ago, the world’s top climate scientists made a frightening prediction: If the planet warms by 1.5 degrees Celsius, relative to preindustrial times, 70 to 90 percent of coral reefs globally would die off. At 2°C, that number jumps to more than 99 percent.
In not so great news, the planet is now approaching that 1.5°C mark. In 2023, the hottest year ever measured, the average global temperature was 1.52°C above the preindustrial average, as my colleague Umair Irfan reported. That doesn’t mean Earth has officially blown past this important threshold - typically, scientists measure these sorts of averages over decades, ... Read more ...
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The fight over the future of plastics:
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| The fight over the future of plastics - New York Times - Climate Section |
Apr 25 · Subscriber-only Newsletter
Climate Forward
As countries negotiate a landmark agreement to reduce plastic pollution, the industry is fighting a battle over regulations and over its image.
Earlier this week in Ottawa, the Vinyl Institute, a major plastic industry group, hosted a reception for delegates who are negotiating what would be the first global treaty to tackle the world’s mounting plastic waste problem.
There were cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. And signs with the message that plastics save lives.
Scientists have increasingly raised the alarm over the risks that the chemicals used in plastic pose to human health and the environment. Ahead of the ... | By Hiroko Tabuchi Read more ...
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The Indian villagers who lost their homes to the sea:
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| The Indian villagers who lost their homes to the sea - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 26 · The gentle roar of the ocean lulled Indian mother-of-two Banita Behra to sleep each night, until one day the encroaching tide reached her doorstep.
Behra is among hundreds of people from the disappearing and largely abandoned coastal village of Satabhaya, whose displaced former residents have been officially recognized by the government as climate migrants.
She grew up watching helplessly with her neighbors as rising seas, driven by climate change and upriver dams, slowly claimed the land around them.
"We were doing well there. We used to catch fish," the 34-year-old told AFP. "But the sea came nearer and took away our homes."
Satabhaya is the hardest-hit of ... Read more ...
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The Longer Spilled Oil Lingers in Freshwater, the More Persistent Compounds It Produces:
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| The Longer Spilled Oil Lingers in Freshwater, the More Persistent Compounds It Produces - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Oil is an important natural resource for many industries, but it can lead to serious environmental damage when accidentally spilled. While large oil spills are highly publicized, every year there are many smaller-scale spills into lakes, rivers and oceans. And, according to research published in ACS' Energy & Fuels, the longer that oil remains in freshwater, the more chemical changes it undergoes, creating products that can persist in the environment.
Approximately 600,000 gallons of oil were accidentally spilled into the environment in 2023, according to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, a group that monitors oil spills. This figure represents ocean spills ... Read more ...
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The rise of microbial cheaters in iron-limited environments: Study reveals their evolutionary history:
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| The rise of microbial cheaters in iron-limited environments: Study reveals their evolutionary history - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Among microbial communities, chemicals that are secreted into the environment provide opportunities for both cooperation and exploitation, giving rise in some cases to microbial "cheaters." These cheaters exploit the cooperative behaviors of their counterparts, benefitting from the secreted compounds without paying the metabolic costs of production.
In a new article published in Molecular Biology and Evolution, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Vanderbilt University reveal the evolutionary history of secreted iron uptake molecules in yeasts, shedding new light on the cooperative and competitive dynamics that shape iron-limited microbial ... Read more ...
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The UK's Climate Change Act, once the envy of the world, faces a stress test:
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| The UK's Climate Change Act, once the envy of the world, faces a stress test - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Does that mean that targets for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gas driving climate change are worthless? Not necessarily. There are two types of climate target: the empty promise and the calculated ambition. Only one of these works.
Empty promises abound in climate policy. Such targets deflect criticism—look, they say, we take climate change seriously, we have a strong target. But a closer look reveals, at best, loopholes and at worst, no plan at all.
For example, despite numerous oil and gas companies pledging to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, an extensive analysis revealed that emissions from the sector aren't falling and most companies with targets ... Read more ...
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The week in climate policy: 4 updates you need to know:
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| The week in climate policy: 4 updates you need to know - Greenbiz |
Apr 26 · Biden Administration reveals billions saved by companies due to the Inflation Reduction Act; Local governments in Wyoming bypass governor’s refusal to apply for decarbonization funding.
President Joe Biden delivers a speech. Photo: Shutterstock/Spike Johnson
[Continue the conversation on climate policy at Circularity 24 (May 22-24, Chicago), the leading conference for professionals building the circular economy.] | By Leah Garden Read more ...
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This New Biden Rule Will Save Americans $2 Billion On Utility Bills:
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| This New Biden Rule Will Save Americans $2 Billion On Utility Bills - Huffington Post |
Apr 26 · The Biden administration has finalized a major rule change that raises the bar for real estate developers who want newly built homes to qualify for U.S. government-backed loans, laying the groundwork for a massive overhaul in the way Americans build houses.
Regulators issued a final determination Thursday that the breakthrough energy codes that dramatically increased the efficiency of new homes but caused a firestorm in the construction industry met the federal government’s standards for keeping housing affordable and slashing utility bills.
Meeting those codes is now set to become the baseline criteria for qualifying for federal loans from the Department of Housing and ... Read more ...
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This technology didn’t cause Dubai’s floods, scientists say. Here’s why.:
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| This technology didn’t cause Dubai’s floods, scientists say. Here’s why. - Washington Post - Climate and Environment |
Apr 17 · After nearly two years’ worth of rain flooded the Dubai region Tuesday, attention quickly shifted to cloud seeding and whether it could have been a factor in the deluge. The geoengineering technology has successfully produced rainfall over the arid United Arab Emirates in the past.
But scientists said the downpour was a product of weather patterns that meteorological models predicted as much as a week earlier. Climate research has shown that such intense precipitation across the Arabian Peninsula could become more frequent and extreme because of warming global temperatures.
The UAE National Center of Meteorology told CNBC it did not conduct any cloud-seeding operations ... Read more ...
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Understanding the impact of environmental factors on molded fiber products:
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| Understanding the impact of environmental factors on molded fiber products - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · In a study published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, a group of researchers from China has outlined some mathematical models of the mechanical parameters of MFP they constructed. The change of mechanical parameters of MFP with moisture content (MC) was described, and the change of MC with temperature and humidity was described by the moisture sorption isotherm.
"The preparation of MFP often requires the first preparation of the mold, but the time and labor cost of repeatedly preparing the mold verification are too high. These costs can be greatly reduced by the method of numerical simulation, and the mechanical parameters of the material are essential in the ... Read more ...
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Underwater robot pioneers new energy-efficient buoyancy control:
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| Underwater robot pioneers new energy-efficient buoyancy control - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · A remotely operated underwater robot built by a team of Rice University engineering students pioneers a new way to control buoyancy via water-splitting fuel cells. The device, designed and constructed at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen over the course of a year-long senior design capstone class, offers a more power-efficient method of maintaining neutral buoyancy—a critical component in underwater operations.
The robot serves as proof-of-concept for the potential of fuel cell-based buoyancy control devices (BCDs) to reduce operating costs for remotely operated or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with potential applications ranging from environmental monitoring ... Read more ...
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US probes whether Tesla Autopilot recall did enough to make sure drivers pay attention:
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| US probes whether Tesla Autopilot recall did enough to make sure drivers pay attention - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 26 · The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website Friday that Tesla has reported 20 more crashes involving Autopilot and since the recall. The crashes and agency tests raised concerns about the effectiveness of the remedy. The recall involved more than 2 million vehicles, nearly all the vehicles that Tesla had sold at the time.
The agency pushed the company to do the recall after a two-year investigation into Autopilot's driver monitoring system, which measures torque on the steering wheel from a driver's hands. In the probe, the agency was looking at multiple cases in which Teslas on Autopilot ran into emergency vehicles parked on ... Read more ...
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Using sodium to develop rechargeable batteries may bolster the EU's green ambitions:
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| Using sodium to develop rechargeable batteries may bolster the EU's green ambitions - PHYS.ORG - Technology |
Apr 25 · The idea behind sodium-ion batteries is to reduce Europe's reliance on the lithium-ion ones that power everything from toothbrushes and mobile phones to mopeds and cars.
Today's batteries include materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt that are both scarce and toxic, whereas sodium is one of the most plentiful elements on Earth.
"Sodium-ion batteries are based on more abundant and safer materials than lithium-ion batteries," said Abou-Rjeily. "There's not enough lithium ions and cobalt and nickel to meet everyone's needs."
He is a research and development engineer at Tiamat, which designs and manufactures sodium-ion batteries.
Abou-Rjeily led a research ... Read more ...
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Voluntary Corporate Emissions Targets Not Enough to Create Real Climate Action:
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| Voluntary Corporate Emissions Targets Not Enough to Create Real Climate Action - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Companies' emissions reduction targets should not be the sole measure of corporate climate ambition, according to a new perspective paper.
Relying on emissions can favour more established companies and hinder innovation, say the authors, who suggest updating regulations to improve corporate climate action.
The paper, published today in Science, is by an international team led by Utrecht University, which includes Imperial College London researchers.
Lead author of the study Dr Yann Robiou Du Pont, from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, said: "Assessing the climate ambition of companies based only on their emissions ... Read more ...
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Warming Arctic Reduces Dust Levels in Parts of the Planet:
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| Warming Arctic Reduces Dust Levels in Parts of the Planet - Science Daily - Earth and Climate |
Apr 24 · Dust can have a huge impact on local air quality, food security, energy supply and public health. Previous studies have found that dust levels are decreasing across India, particularly northern India, the Persian Gulf Coast and much of the Middle East, but the reason has remained unclear. SEAS researchers found that the decrease in dust can be attributed to the Arctic warming much faster than the rest of the planet, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. This process destabilizes the jet stream and changes storm tracks and wind patterns over the major sources of dust in West and South Asia.
Ironically, the best-case scenario for emissions -- carbon neutrality -- could ... Read more ...
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Warming Arctic reduces dust levels in parts of the planet, study finds:
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| Warming Arctic reduces dust levels in parts of the planet, study finds - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Previous studies have found that dust levels are actually decreasing across India, particularly northern India, the Persian Gulf Coast and much of the Middle East, but the reason has remained unclear. Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are working to understand how global climate change is impacting dust levels in the region.
In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team of researchers led by Michael B. McElroy, the Gilbert Butler Professor of Environmental Studies at SEAS, found that the decrease in dust can be attributed to the Arctic warming much faster than the rest of the ... Read more ...
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We might be closer to changing course on climate change than we realized:
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| We might be closer to changing course on climate change than we realized - VOX -Environment |
Apr 25 · Greenhouse gas emissions might have already peaked. Now they need to fall - fast.
Earth is coming out of the hottest year on record, amplifying the destruction from hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves, and drought. The oceans remain alarmingly warm, triggering the fourth global coral bleaching event in history. Concentrations of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere have reached levels not seen on this planet for millions of years, while humanity’s demand for the fossil fuels that produce this pollution is the highest it has ever been.
Yet at the same time, the world may be closer than ever to turning a corner in the effort to corral climate change.
Last year, more ... Read more ...
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What to Know About the Breakup of Scotland’s Coalition Government:
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| What to Know About the Breakup of Scotland’s Coalition Government - New York Times - Climate Section |
Apr 25 · The power-sharing agreement between the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Green Party ended abruptly on Thursday, marking a fresh period of turmoil for the S.N.P.
Reporting from London
Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, on Thursday abruptly ended a coalition agreement between his Scottish National Party and the Scottish Green Party, creating a new set of challenges for an embattled leader whose party has been engulfed in a funding scandal since last year.
A decision by the Scottish government to soften climate change targets, and a disagreement within the coalition over trans rights policies, had increased tension between the two parties, which have ... | By Stephen Castle Read more ...
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Why the New Climate Reg for Coal is a Perfectly Normal EPA Rule:
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| Why the New Climate Reg for Coal is a Perfectly Normal EPA Rule - Legal Planet |
Apr 25 · Is EPA’s new climate rule a sneaky effort to eliminate coal or a valid pollution standard? Some new arguments made by EPA convince me that it’s pursuing a time-tested approach to pollution control. It’s not that EPA is trying to grind down the industry. It’s that the economics of coal-fired plants are so fragile that a mild breeze would give them pneumonia.
Opponents are sure to legally challenge EPA’s new rule to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. And they are equally certain to argue that EPA is just trying to do indirectly what the Supreme Court said it couldn’t do directly: push coal out of the U.S. energy mix. ... Read more ...
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Why this summer may be especially hot in the United States:
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| Why this summer may be especially hot in the United States - Washington Post - Climate and Environment |
Apr 22 · A new outlook for summer from the National Weather Service is a toasty one: Hotter-than-normal conditions are favored almost everywhere, except for a small portion of the northern Plains. The highest odds for a hot summer stretch from Texas into the Pacific Northwest, as well as much of the Northeast.
This forecast sets the stage for bouts of record-challenging high temperatures throughout the nation and the possibility of the hottest summer ever observed. In the central states and Rocky Mountains, the combination of heat and an expectation for drier-than-normal weather will increase drought potential. It will also raise the fire threat in some areas.
Weather Service ... Read more ...
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Will blossom of reform bear fruit? Spring Meetings leave too much to do:
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| Will blossom of reform bear fruit? Spring Meetings leave too much to do - Climate Change News - Finance |
Apr 25 · Comment: Changes are afoot at the IMF and World Bank – but debt-squeezed developing nations need far faster access to more finance for climate action
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva holds a press briefing on the Global Policy Agenda to open the IMF and World Bank's 2024 annual Spring Meetings in Washington, U.S., April 18, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
Rachel Kyte is professor of practice in climate policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.
With spring in full bloom, the world’s finance ministers, development and financial leaders, and philanthropists met for the World Bank and ... | By Rachel Kyte Read more ...
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Yeast study offers possible answer to why some species are generalists and others specialists:
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| Yeast study offers possible answer to why some species are generalists and others specialists - PHYS.ORG - Earth |
Apr 25 · Under the guidance of UW–Madison professor of genetics Chris Todd Hittinger and Antonis Rokas, a professor of biology at Vanderbilt, researchers mapped the genetic blueprints, appetites, and environments of more than 1,000 species of yeasts, building a family tree that illuminates how these single-celled fungi evolved over the past 400 million years.
The results, published in the journal Science, suggest that internal—not external—factors are the primary drivers of variation in the types of carbon yeasts can eat, and the researchers found no evidence that metabolic versatility, or the ability to eat different foods, comes with any trade-offs. In other words, ... Read more ...
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