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Insights from nature for more efficient water splitting
One basic riddle in water splitting is why nature always uses manganese, a fact that is particularly surprising considering that manganese is rather inactive at neutral pH, which is how water is found in nature. Scientists have been able to devise many artificial manganese-based catalysts of their own, but have not been able to make them active at neutral pH. Now, researchers have reported the discovery of a mineral-based catalyst that can efficiently split water into oxygen and hydrogen ions (protons) at neutral pH.
June 30, 2014 Read more
Physics professor offers $10,000 to climate change deniers with hard evidence
A physics professor is offering $10,000 to the first person to present scientific evidence that proves man-made climate change isn't real.
June 28, 2014 Read more
Organic agriculture boosts biodiversity on farmlands
Organic farming fosters biodiversity. At least that's the theory. In practice, however, the number of habitats on the land plays an important role alongside the type and intensity of farming practices. These are the findings of an international study that looked at 10 regions in Europe and two in Africa.
June 26, 2014 Read more
Tofu ingredient could revolutionize solar panel manufacture
The chemical used to make tofu and bath salts could also replace a highly toxic and expensive substance used to make solar cells, a new study has revealed.
June 26, 2014 Read more
Managing specialized microbes to clean stubborn chemicals from the environment
In a series of new studies, researchers examine unique groups of microorganisms, capable of converting hazardous chlorinated chemicals like trichloroetheene into ethene, a benign end product of microbial biodegradation.
June 26, 2014 Read more
A breakthrough for organic reactions in water
Green-chemistry researchers have discovered a way to use water as a solvent in one of the reactions most widely used to synthesize chemical products and pharmaceuticals.
June 26, 2014 Read more
Capturing CO2 emissions needed to meet climate targets
Technologies that are discussed controversially today may be needed to keep the future risks and costs of climate change in check. Combining the production of energy from fossil fuels and biomass with capturing and storing the CO2 they emit (CCS) can be key to achieving current climate policy objectives such as limiting the rise of the global mean temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius.
June 26, 2014 Read more
Scientists create new battery that's cheap, clean, rechargeable... and organic
Scientists have developed a water-based organic battery that is long lasting, built from cheap, eco-friendly components.
June 25, 2014 Read more
Innovative pendulum-dynamo for converting tidal energy into electrical power
Okayama University's Shinji Hiejima is looking for industrial partners to commercialize his experimentally proven and patented concept of the Hydro-VENUS system for converting tidal energy into electrical power.
June 25, 2014 Read more
New study quantifies the effects of climate change in Europe
If no further action is taken and global temperature increases by 3.5 C, climate damages in the EU could amount to at least 190 billion euros, a net welfare loss of 1.8% of its current GDP. Several weather-related extremes could roughly double their average frequency. As a consequence, heat-related deaths could reach about 200 000, the cost of river flood damages could exceed EUR10 billion and 8000 km2 of forest could burn in southern Europe. The number of people affected by droughts could increase by a factor of seven and coastal damage, due to sea-level rise, could more than triple.
June 25, 2014 Read more
Stationary fuel cells will experience continued strong growth, leading the fuel cell industry
The stationary sector is experiencing a boom in prime power and residential combined heat and power systems, report concludes.
June 25, 2014 Read more
Net energy analysis should become a standard policy tool
Policymakers should conduct 'net energy analyses' when evaluating the long-term sustainability of energy technologies, according to new Stanford University research
June 25, 2014 Read more
New study uses blizzard to measure wind turbine airflow (w/video)
A first-of-its-kind study using snow during a Minnesota blizzard is giving researchers new insight into the airflow around large wind turbines. This research is essential to improving wind energy efficiency, especially in wind farms where airflows from many large wind turbines interact with each other.
June 24, 2014 Read more
Evolving business models for renewable energy
The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) today announced the release of a groundbreaking report titled 'Evolving Business Models for Renewable Energy'.
June 24, 2014 Read more
The JBEI GT Collection: A new resource for advanced biofuels research
Scientists have unveiled the first glycosyltransferase clone collection specifically targeted for the study of the biosynthesis of plant cell walls.
June 23, 2014 Read more
Light-emitting diode treatments outperform traditional lighting methods
Specific LED treatments found more effective than high-pressure sodium lighting for greenhouse tomatoes.
June 23, 2014 Read more
Study shows greater potential for concentrating solar power
Concentrating solar power could supply a large fraction of the power supply in a decarbonized energy system, shows a new study of the technology and its potential practical application.
June 23, 2014 Read more
Solving the world's plastic problem
Scientist invents continuous, zero-toxic-emission system that converts nonrecycled plastics into crude oil.
June 20, 2014 Read more