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‘Two-faced’ solar cells generate a lot more power
A new thermodynamic formula reveals that bifacial solar cells in double-sided panels generate on average 15 to 20% more sunlight to electricity than the today’s one-sided solar panels. Most of today’s...
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2 ways to deal with invasive species without toxic stuff
Two new studies focus on taking an integrated approach to the management of aquatic invasive species. Though small and somewhat nondescript, quagga and zebra mussels pose a huge threat to local rivers,...
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‘Smart building skins’ change shape in the heat
Researchers are using nature-inspired design and new materials to create smart building skins to make the structures more energy efficient. A smart skin enables a building to function like elements of...
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To make better espresso, use less coffee
A new approach can help you make the perfect shot of espresso, researchers report. The key to the approach? Use less coffee at a coarser grind than traditional wisdom has suggested, says Christopher...
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The average American household wastes $1,866 of food per year
American households waste, on average, almost a third of the food they acquire, economists report. This food waste has an estimated aggregate value of $240 billion annually. Divided among the nearly...
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Our pee could become fertilizer with low drug-resistance risk
Recycled and aged human urine can serve as a fertilizer with low risks of spreading antibiotic-resistant DNA, according to new research. It’s a key finding in efforts to identify more sustainable...
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‘Green’ schools may put kids in touch with environment
“Green” school buildings can help students better understand the role that humans have in and on the environment, a small study suggests. Nearly 40% of the world’s energy-related carbon dioxide...
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2B more people will likely live in cities by 2030
Urban expansion means more than 2 billion additional people will probably live in cities around the globe by the year 2030, researchers say. The pace is equivalent to building a city the size of New...
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1 way to wash dishes is greener than the rest
Washing dishes with the two-basin hand-washing method is associated with fewer greenhouse gas emissions than machine dishwashing, according to a new study. In the two-basin method, you soak and scrub...
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To get investors for farm energy projects, account for uncertainty
A new model could boost investment in anaerobic digesters, farm-based sustainable energy projects that generate electricity from manure. The model uses advanced computational techniques to address...
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Tropical nations aren’t ready for fish stocks to vanish
Countries in the tropics—especially Northwest African nations—are particularly vulnerable to the loss of fish stocks due to climate change, researchers report. Fish are on the move, and the world isn’t...
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Safe electric car battery lasts for 1 million miles
A new lithium-ion battery for electric cars is safe, has high power, and can last for a million miles. Electric car batteries typically require a tradeoff between safety and energy density. If the...
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Team transforms old tires in super-light aerogels
Researchers have used waste rubber tires to create super-light aerogels that are highly absorbent, extremely durable, and efficient at trapping heat and sound. Upcycling waste rubber into products of a...
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California’s strict air pollution laws are good for farmers
Farmers in California’s Central Valley have seen a boost in the productivity of their high-value crops—and greater earnings—as a result of the Golden State’s strict air pollution regulations,...
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Farms with diverse crops protect animals and the climate
Farms with diverse crops can help protect wildlife and buffer against climate change, researchers report. The researchers found that farms with diverse crops planted together provide more secure,...
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Why do people choose vegetarianism?
A new survey shows why different people chose to shift to vegetarianism. Researchers know that people are motivated to be vegetarian for different reasons—the most common in Western cultures include...
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Chemical industry could go totally carbon neutral
The chemical industry could become carbon neutral, new research indicates. Switzerland’s Federal Council has decided that the country should become carbon-neutral by 2050. This may be challenging as...
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System more sustainably models chemical reactions
A lab-based “intelligent microsystem” employs machine learning for modeling chemical reactions, researchers report. The synthesis of plastic precursors, such as polymers, involves specialized...
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Big data says time’s running out to save the environment
Big data can help scientists chart not only the degradation of the environment but also help achieve sustainability, according to a new paper. Lead author Rebecca Runting from the University of...
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50% less animal-based food gets US 25% closer to climate goal
Replacing half of all animal-based foods in the American diet with plant-based alternatives could reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions 1.6 billion metric tons by 2030, according to a new...
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