Conservation News

Heavy metal – Plants have long been used to clean up contaminated soil. But the process is long and takes many successive crops before the soil is actually clean. Scientists in Ireland have found a way to speed up the process-bacteria. They are studying methods that add heavy metal tolerant bacteria to oilseed rape, the crop being studied because it is widely used for biofuel production in Ireland. Scientists have seen increased growth of the crop after adding the bacteria, meaning more crop production, which results in a greater biofuel yield. Researchers plan to extend the study to test different biofuel crops as well as different bacteria.

http://www.tcd.ie/civileng/research/environmental/energy.php

Out of thin air – Well, the air may not be as thin as we think. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart, Germany, are working on a way to capture drinking water from air humidity. The process involves using a hygroscopic brine which is a saline solution that absorbs water. The water is then sucked into a tank by a vacuum, where it is boiled using the energy from solar panels. The water that evaporates from the boil is does not contain salt and it is condensed into a separate tube. Researchers state that is technique can be implemented on a variety of scales-from use in homes to large corporations.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090605091856.htm

High as a kite -New technology is all about flying high. Researchers at the Carnegie Institution and California State are looking into using kites and high altitude wind power as an alternative energy source. The technique proposes the use of kite-like turbines that would be flown to the altitude of the jet stream and transmit the energy via a tether. Up to 40 megawatts of energy could b produced using this method. If enough kites were flown out, the power generated could meet the world demand for energy 100 times.
http://www.skywindpower.com/ww/index.htm
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2009/06/kite-turbines-could-power-cities.html

Power of Clean -Bacteria harnessed by Chinese scientist may help clean up pollution. Professor Gejiao Wang at Huazhong Agricultural University is using a strain of Brachybacterium that absorbs manganese, nickel, and zinc from solutions. All these chemicals are also found in pollution, making this deep-sea bacteria a valuable candidate to use in pollution clean-up.
http://mic.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/mic.0.024141-0v1
http://esciencenews.com/sources/science.centric/2009/06/05/bacteria.deep.can.clean.heavy.metals

Reuse and Recycle -Empty lots can now be used for more than just loitering. Michigan State University professor, Kurt Thelen, is studying potential agricultural uses for abandoned industrial lots. He proposes to use these empty spaces as growing grounds for crops such as soybeans, corn, sunflower, and canola. Not only can these plants be used for biodiesel, they can also help clean contaminated soil.

http://news.msu.edu/story/1072/

Titanium dioxide is in the air – Architects Daniel Schwaag and Allison Dring have figured out a way to ‘purify’ polluted air. The solution is called Prosolve-370 and is a series of  special tiles coated with titanium dioxide, which are placed on  homes and buildings. When exposed to UV light and humidity, the titanium neutralizes pollution.

http://updating-germany.de/projects/014-prosolve-370

Power lilies – A firm called ZM architecture has harnessed solar power in an aesthetically pleasing way. They have designed giant solar water lilies covered in solar panels. The lilies range from 15 to 45 feet in diameter and are made of recycled steel and rubber. The solar panels are motorized to track the best angle of the sun to attain maximum exposure. The city of Glasgow in Scotland has considered placing these lilies on the Clyde River. The energy from the lilies can be transferred to the city’s grid and help offset electrical bills.

http://www.zmarchitecture.co.uk/index.php?id=232

Feelings gassy- Researchers at the Penn State University have gas. And a lot of it. Late last year they discovered a way to convert carbon dioxide to methane, the main component of natural gas. The key to their discovery was using tiny microorganisms called ‘methanogens’. These creatures produce methane from water and CO2 when zapped with an electrical current. When a fuel cell is built around them, energy can be harnessed. Although the process is still experimental, it can shed light on another source of renewable energy.

http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/enve/logan/bioenergy/technical_magazines/ES&T_Electromethanogenesis_52009.pdf

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090330111257.htm

SunPower Corporation has reinvented the traditional solar panel, making it more efficient for capturing the sun’s rays. Their back contact silicon PV panels are designed so that the electrical contacts are in the back of each cell. This allows more area to be dedicated to catch the sun. The panels are rising in popularity because they are 50 percent more efficient than traditional panels. The U.S. Department of Energy was so impressed with the design that they covered the roof of their headquarters in D.C. with these panels in September of 2008.

http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?releaseid=179418

Mirrors are now more than a narcissist’s best friend. A California-based company, Ausra, is using them to generate energy. The system is an array of flat, rotating mirrors that are used to reflect sunlight to boil water in an elevated tube. The rotation is necessary because it allows for the maximum amount of sunlight to be captured. The boiled water produces steam that drives a turbine to generate electricity. Pacific Gas and Electric, one of California’s utility companies has agreed to purchase power from a plant that Ausra will complete in 2010. Outfitted with 1 square mile of solar collectors, Ausra’s planned plant in Southern California will produce enough emissions-free energy to power 120,000 homes.

http://www.ausra.com/technology/

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=sunny-outlook-sunshine-provide-electricity