Sustainability
Democratizing AI-driven agriculture
Democratizing AI-driven agriculture Agricultural productivity can be boosted by AI-driven techniques, including increased yields, reduced losses, and lower input costs. However, these techniques have seen limited adoption due to high costs of manual data collection. The main barrier to adoption is the lack of affordable connectivity solutions for farmers. AI-driven agriculture has the potential to […]
💻 Technology
How can America get rid of its last coal power plants?
How can America get rid of its last coal power plants? A new study offers data-driven strategies for shuttering America’s remaining coal plants, which currently have no retirement plans and pose a threat to national climate goals. The study developed a framework combining graph theory and topological data analysis to classify the US coal fleet […]
📰 News
An Indigenous approach shows how changing the clocks for daylight saving time runs counter to human nature – and nature itself
An Indigenous approach shows how changing the clocks for daylight saving time runs counter to human nature – and nature itself Daylight saving time (DST) is often debated as to its necessity, but an Indigenous approach highlights how it runs counter to human nature and nature itself. The traditional Western view of DST assumes humans […]
📰 News
Another shuttered nuclear power plant is getting new life, thanks to Big Tech
Another shuttered nuclear power plant is getting new life, thanks to Big Tech Google has announced plans to revive the Duane Arnold Energy Center nuclear power plant in Iowa, which shut down in 2020. The company has signed a 25-year agreement with NextEra Energy to purchase electricity from the plant when it starts operating again. […]
💻 Technology
Agricultural drones are taking off globally, saving farmers time and money
Agricultural drones are taking off globally, saving farmers time and money Agricultural drones have become increasingly popular globally, transforming the way people grow food and saving farmers time and money. The use of agricultural drones has spread rapidly around the world, with China leading the way in terms of adoption and manufacturing. Other middle-income countries […]
💻 Technology
When coal smoke choked St. Louis, residents fought back − but it took time and money
When coal smoke choked St. Louis, residents fought back − but it took time and money St. Louis residents fought back against coal smoke pollution in 1939, which had become a chronic problem due to the widespread use of sulfur-rich coal for heat and power. The city’s mayor, Bernard Dickmann, created a commission to investigate […]
📰 News
Trump’s words aren’t stopping China, Brazil and many other countries from setting higher climate goals, but progress is slow
Trump’s words aren’t stopping China, Brazil and many other countries from setting higher climate goals, but progress is slow Despite Trump’s climate skepticism, many countries have set higher climate goals, including China, which has committed to cutting its net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% from peak levels by 2035. The European Union has pledged a […]
📰 News
Why countries struggle to quit fossil fuels, despite higher costs and 30 years of climate talks and treaties
Why countries struggle to quit fossil fuels, despite higher costs and 30 years of climate talks and treaties The United States, China, and European nations are struggling to quit fossil fuels despite higher costs and 30 years of climate talks and treaties. The Trump administration’s efforts to promote oil and gas drilling and coal production […]
📰 News
What are climate tipping points? They sound scary, especially for ice sheets and oceans, but there’s still room for optimism
What are climate tipping points? They sound scary, especially for ice sheets and oceans, but there’s still room for optimism Climate tipping points refer to thresholds where Earth systems, such as ice sheets and rain forests, change irreversibly over human lifetimes due to rising temperatures. The world has already temporarily breached the 1.5°C warming threshold […]
📰 News
New method uses collisions to break down plastic for recycling
New method uses collisions to break down plastic for recycling Researchers have developed a new method to break down PET plastic using mechanical forces instead of heat or harsh chemicals. The method, called mechanochemical recycling, uses collisions to convert PET back into its basic building blocks, opening a path toward faster and cleaner recycling. The […]
🔬 Science