Environmental Science

Earth AI’s Algorithms Discovered Critical Minerals in Overlooked Locations

Image Credits:RiverRockPhotos / Getty ImagesLast summer, mining startup KoBold made headlines with its discovery of one of the largest copper deposits in over a decade in Zambia.Earth AI uncovers overlooked mineral deposits in Australia, showcasing AI’s growing role in modern mineral explorationNow, another startup, Earth AI, has exclusively revealed to TechCrunch its own significant...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Scented Products Cause indoor Air Pollution on Par With Car Exhaust

Credit: PixabayUsing scented products indoors alters the air chemistry, generating as much pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers warn that breathing in these tiny particles could have serious health consequences.Indoor Air Pollution from Common Household ItemsWhen you hear or think about "air pollution," you likely associate it...

Yellowstone’s Hot Springs May Reveal Clues About Earth’s Early Oxygen Use

Octopus Spring, a thermal spring at Yellowstone National Park's Lower Geyser Basin, contains higher levels of oxygen than the neighbouring Conch Spring. (Bill Wight CA/Getty Images)Recent research from Montana State University suggests that microbial life in Yellowstone’s Lower Geyser Basin could provide insight into the evolution of how life adapted to use oxygen.The microorganisms living...

Bacteria Feed on Toxic and Persistent PFAS Chemicals

Scientists have discovered a bacterium that can break down toxic "forever chemicals" DepositphotosThe so-called "forever chemicals" (PFAS) are increasingly present in the environment, food, drinking water, and even our bodies. However, researchers may have found a new solution to this problem: a bacterium capable of consuming these compounds and their toxic byproducts.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances...