Catching Rays in California, and Storing Them

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/business/energy-environment/catching-some-rays-in-california-and-storing-them.html?ref=earth

According to Wald's article, "solar power is growing so fast in California...that it is turning the stat's power system upside down". This new system uses a technique we have known about for some time now, but it uses it in a more creative way, working in the opposite direction. The original idea was to "use batteries to store power at night form traditional sources...and run them down in the peak heat of late afternoon". But, in California, the sunset is when there is the most sun available, so the panels "keep operating in the late afternoon, when the output from solar panels eliminates the need for their electricity".

The only issue with this new method is that they sometimes find they have too much power than they have use for, called an "oversupply". As far as I can tell, it's better to have too much than not enough and it's impressive that California has such a handle on this innovative solar panelling technique, using their own resources to their best ability.

In the Shadow of Rising Towers, Laments of Lost Sunlight in New York

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/nyregion/in-the-shadow-of-rising-towers-laments-of-lost-sunlight-in-new-york.html?adxnnl=1&ref=earth&adxnnlx=1388154841-OtUc2ysTTkDYVda/f+WF7w

As much as I love going in for the day or the night, I've always know that I don't want to live in New York City, and this article confirmed it for me. With skyscraper after skyscraper being built, "the quest to reach higher often comes at the cost of stealing someone else's light". Whether blocking off someone's window with brick or blocking off its view of the sun by height of a new building. many new yorkers constantly find themselves stuck in the "dark". This article interviewed some new yorkers about their own loss of light and the way this constant construction makes them feel. George Sanders had a building built right next to his apartment, but was disappointed with how it was carried out. He thinks that "going higher and staying narrow would've allowed light and air...Now we're just plunged into darkness. It's just too bad".

Some call it "a sense of being sealed off, of being isolated" and that their apartments now are very "cavelike". Who wants to come home to that? I guess they could just escape to places like Central Park to get a breath of fresh air and some sunlight. But, not for long; "Seven towers are planned or underway along the area south of Central Park", taking away sunlight there too. While I understand the importance of constant expansion in a city like New York, it seems clear to me that more efforts have to be made in order to maintain sunlight for all of its essential benefits to the people living there.

Chile: Indian Leader Found in Reservoir

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/world/americas/chile-indian-leader-found-in-reservoir.html?ref=earth&_r=1&

Definitely a bit more morbid than I usually choose for my articles, this one I found really interesting. This past Tuesday, Nicolesa Quintreman was "found floating in a reservoir she spent a decade trying to prevent from being created". In her life, she was a leader of the Mapuche Indians in Chile and "became a national figure in Chile during protests against the construction of a hydroelectric dam on tribal land". She literally died fighting for what she believes in. This tribe clearly didn't have a say when outsiders came in to construct the reservior. Being their own native land and after we have literally taken everything else away from them, I think this was very much overstepping our boundaries. It's a shame that Quintreman died in her protest, but hopefully now people can learn from it and prevent it from happening again. The native people have every right to have a say in how outsiders manipulate their land.

A Struggle to Balance Wind Energy With Wildlife

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/science/earth/a-struggle-to-balance-wind-energy-with-wildlife.html?ref=earth

The topic of this article immediately intrigued me because it's something that I haven't really thought about: the fact that it could be a problem if too many people are trying to do good. Wind energy is obviously a major help when looking toward our future climate, but it is definitely crucial to keep preserving wildlife. In this article, Dan Frosch calls "the wind energy industry and environmental organizations" "two staunch allies" and I completely agree. Environmental organizations claim the new federal rule, that wind farms can "lawfully kill bald and golden eagles under 30-year permits", as not looking far enough into the long-term. David Yarnold from the National Audubon Society claims "it basically says you can go operate these wind turbines and kill as many eagles as happen to die".

However, the federal figures assure the agreement serves to "balance the practical considerations of long-term wind farm projects with the need to keep eagle populations stable". And, it could be possible that the conservationists are overreacting a little bit, being that neither bald nor golden eagles are considered endangered anymore, as of 2007. Moreover, "fewer than six bald eagles have ever been killed by a wind turbine". In science and in life there are sometimes no right answers. Coming up with agreements and compromises is always complicated, especially when involving our future and the future of our changing climate.

Biodiversity Higher in the Tropics, but Species More Likely to Arise at Higher Latitudes

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/13112213245.htm

Researchers at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in NC came to the same conclusion that a few studies before have as well. While we all know that areas near the equator host the most biodiversity, there seems to be some data suggesting we may be giving it too much credit. It's easy to picture the tropical rain forests, rich with a multitude of species. But this data, studying 2300 species of mammals and 6700 species of birds, suggests that there is a greater number of "subspecies" in the harsher environments of higher latitudes than the equator. A subspecies is a potential stepping stone in the process by which one species becomes two, and there are many reasons as to why it is possibly true that more exist in harsher conditions, as discussed in a study published in an issue of Molecular Ecology, which is also consistent with a study by the University of British Columbia.

Botero, a lead author of the NC study, makes the metaphor "comparing biodiversity in the temperate zones with that in the tropics" to "the coins in your pocket with the coins in your piggy bank...there are usually more coins in your piggy bank than in your pocket, but you're always spending the coins in your pocket, and receiving new coins in the from of change...the coins in your piggy bank turn over less often, but over time they add up". For me, that cleared up the situation and I thought it was a clever way of explaining it. This just goes to show that both the environment and scientific data are constantly changing, and there is most definitely something new to look into every day!

Largest Lake in Britain and Ireland Has Lost Three Quarters of Winter Water Birds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131113080135.htm

This article talked about one of the many outcomes of climate change. Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Britain and Ireland, "has lost more than three quarters of its overwintering water birds". Queen's University Belfast researchers have published a study in the Freshwater Biology journal, noting the drastic drop in diving ducks from 100,000 to less than 21,000 in a time frame of only 10 years. Along with the results of climate change, the scientists fell a major factor in this was the fact that there was a 66% decline in the duck's food in the lake, like insects and snails. While they were losing food sources here, temperature in Northern Europe during this time were increasing by about 3.8 degrees Celcius, therefore decreasing any incentive whatsoever for the birds to migrate.

There are so many consequences of our actions as humans as far as our carbon footprints stand. Study after study, like this one, just proves the point that we have to change our ways because the environment is changing before our eyes and not always for the better. One change sets off a chain reaction, like the decrease in snails and insects in this one lake. How many more studies like this one need to be published before we see the real problem and get the world back to working the way it was before, naturally?

Power Boosting Self-Cleaning Solar Panels

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131121111806.htm

Global warming is a scary thing. The only comfort is in knowing that there are many scientists working on ways in which we can prevent it, or at least slow it down, and that there aren some little, yet significant changes being made. And example of this is the increase in use of solar paneling to conduct electricity. The only problems found with solar panels are that, being reflected, a lot of sunlight in fact is directed back toward the sky, rather than actually used efficiently for electric current. The other problem is that bird droppings and rain seem to keep the solar panels rather dirty. Well, as published in the International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, researchers have found some solutions.

First, a nanoscopic relief pattern can be added to the surface of photovoltai (solar) cells in order to make them non-reflected, therefore the amount of sunlight converted to electricity would increase. Second, scientists can use the lotus leaf as a model of a water repellant surface patter, making the plant hydrophobic. This can be applied to solar panels, making them somewhat self-cleaning, hoping that the bird droppings and rain will just slide off, like they do on the lotus leaf, rather than stick. I think it's great that solar panels exist and are in use, and even better that scientists are constantly looking for ways to make them even better and more marketable. In a perfect world, everything would be run by renewable energy sources like the sun, but increasing the efficiency of solar panels is certainly a step in the right direction!

Negative Effects of Road Noises on Migratory Birds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131106113841.htm

It's no denying that building roads causes a decline in bird populations around the world. The question has always been: Is there one reason we can pinpoint? If we could find the main reason causing this, it would be possible for scientists and conservationists to help find an ecosystem that would be beneficial on all aspects, almost like a compromise. Well, this article suggests that researchers at Boise State University may have found the culprit: noise. While "disturbances, collisions, and chemical pollution" are all undoubtedly harmful to birds and other wildlife, the newest studies show that it's in fact that traffic noise that these species cannot coexist with. The study involved the creation of a "phantom road" with speakers, and the results shows that a quarter of the birds in the area declined and avoided the area when the speakers were playing traffic noises.

I found this article so interesting because it shows how much really does go into problem-solviing real world climate issues. We can't just get rid of every road in the world to save as many birds as we can. Instead, scientists were able to isolate the variable that we can change and that can make a difference without altering something entirely. There is always the possibility of finding a compromise, but it does usually take patience and experimentation to figure it out!

Scientists Develop New Method to Help Global Coasts Adapt to Sea-Level Rises

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131025091822.htm

The University of Southampton hosts a group of scientists who are looking at the global sea-level rises over the next 100 years and how the coasts can adapt. While "future sea-level rise seems inevitable", scientists are unsure of the exact pattern changes we can expect. That being said, it is crucial we step into action now, supported by their research of both "climate and non-climate mechanisms" that are contributing the the sea-level change we are experiencing and expect to continue experiencing. While they assure their motives are "not to scare people", they aim to "encourage policy makers to think across the full range of possibilities". We can progress and adapt as a nation if we listen to the scientists providing the facts and suggestions. These types of reports are submitted to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change who aim to take into consideration all the experimental data and knowledgeable advice.

One concept that stood out to me in the article was the concern of "over-adapting". The scientists are hoping not to do just that, but I was curious as to what exactly that would mean. Is it possible to over-adapt? I guess it is, because scientists are concerned about it. What would be the consequences of over-adapting? Would it be better than under-adapting? Definitely something to think about!

New Information on the Development of Urban Regions in Finland

http://www.sciencedaily.com/release/2013/10/131025091705.htm

This article stood out to me because it reminded me of how world-wide of an issue climate change is, and how important constant adaptation and preparation is everywhere. This articles talks about how researchers are focusing on "sustainable urban planning" in Finland. The European Union's COST technology network put together a report after a seminar in Helsinki, Finland. They discussed many factors that go into urbanization, such as "placement of housing and workplaces, and the population's travel behaviour at different times". They studied which zones are more oriented toward walking, cars, or public transportation. They talked about and measured "the harmful and beneficial effects of different planning solutions" that they can implement in the future.

I think it's great that they're really taking matters into their own hands. It's no question the environment is changing, and something as crucial to the future as urbanization is a great place to start. If they're doing it in Finland, we can hope that we have researchers here who are just as productive as they are.

Increasing Toxicity of Algal Blooms Tied to Nutrient Enrichment and Climate Change

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131024143309.htm

This article addressed the ever-present concern of climate change, focusing on the increase in algal blooms. The increase of toxicity of algal blooms "threatens aquatic organisms, ecosystem health and human drinking water safety". One cause of the increase in toxicity is the increase of cyanobacteria. The author of the article compares cyanobacteria to cockroaches in the way that they're always there, but never necessarily wanted. However, it is believed that cyanobacteria is what released the oxygen that made the evolution of terrestrial life possible, which I thought was interesting, immediately picturing dinosaurs. Oregon State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill both provided scientists to investigate the real consequences of this increase in algal blooms.

The cyanobacteria releases toxins, and about 1/3 of lakes greater than 10 acres big may contain cyanobacteria. This results in algal blooms "so massive that they are visible from outer space". Because of the location of the toxins, "exposure risks are greatest near the water's surface", which is scary as far as recreational water uses like swimming, but also for drinking water. As one of the scientists sums up, "with a warming climate, rising carbon dioxide levels, dams on more rivers than not, and overloading of nutrients into our waterways, the magnitude and duration of toxic cyanobacterial blooms is only going to get worse."

Optimism About Meeting 'Grand Challenge' of Global Prosperity

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131024121806.htm

While science proves again and again how scary the future can be if we don't start making changes, it was refreshing to find someone with an optimistic outlook. Professor Lawrence M. Cathles teaches earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell University and feels that there's one way we can look forward to a future: by obtaining a "European standard of living". He says they have food sustainability, natural resources, and energy levels down and if the rest of the world could catch up to them, we could potentially be in good shape. Cathles argues that "the most essential resource is energy" and we must lower our percent of carbon for them. He recommends looking toward the oceans, where "the extraction footprint would be tiny". Lastly, Cathles comments on the uselessness of wars over energy: "We have plenty of resources; we do not need to fight over them" he states.

New Space Cargo Ship Makes First Flight

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/tech/innovation/space-cargo-launch/index.html

This article highlighted the launch of an unmanned space shuttle that left on Wednesday, September 18 from its launch facility in Virginia, on its way to the International Space Station. Everyone is eager to hear updates upon its arrival, but so far Frank Culbertson, former astronaut and current head of the Orbital Science Corp's advanced programs says the shuttle is "working really well right now". It should be-NASA has issued a $1.6 billion contract to work on it. Also sharing this contract is SpaceX, who make the Dragon capsule that will eventually be capable of carrying passengers.

Space always seems like such an obscure concept to me, surreal almost. That's why I always find it so interesting when I see articles about the latest technology for space travel and the latest trips and shuttles sent out-it makes it feel more real. I don't think I'm ever destined to walk on the moon, but I'm excited to keep following our further advancements as we explore what's outside of Earth's realm!

(image from google images)

Health Apps Don't Save People, People Do

http://money.cnn.com/2013/09/19/technology/mobile-health-apps.pr.fortune/index.html

In this article, the effects of health software applications are studied. With all the technology these days, there are apps for almost anything-including tracking and analyzing your exercise patterns, dietary details, sleep habits, and other factors that influence your health. In fact, about $150 million is invested in these softwares. But the real question is: Does motivation through digital contests really produce results? Unfortunately, so far it hasn't. In fact, these apps can't do anything about lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. There are many reasons for this, one being that the exercise in unsupervised and therefore can be unproductive or even harmful if someone doesn't know how to properly treat his or her body. So, what's the answer? It turns out the most helpful way to keep on track with your health is to attend local lifestyle support groups or programs that check in weekly with a group of people going through the same changes and have similar goals. IPhones can sure do a lot, but there's just no way to beat real-life motivation from real-life people that allows you to help each other reach the similar goal of a healthy lifestyle. There's no app for that yet!

I chose this article because, being a part of the generation of technology, I'm always hearing through the media or through my friends about the latest apps that are supposed to help you lose weight, or track how many calories you burn a day, or self-diagnose when you're sick, etc. I've always been skeptical of their value, but some people have sworn by these apps. It is comforting to know that people haven't given up on real-life contact for motivation. After reading about that, it makes me a little less scared about the possibility of our future generation looking more and more like robots!

(image from google images)

Change is in the Wind, Offshore

http://money.cnn.com/2013/09/19/technology/offshore-wind-farm.pr.fortune/index.html

This article is about the world's largest offshore wind farm, found in the UK. The project is called London Array and the turbines are located by the capital. The farm consists of a whopping 175 giant turbines that generate enough power for 500,000 homes. Meanwhile, here in the US we don't have any offshore wind farms. Sure, they're three times more expensive to build offshore, but we need to be looking at the big pictures and the future of our environment; it's time for us to catch up. Gov. Chris Christie here in Jersey would like to see one by 2020. We'll see if this is an achievable goal, but it would truly be wonderful if we could pull it together, not only to keep up with Europe, but to keep up with the constant need for renewable energy that is holding our planet together!

This article interested me because it seems to be a constant theme of the US lacking behind on so many important innovative changes, and I feel it always seem,s we have too much pride to admit when someone else thought of a good idea and that it's about time we learn from them! I'll be impressed if we start to make some of the positive environmental changes we keep reading about that are happening elsewhere-possibly starting with a wind farm right here in NJ!

How to Really Teach Environmental Science to Kids

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/gudmundsen/2013/09/01/ecology-learning-apps-kids/2700271/

This article stood out to me because, as a hopeful elementary school teacher, technology and its affects on education is always a concern. It was great to see finally someone putting kids' affinity for technology to good use! Learning games and apps are a great way to get young students to develop a love for learning, by first taking something that they already know how to do and adding in the information we want to get across.

Games are always a great supplement to any unit being taught to kids, but it especially makes sense to incorporate science. Environmental science focuses on the cause and effect of our actions as humans to our surrounding environment. Interactive games area a great way to show kids very clearly that the decisions they make immediately affect other organisms. Being able to see it and feel a part of it is a much more affective way of learning than just hearing about it and being given the same warnings. Our only hope is that the kids can take what they learn from the game and, rather than just worrying about however many points they scored in a round, be able to connect what they've learned to real life. If our young generation can grasp the importance of keeping our environment clean and safe, then there's hope for all of us!