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

Sustainability

The ugly truth about toxic e-waste

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It’s estimated that by 2030, the amount of e-waste discarded globally will grow to 74.7 million tons per year. But fixing the problem is going to take more than recycling.

Doug Dais

Oceans

A massive iceberg is about to crash into an island of penguins

A massive iceberg is expected to hit South Georgia Island. To assess the impact of the collision, researchers are deploying a pair of robot submarines.

Kristin Houser

Computer Science

These futuristic sensors will allow cars to see through fog

Quantum sensors will transform self-driving cars, medical imaging, and more.

Amanda Winkler

Climate Crisis

Making it rain with “cloud seeding”

China is using cloud seeding to create rain where and when it’s needed. Will it try to use geoengineering to combat climate change next?

Kristin Houser

Agriculture

Nematode worm could liquify slugs for US farmers

A parasitic nematode used in Europe to kill slugs was just discovered in Oregon, supporting calls to have its use for pest-control approved Stateside.

Kristin Houser

Urban Living

Google’s Tree Canopy Lab is helping LA cool down

Google’s new Tree Canopy Lab uses AI and aerial photography to combat the urban heat island effect by showing a city exactly where it could use more trees.

Kristin Houser

CRISPR

CRISPR could help save coral reefs from bleaching

Using CRISPR, scientists have identified a gene that could determine whether coral reefs are highly susceptible to bleaching or not.

Kristin Houser

Engineering

Scientists want to use a laser beam to control lightning

A new laser beam may allow scientists to control lightning, allowing them to divert a bolt to strike where it’s less likely to cause a wildfire.

Kristin Houser

Oceans

Scientists found a coral reef bigger than a skyscraper, hidden in plain sight

Researchers used an underwater robot to explore a new coral reef near Australia. The coral reef is the first reef discovery in 120 years.

Teresa Carey

Animals

We finally have footage of remoras, the ocean's hitchhikers, in action

Using never-before-seen footage, researchers are learning more about how the remora moves around its hosts.

B. David Zarley

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