Scientists are proposing a $50 billion plan to install a 62-mile-long curtain at the bottom of the sea in front of Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier to block warm ocean water from melting its underside, which could raise sea levels by as much as 10 feet. The glacier is losing about 50 billion more tons of ice than it receives in new snowfall, and its melting contributes about four percent to the world's sea level rise. The proposed curtain aims to protect the glacier from warm currents and would be anchored at the bottom of the sea. The biggest challenges are the harsh conditions and safety of the people putting the curtain in place, but the team is working on computer simulations and plans to install a prototype in the River Cam in Cambridge next summer.
Scientists from Southeastern Louisiana University have deployed research buoys in Lake Maurepas to independently monitor the area while Air Products implements a carbon capture project. The buoys are equipped with sensors to monitor water quality and will provide real-time data to the public. The project has faced opposition from residents and officials concerned about its impact on the local ecosystem, but Air Products hopes that the independent scientific monitoring will help allay these concerns. The company is currently conducting initial test wells and plans to store 95% of the plant's carbon emissions below the lake by 2026.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a method to convert polyethylene waste into valuable chemicals using light-driven photocatalysis and solar energy, offering a sustainable solution to plastic pollution and contributing to a circular economy. The process upcycles polyethylene plastic waste into ethylene and propionic acid with high selectivity using atomically dispersed metal catalysts, harnessing renewable solar energy and addressing contemporary environmental and energy challenges. This innovative approach could revolutionize waste management and chemical manufacturing while reducing plastic pollution.
