The future of energy is sustainable: Artificial Synthesis is real

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Solar energy is using the sun as a source of power, which is retained through photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies (energy.gov). PV technology is the use of solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity, and CPS is using mirrors to convert sunlight into heat. Solar energy is a very important form of energy because it is a resource that we do not need to harvest by exploiting the earth. The sun is a giant ball of energy just waiting for us to absorb the rays it shines down on the planet. Based on a report from the International Energy Agency, solar energy technology is rising in popularity, increasing by 50% in 2016, with mostly China and secondly the US leading the charge in the expansion (USA today). The growing mode of solar technology is the use of PV technology / solar panels, because of mass installation in China and support from the Chinese government. With the rising popularity of solar technology, it is only natural that the next step in pursuing sustainable forms of energy would be to develop artificial photosynthesis.

What is artificial photosynthesis? It is a way of storing the energy that it collected from solar technology. Right now, we can use solar panels to power our stuff, but it really is only useful during sunny seasons. If there was a way to store the energy collected for use during the winter/darker seasons, people could be using sustainable energy all year long. That is the goal of creating artificial photosynthesis. With the creation of artificial photosynthesis, scientists hope to “store solar energy in a way that can be used later on.” (ZME Science). In order to actually start the process of creating artificial photosynthesis, there needs to be a catalyst for the chemical reaction of converting sunlight into energy. Plants use photosynthesis to make sugar from the carbon dioxide in the air, and the process is jump-started by a catalyst. The catalysts science has available to it are usually one-atom catalysts, and there is an exploration into the production of a 2-atom catalyst. Boston College Associate Professor of Chemistry Dunwei Wang is heading up experimentation into a 2-atom catalyst and was able to produce one that is durable and great for water oxidation (ZME Science). The catalyst created is made of iridium, which is a factor into the 2-atom catalysts strength. Having a durable catalyst could be the first major step towards a future where the sun powers the planet, rather than the precious resources we have almost drained completely from the earth. Professor Wang explains that artificial photosynthesis stores energy by directly harvesting solar energy and storing the energy in chemical bonds, similar to how photosynthesis is performed but with higher efficiencies and lower cost.” (IFL Science). Further study is still needed before artificial photosynthesis can begin production and get into the hands of the people, but there are high hopes because technology like this would be so beneficial to humanity and would help the world move towards a future with less negative environmental impact, and reduce our carbon footprint, especially since the artificial photosynthesis is literally taking in carbon dioxide and turning into energy.

Works Cited

https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/solar-energy-technology-basics

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/10/04/solar-energy-fastest-growing-source-power/730594001/

https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/solar-energy-photosynthesis-catalyst-06032018/

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/new-dualatom-catalyst-provides-important-step-towards-creating-clean-energy-through-artificial-photosynthesis/

Got Mercury?

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https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/02/melting-arctic-permafrost-toxic-mercury-environment/

Researchers have discovered that the permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere (specifically in Alaska) stores massive amounts of natural mercury. This permafrost is melting as a result of rising air temperatures due to climate change. The high temps are continuing to rise as more pollution from human activity is released into the air, and the ice continues to thaw.

This is a big problem. Not only is Global Warming an issue in itself but, studies have found that the soil in these areas hold nearly twice as much the amount of mercury than in all other soils, the ocean, and atmosphere combined. When it thaws, this massive amount of mercury will be released. The mercury bound up here may be 10 times greater than all the mercury humans have put into the atmosphere from pollution of the last 30 years. (National Geographic) As this happens far more of the pollutant will be allowed to build up in the atmosphere.

This is a serious problem because mercury is a toxic heavy metal that is very dangerous to the health of humans. Not only can it poison us, but it can build up in the water and affect the fish and other animals in the environment causing serious health issues. Mercury can have harmful neurological and reproductive effects on animals, leading to a shift in the health of the environment and our eating habits. As the mercury collects in the water, it will lead to the terrestrial food chain being affected and will eventually work its way up the food chain. Humans are at the top of this food chain. This will affect our health and ecosystems worldwide. The effects of this mercury take over will spread, for the mercury being released into the atmosphere will be spread globally.

Even though this is a scary outcome of the Earth’s rising temperatures, they are looking into a solution; or at least a temporary hold on this outbreak.

In certain regions they are researching putting certain animals back in these areas to walk over the fluffy snow. These climate adapted horses, ox, and bison will push down the fluffier snow to compact it down thinning it and making it dense. This lowers the permafrost temperature and allows a deeper freezing which will lower the temp and hold off on melting. They say that the fluffy snow act as an insulator to the ground and keeps it from getting cold.

This is just another example of an issue that is a result of Climate change that is a result of humans abusing the earth and being careless of the toxins they release. Hopefully we can be to restore the damage we have created before the irreversible results like mercury poisoning begin.

This article was a great source, I feel like it was intended to inform the public of the things that are happening around us as a result of our actions. However, biases could be involved by making people feel as though things are worse (or better) than they are in order to put certain ideas in to the public’s mind. Regardless, it is a good article that explains a recent event like so many others, that we need to be aware of to keep our actions and planet in check.

Nature Inspiration

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      I grew up on an extremely small island in New Jersey. This town is only 7 miles long by 2 miles wide, so growing up I was literally surrounded by water. I could never picture my life different than that, and it didn’t make sense to me that people didn’t live close to the beach. The sand, the ocean, and the bay are part of who I am.
     In the springtime when it was just starting to get warm, we would jump off the docks on the jettys into the bay, trying to avoid the gunk at the bottom at all costs. In the summer we would go to the beach from morning until the sun went down, sun burnt and exhausted from the days activities. In the winter we would sit on the cold sand in blankets and laugh with each other, watching the sun set. We don’t always realize how much time we spend in nature!
      Last year I spent a semester in Australia and I have never felt so connected to the Earth. The ocean was warm and rough. The air felt different. The hiking opportunities were endless! I was able to see so much of nature I had never fathomed of seeing in the flat land of New Jersey.
     My absolute favorite experience abroad was when we went to an island off the coast of Brisbane called Moreton Island. There was no electricity, no cell phone service, and it was a jungle surrounded by beach. We stayed in tents and slept on the beach, really roughing it! It was a complete weight off of my shoulders not having to check Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all the time. I had intimate conversations with people I had never met face-to-face, rather than through social media.
     The best part of Moreton Island was seeing the stars in complete darkness. I was absolutely speechless. If you have the opportunity to see the stars in complete emptiness of light, take it. I’ve never seen beauty like it, and pictures and videos will never do it justice. Seeing these stars in all their glory, that was the most I have ever been connected to nature. I realized how insignificant I am, and how I need to stop worrying about the little anxieties in my life.
      As I get older I realize that I am losing time with nature. I will someday be in an office from 9-5 and won’t be able to be in the forests and on the beach whenever I please. I think this makes me more aware of nature and that I need to take advantage of what I have now before I lose it. I think being connected with nature is important because we ourselves as humans derived from nature. We as humans ARE nature!

Starving Polar Bears

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Topic: News

 

Leahy, S. (2018, February 01). Polar Bears Really Are Starving Because of Global Warming,                  Study Shows. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from https://news.nationalgeographic.com/                  2018/02/polar-bears-starve-melting-sea-ice-global-warming-study-beaufort-sea-                          environment/

 

As I was searching for topics to give my current event presentation on, there was not much that caught my attention. I scrolled through many mainstream media popular pages to no avail, thinking that if there was nothing that caught my attention, it would be impossible to catch my audience’s attention. I wanted to report on an article that would make people want to change their ways.

I scrolled past a National Geographic article of which the title caught my attention. “Polar Bears Really Are Starving Because of Global Warming, Study Shows.” I always knew that the polar bears were becoming endangered due to the warming of the planet, however I never realized that it was due to starvation. It reminded me of a video that went viral through Facebook, being shared along with sad faces and words of disappointment. The video showed a polar bear on an iceless plot of land, lacking in fur and life, struggling to walk due to starvation. The bear is seen looking through trashcans for something to eat, but finds nothing. The photographer of the video was later interviewed and said the entire crew had tears rolling down their faces. I decided that this would be an interesting topic that would get my audience to pay attention.

Polar bears burn more than twelve thousand calories a day meaning they need to eat more than that in order to survive, especially if they are more active while finding food. This creates a sort of catch 22. In order to get the calories the bears need to catch calories, they need to burn more calories, which means they need more calories. Seals are polar bears main form of food. When seals come up to the surface to breathe from cone shaped holes in the ice, the bears smack them on their head and drag it to the ice where the seal then becomes dinner.

Polar bears are not incredible swimmers, especially compared to seals. So because the Arctic ice decreases by 14% each decade, seals no longer need to come up for air at these cone shaped holes. This makes it impossible for a polar bear to reach the seals.

The study done by Anthony Pagano shows shocking results. The study began by capturing 9 female polar bears in an area known to have many seals. These bears were equipped with video cameras and GPS trackers and were observed over an 11 day period. By the end, four of the five bears had failed to catch a single meal, one bear losing 44 pounds during her hunt. To me, these results are painful. Climate change is occurring rapidly due to the human race, which is literally starving other animals on this planet. It is extremely selfish of us.

This source is valuable in that it was published by a prestigious news source. The study is recent and shows accurate, thought-provoking results. The author, Stephen Leahy, co-won the United Nations Global Prize for Climate Change Reporting, which shows he is extremely qualified to write on this topic.

Tesla’s environmental innovations

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One of the worlds leading car manufactures is also one of the worlds most ecofriendly companies. When you think of car companies you probably think of Ford, GMC or even Honda, but the company that is leading our way into the future is Tesla. Tesla is a car company known for their ecofriendly rechargeable battery, bit they also have invented many different things that make them extremely ecofriendly. Tesla’s company is a perfect example of a company who is aware of the triple bottom line.

The most common thing that comes to mind when you think Tesla is their cars. While still achieving 5 star safety ratings, they are completely run on electricity meaning very little emission of fossil fuels and green house gases. While this isn’t a complete no emission of green house gases it is a step in the right way. One way they limit it is by running their cars on one hundred percent electricity, and the use of solar panels at their recharging station also helps limit emissions. Their car is a perfect example of Tesla thinking of the triple bottom line. Their cars are affordable, better for the environment and also offer a good profit line for the tesla company itself.

They are also producing other non-car products. The founder and CEO has founded a reusable rocket that was built for under half of any rocket ever before. He also has just recently reveled Tesla’s Semi which would lead to taking away some of the least fuel efficient cars being taken off the road, while also saving companies millions in gas, due to being electric. These things also help support the triple bottom line and make it obvious that Tesla is at the forefront of ecofriendly manufacturing.

They have also come out with solar panel roofing that looks extremely similar to normal roofing, while being much more durable. They are also affordable due to the money you would save with the electricity bill. This could help make solar panels available for more than just the wealthy. This has been a common theme through out Tesla’s business plan, making ecofriendly products more available for the common person. This all relates to the idea of the triple bottom line. They are attempting to make the best solar panels for the people while also keeping their profit line sustainable.

The triple bottom line is a concept that people around the world are pushing. It is a framework where a company focuses on the People, their Profit, and the environment. I believe that this is extremely important for companies around the world, and for a company like Tesla to be so successful both economically and environmentally it can be seen as a framework others should follow. With the world changing at the rate it is now it is not only going to take ecofriendly companies but also eco friendly consumers. People need to invest in solar panel roofing and electric cars to help make our way of living more sustainable for the future.

Rising Temperatures in Australia

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BBC recently posted an article about the rising temperatures in Australia. Their intended audience being the general public, in order to raise awareness and seek a solution. I don’t think there is any bias in this article as it is solely factual and posted by a credited news source. In the last five years, Australia has broken the record for its incredibly high temperatures. Temperatures have been in the high 30’s and 40’s, which is equivalent to upper 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit. In outer suburban Sydney, the heat hits 43.3C (117F) before a cool change knocked it down to 43.6C.

More than 40% of the most populous state, New South Wales, recorded at least 50 days hotter than 35 degrees Celsius. It is causing many changes in the environment, effecting people of Australia, wildlife, agriculture, etc. Bushfires, destroying peoples homes and land, have started earlier than usual due to this heat. A section of a highway connecting Sydney and Melbourne started to melt last week. Bats are falling dead from trees struck down by the heat. The coral Reefs are being bleached as well, and they may not be able to recover if things don’t change. Some potential causes of these high temperatures are global warming, overpopulation, and lack of policies. Over-population is a condition in which population of organisms exceed the carrying capacity of its environment. So maybe there is a connection in regards of the most populated city having the highest temperatures. Everything that we experience today is happening in a world that is about one degree warmer than the long term mean. While it is normally what is record-breaking that makes the news, it is the chain of hot days that cause the major problems for not only humans but wildlife as well. A lack of policy may also contribute to the rising temperatures. The government recently repealed carbon pricing laws which required big businesses to pay for its pollution. Since this repeal, Australia’s industrial emissions have been on an upward curve. This environmental issue correlates with our class by bringing up issues of our carbon footprint, the carrying capacity debate, and environmental sustainability. One potential solution is to reinstate the Carbon Pricing Laws.

Nature Inspiration

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I am originally from Georgetown, Kentucky. My home town is quite small, and there isn’t much to do there except eat and shop. The restaurants are mostly fast food or extremely unhealthy chain restaurants. Unfortunately, this doesn’t produce a very environmental sustainable habit, however, that is not what I will be focusing on in this blog post. In this blog post, I will be focusing on my relationship with nature and how it has recently, within the last few years, progressed. While living in Kentucky, there really weren’t any natural parks or areas that weren’t over 3 hours away for me to go to and enjoy. Summers there are extremely hot with no wind whatsoever, spring is full of rain, winter is misty and 20 degrees, and fall, the best season in my opinion, is 50 degrees and blue skies. So as you can see, I was also not a fan of the weather there either, unless it was Fall. This prevented me from doing a lot of stuff outside. My relationship with nature was almost nonexistent as the only time I wanted to go outside to do anything was during the fall, and even then, it wasn’t completely away from technology.

My attitude and relationship with nature has changed drastically since moving to Charleston, South Carolina, for college. There are constantly events going on here, festivals, farmers markets, concerts, etc. Constantly having something to do, somewhere to go, was what immediately made me fall in love with Charleston. Unlike my home town, most of these events that I go to, are actually outside. I’m not really sure if it’s the weather here that has brought this change, but I am constantly wanting to do some physical activity outside like jogging, biking, or walking my dog to the battery. My connection with nature has seriously improved/gotten stronger. I spend as much time as possible outside.

While I do spend more time in nature now, I usually am still connected to my phone because I like to listen to music while doing these activities. So I decided to go to the beach, and leave my phone in the car the whole time. I had no access to any technology. It was honestly one of the most peaceful moments I have had in a while. I walked down the beach with my dog and then eventually laid out a towel and sat.  I listened to the waves and just relaxed. It was soothing. I felt refreshed when I left. I now am going to leave my phone in the car every time I go to the beach because I felt more in touch with my surroundings. Having this kind of encounter with nature should be a more regular thing for everybody. It is extremely important for each person to have a strong connection with nature. Not only will it cause a person to develop healthier habits by easing stress due to lack of access to technology, but it also has some effects people don’t necessarily think of immediately. It will cause one to care more about our environment, to take care of it, and to encourage others to do so. This relationship improves all aspects of you life, mental health, physical health (getting more Vitamin D from sun, being more active), etc. It also impoves

King Penguins Endangered by Warmer Seas

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I did my news report on king penguins. King  Penguins may be in danger because of climate change. In a study published by Nature Climate Change, they warn that 70% of the 1.6 million estimated breeding pairs of king penguins could be affected in this century. That is very high number of penguins! although they are the second largest penguin species they are still in danger due to these climate changes. The problem is this: the king penguins live on islands near Antartica, the adult king penguins leave their offspring on the island to search for food. They leave their children for more than a week (a pretty long time for not eating!) to look for food in the polar front of the waters of the Antarctic. Which is an upwelling where cold, deep seas mix with temperate seas and this is where they find their food. As the temperature gets warmer the cold front is getting farther and farther from their habitat, leaving their offspring for longer periods of time. The concern is that their home will be too far away from the food source. Leaving their children for so long can cause their offspring to die. According the Emiliano Trucchi, which is one of the authors of this study says, ” they will need to either move somewhere else or they will just disappear.” Obviously this is very alarming because we’re talking about a whole species being extinct! Its sad to see that our impact on this world is affecting so many animals in a mostly negative way. Considering that these climate changes are mostly our fault I believe that we should work harder to conserve the lives of these animals and fix the problem that we’ve made. Fortunately the study gives us some hope. The research team developed a model and saw that because of climate change some islands will become vulnerable with warming and might become better habitats for the king penguins. This way the King penguins will be able to migrate to islands that are hospitable to them and that is closer to their food source. This seems to be a solution that makes sense and kind of solves itself. Even though this is only if the islands become warm enough for the penguins to live. Obviously since its just a prediction we are still not sure wether or not this will actually happen. I’ve tried to think of other ways to combat this issue but I have yet to come up with one that doesn’t invade the wildness of these animals. This study has also brought my attention to the rest of the species that will be affected if the King penguins do migrate or are extinct all together. The functions and mechanics of species and their surroundings are so interconnected that there is really no way to predict the outcomes of this change. These animals shouldn’t have to adjust their way of life because of humans. I think the human race are supposed to be the voice of this earth and all the living animals in it. Since we were entrusted with this Earth we should strive to protect and better it (also because its the only one we have).

YMCA Advertisement

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This advertisement was found under the health and wellness tab of Today’s website. The text of this ad reads, “When communities get better, the world gets better”. The saying is a bit over exaggerated but makes sense in the case that communities make up the world and therefore when one gets better the other will do the same. Although, I believe that this statement can also be proven wrong. For example, our world has gotten better in the sense that we have made a ton of progressions throughout history into a developed country. As we have learned in class, the world has not gotten better at preserving nature, becoming sustainable for the sake of earth and our future generations, etc. The bottom right corner of the ad reads “The Y. For a better us”, promoting the idea that there are benefits to having a Y in the community. The YMCA logo is placed in the top right corner of the ad to denote that this ad was created by the YMCA Company. The ad addresses the community through text, but only captures a picture of one specific individual in the picture. The ad consists of a young, African-American boy smiling as he rests against the handlebars of his bike. Is the ad attempting to target one specific race, gender, or age range? The background and the bike as a whole are omitted from the ad. For all we know this could be a random boy playing outside with no affiliation to the Y. He may not even be physically riding a bike given that the background is unclear. The boy could also just be posing for the picture instead of genuinely enjoying his bike ride as the viewer would assume. Embedded below the primary text is a bright green donation button. The goal of the ad is to receive donation money from people that come across the ad by promoting healthy living, unity, and a better world overall. The ad does not state specifically that the company wishes to use the donation money on improving their YMCA facilities although it is strongly implied through its text. By giving the company more money they can expand and improve their facilities which in turn will bring satisfaction to the company, as well as, residents that attend the Y, if that is indeed the company’s intention. Some viewers may see it strictly as a money bribe. Others may be able to see past the donation urge and see its promotion in healthy living through community efforts and activities and physical activity. Because a child is depicted in this ad it targets families or individuals with kids. Parents of younger children may see this ad as an opportunity to get a break from their kids. Not only will the parents get a break, but the children will have something healthy and/or active to partake in. An older crowd or individual without kids may find the ad to be inapplicable to them and only see the ad as a plea for donation.

Increased Coverage of Beech Trees in the Northeastern U.S. – AP

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Photo of an American Beech Tree

Summary of the Article

On February 25th, 2018, The Associated Press (AP) published an article about the increased coverage of American Beech trees seen in the Northeastern United States after researchers from the University of Maine and Purdue University released a report on their findings earlier in the year. Using data from the U.S Forest Services from 1983 to 2014, researchers were able to determine that the Hardwood Forests (also known as Beech-Birch-Maple Forests) of the Northeastern United States has seen a distinct increase in the coverage of beech trees in recent years while the presence of maple trees and birch trees have decreased during the same period. The researchers warn that the effects of climate change are likely the main driver of the latest rise in beech trees. They also warn that logging and timberland industries could be significantly impacted in the future as these industries rely heavily on the maple trees that grow in this ecosystem. However, other researchers say that the exact future impacts of climate change on the Northeastern Hardwood Forests are unknown.

 

A Changing Climate

One of the states that has seen an increase of beech trees is Vermont. In 2014, the Vermont Climate Assessment published a 219 page report on how weather patterns have and continue to change drastically over the last sixty years and that climate change will continue to have both positive and negative impacts on the State of Vermont’s economy and ecology in the future. The report, conducted and composed by a team of researchers at the University of Vermont, uses data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, climate experts, and other agencies to analyze how Vermont’s climate has and continues to change and develop scientific understanding to determine probable future outcomes based on available data. This report is similar to reports released by United States government agencies on a national scale, but with the intent to better communicate with the businesses and people of Vermont on how climate change could alter their economical future. While this report pertains to the state of Vermont, data on the report is still relevant to other states in the Northeast region as well since nearby states like New York, New Hampshire, and Maine have seen similar changes to their climate and even their hardwood forests.

 

Using a number of sites located throughout the state of Vermont, researchers find that the average annual temperature has increased 1.3°F since 1960 in Vermont.

Data complied onto the Vermont Climate Assessment shows a linear increase in the average annual temperature in the state of Vermont since 1960. Since 1960, the average annual temperature has increased 1.3­­°F statewide. While a degree increase in temperature may not sound like that much of a change, this increase in temperature can be enough to surpass the threshold of certain species within ecosystems and completely alter them. This could be one reason why there has been an increase in beech trees in recent years while maple and birch trees have decreased. The Vermont Climate Assessment also warns that further temperature increases could alter the forestry landscape of Vermont even more as trees suitable for warmer climates could move into the region and even replace trees currently in place. With that said, the trees that currently making up the Vermont landscape could dwindle as the climate becomes more unsuitable since different trees require different suitable conditions, and cannot adept to changes in climate.

 

Researchers of the Vermont Climate Assessment also used sites throughout the state to calculate that the average annual precipitation has increased 5.9″ since 1960 in Vermont. This graph shows that number of days per year with >1″ of rain has increased in recent years as well.

 

Data complied onto the Vermont Climate Assessment shows that while temperatures have risen linearly since 1960, precipitation rates have increased nearly exponentially in recent years. One explanation for this is since warmer air has a higher saturation mixing ratio, it is able to hold more water content therefore allowing more rain to fall over any given place. This effect is also likely elevated in mountainous regions due to orographic effects, where the increase in the coverage of beech trees can be most observed. With that said, if temperatures continue to warm, the average amount of precipitation Vermont sees in any given year will likely increase as well. Just like temperature, most of the precipitation increase has occurred within the last twenty years. Excessive rainfall can be beneficial to some species of trees while unfavorable to others.

 

Conclusion

With a changing climate, we should be prepared to experience changes to the environment as well. Unfortunately, there is a lot of uncertainty with what exactly to expect as we can see with the hardwood forests of the Northeastern United States. This should be worrisome to us since ecologists and environmentalists are unsure of what the future has in store for many ecosystems around the world but somehow we need to prepare for the change. More extreme scenarios of climate change would completely replace the hardwood forests in Vermont with trees more suitable in southern climates by the end of the century, likely completely transforming or pushing out economic industries (i.e. logging and timberland) that currently makeup a sizable portion of Vermont’s economy. Regardless of whether that happens or not, change is inevitable, and whatever happens industries and people will have to adapt to these changes over time.

 

The discussed article can be viewed here: https://apnews.com/8390a9d1225d4717aaea7e55c9e264f6

The Vermont Climate Assessment can be viewed here: vtclimate.org