Access to clean drinking water is a luxury that exists for few in the majority of developing countries. That is, unless the SODIS method is practiced – an inexpensive, practical practice of water disinfection that is gaining momentum worldwide and saving lives as a consequence.

Gemasolar has completed the construction of the world’s first solar power plant capable of generating electricity all day and night. As significant as the “all night” feature sounds, keep in mind that the fact that solar power plants do not normally generate electricity at night is not actually their biggest reliability obstacle — the electricity generation interruption from clouds is more problematic (see more on that below). Luckily, this power plant design tackles both issues.

WiFi downloads can drain your laptop or smartphone battery more quickly when you’re in an area with heavy WiFi traffic. Here’s one solution.

A new NASA map now quantifies the amount of carbon that is stored in tropical forests.

The NASA-led research team used ground and satellite data to locate and measure the amount of carbon stored in Earth’s tropical trees and forests provided this exciting work for those tracking carbon emissions.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) announced a joint initiative focused on educating gardeners about the effects of climate change on gardens, landscapes, and green spaces.

The rhino crisis continues to span international boundaries, with the thriving illegal market for rhino horn tempting more thieves in Europe — and taking more innocent lives in South Africa.

Meanwhile, China is still sitting in the hot seat.

Busted in Belgium

New research into the issue of whether atmospheric carbon dioxide has the capacity to spark an abrupt climate change has shown that past changes are more likely linked to alterations in ocean circulation unique associated with ice ages, rather than a catastrophic level of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Zach Shahan just published a great piece on Planetsave.com about a recent AP investigation on federal oversight and the nuclear power industry. The report reveals how, instead of providing oversight, federal regulators act more like close business partners with nuclear power operators to keep aging reactors online and within federal standards. How? By repeatedly easing those standards.

The investigation shows that officials from the U.S. Regulatory Commission have consistently judged earlier standards as “too strict,” advocating that reduced safety margins can be achieved “without peril”.

The result is valves allowed to leak at a rate up to 200 times more than the original standard, cracked tubing through which radioactive steam flows, worn parts left in operation, and many other age-related patterns of deterioration.

According to NRC records obtained by AP, it goes something like this:

1.Reactor parts fail or fall out of regulatory compliance.
2.Research is commissioned and studies are conducted by both industry and government. All agree the rules are “unnecessarily conservative.”
3.The rules are eased and reactors are once again in compliance.
But as most nuclear plants in the US near the end of their expected lifespan, the inevitable symptoms of age will continue to eat away at the safety margin.

Even if we are to put our faith in the NRC’s ability to effectively regulate the nuclear industry, some questions seem prudent:

•At what point do industry regulators draw the line and ease regulations no further?
•Why are the original standards consistently too strict?
•Are we learning the lessons we should from the Fukushima tragedy?
•Who is overseeing the overseers?

Source:  GO MEDIA - Written by Tom Schueneman

Once you start talking about 200 miles of driving in-between 5 minute “pit-stops”, it’s not really clear if you’re talking about gas or electric-powered cars – and that’s the whole point of developing quick-charging and battery-swapping stations for EVs:  you can get all of the green, none of the sacrifice.  Now, you can have that very thing!

A lot of wind critics assert that wind power isn’t reliable. However, the differences between wind power variability and variability of traditional power sources, among other things should be pointed out. Paul Gipe of Wind-Works also recently got into this topic, in more detail, as compared to nuclear power:

Critics of wind energy often charge that wind energy is too “unreliable” to generate a large portion of a nation’s electricity and suggest that base load needs “reliable” sources of generation such as nuclear power.

In what has become one of the worst assaults on the world’s rhinos in recent history, the news continues to shock even the most seasoned wildlife conservationists.

During the last two weeks (or so), no fewer than seven countries have been struck by the scourge that is driven by the demand for illegal rhino horn.

Museums targeted

Illegal rhino horn trade in Germany? Italy? The UK?

Tides that produce power, anyone?

A former Royal Navy sloop – the HQS Wellington – now moored on the Thames at Temple Steps in London, will undergo a two-month trial for an innovative energy capture technology that uses a tidal energy turbine.