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

Series| Hard Reset

How mirrors could power the planet… and prevent wars

09:28

If adopted globally, concentrated solar power could make major waves in manufacturing, not to mention prevent wars over oil and mitigate climate change.

Jack Berning

Climate Crisis

How subterranean microbes are devouring carbon emissions

Researchers at Pellissippi State Community College found naturally occurring microbes deep in the Earth’s crust are helping soak up CO2.

Teresa Carey

Climate Crisis

This machine will make seashells out of CO2

Scientists are building a machine that will suck carbon dioxide out of the ocean and turn it into seashells.

Teresa Carey

Animals

Bomb detectors record rare pygmy blue whales singing

Underwater microphones used to listen for signs of nuclear bomb testing have captured the singing of a population of rare pygmy blue whales.

Kristin Houser

Agriculture

Antidote saved 100% of bees from lethal pesticide

Beehives are under threat from common insecticides. But researchers created pollen-like microparticles to deliver an antidote.

Teresa Carey

Climate Crisis

Startup plans to remove 1 billion tons of CO2 from the air

A new carbon sequestration startup plans to remove one billion tons of excess carbon from the atmosphere by 2035 using enhanced mineral weathering.

Teresa Carey

Climate Crisis

The Maldives are constructing a floating city to combat rising sea levels

Government officials of the island nation, Maldives, debuted plans to build the world's first fully floating city.

Teresa Carey

Clean Energy

“Sewer heat” could help fight climate change

Denver plans to tap into the heat in sewer lines to generate clean energy.

Teresa Carey

Climate Crisis

Genes show which animals will adapt to climate change

Some fish, such as the threespine stickleback, can respond to dramatic seasonal changes very quickly — genome sequencing reveals why.

Teresa Carey

Series| Hard Reset

Do buildings have to be permanent?

8:06

Modular construction involves transporting prefabricated buildings and connecting them on-site. It’s like LEGOs on steroids, and it could transform our cities.

Jack Berning

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