America's biggest solar buyer is a firm you've never heard of
The biggest buyer of solar farms in America is a company you’ve probably never heard of. Meet Capital Dynamics, an asset manager that handles $15 billion. The firm’s been snapping up clean-power plants for years, but it wasn’t until this month -- when the company agreed to spend almost $1 Read More...
Ultra-thin coating makes "dumb" glass smart
There are already energy-saving "smart glass" windows that can be electronically tinted to block the sun's hot rays, thus reducing the need to run air-conditioning systems. Such systems still require electricity to operate, however. Now, scientists from Australia's RMIT University have developed a Read More...
MIT’s thermal resonator generates power “out of what seems like nothing”
A brand new power-generating system from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers creates energy “out of what seems like nothing,” according to chemical engineering professor Michael Strano. Their system, which they’re calling a thermal resonator, harnesses daily swings in Read More...
This is how to make air travel easier on your brain and body
Flying can take a toll on even the most experienced traveler. If you’re not careful, it’ll zap your energy, disrupt your sleep patterns, and make your digestive system sluggish. Fortunately, with a few simple travel hacks you can make air travel less stressful on your system, curb the effects Read More...
This all-natural insulator is fire-resistant and biodegradable
A Chilean company has created a 100 percent natural form of insulation that not only keeps homes warm, but also makes them more fire-resistant. Compared to common fiberglass insulation, which burns within 15 seconds of being exposed to flames, this natural insulation takes a full hour before it Read More...
Charging electric cars at night can bring huge environmental benefits
If drivers of electric cars plug in their vehicles when they get home from work and add to the evening electric peak, even the modest amounts of new generation will force us to build more energy capacity, which could lead to be more fossil fuel-fired plants. But if people wait until bedtime to Read More...
Was the promise of Uber an illusion after all?
Across the nation, blue-collar fathers are increasingly turning to companies like Uber. Why? Because the flexible work schedule allows them to support their partners and children while pulling in an additional source of income. But is the flexible work life of the so-called gig economy too good to Read More...
Here are the top 20 countries that deal with corruption best
Transparency International is a human rights organization that has put the issue of corruption on the map. Every year, the organization publishes a Corruption Perceptions Index, providing a global ranking of fairness for 180 countries based on the level of public sector corruption. These are the 20 Read More...
Why you should start adopting a ‘maybe’ mindset
The true nature of life, according to Zen Buddhists, is that everything is impermanent. When you see reality through a “right or wrong” mindset, you get stuck in a moment. Being judgemental increases your suffering. Adopting a ‘maybe’ mindset will help you understand that nothing—both Read More...
The Internet of growing things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is turning the ancient practice of farming into precision agriculture. Sensors implanted in the soil can tell you when and where to irrigate. Cameras attached to a drone flying over a field of soy beans can spot a mite on a leaf from 400 feet. IoT devices for cattle can Read More...