New tool can calculate renewable energy output anywhere in the world
Researchers have created an interactive web tool to estimate the amount of energy that could be generated by wind or solar farms at any location. The tool, called Renewables.ninja, aims to make the task of predicting renewable output easier for both academics and industry. The creators, from Read More...
Eastern US grid can handle 30 percent renewable energy
The Intertubes are buzzing over a new Energy Department report that predicts renewable energy can crank up the entire eastern United States power grid, to the tune of 30 percent. That’s pretty good news for businesses hoping to burnish their green cred by accessing more wind and solar energy. Read More...
Raise taxes to fund £15bn-a-year bid to end UK poverty, charity tells Tories
The government should raise taxes on the wealthy to finance a massive £15bn annual investment in affordable housing, free childcare and enhanced social security benefits to eradicate poverty in the UK, a leading charity has said. The independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) called for a Read More...
Can video games clean up the environment and save the planet?
Can videogames trigger real-world change? Pokémon Go has inspired people to rescue abandoned animals, thwart would-be robbers and pick up thrash. If virtual reality gaming can lead to such unintended payoffs, imagine the result if social change was built into the game. That’s what a new Read More...
A controversial plan to solve the threat of the most dangerous animal in the world
Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals in the world. They kill half a million people a year, mostly through spreading malaria but don’t forget dengue, yellow fever and now zika. Mosquitoes live off humans. We are their only source of food. At the same time, they don’t contribute much. Yes, Read More...
Message to Donald Trump: Immigrants lower the crime rate
Politicians like Donald Trump like to argue that welcoming refugees and illegal immigration lead to higher crime rates. Research shows a different picture. Neighborhoods, communities with high concentrations of immigrants do not suffer from outsized levels of violence. The opposite is the case: Read More...
The comeback of the giant panda; no longer endangered, global experts declare
For years, giant pandas were the symbol of the sad state of the natural environment of the planet. But now, experts say that they have been brought back from the brink of extinction largely due to Chinese conservation efforts. The success is due to Chinese efforts to recreate and repopulate bamboo Read More...
To-do lists help your brain even if you don’t finish them
Many studies have shown that note taking helps us distil the information we hear and remember it better than we would if we'd just heard or read it. Writing a to-do list is a similar mental experience. When you first think about the tasks you have to do, your brain decides which pieces of Read More...
How agriculture can be intensified in Africa without causing harm
Sustainable agriculture is a popular concept. It's warmly embraced as a guiding light for the future of food production. But there is still a great deal of disagreement about what the concept actually means and entails. There is broad agreement about what sustainable agriculture's main aim should Read More...
South Sudan accepts deployment of extra 4,000 UN peace keepers
South Sudan has accepted the deployment of 4,000 troops to the United Nations mission in the nation, and agreed to lift all restrictions on the peace keepers as well as free movement for humanitarian workers in the country, a government official said. The government of South Sudan will also work Read More...