By Andrew Freedman, Axios Mindful of increasing risks from extreme weather events such as hurricanes, Zillow will combine climate risk scores, interactive maps and insurance information on its home listings, the company announced this morning. Why it matters: This step gives prospective buyers their first combined look at climate risk information with home …
Cleanup Group Says It’s on Track to Eliminate the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
By Victor Tangermann, Futurism It claims it can get rid of the patch within just five years. Nonprofit environmental organization the Ocean Cleanup has announced that it’s on track to eliminate the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by 2034. If it can get the necessary funds, that is. In a press release, …
Could you live without a refrigerator? Science may soon make chilling everything unnecessary
By Fast Company Human health, economic inequality, the environment, food safety, food waste, biodiversity, or even the composition of the upper atmosphere . . . as many problems have been created or enabled by refrigeration as have been solved by it. Nicola Twilley is the coauthor of Until Proven Safe: The …
Mars Seeks Innovators to Reduce the Footprint of Pet Food
Sustainable Brands The Next-Generation Pet Food Program aims to scale sustainable innovations for the pet food value chain, with a focus on sustainable proteins and fats. Mars Petcare, in partnership with Big Idea Ventures — a global investment leader in the food-tech, agri-tech and materials-science sectors — has launched the Next-Generation Pet Food …
Bacteria helping to extract rare metals from old batteries in boost for green tech
By Robin Mckie, The Guardian Team at University of Edinburgh using microbes to recycle lithium, cobalt and other expensive minerals. Scientists have formed an unusual new alliance in their fight against climate change. They are using bacteria to help them extract rare metals vital in the development of green technology. Without …
How can you tell if soil is healthy? Just listen to it.
By Ayurella Horn-Muller, Grist First-of-its-kind research shows how “ecoacoustics” can help scientists monitor the health of soils — using underground critter concerts. Think back to the last concert you went to. Now replace the music that rang through the venue with an erratic series of pops, muffled staccatos, distorted taps, …
Lufthansa is using artificial sharkskin to streamline airplanes
By Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica Copying a trick from the animal kingdom can help cut aircraft emissions. Companies are often caught between wanting to cut emissions but also grow profits. But for airlines, these two different imperatives actually align. Cutting carbon emissions means burning less fuel and spending less …
Scientists Develop Solar Panel Material 100 Times Thinner Than a Human Hair
By Frank Landymore, Futurism Its efficiency is already rivaling silicon-based solar panels. Thin Wins Researchers from the University of Oxford say they’ve developed a new, “multi-junction” technique to create a solar material that’s so thin it can be printed directly onto the surface of everyday objects, from cars, and smartphones, …
A Cracking New Use for Shellfish Waste: Extending the Life of Produce
Sustainable Brands University of Maryland researchers have developed a new type of porous material made of chitosan and copper to spray on fresh produce that absorbs chemical pesticides, extends shelf life and easily washes off. Crab shells have emerged as something of a dark horse in recent years, in terms of …
New Tool Identifies Top States, Cities for US Cleantech Manufacturing, Investment
Sustainable Brands RMI’s Clean Growth Tool provides policymakers and investors with a guide to development, manufacturing and job opportunities for a variety of low-carbon and clean-energy solutions and industries in all 50 states. Nonprofit climate and cleantech research institute RMI (founded as Rocky Mountain Institute) has launched the Clean Growth Tool — a new analytical …