Sustainability
How to Solve Global Warming: It's the Energy Supply
Carbon storage has to expand rapidly, or coal burning has to cease, if the world is to avoid dangerous climate change
Stories by David Biello
The Sciences
Earthquake Deflection Takes a Tiny Step
Building on light-cloaking work, physicists took a small step toward the goal of shielding cities from earthquakes by deflecting incoming energy. David Biello reports
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Sustainability
Citizen Environmental Monitoring Could Keep Officials Honest
Smartphones, cheap satellite imaging and crowdfunded enterprises have made citizen oversight possible that was undreamed of by past transparency advocates and environmentalists. David Biello reports
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Sustainability
Food and Water Shortages May Prove Major Risks of Climate Change
Poor people will suffer the most, unless the world exploits vanishing opportunities to adapt
Biology
Baker's Yeast Gets a Genetic Makeover
An army of undergraduates built a synthetic chromosome with cheap DNA-making technology
Sustainability
Fight over Rooftop Solar Forecasts a Bright Future for Cleaner Energy
As the cost of solar power drops, more consumers find that they hold the upper hand as utilities fight to maintain paying customers and the relevance of the grid
Sustainability
Space-Based Solar Collectors Could Have a Sunny Future
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory has a working prototype for a space-based solar energy collector and distributor that would beat the cloudy-day problem. David Biello reports
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Sustainability
Fracking Hammers Clean Energy Research
Has the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy failed in its mission to create alternative energy breakthroughs?
Sustainability
Realistic Climate Models Exhibit Greenhouse Gas Sensitivity
A consideration of the role of sootlike particulates and ozone implies that the climate should will not be insensitive to increasing levels of greenhouse gases. David Biello reports
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The Sciences
Bionic Plants Offer Superpowered Photosynthesis
Rebuilding plants into bionic superpowered energy photosynthesizers—we have the nanotechnology
Sustainability
Can U.S. Fracked Gas Save Ukraine?
The conflict over Crimea may prove a last gas…p for Russian energy warfare
Sustainability
Can Methane Leaks from Fracking Be Turned into Valuable Gasoline?
If test plants succeed, waste methane could fuel vehicles—but the conversion may not offer much environmental benefit
The Sciences
Air-Gun Oil Exploration Wrongs Right Whales
The U.S. government has given industry permission to use of lethally loud seismic devices up and down the east coast. David Biello reports
Sustainability
Climate Currently Pays for Increased Human Wealth
A new study attempts to quantify CO2 emissions if economic growth continues. David Biello reports
Sustainability
A Conversation with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest J. Moniz
The energy secretary talks about buffering infrastructure against the next Hurricane Sandy
Sustainability
Cities Befriend Select Plants and Animals
As more people move to cities, careful planning could mean a happy home for both humans and a substantial amount of wildlife. David Biello reports
Sustainability
To Make Natural Gas a Good Fuel, Find the "Super-Emitters"
A new study suggests that more methane is leaking than the U.S. government estimates—but natural gas remains less polluting than coal
Sustainability
Cool Roofs Might Be Enough to Save Cities from Climate Overheating
New research suggests that planting gardens atop roofs or painting them white could offset both the local urban heat island effect and global warming, although one roof type does not cover all situations...
Sustainability
High-Powered Lasers Deliver Fusion Energy Breakthrough
A new experiment releases more energy than is pumped into fuel—a major milestone—but a long journey still remains for sustainable energy from fusion
Environment
How Many More Coal Ash Spills?
What is the largest type of trash produced in the U.S.? It’s not whatever you’re thinking, most likely. It’s coal ash. Burning coal produces more than 100 million metric tons of coal ash per yearthe gray or black sooty aftermath of our fossil fuel habit...
