Firebrands and protecting homes from wildfires: What everyone needs to know about flaming windblown debris

A fire scientist explains the risk of flying embers that can travel over a mile from a wildfire and how people can protect their homes.

David Blunck, Associate Professor School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering, Oregon State University • conversation
Sept. 9, 2021 ~9 min

Charging ahead: how to make sure the electric vehicle transition is sustainable and just

Electric vehicles are poised to take over our roads: so how do we make sure this change doesn’t exacerbate social and energy inequality?

Rachel Lee, PhD Candidate in Electric Vehicle Usage, University of Sheffield • conversation
Sept. 3, 2021 ~6 min


Record-breaking winter winds have blown old Arctic sea ice into the melt zone

A particularly stormy winter has pushed perennial sea ice into the Arctic melt zone.

Robbie Mallett, PhD Candidate, Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, UCL • conversation
Aug. 6, 2021 ~7 min

California is planning floating wind farms offshore to boost its power supply – here's how they work

Some of the most powerful offshore wind sites are in water too deep for a standard wind turbines. Engineers found a way around the problem.

Matthew Lackner, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst • conversation
July 14, 2021 ~6 min

California wants floating wind farms offshore to boost its power supply – here's how they work

Some of the most powerful offshore wind sites are in water too deep for a standard wind turbines. Engineers found a way around the problem.

Matthew Lackner, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst • conversation
July 14, 2021 ~6 min

The ocean is full of tiny plastic particles – we found a way to track them with satellites

New research suggests that an effective way to locate and track large concentrations of microplastics in the ocean could be from high in the sky.

Christopher Ruf, Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan • conversation
July 9, 2021 ~8 min

Hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods – whatever your local risk, here's how to be more weather-ready

Federal weather scientists are pushing to make the US more 'weather-ready,' which could mean prepping for fires, flooding or storms depending on where you live. The common factor: thinking ahead.

Erik Salna, Associate Director of Education and Outreach, Extreme Events Institute, Florida International University • conversation
June 3, 2021 ~9 min

How robots could limit the environmental impact of offshore windfarms

The maintenance required for renewable tech like windfarms can harm the environment. Robots are helping solve that.

David Flynn, Professor, Embedded Intelligence in Energy Systems, Heriot-Watt University • conversation
May 21, 2021 ~7 min


Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 – here's what forecasters are watching right now

To get a sense of how bad the 2021 hurricane season will be, keep an eye on the African monsoon, ocean temperatures and a possible late-blooming La Niña.

Kristopher Karnauskas, Associate Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
May 18, 2021 ~8 min

US approves its first big offshore wind farm, near Martha's Vineyard – it’s a breakthrough for the industry

The Biden administration has a goal of getting from today's 42 megawatts of offshore wind power to nearly 30,000 by the end of the decade, but there are still obstacles ahead.

Matthew Lackner, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst • conversation
May 11, 2021 ~8 min

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