By now you’ve heard of wind and solar as potential sources of clean energy, but how about looking beneath the surface? Earth’s fiery core reaches temperatures of up to 9,000° F, and much of that heat could be harnessed for fuel. According to a 2007 geothermal study conducted by the Energy Department, the New York Times reports, geothermal power may “produce as much as 60,000 times the nation’s annual energy usage.” It could also prove a more environmentally friendly solution than other energy sources.
Each year 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle 89 billion liters of water, and the energy required to manufacture and transport this bottled water severely drains our limited supply of fossil fuels.
But MIT chemist Dan Nocera has discovered a way to make plastic water bottles more environmentally friendly.
Using a special catalyst, Nocera’s new photosynthetic process can power a home using only sunlight and a bottle of water.
Next week, NISE Net (Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network) celebrates NanoDays, a nationwide series of events and activities at your local science centers dedicated to the wondrous world of nanotechnology.
So what exactly is nanotech, you may ask, and how is it crucial to the future of engineering? Watch the video above to find out.
