Coal power continues its slow march toward death
In 2017, sustainable energy has become "the new normal" in America, and coal power continues slipping away. Coal production slightly increased in 2017, as did coal prices. But that's not because more Americans are using coal energy. Instead, American coal has become more valuable for its Read More...
How colorful colonies of bacteria could one day grow organic "paints"
A lot of bacteria might have a bad rep, but with a little genetic tweaking we can put them to work producing drugs, cleaning water, detecting long-forgotten landmines, and repairing concrete. Now a team from the University of Cambridge and a Dutch company called Hoekmine BV has outlined how we Read More...
How urban farmers are growing food without soil or sunlight
You don’t need acres of luscious, green fields in order to grow food. You don’t even need soil or sunlight to do it either. In crowded cities, urban farmers are getting innovative and growing food in the unlikeliest of places, from bomb shelters to abandoned industrial yards using hydroponic Read More...
Scientists are finally realizing how important giant bats are for the durian
Depending on who you ask, the durian is either the best or worst food on the planet. Recently, researchers found out that this strange piece of fruit, which is a delicacy in Malaysia, relies on healthy populations of flying fox for survival. As it turns out, the flying fox is the unlikely Read More...
Adding crushed rocks to croplands helps capture CO2 and boost food security
A new study has found that farming crops with crushed rocks could capture CO2 and give increased protection from pests. The scientists also found that crushed silicate rocks help to restore soil structure and fertility. As we look for new solutions to help reduce emissions and improve food Read More...
Renewables will be the dominant source of energy sooner than you think
The plummeting price of renewable energy has led to a massive increase in clean energy capacity around the world. In fact, China is expected to become the first major country where renewables become the dominant source of energy in 2022. Spain and the United Arab Emirates are expected to reach grid Read More...
Your microbiome is vital. Here’s how to keep it healthy.
The microbiome is one of the most complex biological systems on earth. Until 25 years ago, we knew nothing at all about it, but slowly we’ve come to find out how crucial it is for our overall health. Unfortunately, our microbiomes are constantly under attack from our modern lifestyles. Here’s Read More...
Venezuela’s own oil-backed cryptocurrency is available for presale today
Venezuela launched the presale of its own cryptocurrency, the petro, today. There are currently 82 million tokens available, which the government plans to follow with an initial coin offering (ICO) launch in a month. It’s the world’s first sovereign cryptocurrency, built on the Ethereum Read More...
Problem-solving could be key to grey squirrels' success, study finds
The ability to solve problems may explain why grey squirrels are thriving at the expense of native red ones in the UK, research suggests. Wild greys and reds were presented with an easy task (opening a transparent lid) and a difficult version (a more complex process of pushing and pulling levers) Read More...
Translucent ‘hugging’ towers could help clean Hong Kong’s air pollution
Architect Suraksha Acharya from Midori Architects has proposed a pair of ultra-green translucent towers for the Hong Kong skyline. The futuristic Aero Hive skyscrapers are clad in an organic facade interspersed with greenery that leads up to the towers’ expansive open-air rooftop gardens. The Read More...