Coal - Clean Power Source for the Future?

It seems logical that coal would be used as the predominant non-renewable fuel of the future until other non-petroleum-based substitutes are fully developed. Coal burns cleaner, despite the false image that associates coal with the dingy, smog-choked air of the old coal-burning cities and towns, particularly during the Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, according to The World Coal Institute (WCI), “technologies have been developed to improve the environmental performance of coal-use techniques” and that the efficient burning of coal-based fuels results in the release of fewer pollutants into the atmosphere. All fossil fuels produce greenhouse gases; but, greenhouse gases from coal contribute to less than 20% of any enhanced greenhouse effect.

Currently, coal is the primary source of fuel for electricity generation worldwide, according to WCI. Over 62 % of the world’s total coal production is used for about 40% of the world’s electricity. Coal also proivdes 35% of the world’s total energy needs.

Total world production of hard coal is about 5,339 metric tons, with China, the United States, India, South Africa, Australia and Russia topping the list of coal producers. Coal provides the majority of the electricity needs for countries such as Poland (93%), South Africa (93%), Australia (80%), People’s Republic of China (78%), Greece (58%), India (69%), Morrocco (69%), USA (50%), and Germany (47%).

If coal-based fuels could be relied on more heavily for domestic and commercial transportation, such as airlines and automobiles, all countries around the world can be confident that their coal-based energy resources would be secured, and dependency on the more centralized petroleum-based production industry would be significantly reduced. According to WCI, this would mean that our energy needs can be assured and prices would remain stable and competitive with other fuels. Scientists have confirmed that there is over 200 years of coal resource availability worldwide, far exceeding current known and available petroleum reserves.

“In terms of BTUs [British Thermal Unit - unit of measurement used to express the heat contained in energy resources] in the ground, there is plenty of coal,” said Dr. Schobert, professor of fuel science at Penn State Univeristy. “But the ‘killer issue’ on coal is that it produces more (carbon dioxide) emissions per BTU of energy than the other major fuels.” However, “technologies are available or under development to address (these issues).”

Still coal remains our safest, most viable and dependable energy resource to meet our enormous energy needs. When asked if there is any source of energy that could replace coal as our primary energy source within our lifetimes, Dr. Schobert replied, “There is only one: nuclear.” To many scientists and most consumers, however, nuclear energy is not a very attractive, safe nor plausible alternative.

Given the vast abundant availabilty of renewable natural resources, most significantly the sun, it appears that anything but a clear focus on development and use of our natural and renewable energy resources is the most practical. When you consider that every minute enough of the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s surface to meet the world’s energy demands for a whole year, the path should be clear.

Crops in Space - Astroculture for Earth and Deep Space Travel

Crops in Space? Absolutely… especially if people are to travel for months and years to other worlds and systems. It would be impossible, for instance, to send along enough food and water for a team of space explorers on a mission to Mars. The reality is food and water production over a full life cycle is essential for extended space exploration.

But more importantly, space offers extraordinary possibilities for increasing the yield and vitality of food production on Earth and for the generation of self-sustaining life support systems wherever people may live.

Astronauts have been trying to grow plants in space since the early days of space exploration. When the Apollo astronauts explored the Moon, scientists attempted to grow seeds in the lunar soil that was returned to Earth. But with the establishment of the Russian space station Mir (which was de-orbited in 2001) and the International Space Station (currently active) , agriculture in space took on new dimensions. NASA has trademarked it as Astroculture.

Despite all of Mir’s technical challenges, the space station delivered the first wheat crop ever grown and harvested in space, thanks to a special Bulgarian-built greenhouse that created the right conditions for growth. Thus, a new age of food production in space was born, and scientists began to see how space technology can positively impact many of Earth’s environmental problems.The lack of gravity — essential for plants to develop strong rooting, sunlight, available nutrients, insects (for cross pollination), controlled climate and clean water are all challenges for astroculture. Bioregenerative support systems takes all of these vital elements into consideration.

First of all, humans and plants are ideal companions in space and on Earth. People breathe air and produce carbon dioxide, and plants consume the carbon dioxide to produce oxygen. Humans can also consume edible plants or plant parts for sustenance. This produces waste by-products which can be broken down to supply nourishment for plants.

Given this unique relationship between plants and humans, all that is left for consideration is the supply of energy, regeneration of clean water and the effect of gravity to make it all work. Energy, which must be highly efficient, is provided in the form of light. And clean water comes from re-occurring and self-sustaining natural cleaning and filtration systems inherent to regenerative life support systems.

The creation of microgravity systems, which would be developed for long-term piloted missions to Mars and other places, would provide the gravitational effects needed for healthy plant growth.

Simply put, if we can sustain food production in space, then we can sustain human life anywhere in the universe. Plants, like all living things, depend on nourishment and the right living conditions in order to grow. And with a burgeoning population on Earth, astroculture benefits will help us better provide food, sustenance and the required healthy ecosystems essential to promoting public health.

Life on Another Planet May Be Not So Far Away

We may very well not be alone in our galaxy. While most people concieve that there is life elsewhere in the universe, it is almost surreal to know that not only is it true but that life may not be that far from Earth, astronmically speaking.

A little more than 20.5 light years away exists a planet that is very much like Earth, has its own star and a solid, rocky surface. It may very well be able to sustain life. The international team of Swiss, Portuguese and French researchers who discovered the planet in 2007 found it orbiting around diminutive red dwarf star, named Gliese 581, which is located in the constellation Libra. It is about 1.5 times larger than Earth, five times heavier and has a hard surface that is most likely rock. Its sun is smaller, less luminous and colder than our Sun, but the planet is 14 times closer to its sun than Earth is to our sun; yet, the exoplanet is in its sun’s habitable zone which is the zone around a star where water can be liquid — the essence of life.

Scientists do not know if this planet has water, rivers, lake streams, mountains or other Earth-like features, but they know that the planet’s location is ideal to support such features and life. Other such planets have been discovered, most using gravitational data and light refraction techniques, but this one is the most “Earth-like” so far. The firsr such exo-planet was discovered in 1995.

Humans are a planetary species. Therefore, other habitable planets must also be able to sustain living species much like humans. As we develop the capability to more directly observe these exo-planets (planets outside of our solar system), we will come closer to elarning more about the existence of life elsewhere in the universe, and possible one day have the capability to see how they live and what their living conditions are.

Norway to Send Up To US$1 Billion to Brazil for Amazon Rainforest Preservation

Noting that Brazilian authorities have significantly reduced deforestation over the last years, Norway will contribute US$1 Billion to Brazil’s Amazon Fund over the next seven years starting with US$20 Million this year. This makes Norway the first international contributor to the Amazon Fund, a major Brazilian effort to sharply curb deforestation of the world’s largest rainforest and home to the greatest number of plant and animal species.

Norway’s contribution to the Amazon Fund is an important part of the Government’s climate and forest program, launched by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg at the UN climate conference in Bali in December 2007. “Efforts against deforestation may give us the largest, quickest and cheapest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” said Prime Minister Stoltenberg. “Norway has to reduce its own emissions, and at the same time we have to contribute to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in other parts of the world.”

Under President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva’s leadership, the Brazilian government wants to raise $21 billion through 2021 from foreign donors, but he steadfastly insists that preserving the Amazon rainforest is Brazil’s repsonsibility. Donations to this fund will be used for reforestation and conservation of the Amazon rainforest, clean energy and environmental education, as well as reduction of greenhouse gas emmissions. The fund will also support scientific research, sustainable development projects and help further work on the cultivation of drugs from plants.

The Amazon Rainforest, also known as the Amazon Basin, covers 1.7 billion acres (seven million square kilometers) located within Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Brazil contains 60 percent of the Amazon basin, which is home to over half of Earth’s remaining rainforests. The Congo in Africa is home to the world’s second largest rainforest.

« Norway to Send Up To US$1 Billion to Brazil for Amazon Rainforest Preservation | HOME | 55 Thousand Flamingos Vanish

Just as Hurricane Ike was about to lash against the southern Bahamian island of Great Inagua its population of flamingos began to disappear.

The Island is popular with tourists and bird watchers who come to marvel at the 60 thousand strong flamingo population.

Before Hurricane Ike hit the Island most of the flock began to evacuate to parts unknown. After the storm 30 flamingos were found dead and officials are hoping a few hundred more survived by seeking refuge in the surrounding Mangrove stands.

All of the Bahamas’ birds disappeared before Hurricane Ike arrived including the Bahamas Parrot and White Crown Pigeons but they soon returned after the hurricane had passed.

The birds returned to a devastated Island of storm blasted trees and plant life. Their normal food supply had been largely destroyed or swept out to sea, making life difficult for the birds until the remaining trees begin to re – bud with fruit and berries.

“The birds are in trouble for the time being,” said Glenn Bannister, of the Bahamas National Trust.

But over 55 thousand flamingos are still missing.

“Some of the flamingos are now reappearing, but it could be one or two years before they get back to their normal nesting pattern,” said Lynn Gape, also of the Bahamas National Trust.

There have been sightings of flamingos in the southern United States, including northern Florida and Mississippi, which do not normally see flamingos. It isn’t known if the origin of the sighted flamingos are from the Bahamas.

“This is the first documented record for flamingos in Mississippi. They are sub tropical birds and just don’t fly this way,” said Mark Lasalle, Director of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center in Moss Point, Mississippi.

Flamingos are particularly sensitive to changes of barometric pressure and often fly to safety to other places when a severe storm approaches their habitat, but they also quickly return to their nesting grounds. But not this time.

Observers worry that the size and force of Hurricane Ike was beyond the flamingo’s ability to survive. Some say, hopefully, that the flamingos might have headed to land areas south of the equator.

Global warming has contributed to increasing the surface temperature of ocean water which is said to have added to the climbing severity of tropical storms. Hurricanes Katrina, Gustaf and Ike are now being considered as the norm for future hurricanes.

Experts are hoping that the Bahamian flamingos have adapted their sensory systems and are fleeing to places of refuge beyond their normal range.

Hurricanes will not turn south and cross the equator as the southern version of hurricanes, cyclones, do not turn north and head across the equatorial weather divide.

Glenn Bannister of the Bahamas National Trust hopes the birds have found refuge in Venezuela or Bonaire and is wishful that they return when their breeding season begins in January.