Danger! Centalized Electrical Grid
Hackers gained access and threatened the integrity of the U.S. power grid. (U.S. Electrical Grid Attacked by Hackers)
This kind of vulnerability raises continued concerns about having an electrical infrastructure that is centralized. Researchers at MIT have developed an energy technique that would allow every household to produce its own energy. The process is [...]
Turning Water Into Energy
‘Major discovery’ from MIT primed to unleash solar revolution
Scientists mimic essence of plants’ energy storage system
n a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn’t shine.
Daniel Nocera [...]
Segway & GM Build Balancing 2-Wheel-Car-Scooter
Every once in awhile we have some exciting news to share and we’re happy to do so right here on The Last Mile.
We’re pleased to introduce you to the Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility) prototype. It’s a working concept of what’s possible when you put together smart minds with the goal of [...]
Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith Annex VI on Liability Arising From Environmental Emergencies to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Annex VI), adopted on June 14, 2005, at the twenty-eighth Antarctic Treaty [...]
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Climate Change News
- U.S. Departments of Commerce and the Interior to Cooperate on Climate-Related ActivitiesU.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar formalized an agreement between the two departments to coordinate and cooperate on climate related activities involving science, services, mitigation, adaptation, education and communication. […]
- NOAA: Past Decade Warmest on Record According to Scientists in 48 CountriesThe 2009 State of the Climate report released Wednesday draws on data for 10 key climate indicators that all point to the same finding: the scientific evidence that our world is warming is unmistakable. […]
Earth FAQ
- Why aren't we drilling in the Bakken Formation?Oil has been produced from the Bakken Formation since the 1950’s. Please see our slideshow presentation for context at http://energy.usgs.gov/flash/Bakken_slideshow.swf. The USGS does not maintain statistics on oil production, however, this information can be obtained from publicly available sources like the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources […]
- How do I access the online USGS Publications Warehouse?The USGS Publications Warehouse (http://pubs.usgs.gov/) has released a new interface and a variety of new content and features. The new version of this tool now includes citations for USGS-authored content including journal articles, books, book chapters, proceedings, and other research written by USGS staff but published commercially. […]
- What is National Land Imaging?NLI is a concept that places a single agency in charge of future civil operational land remote sensing satellite acquisition, operation, and data management. These three functions have been separated historically and assigned to several different agencies. Currently, DOI performs two of them – operations and data management. With NLI comes a broad responsi […]
U.S. Geological Survey
- Climate Change Implicated in Decline of Horseshoe CrabsLEETOWN, W. Va. — A distinct decline in horseshoe crab numbers has occurred that parallels climate change associated with the end of the last Ice Age, according to a study that used genomics to assess historical trends in population sizes. The new research also indicates that horseshoe crabs numbers may continue to decline in the future because of predi […]
- An island's rebirth: Life emerges after a catastrophic volcanic eruptionAnchorage, Alaska — A secluded island in the Aleutian chain is revealing secrets of how land and marine ecosystems react to and recover from a catastrophic volcanic eruption that appeared at first glance to destroy all life on the island. Yet little by little – a wingless beetle here, a tuft of grass there, Kasatochi, an island in the Alaska Maritime Nat […]
- Glaciers Retreating in AsiaMany of Asia’s glaciers are retreating as a result of climate change. This retreat impacts water supplies to millions of people, increases the likelihood of outburst floods that threaten life and property in nearby areas, and contributes to sea-level rise. The U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with 39 international scientists, published a report on […]