Fuel-Producing Organisms: Coming to a Car Near You?

Joule Unlimited, a biotechnology company in Massachusetts claims to have genetically-engineered a patented cyanobacterium capable of secreting diesel fuel or ethanol.  The organism, requiring only sun, water, and CO₂, produces fuels on demand at a cost that competes with some of the most inexpensive fossil fuels.  The organisms are mounted to units similar to solar panels to allow for maximum light absorption. 

Joule CEO Bill Sims says “…there’s no reason why this technology can’t change the world.”   The organisms create the fuels as a byproduct of photosynthesis.  This naturally-occurring process simultaneously works to reduce carbon emissions if the process takes place near a facility that produces emissions in high quantities. 

Joule Unlimited hopes to be commercially operating in less than two years.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110227/ap_on_bi_ge/us_growing_fuel

Sea Life to Live in Peace

Our ocean life requires a delicate balance to ensure sustainability and growth for the years to come.  However, overfishing, pollution, tourism, and climate change have all had severe negative impacts on Earth’s oceans and ocean life.  

To combat this, the Pew Environment Group has started a project called Global Ocean Legacy.  The goal of the Global Ocean Legacy is to establish highly protected global marine reserves that restrict activities that take away from such environments.  

While small reserves do exist to protect certain species of marine life, larger reserves would serve as a safe-haven for marine life and would protect all marine life in such areas.  The goal is to create reserves comparable to national parks on land.  

http://www.pewenvironment.org/campaigns/global-ocean-legacy/id/8589941025/

Cargill Equipment Turning Waste into Wattage

A Bettencourt dairy farm in Iowa has found a way to make use of its waste, thanks to a an "anaerobic digester" built and operated by Cargill Environmental Finance.  The digester turns manure, for the farm’s 6,000 cows, into energy which is then sold back to the local power grid.  Just how much energy does the anaerobic digester generate from manure?  Up to 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a month; enough energy to provide power to roughly 1,400 U.S. homes. 

This is Cargill’s second anaerobic digester in use on a Bettencourt dairy farm.  The first one, in operation since 2008, converts manure to power for 10,000 cows.  A third digester project is under way for a 5,500-cow dairy farm near Idaho Falls through Cargill Global Emissions. 

Cargill Environmental Finance’s managing director Jay Ritzen said “we look to environmental innovation as a way to preserve and protect the environment that includes using energy and resources more wisely in our own operations and helping our customers’ shrink their environmental footprints.” 

http://www.cargill.com/corporate-responsibility/environmental-innovation/pioneering-new-businesses/biogas/index.jsp

San Francisco Bay Area: Earth Day Virtual Scientist Visits

In recognition of Earth Day 2011, SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT will be hosting Virtual Visits through the Virtual Scientist Guest Lecture Series thanks to a grant from AutoDesk (there is NO cost to participate).  The grant covers schools in the San Francisco Bay area for students in middle and high school.  Virtual visits will feature scientists in the Earth Sciences fields.  Due to limited resources, we can only offer this program to the first 10 schools that respond on a first come first serve basis.

The Virtual Scientist Guest Lecture Series brings scientists into America’s classrooms in real time via the Internet. Using existing technology available through Skype, an internet based videophone service, SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT will arrange for scientists to participate in a "virtual" in-classroom visit without leaving their lab or research facility. The Virtual Scientist Guest Lecture Series allows both scientists and students to experience an interactive dialogue that inspires and engages students about dynamic cutting edge science research.

The technology requirements are minimal, requiring only that each participant (i.e. school and scientist) have a computer with high speed internet access, a high quality monitor, webcam, speakers and microphone. Skype software can be downloaded from www.skype.com free of charge. As the liaison between the school, sponsor and guest lecturer SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT makes all necessary arrangements for the virtual visit.

"Virtual" visits last about 30 minutes in order to fit within a standard class period. The presentation format varies according to the preference of the speaker and educator but will generally include a presentation followed by Q&A. The classroom teacher acts as the moderator and oversees the necessary pre-visit preparation.

If this sounds like something you or another teacher at your school may be interested in, please e-mail me (Fallon@sssrvideo.net) or call 1-800-232-2133 x 266. 

Environmentally Refreshing Product

In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint PepsiCo has unveiled a new beverage bottle made 100% of plant-based materials.  Which means it is 100% plastic free!  The bottle is completely recyclable and is made from materials such as potato peels, orange peels, and oat hulls. 

The bottle will begin pilot production in 2012 and, upon successful completion, will then be introduced full-scale to the market.  This is in the wake of similar eco-friendly product containers released by PepsiCo such as SunChips 100% compostable bag, and the Eco-Fina Aquafina water bottle made using 50% less plastic.   

 

Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering

On March 2, Democrat representative Eddie Johnson introduced a bill to congress called H.R. 889: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2011.  The purpose of this bill is “to provide for fulfilling the potential of women in academic science and engineering, and for other purposes.”

This bill would require demographic information on federal grants awarded via the National Science Foundation (NSF), and would require the Office of Science and Technology Policy to conduct workshops that will educate others in preventing gender bias in the evaluation stage of federal research grant proposals.   The bill has been referred to a congressional committee for further research. 

If you support this bill, let your congressional representative(s) know!  You can find out how to contact your representative(s) here: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

Top o’ the Shamrock to ya’!

 The shamrock, often confused with a four leaf clover, is a popular symbol of Ireland and Saint Patrick’s Day.  With all the green surrounding this historical holiday, one may wonder “what makes shamrocks green?”

Chlorophyll is a biomolecule found in all green plants and is what gives plants their green color.  These molecules absorb light which allows for photosynthesis to occur, giving plants energy to grow and flourish. 

Photosynthesis is the process that allows plants to produce oxygen.  The plant absorbs carbon dioxide, the chlorophyll absorbs light, and photosynthesis occurs allowing the plant to grow.  In the process of this growth, the plant releases oxygen into its surrounding environment.

To learn more about this process, check out NBC’s Special “The Chemistry of Green: Chlorophyll” on the link below.

Khan Academy Bringing Free Education to the World

Distance learning and supplementation of education through outside resources is quickly becoming the standard for increasing the depth of educational materials available to classrooms.  Faced with ever-increasing budget cuts, educators are looking toward resources such as Khan Academy to supplement the quality of materials available to students.

With 1,800 lessons and 24 million views, Sal Khan, has created a revolutionary method of learning that even Bill Gates himself uses for him and his children.  Khan Academy is a free resource that anyone can use.  It features individual profiles built to work toward educational goals in a variety of subjects to include biology, chemistry, physics, and math.  

Instructors can establish “coach” profiles and connect with their students to measure student progress.  These tools allow instructors to monitor students’ progress, much like an assessment, to have insight as to which areas students need instructors to hone in on.  The non-for-profit’s founder, Sal Khan, seeks to simply bring quality information to people throughout the world.  

http://www.khanacademy.org