Scientists have discovered a new fossil in Antarctica that suggests the polar region was once much warmer. The fossils, found in an ancient lake, date back 14 million years and provide evidence of a substantial cooling of the Antarctic climate.
The CSIRO report 'Fuel for thought' explores the challenges and opportunities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. It suggests that Australia's fuel mix will include expanded use of diesel, gaseous fuels and hybrid electric vehicles to address economic risks associated with rising oil prices and climate change.
The RAND Corporation study finds that biomass resources and wind power have the greatest potential to contribute towards reaching the 25 x '25 goal, with significant investments needed in renewable energy technology. Meeting this goal would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lower long-term oil prices.
Biodesign's Rittmann suggests that harnessing the energy of microorganisms can meet our current and future energy needs, cutting back on fossil fuel use. This approach has the potential to provide scalable, environmentally friendly, and food-sustaining solutions.
A study by University of Washington researchers found that popular biofuel sources like corn-based ethanol may have negative environmental impacts. The authors recommend promoting sustainable alternatives such as switchgrass or algae-based fuels, and implementing policies to minimize land usage and energy consumption.
The Gerobatrachus fossil provides key evidence for the evolution of modern amphibians from one ancient group, resolving a long-standing controversy. It suggests that frogs and salamanders separated around 240-275 million years ago, contrary to previous estimates.
A study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers found that retail biofuel samples often do not contain the advertised amount of biofuel. The actual percentage of biofuel in blends like B20 ranged from 10 to 74 percent, while only 10% met US Department of Defense standards.
A new study by Zah et al. reveals striking differences in the environmental costs of different biofuels, with fuels from U.S. corn, Brazilian soy, and Malaysian palm oil found to be worse than fossil fuels. The best alternatives include biofuels from residual products.
Iowa State engineer Terry Meyer is developing high-speed laser-based sensors to capture images of combustion chambers at thousands of frames per second. These sensors record data on pollutants, fuel sprays, and energy release, aiming to reduce pollutant emissions and enable alternative fuels.
A 390-million-year-old sea scorpion fossil found in Germany shows that ancient arthropods like spiders and insects were much larger than their modern-day equivalents. The fossil claw is over a foot-and-a-half long, indicating these creatures were among the largest extinct arthropods.
A Princeton professor is advancing the development of practical, innovative energy sources for jet fuel. His research efforts focus on creating computational and kinetic models that accurately simulate jet fuel combustion and developing fuels with near-zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
A lack of access to clean energy causes 1.6 million premature deaths worldwide from household fuels annually, and 0.8 million from air pollution in cities. Improving energy access through renewable resources has the potential for major health dividends.
The study concludes that improved access to electricity and a shift towards renewable energy will substantially benefit population health. Renewable sources like solar, wind, and wave power appear to create the smallest health burden, while nuclear power remains controversial due to waste storage concerns.
Biologists have identified the first orchid fossil, dating back 76-84 million years, which suggests that showy blooms may have existed alongside dinosaurs. The discovery resolves a longstanding debate over orchid origins and provides direct evidence of pollination in the fossil record.
A life cycle assessment reveals that renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal have valid green credentials in electricity production. However, the efficiency of these systems is comparable only when considering the entire life cycle, not just materials production and running.
A new standard aims to reduce carbon emissions from fuels by 10% by 2020, stimulating improvements in transportation-fuel technologies. The standard covers all gasoline and diesel fuel providers, requiring them to track life-cycle global warming intensity and reduce it over time.
The discovery provides new insights into the evolutionary process, suggesting that the coelacanth's fin pattern is similar to that of paddlefishes, sturgeons, and sharks. The fossil sheds light on the developmental evolution of limbs in tetrapods, challenging the conventional understanding of primitive fish models.
A comprehensive review of biofuel literature reveals corn ethanol is the least sustainable feedstock, offsetting only 15% of gasoline demand. Cellulosic ethanol offers a 87% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, making it a more viable alternative for combating global warming.
A team of Yale chemists is working on converting sunlight into chemical fuels with the goal of increasing the nation's energy supply. They are part of a $12.8 million initiative funded by the US Department of Energy to develop efficient photocatalytic cells for water cleavage with visible-light power.
Researchers at Stanford University are investigating carbon capture and storage as a solution to combat global warming. The technology can trap over 90% of an individual plant's carbon emissions, making heavy carbon spewers such as coal power plants relatively clean.
Global carbon dioxide emissions have accelerated at a three percent increase per year in the 2000s, with nearly eight billion tonnes emitted globally in 2005 compared to six billion tonnes in 1995. The growth rate is attributed to increased fossil fuel usage and less efficient burning of these fuels.
ConocoPhillips has established a $22.5 million eight-year research program at Iowa State University focused on developing biorenewable fuels technologies, including ethanol and biodiesel from organic materials. The program aims to promote energy diversification and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study published in Forest Ecology and Management found that logging after a wildfire can lead to high fuel accumulation, regardless of whether the site is logged or unlogged. The research showed that logging residue contributed to four times more fine fuels on the ground, while logging caused fewer snags and large woody debris.
The study found that certain biofuel crops, such as switchgrass and hybrid poplar, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% compared to gasoline and diesel. These crops also offset the largest amounts of fossil fuels reduced emissions when used for electricity generation via biomass gasification.
Lee Lynd's work on converting cellulosic biomass into ethanol has the potential to significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption. His consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) approach is a breakthrough in low-cost processing and could lead to a sustainable energy future.
A 160,000-year-old fossil found in Morocco reveals human growth patterns that are more similar to those of living humans than previously thought. The study used X-ray images to analyze tooth growth and eruption age, suggesting a relatively long childhood existed at least 160,000 years ago.
A fossil juvenile from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, dated to approximately 160,000 years ago, showed a modern human life history profile at almost 8 years of age. This finding suggests that prolonged childhood development may be linked to the origins of social and biological changes.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory explore opportunities to increase solar energy conversion as an alternative to fossil fuels, with potential applications in electricity, fuel, and heat generation. Key findings include advancements in materials science, artificial photosynthesis, and thermoelectric materials that could enhance...
Researchers at UC Irvine have developed a novel method to measure carbon dioxide levels from fossil fuels by analyzing corn samples collected from nearly 70 locations nationwide. The study found that California and the Ohio Valley had the most fossil-fuel-emitted carbon dioxide, while the Colorado region had the least.
Two studies on bee evolution support a new hypothesis that bees originated in Africa over 100 million years ago. The discovery of an ancient bee fossil in amber provides strong evidence for this theory.
Renewable sources currently provide about 6 percent of all the energy used in the United States. Meeting the 25 percent renewable energy target for electricity and motor fuels together could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion by 15% and displace 2.5 million barrels of oil consumption.
University of Minnesota researchers develop a reactive flash volatilization process that turns soy oil and glucose into hydrogen and carbon monoxide, significantly improving fuel production efficiency from renewable energy sources. The new process works 10-100 times faster than current technology, with no input of fossil fuels.
Researchers have found a remarkably well-preserved fossil lamprey from the Devonian period that reveals today's lampreys as 'living fossils.' The discovery pushes back the lamprey fossil record by 35 million years and adds essential new detail to the emerging picture of early vertebrate evolution.
A 380 million-year-old fossil fish discovery in Western Australia rewrites land mammal evolution, tracing human adaptations to life on land further back in time than previously thought. The Gogonasus fossil reveals features of tetrapods evolved earlier than expected.
Researchers at Georgia Tech are exploring the production of high-value chemicals from cellulose feedstocks, such as trees and fast-growing plants. These chemicals, worth up to $25 per pound, could help make ethanol produced by biorefineries cost competitive with traditional fossil fuels.
The ESF task force identifies three research avenues to generate clean fuels from solar radiation: extending photovoltaic technology, constructing biomimetic devices, and tuning natural systems. These efforts aim to develop sustainable energy supply, reduce human ecological footprint, and mitigate climate change.
NIST researchers have developed a more accurate method for measuring distillation curves, which are crucial for characterizing fuel composition and performance. The new approach eliminates uncertainties and systematic errors, enabling better correlation with thermodynamic theory used in modern fuels and engines.
The report suggests that coal liquefaction could satisfy the country's energy needs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and costs. Global efforts to capture and sequester carbon dioxide could also mitigate environmental impacts.
Dutch citizens rated various energy technologies with CO2 storage as having consequences between 6.0 and 6.5, indicating acceptance. Informed opinions were more stable than uninformed ones, which were deemed 'pseudo opinions' that don't reflect public acceptance.
A study by the University of Chicago found that vegan diets are more energy-efficient and produce fewer greenhouse gases compared to meat-based diets. Reducing food choices like eggs or hamburgers can make a significant impact on reducing emissions, with even small changes resulting in substantial benefits.
Scientists at UNC-Rutgers create a more efficient method for producing diesel fuels from coal using a dual-catalyst system. This breakthrough could provide an attractive alternative to oil-based fuels, particularly as oil reserves dwindle, and enable the widespread adoption of cleaner-burning transportation fuels.
A study on the 2002 Biscuit Fire in Oregon found that fuel treatments significantly reduced tree damage and mortality. The research team measured the effects of two fuel treatments, including thinning and underburning, and concluded that reducing fine fuels is crucial for minimizing overstory tree damage.
The study predicts a 8 degree Celsius warming of the planet if all fossil fuels are used by 2300, with severe consequences for polar regions and oceans. The land would experience a drastic change from ice to boreal forests, while oceans would become more acidic and harm marine life.
A worldwide compilation of exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages suggests that prehistoric global warming may have led to the formation of these fossils. The widespread death and burial of animals and their carbon created fossil bonanzas, potentially saving Earth from a heat sterilization event like Venus.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new nuclear fuel that conducts heat better than conventional fuels, promising to be safer and last longer. The fuel is made by interlacing uranium oxide with beryllium oxide, which increases thermal conductivity by 50%, reducing the risk of catastrophic accidents and allowing for more e...
Purdue University researchers have discovered a catalyst that can produce hydrogen without extreme cold temperatures or high pressures. This method could offer solutions to fuel cell development, potentially replacing fossil fuels in automobiles.
A 425-million-year-old clam-like creature, known as an articulate brachiopod, has been found with its soft parts still intact. The fossil provides a unique insight into the workings of ancient shellfish and challenges existing assumptions about their anatomy.
A new study suggests that continued high levels of fossil fuel emissions will outstrip the land and oceans' ability to absorb carbon, leading to accelerated climate warming. The 'breathing biosphere' can only absorb carbon at a certain rate, and increased temperatures and droughts lower plant uptake of CO2.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that producing ethanol and biodiesel from plant biomass requires more energy than the fuel produced, leading to significant fossil energy input. The use of these fuels contributes to air, water, and soil pollution, as well as global warming.
Researchers have discovered a 62 million year fossil diversity cycle, with the history of life on Earth being shaped by this cycle. The cycle is also evident in extinctions and originations, with longer-lived genera resisting the cycle better than shorter-lived ones.
Researchers analyze brain case of 3-foot-tall Hobbit, finding few similarities to microcephalics and pygmies. The findings support the theory that the fossil is a member of a unique ancestral species, Homo floresiensis.
A new fossil discovery in Spain reveals a 13-million-year-old ape species, Pierolapithecus catalaunicus, that shares key features with modern great apes. The species' unique adaptations for climbing and its relatively complete skeleton suggest it may have been the last common ancestor of all great apes.
Solid fuel particles may be a safer alternative to gaseous fuels for use in hazardous environments on Earth, as they burn more efficiently in microgravity. Researchers used the NASA 'Vomit Comet' aircraft to simulate weightlessness and measure burning characteristics of various solid fuel particles.
A new study by UC Berkeley finds that renewable energy generates more jobs per megawatt installed than the fossil fuel-based sector, with potential benefits for all states. Investing in renewables could create up to 240,000 new jobs by 2020, while reducing trade deficits and reestablishing US leadership in energy technology.
The average desktop system requires 10 times its weight in fossil fuels and chemicals to manufacture, with a total of 1.8 tonnes of materials used per computer. The study highlights the need to extend the useful life of existing equipment to reduce waste and mitigate environmental impacts.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new reactor that can convert ethanol into a form of hydrogen from renewable fuels. This process has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase the efficiency of fuel cells, making it a promising solution for a sustainable energy future.
Researchers analyzed over 250 dinosaur genera, finding the fossil record to be moderately complete, but highly congruent with existing family tree relationships. This study provides valuable insights for paleontologists studying dinosaur evolution.
A study by ecologist Jeff Dukes calculates that 98 tons of plants per gallon are needed to produce modern fossil fuels. The research found that the amount of carbon in ancient plant matter required to form coal, oil, and gas is equivalent to all the plant growth on Earth over 13,300 years.
A Pennsylvania inventory reveals that fossil fuels are the largest source of carbon dioxide, while motor vehicles contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The study also highlights the need for policy makers and others in the state to take action to reduce emissions.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon develop Fe-TAML activators that rapidly convert recalcitrant sulfur compounds into easily extracted substances, resulting in nearly sulfur-free fuel. The technology has the potential to aid in the development of cleaner burning and more fuel-efficient automobile engines.