By John Vibes According to the most recent data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) wind and solar energy are already cheaper than traditional alternatives in two-thirds of the world, and is expected to be the cheapest option everywhere by 2030. Breakthroughs in solar technology…
A growing health crisis fueled by synthetic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in groundwater has garnered much attention in the last few years. The reported levels could be “just the tip of the iceberg,” as most of the chemicals are still…
By Dylan Charles Last year the world was shocked by the devastating fires which tore through the Amazon rainforest. People from all corners of the globe voiced their sadness and support on social media, celebrities came forth with pledges of support, and Brazilian president Jair…
Children with higher concentrations of a certain chemical in their blood are more likely to get cavities, according to a new study by West Virginia University School of Dentistry researchers. Manufactured chemical g roups called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are universal as a result of…
Researchers from North Carolina State University have found elevated levels of 11 per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals in the blood of Cape Fear River striped bass. Two of those compounds – perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Nafion byproduct 2 – are associated with altered immune and…
Many greenhouses could become energy neutral by using see-through solar panels to harvest energy – primarily from the wavelengths of light that plants don’t use for photosynthesis. Those are the findings of a new modeling study conducted by engineering, plant biology and physics researchers at…
Generating electricity from raindrops efficiently has gone one step further. A research team led by scientists from the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has recently developed a droplet-based electricity generator (DEG), featured with a field-effect transistor (FET)-like structure that allows for high energy-conversion efficiency…
By Alanna Ketler The Facts: Mechanical energy, converted into kinetic energy can provide the energy that we use on a regular basis to power our homes and electronic devices. Reflect On: Rather than focusing on the current problems in our world it is great to…
By John Vibes For a long time, scientists have known that certain types of fungi are attracted to radiation, and can actually help to break down and neutralize radiation in certain environments. The radioactive site of the abandoned Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant has acted as…
By Kalee Brown The Facts: A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health Journal titled “Urban greenness and mortality in Canada’s largest cities: a national cohort study” reveals just how beneficial living close to or within nature can be. Reflect On: How much time do…
Habitat loss, pesticide use and, surprisingly, artificial light are the three most serious threats endangering fireflies across the globe, raising the spectre of extinction for certain species and related impacts on biodiversity and ecotourism, according to a Tufts University-led team of biologists associated with the…
By Derrick Broze The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reaffirmed their belief that glyphosate is not a carcinogen, despite initially concluding the chemical was probably carcinogenic. On Thursday, the EPA concluded a regulatory review of glyphosate and found that the most widely used herbicide…
Since the Industrial Revolution, the environmental impacts of energy have posed a concern. Recently, this has driven researchers to search for viable options for clean and renewable energy sources. Due to its affordability and environmental friendliness, hydrogen is a feasible alternative to fossil fuels for…
By Mayukh Saha Although we are trying our best to abandon plastic, we are still not using plastic-free cups. The cups being sold under the name ‘paper cup’ are not completely plastic-free. They have a thin plastic lining on them. This makes them non-biodegradable. The…
By John Vibes This week, a Peruvian indigenous group won a lengthy court battle to save their land from oil exploration. The land is located in the Amazon, along the border between Peru and Brazil. There have been plans to turn the land into an…
We all know the rechargeable and efficient lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries sitting in our smartphones, laptops and also in electric cars. Unfortunately, lithium is a limited resource, so it will be a challenge to satisfy the world’s growing demand for relatively cheap batteries. Therefore, researchers…
In 2009, 105 single-family homes in the city of Córdoba were demolished in order to expand the airport. At first, the debris from the demolition was going to be sent to a landfill, as is common procedure. But, the University of Cordoba came up with…
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An industrial chemical — phased out since 2002, but previously used in stain and water-repellent products and firefighting foam — alters the gut microbiome of mice and could have implications for human health, according to an international team of researchers. Perfluorooctane…
By John Vibes A massive killer whale washed up on shore in early January, in an area between Lincolnshire and Norfolk on the eastern coast of the UK. The 15-foot-long orca was found decomposing in a salt marsh, where soon after the body was examined…
By Survival Two tribal communities famed for their honey-gathering skills have written to the US authorities urging them to scrap support for a conservation project that could lead to the tribe’s eviction from their ancestral forests. The villagers, members of India’s Jenu Kuruba (“honey collectors”)…
