Fuel from grass

This Scientific American article reports on exciting developments in biofuel production from a native North American grass.

Tower of light

"A concrete tower - 40 storeys high - stood bathed in intense white light, a totally bizarre image in the depths of the Andalusian countryside.

The tower looked like it was being hosed with giant sprays of water or was somehow being squirted with jets of pale gas. I had trouble working it out."

Can you guess what it is? It's a solar-thermal power station, focusing beams of reflected sunlight to create steam to drive turbines. Read all about it on the BBC.

Deadly pollutant into energy

In Rwanda, the bottom of Lake Kivu accumulates methane given off by rotting vegetation. If left to build up, this methane, along with carbon dioxide, eventually forms a huge bubble which explodes to the surface, and the gas then settles over the surface, suffocating humans and animals over a huge area. It is estimated two million people are at risk around Lake Kivu. Fortunately, technology exists to extract the methane from under the lake and use it as fuel. Read the whole story on the BBC.