Can we tap the ocean’s power to capture carbon?
The oceans have to play a role in helping humanity remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to curb dangerous climate warming. But are we ready to scale up the technologies that will do the job?
Energy and environment
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Poor indoor air quality often found in small new urban dwellings
You’ve just bought a new apartment. The developer followed the minimum building code requirements. So shouldn’t everything be in order? Extensive research indicates that the answer is unfortunately no.
Forever chemicals affect the genes of unhatched ducklings
There are many different types of PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’. Maybe it is time to prohibit them all.
This is how two contra-rotating propellers can make ships more energy efficient
By using two propellers that rotate in opposite directions, a ship can use less energy to move forward. New knowledge means that more ships can use the technology, including Hurtigruten’s Sea Zero project for its coastal cruise ships.
Want to cut your carbon footprint? Move out of your house
There’s no getting around it: downsizing the kind of housing you live in is the best thing you can do for the environment.
Ships need maintenance too. For the climate, it’s best to do it at home
If a worn propeller requires repair, the CO2 footprint will be a full 40 percent lower if the job is done in Norway than if the repair is done in China, the researchers write in this article.
A new approach to cutting marine plastic pollution
Many measures have been initiated to reduce plastic pollution in Norway. Only a few of them will lead to extensive change and cleanup, a new study shows.
The properties of slate make it a winner
Different building materials carry different climate footprints. Norwegian natural stone, such as Otta slate, turns out to have surprisingly good properties as a façade material.
How penguins’ air tricks could help the shipping industry
‘Bubbles’ – taste that word – and think soda, soap, play and well-being. But did you know that air bubbles can also reduce fuel consumption and emissions from oceangoing vessels?
When it comes to storing carbon, the Arctic presents a winter surprise
The ocean holds gigantic amounts of carbon, much more than in all land-based plants and soil. Scientists previously studied these carbon stocks in spring and summer. Now they have looked at what happens in winter.
How better paper can save billions in the power grid
Norway can save investment costs of a staggering 25 billion NOK [ca. €2.1 billion] in the power grid by upgrading the quality of insulation paper used in transformers – dramatically increasing their lifespans.
Scientists are revealing the secret lives of bees using sensors
Bees do more than just pollinate plants. They are also nature’s own warning signal. Placing sensors in their hives allows researchers to see when the bees need help doing their job.
A new way to prevent icing problems for aircraft and drones
Ice formation on wind turbine blades, aircraft and drones can lead to both delays and accidents. But a new material repels cold water droplets that land on the rotor blades before they freeze onto the surface.
An ultra-thin smart filter can significantly extend EV battery lifespan
This new invention could make today’s heavy electric vehicle batteries lighter, safer and increase their range. The researchers behind the technology believe it is also ideal for use in aviation, space travel, drones and shipping.
Solving a dirty problem with sunlight and oil
Wastewater can contain many harmful substances, but a new method enables researchers to purify this water using sunlight and droplets of oil.
Fully possible to make residential construction more environmentally friendly
Greenhouse gas emissions from residential construction in West Asia and North Africa can be significantly reduced.
Why bees in Norway are struggling
Norway is home to 212 different bee species. Or perhaps rather: the country used to have 212 species. Insect numbers are generally in decline, and some bees are either struggling or have already disappeared.
New study flags hazardous plastic chemicals and charts course to safer products
A new study provides a comprehensive catalogue of more than 16,000 known plastic chemicals, with their properties, uses and hazards. The goal is to enable safer plastic production.
Scientists conclude: Here’s what we have to do to restore our oceans
It can take up to 200 years for damaged marine environments to fully recover by just stopping the destruction and leaving the ecosystems to themselves. That is why we must implement active restoration interventions.
Will computers of the future be submerged in liquid?
The need to cool down computers eats into the world’s energy consumption. By using liquid instead of air, we can save large amounts of energy and at the same time produce heat.
Razor-thin solution makes fuel cells cheaper and more environmentally friendly
A new membrane technology – so light and thin that it makes an A4 sheet of paper feel like thick cardboard – has been created in the hydrogen laboratory.
Smart measures to reduce your electricity bill
Would you adjust your electricity consumption if you received a notification on your mobile phone telling you when electricity was going to be most expensive the following day? Research shows that good information can influence our energy consumption.
New method detects major methane leaks – the good news is that many can be repaired quickly
The wind’s sweep across desert sand provides important information in the hunt for methane gas leaking from oil platforms. Researchers have now applied this knowledge in the hunt for the climate change driver methane.
Switching diesel locomotives to electric
Locomotives that run on diesel can be electrified. This would both cut CO2 emissions and significantly reduce overall energy consumption, according to a new study.