Environment

January 1, 2023

This Japanese Train Ditched Conventional Fuel and Now Runs on Leftover Ramen Broth

The Amaterasu Railway is a tiny sightseeing train that takes visitors on a 30-minute ride and showcases some beautiful landmarks in the Miyazaki Prefecture. (A highlight includes Japan's highest train bridge, which stands 344 feet tall.) The train itself, however, has some quirky elements that make it a lovable sight in its own right, from its open roof and pink-colored cars to the fact that the conductors blow bubbles along the ride.

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December 31, 2022

Seaweed Farming Offers a Solution To Fighting the Climate Crisis and World Hunger

Seaweed is not just for sushi. While in American grocery stores these oceanic greens are generally relegated to sushi rolls and salted snack packs, seaweed is likely to soon become a more regular feature in our diets. The aquatic plant life—already consumed widely across the world—is a burgeoning industry. Shifting to seaweed agriculture will help combat the climate crisis, fight food insecurity globally, and even uplift communities in need of jobs.

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December 21, 2022

Renewable Energy Will Surpass Coal as a Source of Electricity by 2025

Given the toll that fossil fuels, gas, and coal take on the environment, it's inspiring to see the world become increasingly open to clean energy sources, such as wind and solar power. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy will surpass coal as a source of global electricity by 2025. On top of that, the world will increase its renewable power capacity by 75% over the next five years.

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November 21, 2022

French Law Now Requires Large Parking Lots To Be Covered in Solar Panels

“They paved paradise and put up a parking lot,” lamented Joni Mitchell in her 1970 hit “Big Yellow Taxi.” An anthem dedicated to appreciating nature before it's gone, the words are as relevant 50 years later as when they were first sung. With much of the world very dependent on cars, parking lots fill landscapes around the world. The dark pavement absorbs the Sun's rays, creating heat islands which trap heat in urban areas.

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