Edison's Revenge: Will Direct Current Make a Comeback in the U.S.?
The rise of direct current using devices and direct current generation have some rethinking the use of alternating current in the grid
Stories by Umair Irfan
New Storage Projects Turns CO2 into Stone
Iceland is experimenting with pumping carbon dioxide underground and converting it into rock
Nitrogen Pollution Likely to Increase Under Climate Change
Human-made nitrogen now affects even isolated waterways, presaging a world where humanity drives the natural cycle of this vital nutrient
New Study Calculates Years of Life Lost to Extreme Temperature
The analysis of health data from Brisbane suggests humanity may struggle with the heat waves and cold snaps brought on by climate change
El Nino Climate Pattern May Influence Disease Outbreaks Globally
New research draws a connection between climate conditions, birds and flu pandemics
Can Bacteria Produce "Drop-In" Biofuels?
Scientists are seeking help from microbes to produce road-ready biofuels
Scientists Probe Mystery Molecule that Reduces Greenhouse Gases
Using some new tricks, researchers made Criegee biradicals to see how fast they react
Can Improving TV Energy Efficiency Take a Big Bite out of World Electricity Use?
A new prize aims to reduce the electricity used to power televisions by as much as 8 percent globally
New, Reusable Materials Could Pull CO2 Straight from Air
The materials are step toward an economy structured around recycling carbon instead of mining fossil fuels
Scientists Seek to Predict the Wind
In order to make full use of wind power, better predictions of sudden gusts or stillness are needed
Quantum Dots and More Used to Beat Efficiency Limit of Solar Cells
New approaches, not yet ready for a rooftop near you, explore simple designs that are different from what's out there
How the U.S. Federal Government Pushes Energy Efficiency--On Itself
Finding ways to cut energy use has President Obama's backing, as well as a big push from budget cuts
Some Species Face "Move or Die" Scenario under Climate Change
Birds, snakes and other species must shift ranges to adapt to climate change
Scrubbing Carbon Dioxide from Air May Prove Too Costly
Efforts to remove CO2 directly from the air are likely to prove too expensive to be practical
Battery Fires Reveal Risks of Storing Large Amounts of Energy
The Chevy Volt fire is just one recent example of potential safety risks associated with large-scale energy storage
Climate Change May Make Insect-Borne Diseases Harder to Control
Warmer temperatures will combine with numerous other factors to make diseases like malaria and West Nile virus harder to control
World's Largest Wind Power Storage System Charges Ahead
By combining wind turbines and batteries, AES hopes to deliver reliable power
Novel Methods Store Sunshine as Fuel
The sun is the most abundant power source on Earth, but new designs soon hitting the market could keep its energy flowing even after sunset
ARPA-e Attacks Rare Earths, Biofuels in Latest Funding
The new agency aims to re-invent how energy is produced and used
Amphibians, Other Species May Struggle with Climate-Induced Migration
Fragmented habitat will make it hard for frogs and salamanders to move to new homes as the climate changes
