Energy

an overhead shot of land split in three. the left side is dry and dusty. the middle has some vegetation, and the right side has a lot.

Desertification is destroying fertile land. Here’s how we’re fighting it.

a female presenting person in a lab coat holding a solar cell

New “tandem” solar cell breaks world record

A new tandem solar cell containing layers of silicon and perovskite has demonstrated an unprecedented efficiency of 33.7%.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

These 4 charts show the unstoppable growth of solar

Solar is growing fast enough to displace fossil fuels from the entire global economy before 2050, but infrastructure needs to keep up.

Andrew Blakers

Climate Crisis

Lasers from space create unique new map of Earth’s forests

A lidar instrument on the ISS has been used to create a near-global 3D map of the Earth’s biomass for conservation and climate research.

Kristin Houser

Climate Crisis

Methane-eating bacteria discovery could help capture gas from the air

A new discovery could kickstart efforts to engineer methane-harvesting bacteria, fight greenhouse emissions, and “mine” the air.

Sam Jarman

Clean Energy

Cheap molten salt battery can store energy for months

A low-cost molten salt battery that can store energy for months could allow us to tap into renewables year round.

Kristin Houser

Animals

One-horned rhino population increases by 200 in four years

A census of the one-horned rhino population at Kaziranga National Park found that the vulnerable species is on the rise.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

"Geogrid" helps cut home energy bills to just $1 per month

Austin’s Whisper Valley housing development uses geothermal heat pumps and solar panels to slash residents’ energy bills.

Kristin Houser

Food

The West Coast wants to tap into the maple sugar market

Over 75% of the world’s maple syrup production is in Quebec. But with climate change threatening their seasons, West Coast producers are looking to tap in.

B. David Zarley

Clean Energy

World’s first fully-recyclable wind turbine blade prototype debuts

Wind turbine blades are notoriously difficult to recycle, but researchers and industry players hope a new material design may change that.

B. David Zarley

Animals

World’s largest bee, thought to be extinct, found in Indonesia

The giant bee was first discovered in 1859, but since has only officially sighted once. Now, researchers have found a specimen alive and well.

Stephen Johnson

Transportation

Superjumbo jet engine flies on 100% sustainable aviation fuel

For the first time, an Airbus A380 superjumbo jet flew with 100% sustainable aviation fuel powering an engine.

Kristin Houser

Agriculture

Combining crops and solar panels is allowing Kenya to “harvest the sun twice”

The panels are mounted high enough for crops to be grown underneath, sheltering them from the sun and allowing rainwater harvesting.

Charlotte Edmond

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