Energy, features and articles | Educational Science

Jan 24, 2022

Why does electricity make a humming noise?

You may have heard it when flipping on a light, switching on your TV or walking near power lines — that unmistakable hum of electricity. But what, exactly, is that hum? And more important, is it ever a sign of danger? The sound electricity makes is known as the mains...

Feb 11, 2022

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels crown rooftops and roadside signs, and help keep spacecraft powered. But how do solar panels work? Simply put, a solar panel works by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity, according to the University of Minnesota Duluth. Solar...

Oct 14, 2022

Cutting Costs by Cleaning Air (Op-Ed)

Dan Lashof, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)'s Climate and Clean Air Program, contributed this article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. A new discussion paper out earlier this week reaffirms that the Clean Air Act can be used to achieve big reductions in carbon, with big...

Mar 8, 2023

Scientists discover enzyme that can turn air into energy, unlocking potential new energy source

Scientists studying a cousin of the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis and leprosy have discovered an enzyme that converts hydrogen into electricity, and they think it could be used to create a new, clean source of energy literally from thin air. The enzyme, which has been named Huc, is used by...

Feb 8, 2024

Massive hydrogen reservoir discovered beneath an Albanian mine could be an untapped source of clean energy

A massive hydrogen reservoir may be lurking deep beneath a chromium mine in Albania, a new study has found. The reservoir sits within a portion of Earth's crust and mantle that once lay at the bottom of the ocean and was scraped off when the tectonic plate it rode on...

Oct 14, 2013

How Does a Solar Racer Work?

Solar-powered vehicles are becoming more common today. Solar cells power cars, boats, airplanes and satellites in space. Solar racing is a growing sport with competitions around the world. Even some toys get their power from solar panels. From the most basic toy solar racer to the most advanced solar-powered satellite,...

Oct 17, 2013

Technology Gains are Powering Wind Energy (Op-Ed)

Brad Gammons is general manager of IBM's Global Energy and Utilities Industry, where he oversees strategy, sales execution, solution development, operations and marketing. Rolf Gibbels is an executive member of IBM's Global Energy and Utilities organization, leading global industry solutions and business development activities. He focuses on power generation, including...

Nov 1, 2013

Renewables Slowing Record High CO2 Pollution

Carbon dioxide emissions hit a record high in 2012, but could have been even higher, according to a new report. The increase in emissions was only 1.1 percent in 2012, compared to an average 2.9 percent over the past decade. The slowdown in emissions growth suggests renewable energy, efficiency and...

Nov 13, 2013

Typhoon Haiyan Aftermath: How Technology Can Help

In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, aid workers are stymied by overwhelming obstacles: lack of fuel for relief vehicles, near-total absence of food, water and shelter, and social chaos on an apocalyptic scale. The tropical cyclone packed sustained winds of up 190 mph (305 km/h) in the...

Dec 3, 2013

The Wind Energy Threat to Birds Is Overblown (Op-Ed)

Elliott Negin is the director of news and commentary at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). This article is adapted from a piece that appeared on the Huffington Post. Negin contributed this article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Wind energy is one of the cleanest, most abundant, sustainable...

Dec 6, 2013

Why Scientists are Concerned About Tree-Burning Power Plants (Op-Ed)

Sasha Lyutse is a policy analyst for the NRDC. This Op-Ed was adapted from a post to the NRDC blog Switchboard. Lyutse contributed this article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, 41 leading scientists sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)...

Dec 16, 2013

Smart Move? Costs and Benefits of a Smart Grid

Simply put, a smart grid is an electrical grid that's integrated with computerized, two-way communication networks. In addition to sending electricity from a power plant to homes and offices, smart grids also provide feedback to system operators regarding power interruptions and electrical use. A smart grid is one that has...

Jan 10, 2014

Are Solar Panels Usable in Snowy Climates?

This article was provided by AccuWeather.com. With a new year beginning, installing solar panels is a great way to fulfill environmentally-friendly resolutions. However, for those living in wintry climates, snow accumulation may pose a problem. Joshua Pearce, associate professor at Michigan Tech University (MTU), said, If snow is completely covering...

Jan 21, 2014

World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Seen From Space

Giant wind turbines appear as white specks across the Thames Estuary in the United Kingdom, in this satellite photo of the London Array, the world's largest offshore wind farm, released today (Jan. 21). The wind farm, which became operational on April 8, 2013, is located 12 miles (20 kilometers) from...

Jan 23, 2014

London Unveils World's Largest Solar-Powered Bridge

London is going all in with sustainable energy. The world's largest solar-powered bridge — spanning the River Thames — was unveiled Wednesday (Jan. 22) in the British metropolis. The roof of Blackfriars Bridge, a Victorian-era road and foot-traffic bridge in central London, was covered with 4,400 solar panels, as part...