biofuels
Forget corn, soy and even jatropha; Boeing and Honeywell’s UOP have commissioned a study to see whether renewable jet fuel could one day come from saltwater-loving plants like mangroves. Commissioned as part of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group consortium, the study will be led by the Masdar Institute
Nobel Prize
Three scientists — one who helped pave the way for fibre optic technology and two who invented the first digital imagine sensor — will share this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences honoured Charles K. Kao, Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith for “scientific achievements
food security
The answer to future food security concerns might not be, “Grow more food,” but “Grow better, more nutritious food,” according to researchers at the University of Nottigham. Martin Broadley, an associate professor of plant nutrition, is leading a team that’s looking for ways to grow “super” versions of cabbages
Jurdy’s climate concerns take a back seat …
Researchers are meeting in Norway this week to discuss the latest scientific findings on the carbon cycle, including the discovery that oceans appear to be absorbing less carbon dioxide than before and are also growing more acidic. The gathering in Os aims to review the results of a five-year study
wind energy
GCube, an insurer for renewable energy initiatives, has donated a used wind turbine nacelle (engine housing) to a community college in hopes of helping engineering students to better understand wind-energy technology. The Mitsubishi turbine nacelle, valued at $450,000, is now located at the Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne,
global warming
Launched last month, our 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
Doing something as simple as crossing the street could dramatically reduce a pedestrian’s exposure to traffic pollution, new research from the University of Leeds has found. The research shows that air pollution levels change dramatically within small geographical areas dependent on wind patterns, the location of traffic queues and
low carbon
Several UK universities have come together to launch a £50 million research centre aimed at both addressing climate change and developing technologies for a sustainable and low-carbon economy. The Centre for Low Carbon Futures (CLCF) is a joint initiative between the Yorkshire Universities and the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward.
resource recovery
A first-of-its-kind research centre opening in Singapore aims to develop new technologies to recover valuable resources from waste. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)’s Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C) will develop home-grown technologies to increase resource recovery that could potentially result in savings of $70 million (Singapore) every year. R3C
greenhouse gases
Two British government agencies have published new guidance to measure and tackle greenhouse gas emissions for businesses and organisations. The new advice from Defra and DECC is also accompanied by a guide on what it means to be carbon neutral. Businesses produce a significant proportion of the UK’s greenhouse
energy security
A new commission aims to speed up the development of new nuclear power stations and wind-energy farms to address the UK’s increasingly stressed energy requirements. The Confederation of British Industries (CBI) has launched a new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to oversee decisions on major infrastructure planning applications. “For too
