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 fight to end illegal logging

Citizen scientists are collecting tree samples to build a genetic database that will help identify the origins of stolen lumber and stop illegal logging.

Teresa Carey

Sustainability

Floating farm takes sustainable agriculture to the next level

3:15

Inspired by the food shortages witnessed in New York City following Hurricane Sandy, this husband and wife team came up with the idea for a sustainable farm that floats on the sea.

Disaster Response

NASA wants YOU to help track landslides

NASA is enlisting citizen scientists to collect important data on recent landslides, in an effort to improve prediction models and assist in disaster prevention.

B. David Zarley

Agriculture

A “death-ray” for weeds could replace chemical weed killers

Dr. Graham Brodie of the University of Melbourne is working on a device for zapping stubborn weeds with microwaves.

B. David Zarley

Urban Living

The dark toll of light pollution

Bird populations are paying the price for our electric lights. These volunteers are working to change that.

Teresa Carey

Climate Crisis

Ship’s logbooks are the first records of climate change data

With the weather and ice data from old ship’s logs, Dr. Kevin Wood realized it was possible to reconstruct the history of sea ice in the Arctic to better understand climate change.

Teresa Carey

Climate Crisis

Sifting through sound: using soundscapes to understand ecosystem health

“Ecoacoustics” is an emerging field of research. Instead of chasing down isolated animal sounds, researchers are using all of the acoustic properties of a location to answer ecological questions.

Teresa Carey

Series| Seachange

Carbon capture technology explained

5:24

Cutting-edge carbon capture technology is bringing the world’s top scientists and engineers one step closer to solving the climate change puzzle.

Series| Seachange

The rural Mexican village planting 5 million trees

3:56

Reforestation projects could be just what we need to turn the tide of climate change, and this Mexican village is setting an example for all to follow.

Jess Dais

Climate Crisis

Preparing for climate change

Climate change is increasingly reshaping our world, but communities across America aren’t losing hope — they’re taking action. Learn how 18 communities are using science to guide community-based decision-making.

Teresa Carey

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