The archive
Tech
America’s solar capacity has been rising—in 2023, solar panels generated enough energy to power 22 million homes, eight times more than in 2014. While that is impressive, solar still only produces roughly 4 percent of our nation’s total electricity. However, a recent development in anti-reflective coatings could improve solar efficiency and increase that percentage.
Tech
Mineral exploration and production have long been an arduous process. An AI-based metals discovery platform is now streamlining the exploration phase, slashing the time and cost of identifying viable mineral deposits for mining companies.
Environment
Wood harvesting is responsible for roughly 10 percent of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to a study published in 2023 by the World Resources Institute in the journal Nature. To offset the climate-related costs of the wood industry, a company called Cambium Carbon is betting on a powerful solution called Carbon Smart Wood.
Science
Wild animals intermingle with domesticated animals more than you would think. In the American West, cows frequently share grazing land with one animal: elk. However, ranchers often hesitate to let elk graze the same land as their herds. Now, an innovative new agriculture trust is opening up grazing land and easing ranchers’ worries through the power of voluntary incentives.
Science
Our food system is under pressure. Water shortages, soil degradation, a changing climate, and a growing global population make it harder to grow enough food using traditional methods. At the same time, cities are expanding, and development is replacing farmland.
Science & Tech
As data centers consume more power, energy solutions are necessary to meet increased energy demand while lowering carbon emissions. Expanded geothermal power might provide a solution that meets both these objectives.
Agriculture
Whereas traditional farming has distinct planting and harvest seasons, Controlled Environment Agriculture goes beyond that. It enables year-round planting and harvesting of crops by utilizing climate-controlled indoor spaces, such as greenhouses and vertical farms.
Energy
Computers are consuming more power, generating more heat, and demanding greater efficiency than silicon alone can provide. Now, the industry is seeking alternatives, and one material stands out as a potential game-changer: graphene.
Tech
“SOLIS 109 is a first-of-its-kind marketplace connecting a broad range of individual, residential, and commercial consumers with renewable and sustainable products and services,” Burrington explained. “We have just launched our pilot website and mobile app and are now building a robust vendor base before launching to the public in the coming months.”
Science & Tech
Policymakers must recognize that wildfires are both an environmental and an economic problem and require common-sense solutions to address fire risk. A new tool may help them do just that.
