Earlier this week Joule Unlimited secured $70 million in funding.  The company happens to have algae facilities that turn carbon dioxide and sunlight into biodiesel and ethanol.  Meanwhile Bio Architecture Lab was able to get seaweed to create chemicals and biofuels.  Both processes use patented organisms to create the biofuel.

When you think of agencies that were created to protect our water sources from pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has to top that list.  While states are supposed to be responsible for making sure that the water we drink is safe, the EPA is the agency that used to oversee the states and oversaw the waterways used as a source for the water we drink, bath in, wash our dogs and children in, and use to cook our food.  Well, the House GOP has taken those responsibilities away from the EPA.

Parts of the United States are suffering through a terrible heat wave.  Other parts of the United States are also suffering from a severe drought.  Last year was one of the hottest summers on record, but this summer isn’t over.  It is just a continuation of severe weather that has encompassed record numbers of tornados and floods, and now heat and drought.

Take pencil lead (graphite) separate it into one atom thick layers (graphene) add water and presto you have an amazing method for storing energy and recharging fast.  Of course there is a bit more to it but that is the gist of the research.

Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) in Canada has expertise and experience with hydrogen buses. They just can’t use them anymore.  Unfortunately, the buses proved too expensive to run and so the buses are being shipped back to Ford.

Dickson D. Despommier, Professor of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University is an avid proponent of vertical farming, using urban buildings to grow food.  For him vertical farming represents the best way for future cities to feed their populations.

China is investing in numerous water infrastructure projects to ensure future grain production.  The country is hoping to prevent future shortages and to replace agricultural acreage that has been lost to urban encroachment.

Scientists have found that globally, rivers and streams produce three times the amount of the greenhouse gas (GHG) nitrous oxide (N2O) than estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  Nitrous Oxide has 300 times the “global warming potential” of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Horizon’s hydrogen fuel cell pack system for mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) could mean saved lives.  Because the AEROPAK as the system is called, is capable of increasing the time and distance of UAV flights, they will be able to do more reconnaissance without returning to base.  In military situations, that could mean saved lives.

Using “computer-aided manufacturing techniques” or structural patterning, London Design firm PostlerFerguson has created free standing lattice work sculptures  called Microclimates that cool the air around them.