Measurement

The World Coal Export Market

It's a dirty business. But somebody always decides to do it.

Climate Train

When traveling what is the "best" climate change choice?

Birds

Feeders lead hummingbirds by the beak

Backyard hummingbird feeders present an environmental shift and an opportunity for species change through natural selection.

Materials

Steel

Steel is one of the pillars of modern civilization but its production emits far more CO2 than the aviation industry. Material substitutes for steel simply don’t exist on the kind of scale needed. Reducing the carbon impact of steel production faces major technical and economic challenges.

Hope

Extracting Water from Desert Air with Bio-inspired Materials

Getting water from desert air, like a frog

The Day Bores Became Exciting

Oilfield down-hole skills may lead to viable large-scale closed-loop geothermal. It's a trend to watch.

Members only

Measurement

Australia's bad coal habit

Solar

Covering Canals with Solar PV

A pilot project to reduce evaporation and generate renewable electricity by covering irrigation canals with solar PV has completed its first phase.

Can Ticks Invade Canada Faster?

Some North American tick species seem to be expanding northward more quickly than their physiological cold tolerance allows. A new paper proposes an explanation.

How-to

Resilience Borne of Disaster

After experiencing disasters, many places around the world are rebuilding to be more resilient in future. We can learn from the experience of others how to assess our local hazards and risks and upgrade our infrastructure, so as to lessen the damage from future events.

Hope

A Month Where Fossil Fuels Fell Behind

"Non-carbon" sources supplied more than half of US electrical power in March

Climate Change

Trees

Trees are beautiful and maybe more. Updated: July 2, 2025

Hope

Printed Circuit Boards Made from Leaves and Pill Coating

Researchers have invented printed circuit boards made from leaves of magnolia trees.

Food

Mycelial Proteins: A Little Like Mae West

In a world where the environmental footprint of foods is important, mycelial proteins gain market acceptance.

Wind

The Return of Commercial Cargo Sailing Ships

Modern, purpose-built commercial cargo sailing ships are now sailing trans-Atlantic routes

Climate Change

Coffee - Climate Change Gets Personal

Coffee – many of us can’t live without our daily fix, but what is the environmental footprint of our daily cup(s), and what impact does a warming planet have on the future of coffee production?

Hope

Automated Origami Paper Packaging

New machine technology to make custom origami paper packaging

Paid-members only

Climate Change

Directly View ISS Methane Data

Climate Change

In Hot Water

To talk climate, we need to talk class, comfort—and coffee.

Hope

When is a wind turbine like an owl?

Wind turbine blade noise reduced by biomimicry.

Agriculture

Agrivoltaics

Agrivoltaics, a technique that combines various forms of agricultural production underneath, or adjacent to, photovoltaic installations, provides multiple, synergistic benefits: agricultural, ecological, and financial. The worldwide scope of agrivoltaics is currently small, but is growing.

Hope

Potatoes for a warming world

New strains of potatoes that maintain production in a warmed climate

Hope

Commercial debut: sodium-ion batteries

What might be the "better battery" for many applications is now commercially available.

Climate Change

Flyby

You take a good, hard look at Sagan's "pale blue dot." You learn surprising things.

Hope

We'll get hope with a little help from our friends

In which we are reminded that brilliant people are doing good work.