renewables
Most of the technology we need to switch from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy already exists — the greatest hurdles to making the shift involve planning and politics. Overcoming those hurdles could yield a 30 per cent decrease in global power demand, according to Mark Z. Jacobson of Stanford
mass extinction
Algal blooms — the thing that many geoengineering advocates could take up vast amounts of carbon dioxide and save us from climate change — could instead be the culprit behind some of the world’s worse mass extinctions. Toxic algae can exist just about anywhere there’s water, usually in small concentrations.
biofuels
Growing palm oil for biodiesel not only not only contributes to the deforestation of tropical peatlands, but can end up generating as much as 2,000 per cent more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The report concludes that
solar energy
A solar-powered house that generated surplus power even after three days of rain — Team Germany’s “Cube House” — won top honours in this year’s Solar Decathlon. The biennial competition, held by the US Department of Energy, invites university-led teams from across the US and internationally to compete in 10
global warming
Greenbang’s weekly Climate Change Index tracks research findings and events directly attributable to global warming. Our aim is to provide a numerical, week-to-week indicator of climate change developments. Items that qualify for listing in each week’s index include new climate data published in peer-reviewed academic journals and extreme
Olympic Games
The medals awarded to winning athletes at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter games this coming February will be made with metal recovered from old electronics. “We’re … excited that these medals will contain recycled metal recovered from end-of-life electronics, consistent with the sustainability philosophy of the Olympic and
biofuel
How low have we sunken in our quest for new energy sources? Low enough, apparently, to burn dead bunnies for fuel. The city of Stockholm, apparently, has an ongoing problem with too many rabbits that gnaw on greenery in city parks and get together to make even more rabbits. Blamed
innovation
An “eternal candle,” low-temperature radiator and three-dimensional skin-imaging device are among some of the latest technologies from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) to have reached the commercialisation stage. A variety of new technologies from Trinity Research & Innovation were showcased at the college this week. Among the inventions deemed ready for
Jurdy finds efficient transport is unstoppable …
global warming
Last month’s combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the second-warmest September on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The findings from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Centre (NDC) are based on records going back to 1880. The average land surface temperature for September
seed banks
So many seeds, so little time. It’s taken 10 years so far for an international partnership to collect and freeze seeds from nearly 25,000 native plant species. The effort aims to preserve seeds from the world’s wild flowering species … just in case, you know, something bad happens
While we’re not fans of using the word “consumer” as a synonym for “person,” we are intrigued by a new report that finds our consumption choices could help cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by mid-century. “Surveys around the world show that consumers are willing to tackle climate change,
