Solar-powered air-con uses heat to cool shopping center
Solar-concentrating thermal technology is being used to power the air-conditioning system of an entire shopping center in Australia solely from the rays of the sun. With around 60 percent of all energy used in shopping centers being consumed by heating and cooling needs, the new system could lead Read More...
Record-breaking solar impulse starts Atlantic crossing tonight
Tonight’s the night for the zero-fuel Solar Impulse 2 aircraft and pilot/inventor Bertrand Piccard. They take off at 2:00 am EDT Tuesday (6:00 am UTC, 8:00 am CET) from JFK International Airport in New York to make history on the first transatlantic solar/electric flight — zero fuel and Read More...
Mars' 100% renewables pledge: a cause for celebrations?
On a beautiful barren stretch of the Scottish Highlands, just south of Inverness, spin 20 brand new 3,300-kilowatt wind turbines. The second these industrial-scale turbines came on stream last month, all Mars UK’s factories and offices became immediately zero carbon. The US confectionary Read More...
The Inventors of the Internet Are Trying to Build a Truly Permanent Web
If you wanted to write a history of the Internet, one of the first things you would do is dig into the email archives of Vint Cerf. In 1973, he co-created the protocols that Internet servers use to communicate with each other without the need for any kind of centralized authority or control. He has Read More...
Studies show healthy lifestyle is more effective than pharmaceutical drugs
Three major studies published in recent weeks disprove the effectiveness of some of the most profitable pharmaceutical drugs. The risks of antidepressants in children and teens far outweigh the benefits, as the drugs routinely increase suicidal behavior. Scientists are also reporting that Read More...
A few more vegetables and a little less meat reduce diabetes risk
According to a new study, you can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes simply by adding a few more vegetables to your diet and slightly reducing how much meat and dairy you consume. People who eat more plant-based food and less animal-based food reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by 20 to 34 Read More...
The UK response to a mass shooting that greatly reduced crime involving firearms
In 1996 the UK witnessed a dramatic massacre carried out by a man carrying four legally-owned firearms. In response, relatives of the victims lobbied for a total ban on the private ownership and use of handguns in the UK. The petition was ultimately signed by over 750,000 people. Following a Read More...
Free growing wealth: A tree contributes $111 to the public good each year
What’s the value of a tree that keeps growing year after year? Researchers have tried to calculate exactly that. Working with a dataset of about 900,000 trees that line public streets in California, the scientists sought to place a dollar value on the services those trees perform, which Read More...
Everything you need to know about this month's 'Strawberry Moon'
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, a day falling around late June when there are approximately 17 hours of light. The name comes from the Latin solstitium meaning “sun stands still”. It happens because the sun's stops heading north at the Tropic of Cancer and then Read More...
Behold, Rolls-Royce’s truly bizarre self-driving car
Ultra-luxury automaker Rolls-Royce debuted its self-driving concept car this week, called the 103EX, and it looks, well, odd. It's nearly 20 feet long and 5 feet tall, and has some — interesting — features. See for yourself: The futuristic-looking vehicle seats two passengers on a Read More...