Science Daily Energy & The Environment

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Biosolar breakthrough promises cheap, easy green electricity Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:22:22 EST Scientists are turning the term "power plant" on its head. A team of researchers has developed a system that taps into photosynthetic processes to produce efficient and inexpensive energy.

New tool determines value of solar photovoltaic power systems Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:49:49 EST Consistent appraisals of real estate outfitted with photovoltaic installations are a challenge for the nation's real estate industry, but a new tool addresses that issue.

Earth's energy budget remained out of balance despite unusually low solar activity, study finds Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:26:26 EST A new NASA study underscores the fact that greenhouse gases generated by human activity -- not changes in solar activity -- are the primary force driving global warming. The study offers an updated calculation of Earth's energy imbalance, the difference between the amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth's surface and the amount returned to space as heat. The researchers' calculations show that, despite unusually low solar activity between 2005 and 2010, the planet continued to absorb more energy than it returned to space.

NASA study solves case of Earth's 'missing energy' Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:32:32 EST Two years ago, scientists released a study claiming that inconsistencies between satellite observations of Earth's heat and measurements of ocean heating amounted to evidence of "missing energy" in the planet's system. Where was it going? Or, they wondered, was something wrong with the way researchers tracked energy as it was absorbed from the sun and emitted back into space? An international team of atmospheric scientists and oceanographers set out to investigate the mystery.

Can the economy bear what oil prices have in store? Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:36:36 EST The economic pain of a flattening oil supply will trump the environment as a reason to curb the use of fossil fuels, say scientists.

Classifying solar eruptions Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:38:38 EST Solar flares are giant explosions on the sun that send energy, light and high speed particles into space. These flares are often associated with solar magnetic storms known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). While these are the most common solar events, the sun can also emit streams of very fast protons -- known as solar energetic particle (SEP) events -- and disturbances in the solar wind known as corotating interaction regions (CIRs). All of these can produce a variety of "storms" on Earth that can -- if strong enough -- interfere with short wave radio communications, GPS signals, and Earth's power grid, among other things.

New material to remove radioactive gas from spent nuclear fuel Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:03:03 EST Research by chemists could impact worldwide efforts to produce clean, safe nuclear energy and reduce radioactive waste. They have used metal-organic frameworks to capture and remove volatile radioactive gas from spent nuclear fuel.