waste
Wastewater treatment plants could one day not only power themselves but be able to generate excess electricity for use by others. The answer, according to researchers at Oregon State University (OSU), lies with microbial fuel cells, in which bacteria oxidize organic matter in waste and in the process produce electrons
innovation
The US hopes that stronger, lighter materials can provide one way to improve the fuel efficiency of the cars and trucks on its roads. With that goal in mind, the US Department of Energy (DOE) is launching seven new projects to speed up the development of next-generation vehicles. Organizations leading
telework
Could we help reduce our energy and pollution problems by encouraging more people to work from home instead of a downtown office? Most likely, but maybe not as much as we might hope. The US government, which signed into law the Telework Enhancement Act in 2010, sees remote working not
efficiency
Can smarter building techniques also make for faster construction? China’s Broad Group hopes to answer that question with a resounding “Yes” by completing the world’s tallest building in 90 days. The company plans to build the 220-story Sky City tower in Changsha City using modular construction technology developed
solar power
NASA is banking on advanced solar energy technologies to power spacecraft and satellites on future journeys through the solar system. The US space agency is negotiating with two California firms — Deployable Space Systems and ATK Space Systems — for the development of advanced solar array systems. The goal is to enable
3D models of local geology could in the future help fast-growing cities avoid flooding problems related to development. The British Geological Survey (BGS) created Scotland’s first custom survey and 3D geological model for the town of Forres for that very reason. It’s been developing such 3D models since
photovoltaics
A new breakthrough could bring us a bit closer to a future in which building and car windows could generate electricity from the sun without interfering with the view. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, have developed a solar cell made from plastic that’s 70 percent transparent
high speed rail
Even after accounting for the possibility of more fuel-efficient planes and cars, high-speed rail powered by electricity can be the greenest transport option available. That’s the conclusion of researchers Arpad Horvath and Mikhail Chester, who compared the sustainability of California’s proposed high-speed rail project to other forms of
machine learning
What people in your city are Tweeting could help you predict your odds of coming down with the flu … or avoiding areas where it seems that lots of people are getting sick. A combination of machine learning and natural language understanding strategies can help us use computers to analyze the
coal
While the world continues to put up more wind turbines and solar panels, it also continues to use more and more coal, one of the dirtiest fossil fuels. World coal production increased by 6.1 percent in 2011. And fossil fuels in general still dominated the energy market, accounting for
smart cities
If city leaders adopt the right strategies, Rio de Janeiro by 2030 could become not only the Latin American capital of business and high tech but a real-life example of sustainable development in the southern hemisphere, according to a study under way by Siemens. Siemens’ future scenario for the city
future-proof
Small and mid-sized business owners who want their information technologies to be as future-proof as possible might want to borrow a page or two from government playbooks. While not always recognized for their forward thinking, a few government agencies – including the US federal government and the government in New South
