Earth Science

Onion-skin Dye May Find Use In Greener UV-Protected Solar Cells

Dye-sensitized solar cells were used in the study, as they're particularly prone to UV damageVäinö AnttalainenSolar cells frequently encounter high levels of harmful ultraviolet light because they capture the maximum possible sunlight.A new eco-friendly coating could protect them from these UV rays, using its active ingredient extracted from onion skin.Currently, manufacturers apply clear films...

Google’s First Satellite For Detecting Wildfires Now In Orbit

Wildfires can erupt faster than current systems can detect them – and do immense damage if they're not tackled soon after they startMarcus Kauffman / UnsplasThe first satellite in a new constellation designed to detect wildfires early and with high precision has successfully reached Earth's orbit. This breakthrough could revolutionize how we respond to uncontrolled fires.Named...

Coreshell Aims to Significantly Reduce the Cost of U.S. Made Batteries

Image Credits:CoreshellThe shift to electric vehicles is largely a story centered on China. Government subsidies there have not only fueled automakers but also strengthened the entire battery supply chain. Decades of industrial policies controlling critical mineral resources have given China a dominant position, leaving American and European automakers struggling to compete.Graphite is a prime...

Palmetto Enables Developers to Advance U.S. Electrification with AI-Driven Building Models

Image Credits:Getty Images / Edwin RemsbergFor homeowners considering solar panels, the key question is often “How many?” For heat pumps, it’s “What size?” Traditionally, answering these required an on-site visit from a contractor.Over the past decade, solar installers have streamlined this process, with some, like Tesla, eliminating it entirely through software that integrates various...

Geothermal Energy Could Supply Power for Almost All New Data Centers by 2030

Image Credits:Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty ImagesAs AI and cloud providers accelerate data center construction, a power shortage looms. However, a new report suggests that the solution could lie underground.According to an analysis by the Rhodium Group, advanced geothermal power could meet nearly two-thirds of new data center energy demand by 2030. This expansion would...

Our Next Energy’s Founder Returns as CEO After New Funding

Image Credits:Our Next EnergyJust over a year after stepping down as CEO of battery startup Our Next Energy (ONE), Mujeeb Ijaz has returned to lead the company. This announcement coincides with the closing of a new funding round led by Crescent Ventures and Trousdale Ventures.ONE has not disclosed the round’s size and did not...

Largest Automated Port Set to Handle 65 Million Containers Annually

When its four-phase development is complete, Singapore's Tuas mega port will become the largest automated container terminal on the planet.PSA SingaporeSingapore's ambitious project to develop the world’s largest automated port is progressing well. The Tuas mega port has already processed 10 million containers since its operations began in September 2022. By the 2040s, once...

Cambium is Developing an AI System Designed to Convert Waste Wood Into Functional Lumber

Image Credits:CambiumAcross cities and suburbs in America, a common scene unfolds: trees are cut down and shredded instead of being repurposed into lumber.For Ben Christensen, this waste never sat right. Growing up in New Mexico surrounded by towering pines—and with a family deeply rooted in the timber industry, including his carpenter father—he developed a...

Seismic Activity Under Alaskan Volcano May Indicate Imminent Eruption

Credit: PixabaySmall earthquakes beneath Alaska’s Mount Spurr suggest that the volcano may be nearing an eruption. Located about 3,370 meters (11,070 feet) above sea level, the mountain has experienced a surge in seismic activity recently, with thousands of minor earthquakes reported.Increased Chances of EruptionMatthew Haney, a volcano seismologist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory, informed...

Recycled Wind Turbine Blades Turned into Asphalt for New Roads

Retired wind turbine blades can be hard to repurpose because of their typically non-recyclable composite materials - which can include fiberglassEstormiz / Wikimedia CommonsWind turbines provide an excellent source of clean energy, but disposing of them when they are decommissioned presents a major challenge. Researchers in China have discovered a practical method to recycle...