Ambri, a startup founded by MIT researchers, is developing liquid-metal batteries that can store power for less than $500 a kilowatt-hour – less than a third the cost of other battery technologies. Liquid-metal sounds fancy, but apparently the materials used are abundant and easily obtainable. (The researchers won't say exactly what the metals are.) The technology promises … [Read more...]
Huge new stock available to overfish and deplete
I'm fascinated and confused by this new study reported on phys.org about mesopelagic fish (the mesopelagic zone is the area 200-1000 m/650-3300 ft below the surface of the ocean). These are the fascinating bits: The mesopelagic fish biomass is at least 10 times greater than previously thought. 95% of world's fish live in mesopelagic zone. The mesopelagic fish genus … [Read more...]
Thermoelectricity through infrared emissions: a new, vast energy source?
We know a thermoelectric generator produces electricity from temperature differences, and we know the earth is warm compared to outer space – does that mean we have a vast, untapped energy source? Physicists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) think so, and have proposed two different ways we could generate DC power by emitting infrared light into … [Read more...]
The millions of birds that block out the sun
I have a list of things I would like to see before I exit this world. It's a small list, and in no particular order. The first item is Redwood forest, because redwoods look amazing. The second is A murmuration of starlings. What's a murmuration? Read on: When starlings flock together, wheeling and darting through the sky in tight, fluid formations, we call it a murmuration. … [Read more...]
DIY easy solar hot water heater
Build It Solar has a great DIY article about an easy solar hot water heater (a thermosyphon system) made by a resident of Costa Rica named Peter. Peter wanted to build a simple, rugged, inexpensive system to provide hot water for showers: Like most houses in Costa Rica, our casita in Monteverde had no hot water. Our two showers were fitted with electric shower heads. At … [Read more...]
Family pays $26,750 for solar panels never received
A family in Belleville, Illinois paid A1 Energy, LLC $26,750 for solar panels they never received. Fifteen months after payment, they’re still waiting for the panels. They’re not alone – after complaining to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the BBB found other victims and lowered A1 Energy’s rating to F, which in this case probably stands for an expletive. A … [Read more...]
4 new mystery gases threaten ozone layer
Four new man-made compounds that deplete our ozone layer have been discovered – three chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and one hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). All four trace back to the 1960s, and two of the compounds continue to accumulate in our atmosphere. Their source is unidentified: We don't know where the new gases are being emitted from and this should be investigated. Of the … [Read more...]
World’s largest scale model of the Solar System
After looking at A Tediously Accurate Map of the Solar System the other day, I was reminded of a much bigger model of the same system. It's found in Sweden, and it makes perfect sense when you see Globen – the building in Stockholm chosen to represent the sun. The official name for is Ericsson Globe, and the original name was Stockholm Globe Arena, but the popular name has … [Read more...]
A plug-in Rolls-Royce green limousine
Rolls-Royce looks ready to adopt plug-in hybrid technology within the next three years. A hybrid limousine – surprised? Torsten Müller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce explained: “It will be essential in two years, maybe not from customer demand but through legal regulation on emissions.” (Emphasis mine – here’s to legal regulation.) Roll-Royce previously produced an … [Read more...]
U.S. solar market grows 41%, record year in 2013
We all know solar is getting big, but these numbers are impressive: according to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association's (SEIA) Solar Market Insight Year in Review 2013, photovoltaic (PV) installations increased 41% over 2012 and reached 4,751 megawatts (MW). Solar was the number two source of new electricity following natural gas, and the cost of solar … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- …
- 19
- Next Page »