It may be the one magic trick that can save the entire planet from global warming, and a couple of research scientists at the University of Southern California are close to figuring it out. This not-so-mysterious trick is a process known as “air capture”, and it is exactly what it sounds like – capturing air from the atmosphere and chemically converting it into a fuel source. Scientists George Olah and Surya Prakash have developed a method of converting carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere to methanol (CH3OH), which can be used as an alternative fuel source.1
Sir Isaac Newton is among the most acclaimed figures in history. He is credited for a multitude of crucial scientific developments, but few people know about his eccentric character and the strange projects he pursued outside of his scientific work.
Sleep deprivation is no foreign concept to college students. Pulling all-nighters to cram for exams or just procrastinating in general leads students to get less than their recommended eight hours of sleep. Despite this familiarity, students remain unknowledgeable of the negative consequences of sleep deprivation. In fact, one negative hunger-related consequence resembles that of marijuana.
Recently, the Rice Environmental club conducted a poll at each of the colleges, gauging interest for a homemade, eco-friendly laundry detergent activity. They received mainly disinterest. Renee Li, member, remarked, “I'm disappointed in the negative responses. Surprised actually, because usually DIY events are pretty welcomed at Rice. However I'm glad that people were honest. I think one reason may be that many people aren't that invested in the environment here. It's not like we're Seattle or something. I'm still having trouble trying to understand the apathy however.”
France has recently decided to start building a new endeavor: a 1,000-kilometer long solar road. The project, formally called “Wattway,” is a joint effort by the National Institute of Solar Energy and the French civil engineering firm Colas.(1) According to Colas,, “one kilometer is enough to power public lighting for a city of 5,000 people, and 20 square meters of Wattway can power a single French home.”(2).
