University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives – The Green Optimistic

Are Biofuel Crops Actually Increasing Carbon Emissions?

Benji Jerew — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 04:16:18 +0000

On the surface, planting biofuels crops might seem to be a good carbon-neutral endeavor, but research indicates quite the opposite. Could growing biofuel crops to fuel your flex-fuel vehicle actually be worse for the environment? A new UW-Madison (University of Wisconsin at Madison) study seems to indicate quite the opposite. The way we see it, […]

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Carbon in Ancient Soil May Exacerbate Climate Change

Leigh Hutchens — Tue, 27 May 2014 02:24:50 +0000

According to scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, soil that was formed on the surface of the Earth and is now buried deep underground has been found to be rich in carbon. This adds an interesting and complex dimension to our world’s carbon cycle. According to the study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, human […]

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Biobulb Glows with Bioluminescent Life!

Benji Jerew — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 16:27:14 +0000

Thomas Edison, who tinkered with hundreds of items for the filament of the first electric light bulb, never considered bacteria as a source of light, as in the Biobulb. We may already be familiar with the humble firefly, angler fish, and even a host of other species that glow in the dark. The phenomenon is […]

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Energy-Efficient Way to Produce Hydrogen from Noise and Vibrations

Mike Sandru — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:18:31 +0000

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found a new way to produce hydrogen by using ambient noise to turn water into usable hydrogen fuel. The process harvests small amounts of waste energy in the form of stray vibrations and noise from the environment to break the chemical bonds in water and generate hydrogen and oxygen.

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