Environmental Technologies

Everyone knew it was crazy to try to extract oil and natural gas buried in shale rock deep below the ground. Everyone, that is, except a few reckless wildcatters - who risked their careers to prove the world wrong. Things looked grim for American energy in 2006. Oil production was in steep decline and natural gas was hard to find. The Iraq War threatened the nation’s already tenuous relations with the Middle East. China was rapidly industrializing and competing for resources.

The grid is an accident of history and of culture, in no way intrinsic to how we produce, deliver and consume electrical power. Yet this is the system the United States ended up with, a jerry-built structure now so rickety and near collapse that a strong wind or a hot day can bring it to a grinding halt. The grid is now under threat from a new source: renewable and variable energy, which puts stress on its logics as much as its components.

For all of neuroscience's advances, we've made little progress on its biggest question: How do simple cells in the brain create intelligence? Jeff Hawkins and his team discovered that the brain uses map-like structures to build a model of the world - not just one model, but hundreds of thousands of models of everything we know. This discovery allows Hawkins to answer important questions about how we perceive the world, why we have a sense of self, and the origin of high-level thought.

Today’s UV Index: Lethal Deep inside the sun, magnetic lines of force are growing…building in ways not experienced for a millennium. When a pair of increasingly severe solar storms disables internet, communications, and GPS for millions around the globe, helioseismologist Greyson Finn fears the imminent arrival of a cataclysmic super flare, a magnetic explosion of the sun with the potential to obliterate life on earth. In a desperate bid to help the world prepare, Finn and his fellow scientists rush to address the critical question: will the solar weather subside, or is the worst yet to...

Through clear-eyed essays and vibrant conversations, infused with data and poetry, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson guides us through solutions and possibilities at the nexus of science, policy, culture, and justice. Visionary farmers and financiers, architects and advocates, help us conjure a flourishing future, one worth the effort it will take—from every one of us, with whatever we have to offer—to create.

Bold is a radical, how-to guide for using exponential technologies, moonshot thinking, and crowd-powered tools to create extraordinary wealth while also positively impacting the lives of billions.

Unlock the power of the sun with Solar Power Demystified, your comprehensive guide to mastering rooftop solar panels and harnessing renewable energy for your home. Dive into an informative journey that demystifies the world of solar energy, providing everything you need to know from the basics to the advanced. Start with a solid foundation in Chapter 1, where you'll learn about the numerous benefits of going solar, understand key efficiency metrics, and familiarize yourself with essential solar panel terminology. Explore the different types of rooftop solar panels in Chapter 2, breaking ...

“What’s for dinner"? seemed like a simple question - until journalist and supermarket detective Michael Pollan delved behind the scenes. From fast food and big organic to small farms and old-fashioned hunting and gathering, this young listeners’ adaptation of Pollan’s famous food-chain exploration encourages kids to consider the personal and global health implications of their food choices. The Omnivore’s Dilemma serves up a bold message to the generation that needs it most: It’s time to take charge of our national eating habits - and it starts with you.

A soaring bridge is an obvious infrastructural feat, but so are the mostly hidden reservoirs, transformers, sewers, cables, and pipes that deliver water, energy, and information to wherever we need it. When these systems work well, they hide in plain sight. Engineer and materials scientist Deb Chachra takes listeners on a fascinating tour of these essential utilities, revealing how they work, what it takes to keep them running, just how much we rely on them—but also whom they work well for, and who pays the costs.

On the morning of April 26, 1986, Europe witnessed the worst nuclear disaster in history: the explosion of a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Soviet Ukraine. Dozens died of radiation poisoning, fallout contaminated half the continent, and thousands fell ill. In Chernobyl, Serhii Plokhy draws on new sources to tell the dramatic stories of the firefighters, scientists, and soldiers who heroically extinguished the nuclear inferno. He lays bare the flaws of the Soviet nuclear industry....

From Geo Rutherford-the creator of the hit series Spooky Lake Month (over sixty-five million likes!)-comes this thrilling nonfiction book that plumbs the depths of twenty-five unusual lakes around the world. Listeners will learn not only about the science of hydrology, but why understanding the natural world is crucial to protecting it from pollution and climate change. Backed by extensive research and packed with all-new content, Spooky Lakes takes listeners on an adventure through weird and wild waters.

Unlock the Secrets to a Profitable Crypto Mining Operation Are you ready to dive into the lucrative world of cryptocurrency mining but don't know where to start? "Crypto Mining: Building a Profitable Digital Currency Operation" is your ultimate guide to mastering the art and science of crypto mining. Whether you're a beginner eager to learn the basics or an experienced miner looking to optimize your setup, this comprehensive guide will transform your approach and boost your success. Inside this book, you'll discover: The Fundamentals of Cryptocurrency Mining: Understand what cryptocurrency ...

Discover the Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Living That Can Transform Your Life—and the Planet! Are you ready to make a difference in the world while simplifying and enriching your life? Sustainable Living Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Reducing Your Environmental Footprint is more than just a book—it’s a call to action, a guidebook for change, and a source of inspiration for anyone ready to embrace a greener, more intentional way of living. In a world where the effects of climate change and environmental degradation are undeniable, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But the truth is,...

Dive into the depths of one of today’s most talked-about technological conundrums with the thought-provoking eBook, Energy Consumption in Blockchain. This essential read unravels the intricate relationship between blockchain technology and energy usage, guiding readers through a maze of data, debates, and groundbreaking discoveries. Are you curious about the underpinnings of blockchain technology and its widespread implications across global economies? Start with a comprehensive introduction that lays the groundwork, exploring what blockchain is and its pivotal role in the digital sphere....

Weisman visits an extraordinary range of the world's cultures, religions, nationalities, tribes, and political systems to learn what in their beliefs, histories, liturgies, or current circumstances might suggest that sometimes it's in their own best interest to limit their growth.

Unlock the potential of renewable energy with The Future of Solar Technology. This comprehensive guide takes you on an enlightening journey through the rapid advancements and innovative strides in solar energy. From the humble beginnings of solar technology to the cutting-edge advancements shaping the future, this book provides a complete understanding of the dynamic and ever-evolving solar landscape. Dive into the fundamentals of photovoltaic (PV) cells and explore the various types, efficiency improvements, and groundbreaking materials like silicon-based and perovskite solar cells. ...

The climate is the fundamental issue of our time, and now we face a critical decision. Whether to be optimistic or fatalistic, whether to profess skepticism or to take action. Yet it seems we can barely agree on what is really going on, let alone what needs to be done. We urgently need facts, not opinions. Insights, not statistics. And a shift from thinking about climate change as a “me” problem to a “we” problem. The Carbon Almanac is a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration that focuses on what we know, what has come before, and what might happen next.

Discover the incredible potential of solar energy with the compelling new eBook, How Solar Panels Work. This comprehensive guide illuminates the fascinating world of solar technology, providing readers with a deep understanding of how sunlight transforms into the electricity powering our everyday lives. Begin your journey with an introduction to solar panels, where you'll learn what they are, their historical evolution, and why they matter in today's energy landscape. Dive into the science behind these marvels with an exploration of light, photons, and the fundamentals of photovoltaics, ...

Step into the untold tales and hidden corners of legal history with "Legal Curiosities," a comprehensive exploration of the most intriguing and unexpected facets of law that shape, challenge, and redefine our world. Embrace a unique intellectual adventure that embarks on a journey across ancient legal codes, uncovers laugh-inducing statutes that still hold sway, and descends into the fast-evolving realm where law meets cutting-edge technology. Imagine discovering laws so outlandish they seem fictional, and precedents so impactful they continue to influence modern jurisprudence. "Legal ...

Are you ready for a journey back in time to the thrilling era of the Gold Rush? Get ready to step into the shoes of gold miners who risked it all to strike it rich. Life in the Gold Rush is an insightful and captivating eBook that delves into the realities of life as a gold miner. With 20 diverse and fascinating chapters, this eBook offers an in-depth look at the lure of gold, the daily routine of a gold miner, and the tools of the trade. We explore how technology has transformed modern mining and the economic impact of gold mining. But this eBook is not just a lesson in history: we also ...