Harnessing the Power of the Jet Stream
Researchers have compiled the first global survey of wind energy at high altitudes, where currents blow more steadily and 10 times faster than near-surface winds. If the energy of the jet stream energy could be harnessed using tethered, generator-kites, it could provide a major source of electricity for cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and New York.
For now, that’s a big “if.” The authors note that such a scheme would require “substantial infrastructure,” including vast amounts of storage capacity and modernization of the power grid. And transmission cables stretching to airline cruising altitudes of 20.000-50,000 feet.
Meanwhile, Down Here on the Ground…
The AP reports on new research that suggests near-surface winds are diminishing across the U.S. due to global warming — ironically, the same winds we hope to harness to reduce global warming. If preliminary results hold up, this would be the first study to show such a trend, but it would dovetail with similar observations in Australia and Europe. Something to keep an eye on, at least.
Can Lack of Sleep Drive You Mad?
New research and a classic case of ‘which came first’…
Disturbed nights and mental illness have always been linked. Now research shows insomnia is not just a symptom, but a cause.
New LED Bulbs Feature Dimming and 7-Color Tuning
Or, more precisely, 7 tints of white light. What’s more they come with a remote (seriously). Low-power, long-life, and kind of pricey, read what else EcoGeek
and Treehugger have to say about them.
Green, Composting Toilet Gets Thumbs-Up
It took more than four years of negotiations and construction, but this month an Austin Water Utility inspector gave final clearance to a glorified outhouse that is on the vanguard of down-and-dirty environmentalism.
Known as a composting toilet, the East Austin commode relies on the alchemy wrought by bacteria to transform human waste into a rich trove of soil. Specialists in so-called humanure have hailed the approval of the toilet as a watershed moment for common-sense environmentalism.
I sense a growth market in half-moons.
Did Sewage Sludge Lace the White House Veggie Garden With Lead?
The White House vegetable garden planted by First Lady Michele Obama and area students appears to be contaminated with lead. The most likely suspect is compost made from sewage that was used as lawn fertilzer for at least a decade. Measured lead levels of 93 ppm are well below the 400 ppm that would be cause for concern, but close to the 100ppm limit recommended for soils where produce for children’s consumption is grown.
The oft-postponed U.S. transition from analog to digital broadcasting finally came to pass last week. If you’re one of those who decided to upgrade to a new TV, there are better ways to dispose of your old set than sending all those hazardous substances to the landfill. Click the headline above for an overview of options, contact your local recycling center, or visit the EPA’s Plug-in to eCycling page for more information.
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