How a nondescript box has been saving lives during the pandemic – and revealing the power of grassroots innovation

3D printers got a lot of attention when DIYers leapt to action to address equipment shortages early in the pandemic, but some everyday items found in hardware stores played a big role, too.

Douglas Hannah, Assistant Professor of Strategy and Innovation, Boston University • conversation
March 3, 2022 ~12 min

First solar canal project is a win for water, energy, air and climate in California

Covering the state’s canals with solar panels would reduce evaporation of precious water and help meet renewable energy goals – all while saving money.

Roger Bales, Distinguished Professor of Engineering, University of California, Merced • conversation
Feb. 22, 2022 ~9 min


Time for the UK to say goodbye to drive-throughs: for the sake of our environment, our health – and our culture

Drive-throughs not only increase air pollution and emissions, but also contribute to a car-centred culture that we need to avoid.

Sybil Derrible, Associate Professor of Urban Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago • conversation
Feb. 14, 2022 ~7 min

Why can’t we throw all our trash into a volcano and burn it up?

Volcanoes might seem like nature’s incinerators, but using them to burn up trash would be dangerous and disrespectful to indigenous people who view them as sacred.

Emily Johnson, Research Geologist, US Geological Survey • conversation
Jan. 3, 2022 ~5 min

Smoke, heat and stress: A snapshot from Southern California of life in an altered climate

Southern California is on the front line of climate change, and recent survey data shows that residents are feeling its effects in many ways.

Kyla Thomas, Sociologist, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences • conversation
Dec. 14, 2021 ~7 min

Fixing indoor air pollution problems that are raising Native Americans' COVID-19 risk

Poor indoor air on tribal lands can cause a range of respiratory illnesses, including viral infections. Here's how people are fixing the problem while preserving traditional ways.

Meghan Curry O’Connell, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of South Dakota • conversation
March 15, 2021 ~10 min

First lockdown's effect on air pollution was overstated, our study reveals

Exaggerating how much lockdown improved air quality could allow us to underestimate the scale of the air pollution problem.

William Bloss, Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Birmingham • conversation
Jan. 13, 2021 ~7 min

Keeping indoor air clean can reduce the chance of spreading coronavirus

Being indoors with other people is a recipe for spreading the coronavirus. But removing airborne particles through proper ventilation and air filtration can reduce some of that risk.

Shelly Miller, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Nov. 20, 2020 ~7 min


How to use ventilation and air filtration to prevent the spread of coronavirus indoors

Good ventilation can reduce the risk of catching coronavirus. An environmental engineer explains how to know if enough outside air is getting into a room and what do to if ventilation is bad.

Shelly Miller, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Aug. 10, 2020 ~10 min

A massive Saharan dust plume is moving into the southeast US, bringing technicolor sunsets and suppressing tropical storms

From June through October, it's not unusual for huge Saharan dust plumes to blow across the Atlantic. They can darken skies but also bring calmer weather and electric sunsets. Here's how they form.

Scott Denning, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University • conversation
June 25, 2020 ~7 min

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