Environment

February 12, 2023

Iceberg the Size of London Breaks off Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf

Antarctica is known for adorable penguins and vast sheets of cold icecaps. While this foreboding landscape may look monotonous, it is subject to change just like any place on Earth. Scientists have noted that icecaps on both poles are suffering due to the climate crisis. But some big changes are part of natural cycles; in January 2023, the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica “calved” a giant iceberg the size of greater London.

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January 6, 2023

Tobacco Companies Must Pay For Cigarette Butt Pollution Clean-Up In Spain

Cigarette butts are everywhere—scattered among shells on the beach, stamped into sidewalk grates, and floating in ocean waters. An estimated 5 billion butts alone clog our planet's oceans. This common litter takes about 10 years to decompose, releasing toxins as it deteriorates. The filters in particular are a problem. Spain has a solution: as part of a large environmental package recently passed, tobacco companies must foot the bill of cleaning up butts around the country.

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December 31, 2022

Researchers Design Colorful Windows That Effectively Harvest Ambient Light

Solar energy is the future. In an ideal world, solar panels line rooftops, and the Sun's energy is stored in advanced replenishing batteries. But what about all that sunlight that comes streaming in through our windows? Modern technology can harvest that too. Grätzel cells, or dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), are a modern wonder. Looking like stained glass, these colorful windows harvest ambient light.

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December 24, 2022

Massive “Water Battery” Is Now in Operation in the Swiss Alps

Solar and wind energy are the future. But both of these renewable, sustainable energy sources are dependent on varying environmental conditions. Where does one store the extra energy produced by solar panels on a summer day or windmills churning as a breeze rips over the ocean? Traditional batteries require minerals that are dangerous and damaging to the Earth.

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