This topic includes articles about environmentally friendly materials. For example, plastic can be made from renewable sources such as corn instead of non-renewable sources such as oil. And this topic also includes materials used in renewable power generation systems.
Recently, it was reported that scientists had synthesized two-dimensional tin, or stanene, after theorizing that it could exist about two years ago. Like graphene, two-dimensional sheets of carbon, stanene could have different properties than three-dimensional forms of the element. Specifically, stanene could contribute to energy efficiency by reducing the power consumption of computer chips. Stanene […]
Dew harvesting is ancient, and researchers are currently working on ways to improve it. Fog could also provide an important water source in areas with limited freshwater access. In addition to the fog-basking beetle covered in my last article, researchers are studying plants such as cacti and moss to learn how they harvest water in […]
Plastic waste in the ocean is a significant problem. Many types of plastic which are used in common consumer products, such as soft drink containers, utensils, and water bottles, cannot be easily broken down by microorganisms. Because these products are frequently thrown away improperly by consumers, they often get into storm drains and enter the […]
The printing process is a major source of environmental damage. The ink itself is not the main culprit, although it does produce some pollution. A bigger problem is the use of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are necessary to clean off the printing equipment. Soy based inks are less damaging than inks that are […]
In elementary school, one of the first ways that the teacher demonstrated a chemical reaction was by creating a volcano. You just need to build a miniature mountain with a hollow top out of clay. Then, you pour some baking soda out of the box into the hole. Pour some vinegar on it, and the […]
Sugar cane is well known for its use to create ethanol. Sugar cane is an alternative to corn when creating ethanol to use in a gasoline blend, and Brazil produces a lot of sugar cane for fuel purposes. Researchers are working on methods of creating plastics out of corn since corn is a renewable research. […]
In the world of the Mario Brothers, Toad lived in a giant mushroom. A mushroom was an unusual place to live once, but mushrooms now have a role in green building design. Houses often include insulators, and styrofoam is a well known insulation material. A new green building material made from mushroom roots uses much […]
Many skateboards are made from plastic, which is made from petroleum, which is not a renewable resource. There are alternatives made of wood, and I did have a wood longboard at one point. To be truly sustainable, the wood used in the skateboard must be harvested in a sustainable manner. Bamboo grows everywhere and is […]
Colognes and perfumes, as well as other fragrances in bath and beauty products, usually include a concentrate which is mixed into water. A highly water soluble product easily flows into streams and down into the ocean. Depending on which ingredients the fragrance uses, the fragrance can have a significant impact on the local fish and […]
Abound Solar is setting up manufacturing facilities with loan guarantees provided by the federal government. The Recovery Act provides funding for construction to several firms which produce solar cells on a large scale. According to the governor of Colorado, the manufacturing plant locations are in Lakewood, Colorado as well as Tipton, Indiana. The Tipton site […]