These days, it’s hard not to conclude Mother Nature is deeply pissed off at humanity. The very elements seem to have declared war on us. Wind, Water, Earth, and Fire routinely converge in ecological catastrophes around the globe, bringing whole populations to their knees as they struggle to catch up to the new normal of a changing climate. Here, we spotlight the intrigues of Fire within the fray. Fire plays an important role in global carbon cycling, putting it on the front lines of climate change wherever it occurs.

It’s easy to take sand for granted – until it’s gone, that is. It is the second most important natural resource in the world after water, yet beaches are disappearing right from underneath our feet… When most people think of sand, they think cheap, common and abundant. Sandy sediment doesn’t exactly fit the profile of a hot commodity. And yet, sand sustains livelihoods. It is imported and exported, like any other product.

Did you know that the speed of electricity travels at 186,000 miles per second? Just imagine a huge bolt of lightning crashing to the surface in a blink. Now you know why the DC Comics hero, “The Flash,” moves so quickly. Speaking of thunderstorms, lightning is actually one of the most powerful forms of static electricity. If you’re curious about static electricity, here are some random facts on this shocking matter.

Coal is one of the most important sources of energy in today’s word- both the US and China, the two largest economies, make heavy use of coal as a source of electricity. Coal’s value as a source of power has a price, however- it’s a nonrenewable resource that takes a long time to form. In this post, we’ll talk about the origins of coal, its role in power generation, and other uses for coal.

Air pollution is a major problem in today’s world. Many of us spend every day of our lives breathing in smog without even thinking of the damage it is doing not only to our lungs, but also to the planet. Air pollutants contribute to the rise of global warming, a long-term change in the climate of the planet which will ultimately be harmful, maybe even detrimental, to life on earth.

What is deforestation? Unless you’re an ecologist, you probably don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the fate of the world’s forests, but you probably also don’t realize just how fast the forests on Earth are disappearing. The rate at which trees are being felled for agriculture, manufacturing, and other reasons is quite astounding. The effects of deforestation are massive, adversely impacting biodiversity, the climate, and human life. Here are some facts about deforestation that should make you think twice before you decide to print something out you don’t need to or sign up for a physical newspaper.

**At the end of World War II, American planes dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing and maiming hundreds of thousands.Six years later, four light bulbs in Idaho lit up. Their illumination was fueled by an experimental “breeder” reactor based on the infamous wartime technology used in Japan.As the world’s first generation of electricity from nuclear power, it was the beginning of an era that still persists.

Solar panels are quickly becoming one of the most popular clean-energy options on the market. A study conducted by Forbes proved solar power is the 10th fastest-growing industry in the United States. Despite the hype surrounding this technology, there remains a wealth of solar energy information that is unknown to many. Understanding the solar power facts listed here could be the difference between budget-busting power bills and clean-energy savings. 1. Solar panels are more affordable than ever.

When we use solar panels to capture the sun’s radiation, we are going out of our way to do something the earth already does everywhere around us: capture and store solar energy. In fact, about half the solar radiation that hits our planet ends up in the ground. In this sense, geothermal energy represents a secondary source of sun power. The Earth’s underground layers also harbor the heat of the distant past, beaming out from the flaming core of the planet.

It’s been called a “limitless” source of energy by advocates, and “volcano fracking” by critics - but exactly what is geothermal energy? From the Core of the Planet The term actually defines itself: “geo” refers to earth, and “thermal” means heat. A geothermal power plant extracts heat from deep within the earth. The intense heat from hot magma rises, which boils pools of water buried in crust rock. The water then generates high-temperature steam that spins turbines in a power plant onsite.