Underground energy storage could solve renewable energy transition
Skeptics of the transition to renewable energies in the U.S. argue that doing so will make for an unstable grid that will cost too much, but Stanford professor Mark Jacobsen and University of California-Berkeley scientist Mark Delucchi think otherwise. The two have proposed a system that combines Read More...
5 ways you can help the hungry on Thanksgiving
One in seven Americans struggle daily to put food on the table. For them, celebrating Thanksgiving doesn't come easy. Meanwhile, others are throwing away uneaten food because they have more than they can eat. So here are some last-minute things to consider to help out other families today. Donate Read More...
Stanford technology makes metal wires on solar cells nearly invisible to light
A solar cell is basically a semiconductor, which converts sunlight into electricity, sandwiched between metal contacts that carry the electrical current. But this widely used design has a flaw: The shiny metal on top of the cell actually reflects sunlight away from the semiconductor where Read More...
Recycling hotel soap is helping prevent disease in India
Erin Zaikis was visiting a village in Thailand when she noticed one glaring piece of everyday life was missing. “Never once did I see soap,” she said. “A water charity had been in this village and had built two wells and deemed it a smashing success. But no one was using soap or Read More...
The essential happiness ingredient: altruism and here’s how
Thanks to pioneers like Robert Emmons and Michael McCollough, we now know that gratitude can have an enormously positive effect on our mental health. Not only that, thanks to the advent of neuroplasticity, practicing gratitude can even help shape your brain in ways that promote resilience and Read More...
Sunshine state aims to become Australia’s solar state
The state of Queensland appears ready to embark on what could be one of the most radical transformations of its electricity network ever undertaken – even by standards of ambitious mandates in places such as California, Germany and Denmark. The newly elected state Labor government came into Read More...
Students invent fridge that runs without electricity
Upwards of 40% of food produced in developing countries is wasted due to lack of electricity and poor refrigeration. With that in mind, four University of Calgary students have invented a fridge that doesn’t require electricity to run. Inspired by the way animals cool themselves, the machine uses Read More...
Allianz to cut investments in companies using coal in favor of renewable energy
Another global banking giant is pulling its funds from coal businesses. Germany’s Allianz SE, one of the world’s largest financial asset managers, announced it will no longer invest in companies if more than 30% of sales come from coal mining or if coal generates more than 30% of electricity. Read More...
Meditation has transformed one of San Francisco's toughest schools, and its pupils
A San Francisco middle school, surrounded by drugs and gang violence in the neighborhood, has reported the changes it suspects is related to a meditation program that's now in its eighth year. Already in the first year, "quiet time" suspensions were reduced by almost half. After three years, the Read More...
Putting a tax on meat will help tackle climate change, study shows
We already knew the livestock sector accounts for about 15% of global greenhouse emissions. Eating less meat has therefore been known to be an effective way to tackle climate change. But how do you get people to eat less meat? A leading think-tank in the UK has suggested that a meat tax is likely Read More...