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

Oceans

Mapping the ocean floor with an underwater "GPS"

MIT researchers have developed an underwater, sound-based navigation system that could make it possible to map the entire ocean floor.

Kristin Houser

Food

A French company is building the world’s biggest insect factory farm

Ÿnsect is building the world’s largest insect farming facility in Amiens, France. The mealworms grown there may end up feeding your pets and the salmon on your plate.

B. David Zarley

Oceans

Researchers have never seen the deep sea like this before

Researchers are putting lowlight 4k cameras on remotely operated vehicles to capture videos of deep sea bioluminescence.

Teresa Carey

Climate Crisis

“Digital Earth” can simulate climate change down to the kilometer

Europe’s ambitious Destination Earth project aims to simulate climate systems — and human impact — to the kilometer.

B. David Zarley

Transportation

Electric garbage trucks are (quietly) coming

With Mack Truck’s electric garbage trucks set to be delivered in 2021, your mornings may be getting quieter soon.

B. David Zarley

Drones

Predator drones are using AI to create faster fire maps

The National Guard has used drones to create forest fire maps since 2017. New AI upgrades could make the maps in minutes, not hours.

B. David Zarley

Clean Energy

Nuclear fusion gets closer to reality with this new reactor

Nuclear fusion just took a step forward thanks to a new, compact reactor from MIT.

Amanda Winkler

Climate Crisis

Can trillions of reflective glass beads save arctic sea ice?

Arctic sea ice is more than majestic; it also reflects the sun’s rays. But young, thin ice melts fast. Can silica powder reflect enough sun to help it survive?

B. David Zarley

Sustainability

Doctors fighting deadly climate change

5:32

In partnership with Skoll Foundation

These doctors are coming together to address their collective carbon footprint, explore new solutions, and improve sustainability in healthcare.

Doug Dais

Disaster Response

Starlink satellites bring internet to wildfire-ravaged state

SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are providing residents and emergency responders affected by Washington wildfires with access to reliable internet.

Kristin Houser

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