Group: polluters use offsets to avoid carbon cuts

Mar 12 | News

According to nonprofit group Sandbag, reports the AP, major European polluters are buying their way out of making big cuts to greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon offsets that pay for environmental programs in developing nations.

Water woes likely based on warmer temperatures

Feb 17 | News

Several Midwestern states could be facing increased winter and spring flooding, as well as difficult growing conditions on farms, if average temperatures rise, according to a Purdue Univ. researcher.

Why hasn't Earth warmed as much as expected?

Jan 21 | News

Earth has warmed much less than expected during the industrial era based on current best estimates of Earth's "climate sensitivity"—the amount of global temperature increase expected in response to a given rise in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide.

Scientists target East Coast rocks for carbon storage

Jan 5 | News

Volcanic rocks deep under the population centers of New England, New Jersey, and New York might be ideal for storing carbon dioxide generated by next-generation coal-fired power plants. The type of rock, basalt, is important to the plan because it reacts with the CO2, turning into a solid mineral.

Study: Global temperatures could rise more than expected

12/21/2009 | News

The kinds of increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide taking place today could have a significantly larger effect on global temperatures than previously thought, according to a new study led by Yale Univ. geologists.  

Climate draft has gaping holes at UN talks

12/11/2009 | News

The main elements of a global pact on climate change is in place, but in the areas of financing and greenhouse gas emissions cuts there remain open holes that world leads hope to fill in next week. The six-page document was distilled from 180 pages.

EPA chief offers new way to take on carbon emissions

12/9/2009 | News

The full Senate has yet to take up climate change legislation that cleared its environment committee, but at the climate conference in Copenhagen the EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson offered Pres. Obama another avenue: by acknowledging that carbon emissions threaten the health of Americans, the EPA can regulate these gases under the Clean Air Act without the approval Congress.

A greener way to get electricity from natural gas

12/3/2009 | News

A new type of natural-gas electric power plant proposed by MIT researchers could provide electricity with zero carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, at costs comparable to or less than conventional natural-gas plants, and even to coal-burning plants. But that can only come about if and when a price is set on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Predicting the fate of underground carbon

11/24/2009 | News

A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a new modeling methodology for determining the capacity and assessing the risks of leakage of potential underground carbon-dioxide reservoirs.

Climate accounting error may actually increase greenhouse gas release

10/23/2009 | News

Fast-growing biofuel crops grown on abandoned farmland can capture more carbon than existing plant, reducing overall GNG emissions. Cutting down a forest to plant biofuel crops does the opposite. But a quirk in the way carbon is now counted in current U.S. climate legislation and the Kyoto Protocol exempts all bioenergy sources from carbon counting.

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Much ado about next to nothing

19 hours ago

The recent review of the past 10 years of the National Nanotechnology Initiative--as presented by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology--suggested the rise of nanomanufacturing as the near future of nanotechnology. But the actual proposed funding reflects a cautious approach, even about nanotech in general.

Lunar tires, space MRSA, and resonating microfluidics

Mar 5

I typically attend the annual Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy each year in pursuit of specific coverage. This year, I sought out candidates for coverage in a vacuum technology article, and pulled together some instruments for a spectroscopy guide. But as busy as that kept me, it wasn’t all mass spectrometers and vacuum pumps on the show floor.  

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NuGard Coating Ashburn Hill

Jan 7

NuGard First Response Protective Clothing are lightweight coveralls, jackets, and pants that provide protection from heat and flame while keeping the wearers body temperature constant.

Multi-Touch Music Maker

Jan 7

Professor David Wessel shows his multi-touch interface that uses computer technologies that allow him to experiment with fine controls to "caress" the instrument.