Solar Grass Blades
Unique nanostructures copy grass blade architecture to harvest sunlight.
Wastewater Earthquakes
Regions of the U.S. that rarely saw earthquakes in the past are now shaking regularly due to oil and gas extraction activities.
Recycled Solar Panels
Engineers are creating highly efficient solar cells from recycled lead-acid car batteries.
Remote Power
A new power source could help miniaturize implantable medical device.
Wind Farms & Hurricanes
Massive offshore wind farms could have a surprising fringe benefit: disrupting hurricanes.
Wildlife & Wind Power
A new GPS tracking system could warn wind power companies of oncoming birds in time to prevent deadly collisions.
Metal in Microwaves
If metal isn’t supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
Algae Biofuel Breakthrough
Scientists have overcome a major challenge in the commercial production of biofuel.
Gut Bacteria Transfer
Gut microbes may be crucial to maintaining a healthy weight. The latest evidence comes from a study that transplanted human gut bacteria into mice.
Birds Fight Global Warming
The highly efficient lungs of birds are inspiring climate-friendly carbon-capturing filters.
Metal in Microwaves
If metal isn't supposed to go in microwave ovens, why do some of them have metal racks?
Seeing Inside Fukushima
Cosmic rays called muons could help detect uranium in damaged Japanese nuclear reactors.
Podcast for 28 September 2012
ENERGY & AGRICULTURE - New developments in wind power, a solar cell made from spinach, transparent soil clarifies plant research, extending the growing season, and how rainforests prevent drought in farmland.
Spinach Solar Cell
A protein in spinach packs a punch when it comes to converting solar energy into electricity.
Wind Roundup
Airborne wind turbines have the potential to meet half of the world’s energy needs by 2030.
World’s Lightest Material
German scientists have created the world's lightest material, which is also among the darkest.
Sewage Power
Microbial fuel cells, which clean wastewater and generate electricity, are getting closer to practicality.
Techno Animal Roundup
Researchers are breeding specialized fish that glow when exposed to industrial pollutants.
Podcast for 18 February 2012
AAAS 2012 ANNUAL MEETING SPECIAL - This week, we're coming to you from Vancouver, British Columbia, where scientists are gathering to tackle issues or global importance, such as how to boost crop productivity to feed a growing population, and making cookstoves safer for the world's poor. Also: video games to combat cataracts, and ultra-thin electronics printed with silver ink.
Safer Cookstoves
Cleaner cookstoves could save millions of lives and slow global warming.
Energy Technology Roundup
Researchers unveil new designs for longer-life batteries.
Anti-Magnets
Scientists have designed a theoretical anti-magnet. If it works in practice, it could have profound effects on both medicine and industry.