Energy & Decarbonization Stories
Capping and/or mitigating global warming requires a rapid shift to low-carbon socio-economic systems. From stories about scaling up renewable energy to pioneering work in solar fuels to carbon capture and storage technologies, Anthropocene magazine aims to be a leading voice in the conversation about this great transition.
This battery could freeze solar and wind energy for months
With its use of low-cost, non-toxic materials, the new molten-salt battery could offer cheaper grid storage than rivals
A spoonful of sugar makes a better battery
Lithium-sulfur batteries can store 5x more energy than their lithium-ion counterparts and are more environmentally friendly. This sweet maneuver could get them market-ready by boosting longevity.
To get people to switch to green energy. . . make the switch for them
An opt-out rather than opt-in model for renewable power programs yields high participation with few downsides
Could nuclear power be a bridge to a zero-emissions world?
New study tackles the question: What’s the cheapest way to eliminate carbon emissions based on present-day costs?
As the climate changes, what changes people’s minds?
How far has opinion moved from climate-change denial toward acceptance and, ultimately, action?
The Race to Reinvent Cement
The material that built the modern world is due for an upgrade. What if we could transform cement from a climate wrecker
into a carbon sponge?
This material can store the sun’s energy for months, maybe even years
Thin coatings of the material could soak up sun in summer months and provide heat to buildings in winter, all without using fuel or electricity
What’s driving the remarkable decline of urban sprawl in the US?
A new study finds that a primary culprit has been rising gas prices—spurring denser development in communities across the country.
Visualizing Carbon
Pictures make a story come alive—and in the climate change story, one of the main characters is invisible. Carbon Visuals helps people “see” the carbon dioxide that’s trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere.
Biofilm keeps things cool without using energy
Made of biodegradable, eco-friendly materials, the film scatters sunlight so effectively that it can keep ice cream, and even glacier snow, from melting
