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

Cars

New scooter battery can charge in 5 minutes. Can it transform electric cars?

StoreDot's battery fully charges in just five minutes, and it can be manufactured on the same production lines as today's EV batteries.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

Wind turbine blades are a growing waste problem

Using decommissioned wind turbine blades to build bridges, buildings, and more could eliminate one of the biggest disadvantages of wind energy.

Kristin Houser

Clean Energy

Geothermal energy is on the verge of a big breakthrough

Geothermal energy may be the key to bringing reliable, clean energy to the world.

Amanda Winkler

Robotics

Recycling robot keeps waste out of landfills

AMP Robotics has developed a recycling robot that uses AI to sort recyclables twice as quickly as humans can.

Kristin Houser

Climate Crisis

New findings could help wine survive climate change

Climate change is altering wine making as we know it. Researchers at UC Davis have identified what makes some grapes more resistant to water stress.

B. David Zarley

Animals

Scientists put bees in little reflective “vests” for bee tracking

Bee tracking is difficult and expensive, and smaller bees are left out. Lightweight, inexpensive tags may be a solution.

B. David Zarley

Ecosystems

Scientists are using old spy satellite photos to study ecological change

Researchers are using new image processing techniques designed for drones to study declassified, Cold War spy satellite photos for ecological change.

B. David Zarley

Aerospace

Electric planes will bring cheaper flights and less CO2

Electric aviation would mean less CO2 emissions and cheaper airfare — but batteries still aren't powerful enough to compete with fuel-filled commercial jets.

Amanda Winkler

Animals

We need a better way to track polar bears. This father and son found a way.

A father-son duo has teamed up to develop four different temporary tracking devices being tested by polar bears in the far North.

B. David Zarley

Genetics

Environmental DNA may prove the discovery of a new kind of whale

Researchers have found what they believe to be a new species of beaked whale. Environmental DNA will be used to prove it.

B. David Zarley

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