Andrew Haffner

2 months ago | thecooldown.com | Andrew Haffner

A new discovery from the Chinese Academy of Sciences could reshape how we store energy at large scale, offering a meaningful boost to renewable power. The team's research focuses on aqueous organic flow batteries, which use water and organic molecules instead of the heavy metals found in traditional lithium-ion systems.

2 months ago | thecooldown.com | Andrew Haffner

A coyote seen running through the downtown streets of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, has charged conversations about how human development is reshaping the natural world. A video posted by TikTok user Paula (@paula.herrerav) seemed to show the animal moving briskly down Granville Street, a central avenue for shopping and entertainment. Commenters reported spotting the coyote elsewhere in the city, musing on where it came from and where it was going.

2 months ago | thecooldown.com | Andrew Haffner

Ag-tech startup Qualterra is doubling down on biochar — a carbon-rich soil booster — as it scales up operations in Eastern Washington.  The company has developed a cutting-edge process and technology to help farmers enhance crop yields while transforming common organic waste into useful material. As reported by GeekWire, Qualterra is significantly expanding after recently raising $4.5 million in new investments.

2 months ago | thecooldown.com | Andrew Haffner

A growing number of African motorists are converting their traditional gas-powered vehicles to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). While the switch is saving drivers money, climate organizers worry the trend may be a form of greenwashing that will hurt goals to slash air pollution. As reported in Climate Home News, thanks partly to rising gas prices and government subsidies, the demand for CNG and other gas alternatives is growing in many African countries.

2 months ago | thecooldown.com | Andrew Haffner

Thanks to a simple, water-repelling substance, scientists may have just solved a major problem hindering the development of carbon capture technology. According to their study published in the journal Nature Energy, researchers from Rice University and the University of Houston have found a new method to tackle salt buildup β€” a significant issue in systems that convert carbon dioxide pulled out of the air into useful products such as chemicals and fuels.