Researchers from Yale and Rice University have developed a system that uses solar energy and nanoparticles to make saltwater drinkable. The system could potentially be used off-grid in remote areas or in domestic settings. (more…)
The frequency is increasing, but slowly
No sooner had Hurricane Harvey’s record rains receded from Houston and neighboring cities than the residents of Florida began bracing for a wallop from an even more powerful storm. And hurricane season hasn’t even peaked yet. (more…)
NABU fordert Schwerölverbot in arktischen Gewässern
Die jüngsten Zahlen des AWI belegen einen deutlichen Rückgang des Eises in der Arktis. Die Nordostpassage war erstmals über den Sommer ohne Eisbrecher zu befahren. Der NABU befürchtet eine Zunahme der Schifffahrt – und damit ein erhöhtes Risiko für Umwelt und Gesundheit. (more…)
Wasser ist für die Nutzung fossiler und erneuerbarer Energieträger ein bedeutsamer Faktor. Ob und wie das global zur Verfügung stehende Wasser die Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien begünstigt und fossile Energieträger ausbremst, untersucht nun ein Verbund aus neun deutschen Forschungseinrichtungen und kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen (KMU). (more…)
Unmitigated climate change will make the United States poorer and more unequal, with the poorest third of U.S. counties projected to sustain economic damages costing as much as 20 percent of their income if warming proceeds unabated, according to a new study published in the journal Science. (more…)
In Europa hat der Verkehr einen wesentlich höheren Anteil am Stickoxid-Ausstoß als bisher angenommen. Das zeigt ein Team von Wissenschaftlern um Thomas Karl von der Universität Innsbruck in einer aktuellen Studie. Selbst neuere Modellrechnungen unterschätzen den Beitrag von Fahrzeugen zu den Stickoxid-Emissionen bis zu einem Faktor 4. (more…)
The technology of solar energy has progressed dramatically in the last few decades, as it operates with increasing efficiency and at lower costs.
But the matter of how solar panels look remains an obstacle. Most photovoltaic panels are blue or black and cover large portions of buildings with a monotone hue. That might not jibe with your personal taste – or that of your homeowners’ association. It’s a limitation that has hindered the integration of solar energy into some commercial applications. In fact, architects and designers have long requested a wider choice of colors for solar cells to allow them to seamlessly blend into a building’s façade or an electronic system. (more…)
Wind Farm Design Layout Impacts Species Success
How a wind energy facility is designed can influence the behavior of animal predators and their prey, according to a recent study published in The Journal of Wildlife Management by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the U.S. Geological Survey. (more…)
