Tag: environment

WATER: Don’t Pop Your Top (Twice)

Posted on by Building The World
Microplastics pop out of bottles when opened. Image: “An orange fountain” by Japiot, 2011. Creative Commons0.1.0

Every time you pop open a plastic bottle, a fountain of microplastics enters your beverage. While we have known about microplastics in our water supply, and are developing innovative filters to catch them, a new source of contamination has been revealed.

When you pop open the cap on a plastic bottle, microplastics pop out into the air – and into your beverage and food. Image by MKFI, 2014. Public Domain

Imagine meeting a friend on a hot summer day. The heat is intense. You turn into the closest convenience store and purchase a chilled bottle of water. Your buddy opts for a fruit drink. Returning outside, you unscrew the little cap and take a long swig. Refreshing!

Pick up a sandwich, but don’t pick up extra microplastics as an unknown condiment. Image: “Guangdong East Metro Station” by MPCROOYW GROAHMOIOE, 2024. Public Domain.

Later, you decide to pick up lunch to enjoy in a nearby park for a picnic. Eagerly, you both open your food packaging, re-open your beverages, and settle in for some prime people watching as you sip and quip.

Food Packaging Forum study revealed findings: every time you open a plastic bottle or unwrap food packaged in plastic, you release micro and nano plastics into your food. Image: Public Domain.

But – did you know that every time you unscrew the cap on plastic bottle an invisible spray of nano and micro plastics cascades into your beverage?  Or that the mere act of unwrapping a sandwich sprinkles an unseen, toxic condiment? The Food Packaging Forum in Switzerland released findings of a study examining effects of repetitive uncapping bottles and unwrapping food encased in protective plastic. It’s a warning to pop once, but not repeatedly.

Early water packaging. “New River Water” by Marceluss Laroon, 1687. Creative Commons Public Domain.

Sadly, microplastics have been detected in the oceans, mountains, and some of the world’s most pristine waterways like Loch Lomond and Ullswater Lake in England’s beautiful Lake District. London’s Thames River registered 84.1 microplastic elements per liter of water. When the New River was developed in 1609 to bring fresh water to the burgeoning metropolis of London, neither King James I nor Hugh Myddleton (any relation to the Princess of Wales?) intended for the new waterway to bring anything but health and beauty. The system still supplies water to London, but now there may be a reason to refine and renew the waterway.

Microplastics that have penetrated cytoplasm of MH-22a hepatocyte cells in human body. Image by Denis Karimov and Iana Valova, 2023. Creative Commons 4.0.

Scientists have known that plastic used in dietary prep and packaging leaches toxic chemicals into food and beverages. Microplastics found in the carotid arteries of consumers made those people twice as likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes. Microplastics have also been found in human brains, maternal milk, and even some penises. Above, you can see the image of microplastics that penetrated the cytoplasm of a human cell.

The average one liter bottle contains more than just water. Image: Jusotil, 2018. Creative Commons0 1.0: public domain.

The average 1 liter plastic beverage bottle (or the same amount at two bottled waters sold at a convenience store for personal consumption) contains 240, 000 plastic particles: 90% nano and 10% micro plastic.

Carry a metal (or glass) beverage bottle. If you purchase water in a plastic bottle, open it just once – to pour into your safer container. Image: “Metal water bottles” by Amraepowell, 2012. Public Domain.

So, if plastic is ubiquitous, what can you do?

  1. Don’t pop that top – more than once. Carry a metal (or glass) beverage container and, after opening that nice chilled drink you just purchased, pour the beverage into your vessel and recycle the plastic bottle.
  2. Sandwich? Ask for plain paper wrapping, if available.
  3. Never microwave anything in plastic or put it in the dishwasher: heat causes more leaching.
  4. Bring your own utensils, neatly tucked in your bag, instead of accepting plastic cutlery when enjoying take-out.
  5. Take-home? Bring your own container to load your leftovers.
Add your voice! Image: “Giving Voice to Values” by Sonia Melendez, Ethics Unwrapped, 2014. Creative Commons 3.0.

Get involved in change. Explore current laws regulating plastics design and reuse. Participate in the next round of agreements leading to a Global Plastics Treaty, joining those from 175 countries meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, August 5-14, 2025, to refine and advance a legally-binding instrument to address plastic pollution. Here, you can add your voice to those calling to end plastic pollution with a global treaty.

Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide. https://elaw.org

Food Packaging Forum Foundation. https://foodpackagingforum.org

Global Plastic Laws. “A Mandate for a UN Plastics Treaty.” https://www.globalplasticlaws.org/un-global-plastics-treaty

LaMotte, Sandee. “Microplastics shed by food packaging are contaminating our food and drink.” 24 June 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/24/health/microplastics-food-packaging-study-wellness

Marfella, Raffaele, et al., “Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events. 6 March 2024. New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 390, No. 10. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2309822

Plastic Pollution Coalition. https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org

Plastics Industry Association. https://www.plasticsindustry.org

Sharma, Brij Mohan, Jane Muncke, Justin Boucher, Lisa Zimmerman. “Complementing global chemicals management through shaping consumer behavior.” May 2025. iScience 28(6): 112700. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391885394_Complementing_global_chemicals_management_through_shaping_consumer_behavior

United Nations. “Global Plastics Treaty: 2025.” https://www.un.org/pga/73/plastics/

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

ENERGY: Waste to Energy – Bug Fix?

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“Food Waste Can Be A Valuable Resource” graphic by US Environmental Protection Agency, 2009. Public Domain.

Can a bug fix help food waste?

Food waste from homes, grocery stores, restaurants, and dining services – over 1 billion tons annually – ends up in landfills. Some is composted or used in other ways, but much ends in waste with China, India, and the US generating the most. Once in a landfill, wasted food emits carbon into the atmosphere, especially in the form of methane. Diverting food to feed those in need is one path; when past edible status, composting is another.

“Food waste in a dumpster in Luxembourg” by OpenIDUser2, 2013. Public Domain.

From the Eiffel Tower, the view includes cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and boutique grocery stores. A gourmet nation, France banned grocery store food waste, requiring by law in 2016 that stores donate edible food. Norway pledged to reduce food waste by working with groceries to discount or donate before “sell by” dates; Denmark followed suit. Japan, with little space for landfills – the fate of much wasted food – created a national food bank, supported by a new law requiring food recycling, and included lessons on food waste in the national educational system. In the US, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont developed no-landfill policies, introducing waste management systems and composting services.

Black Soldier Fly (LHermetia illucens) on a Rose. By photographer Archaedontosaurus, 2013. Creative Commons 4.0.

But more is needed. Enter the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). These critters have a hearty appetite and an impressive digestive track that can transform food waste into material for animal feed, prebiotics, cosmetics, and soil-amendment fertilizer, biogas, and even biohydrogen now in development- all from their own waste, termed “frass.” (Interested in that term? “Frass” derives from German “Fressen” meaning to eat with a certain style resembling gusto.)

Hydrogen discharge tube by Alchemist, 2006. Creative Commons 3.0.

In the US, several projects tested the little soldier fly as part of the Fertilizer Production and Expansion Program (FPEP). Oregon’s Chapul Farms introduced the approach in their closed-loop agriculture program in partnership with Tainable: Regenerative Agricultural Laboratory. Mississippi State University’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences assessed the approach, noting that BSFL mate and multiply quickly.

Black Soldier Flies mate well and often. Image: “Mating” by Rolf Dietrich Brecher, 2015. Creative Commons 2.0.

Ethicists raise issues regarding insect farming, an industry worth $1.18 billion in 2023. Mealworms and crickets are commonly raised to be sold directly as food or for producing animal feed; pulverized insect powder is used in breads and protein bars. But BSFL may be different because the insects are not consumed, but rather fed. It is their by-product, frass, that is used; not them. Still, there is production on an industrial scale. What is your view?

“Ethics” by Teodoraturovic, 2016. Creative Commons 4.0

A bug fix might be part of the future of food, sustainability, energy, and farm regeneration. Black Soldier Fly’s favorite snack? Rice with coconut milk or a serving of Mango with Coconut Cream Sticky Rice, a specialty during the month of March in Thailand – a dish so delicious there are rarely left-overs, but when there are…

Mango with Coconut Cream Sticky Rice, a Thai treat. Photo by Dennis Wong, 2009. Creative Commons 2.0.

Chapul Farms. https://www.chapulfarms.com

France. “Anti-Waste Law” official text (in English). https://emf.thirdlight.com/file/24/kLSzgopkL.2CJxQkLb3XkLQlS7_/Case%20Studies%20-%20French%20Anti%20Waste%20Law.pdf

Food Hero. “5 countries leading the fight to end food waste.” 2025. https://www.foodhero.com/en/blogs/countries-fighting-food-waste

Ganesan, A. R., et al., “Food waste-derived black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larval resource recovery: A circular bioeconomy approach.” April 2024. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. Volume 184, pages 170-189. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095758202400109

Lipton, Miranda. “The little bug with a big appetite turning organic waste into sustainable fertiliser.” 4 February 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250130-the-little-bug-with-a-big-appetite-turning-organic-waste-into-sustainable-fertiliser

McCafferty, Hugo. “Which countries have laws against food waste?” 4 April 2022. Fine Dining Lovers. https://www.finedininglovers.com/explore/articles/food-answers-which-countries-have-laws-against-food-waste

Moscato, Emily M. and Madison Cassel. “Eating Bugs on Purpose: Challenges and Opportunities in Adapting Insects as a Sustainable Protein.” 2019. Sage Publication Business Cases: Sustainability Series. https://sk.sagepub.com/cases/eating-bugs-challenges-opportunities-insects-sustainable-protein

Tainable: Regenerative Agricultural Laboratory. https://www.tainablelabs.com

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

 

 

SPACE: Critical Minerals – Land, Sea…or Space

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Land, sea, or space – where is the best place to mine critical minerals? Image: “Three Globes” by Alex Carmona, 2001. Public Domain, with appreciation.

Land, Sea, or Space – the search for critical minerals has increased in importance, and value, with the advent of renewable energy technologies requiring mineral-dependent battery storage. This week, Ukraine and the United States were about to finalize a deal for access to Ukraine’s critical minerals as spoils of war, with an unclear promise of protection stating “we’ll be looking to future security later on” (Butenko 2025). Ukraine holds about 5% of the planet’s land-based critical minerals including 19 million tonnes of graphite, essential for batteries powering electric vehicles, as well as one-third of all European deposits of lithium, another battery essential. It should be noted that Ukraine’s President Zelensky opened up the topic for discussion several months ago when the US administration appeared to be swinging into a more transactional stance; the deal appears to be in question, following a meeting on 28 February 2025. World Economic Forum reports Ukraine has 20,000 mineral deposit sites with only 15% yet tapped.

There are three places where minerals and metals can be obtained: land, sea, and – now – space. All three have problems, and potential, but some say space mining may be the least destructive.

Chuquicamata mine, Chile: largest open pit copper mine in the world. Photograph by Diego Delso, 2016. CC by- SA. With appreciation.

Land mining for minerals like cobalt or copper, for example, inflicts environmental damage, affects First Nation or Indigenous people on whose land such mining often occurs, and adversely influences public health. In some mining areas, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, human rights violations are a concerning problem.

Seabed mining would cause yet-unknown destruction to the marine environment. Print of sea anemone (Actiniaria) by Giacomo Merculiano, 1893. Pubic Domain, with appreciation.

Seabed mining may pose even greater environmental damage. Mining always involves explosives and massive disruption. It’s bad enough on land, but what will happen when explosions and digging by autonomous robotic bulldozers hack open the deep seabed’s polymetallic nodules to harvest cobalt, nickel, and other critical minerals? How far will ocean current carry and spread debris? And, which victor would own the spoils? The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) assigns the right to exploit mineral resources only to a set point for coastal nations. Everything beyond 200 nautical miles belongs to everyone: it is the blue commons. Managed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), seabed mining is advancing: contracts moving from exploration to exploitation are in development. There is cause for concern. So, if land and seabed pose environmental, economic, health, and political problems, what’s left? Look up.

Asteroids contain an abundance of critical minerals: advocates of space mining point out that no environmental damage to (known) habitat would occur. Image: “Comparative sizes of eight asteroids by NASA, JPL-Caltech/JAXA/ESA. 2011. Public Domain with appreciation.

Space mining may offer access to critical minerals without disturbing land, or sea. Asteroids contain an abundance of cobalt, copper, graphite, iron, nickel, platinum, and rare earth elements, among others. Japan’s space agency JAXA recently obtained asteroid samples for analysis. China will launch Tianwen-2 to explore asteroid 2016HO3, and then visit the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. United Arab Emirates plans a similar trip in 2028. NASA in the US scooped material from Bennu and will visit Psyche in 2029 to sample the metals worth $10,000 quadrillion – more than the entire global economy.

OSIRIS-REx was the first US spacecraft to return samples from an asteroid. Image: NASA, 2011. Public domain, with appreciation.

While governments have resources for launches and collections (it cost NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, Asteroid Sample Return Mission, $800 million), private enterprise may play a role. Early entrant Planetary Resources failed to launch, as did Deep Space Industries. New companies like US-based TransAstra and China’s Origin Space are developing space mining. But the first place runner may be AstroForge. Founded by Jose Acain and Matt Gialich, the company’s strategy is to launch a patented mini-refinery that can perform mineral extraction while in space, and return to Earth only the valuable material from metallic (M-type) asteroids. Set for launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on a SpaceX Falcon 9, AstroForge’s “Odin” will travel to Asteroid 2022 OB5, about 403,000 miles (649,000 kilometers) from Earth to examine what is expected to be a M-type asteroid rich with platinum.

Asteroids identified by NASA’s Near-Earth Objects search: now over 18,000 with a discovery rate of 40 more per week. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech, 2018. Public domain with appreciation.

Which is preferable: mining critical minerals from land, sea, or space? The first two surely have environmental and political problems. The third may cause space debris, a different kind of environmental issue. But, as space policy attorney Paul  Stimers observed: “We are removing a rock from something that has no life, no ecology, no indigenous people – none of the downsides of traditional mining.” Legal concerns involve law firms like Stimer’s Holland & Knight or the Duchy of Luxembourg where many space exploration private companies register. Global legal frameworks are spare. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 mentions only countries, but not private enterprise. The Convention on International Liability for Damage caused by Space Objects, implemented in 1972 , considers space debris. But who owns asteroids? Apparently, anyone who can get there – and back.

Abdurasulov, Abdujalil and Robert Plummer. “What minerals does Ukraine have and what are they used for?” 26 February 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20le8jn282o

AstroForge. https://www.astroforge.com

Brooke, K. Lusk. “Renewing Minerals – New Energy Paradigm.” Building the World Blog. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/year-2024-renewing-mineals-new-energy-paradigm/

Brooke, K. Lusk. “Speedo Diplomacy and Buried Treasure: Deep Sea Mining and Marine Protected Areas.” Renewing the World: Casebook for Leadership in Water. 2024. ISBN: 979-8-985035957. https://renewingtheworld.com

Brooke, K. Lusk. “SPACE: Bienvenu, Bennu – Rock Star.” 23 September 2023. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/2023/09/25/space-bienvenu-bennu-rock-star/

Butenko, Victoria, Nick Paton Walsh, and Gul Tuysuz. “US and Ukraine agree to terms on natural resources and reconstruction deal, Ukrainian official says.” 26 February 2025. CNN. https://cnn.com/2025/02/25/europe/us-ukraine-resources-reconstruction-deal-intl-latam/index.html

Gunia, Amy. “Minerals are in short supply on Earth. This startup wants to mine asteroids.” 23 April 2024. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/world/astroforge-asteroid-mining-nasa-spc-scn?

Holland & Knight. https://www.hklaw.com

NASA. “OSIRIS-REx, Asteroid Sample Return Mission.” 2016. https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/0siris-rex_press_kit_0.pdf

Saltman, Max, Katharina Krebs, and Matthew Chance. “Russia says it’s open to economic cooperation with US on rare earth minerals and energy.” 24 February 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/europe/putin-russia-us-cooperation-economy-rare-earths-intl-latam?

United Nations. Office for Outer Space Affairs. “Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.” 1972. http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introliability-convention.html

United Nations. “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.” 1967. https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/isn/5181.htm

Wattles, Jackie. “A tiny spacecraft is poised to launch on an unprecedented deep-space mission.” 25 February 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/science/astroforge-asteroid-mining-spacex-launch?

Xinhua. “China to launch Tianwen-2 mission to explore asteroid.” 25 April 2023. CNSA. https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c10003702/content.html

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

LAND/WATER: Mountains, Rivers, Rights

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Taranaki Maunga is now a legal person with environmental protection. Photograph of Mt Taranaki, 2006, by Ppe42-commonswiki, public domain.

Taranaki Maunga, or Mount Taranaki (formerly known as Mt. Egmont when the original name was changed by colonialists), is sacred to the Māori of New Zealand. Now, that landmark, snow-capped volcano second highest in New Zealand at 8,261 feet (2,518 meters), has achieved legal personhood. With the ruling this month, Taranaki Maunga’s empowerment law – Te Kāhui Tupua – will be safeguarded by a four member team appointment by the Conservation Ministry.

Whanganui River achieved legal personhood in 2017. Photograph by James Shook, 2005. Creative Commons 2.5.

Taranaki Maunga joins the Whanganui River, New Zealand body of water recognized as a legal person in 2017. Three years earlier, Te Urewera, a forest on North Island, achieved legal personhood status.

“Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie.” Photograph by Robert K. Grubbs, edited by Holly Cheng. Public Domain.

While New Zealand might be the first country to recognize special areas of nature as people, it is not alone. Bolivia declared the legal rights of nature in 2010, and in the US, Lake Erie proposed protection and rights.

Image: “Map -1844,” British Library HMNTS 10480.e.21. Public Domain.

This era of climate change, and in some countries the executive orders renaming of mountains and bodies of water, can the sustainability and health of critical natural resources achieve greater protection through establishing rights of nature? For example, should rivers in drought locations receive legal protection? Is there an area of natural resources near you that merits protection for sustainability?

Colorado River declared tier levels for water allotments during drought. The transboundary water source involves US, México, and many sovereign tribal nations like the Navajo. Should the Colorado River be considered for legal personhood? Image: “Horseshoe Bend, Colorado River” by Charles Wang, 2023. Creative Commons 4.0.

Associated Press. “A New Zealand mountain has been granted personhood.” 30 January 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/30/travel/mount-taranaki-personhood-new-zealand-intl-hnk

Brooke, K. Lusk. “Database of Water Laws.” Renewing the World: Water. 2024. ISBN: 979898503591951799. See also website for FREE DOWNLOAD of database. https://renewingtheworld.com/files/samples/Renewing-The-World-Water-Database-Laws.pdf

Brooke, K. Lusk. “Voice of the Future 2019: Nature.” https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/annual-voices-of-the-future-award/voice-of-the-future-2019-nature/

Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia. “Ley de Derechos de La Madre Tierra.” 2010. https://www.scribd.com/document/44900268/Ley-de-Derechos-de-la-Madre-Tierra-Estado-Plurinacional-de-Bolivia

Lake Erie Bill of Rights. “Drewes Farm Partnership and State of Ohio v City of Toledo.” Case No. 3:19 CV 434. 02/27/20 Page ID #822. https://www.utoledo.edu/law/academics/lil/pdf/2019/Lake-Erie-Bill-of-Rights-GLWC-2019.pdf

Stone, C. Should Trees Have Standing? Law, Morality, and the Environment. 3rd edition 2010. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978199736072

Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement Bill). 20 March 2017. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2017/0007/latest/whole.html

US and México. “Utilization of the Waters of the Colorado River and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grand between the United States of America and México. 3 February 1944. https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g1000/lawofrvr.html

US Department of the Interior. “Review of the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead: Upper and Lower Colorado Basin Regions.” December 2020. https://www.usbr.gov/ColoradoRiverBasin/documents/7.D.Review_FinalReport_12-18-2020.pdf

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

ENERGY: The Floor That Knows You’ve Been There

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Dancing in a club may generate electricity – in more ways than one – and now data, too. Image: “How to Moonwalk like Michael Jackson” by Allan Watson, 2020. Creative Commons 4.0; included with appreciation.

Dancing in a club? Strolling to class? Hurrying across a hospital lobby? Running an indoor track at your gym? Entering a transit station on your commute? You could be generating electricity – and data.

Boston’s South Station circa 1900. From a postcard, artist unknown: courtesy of South Station. Public Domain.

Boston’s transport nexus, venerable South Station, has seen many a commuter step across its hallowed floors since opening in 1899. Terminus of public transportation on the Central Artery, South Station lit up when MIT students James Graham and Thaddeus Jusczyk demonstrated a piezoelectric floor with kinetic tiles generating both electricity and data in the transport hub welcoming 75,000 T-riders daily.

Pavegen installed kinetic floors in the West Ham Tube Station during the London 2012 Olympics: visitors’ footsteps generated electricity to light the station. Image: “Olympic stadium and The Orbit: Opening Ceremony” by Alexander Kachkaev, 2020. Creative Commons 2.0. Included with appreciation.

During London’s 2012 Olympics, some visitors marveled at London Bridge, and then headed for the Games, accessed via the West Ham Tube Station. There, a piezoelectric floor designed by Laurence Kemball-Cook, then a student at Loughborough University, generated electricity from footfalls of arriving visitors to illuminate the station. Kemball-Cook soon started a company called Pavegen Systems that designs floors for high traffic environments like sports stadiums.

In Rotterdam, dancers can generate electricity in some clubs. Will the transit station, pictured here, follow suit? Photo: “Rotterdam Centraal Station” by Spoorjan, 2014. Creative Commons. Included with appreciation.

In the Netherlands‘ shipping hub of Rotterdam, Club Watt commissioned Energy Floors to install kinetic flooring in its dance club. Result? Electricity bills decreased by 30%. Will the transport station (pictured above) install piezoelectric floors, too?

Marie and Pierre Curie used piezoelectricity in their Nobel Prize work. The electric phenomenon had just been discovered by Pierre and brother Jacques. Image: “Marie et Pierre Curie” in 1900 in their Paris lab. Public Domain.

Piezoelectricity (a term coined by Wilhelm Gottlieb Hankel in 1881 from the Greek “to squeeze or press”) refers to release of an electric charge found in materials such as crystals or ceramics. A year before, Jacques and Pierre Curie discovered the effect using cane sugar, Rochelle salt, quartz, topaz, and tourmaline. Marie and Pierre Curie, Nobel Laureates (and the first married couple to win the prize jointly) used piezoelectricity in their work on radium with Henri Becquerel.

What if you could charge your phone by walking? University of Birmingham, UK, installed a kinetic floor that powers students’ phones and computers. Image: “Charging smartphone” by Santeri Viinamāki, 2016. Creative Commons 4.0. Included with appreciation.

Uses for electricity generated by kinetic flooring are varied. UK’s University of Birmingham found students were constantly having to charge their phones. When they installed a floor (designed by Pavegen), the steps students walked generated enough power for phone charging.  Pavegen also developed a digital app with “redeem or donate” options for energy currency: users can claim benefits to special events or support causes. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour (MOTS: 2022-2025) now travels with a portable dance floor composed of 44 kinetic tiles made from recycled plastic.

Chris Martin of Coldplay during MOTS World Tour that also features a kinetic piezoelectric dancefloor. Photo: Stevie Rae Gibbs, 2022. Creative Commons 4.0. Included with appreciation.

Best installed during initial or refurbished construction, kinetic floors may provide a new source of energy for high traffic environments like schools, sports and entertainment venues, office buildings, hospitals, and – of course – dance floors.

Floors that generate electricity and data may see you, know you were there – and why. Image: Rapidreflex, 2023. Creative Commons 4.0. Included with appreciation.

Another option? Tracking. Adding wireless communication devices uses only 1% of the power generated to transmit collected data. Floors of the future may see you, know you were there – and why.

Brooke, K. Lusk. “Dancing (and Walking) in the Light.” 23 October 2015. Building the World Blog. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/2015/10/23/dancing-and-walking-in-the-light/

Energy Floors. https://energy-floors.com/coldplay/

Hopkins, Emily. “Kinetic Flooring.” 1 October 2024. National Energy Foundation. https://nef.org.uk/kinetic-flooring-steps-in-the-right-direction/

Kemball-Cook, Laurence. “Pavegen CEO Laurence Kemball-Cook speaks with BBC London News about the importance of climate technologies at London Tech Week.” 15 June 2023. https://www.pavegen.com/blog/pavegen-ceo-on-bbc-news-at-london-tech-week

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). “People-powered ‘Crowd Farm?’ Plan Would Harvest Energy of Human Movement.” 1 August 2007. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070731085144.htm

Pavegen. https://www.pavegen.com

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

CITIES: Fire and Future – How to HELP

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Can you offer a helping hand to those affected by the California wildfires? Find information and resources here.  Photo “A Helping Hand” by Damian Gadel, Creative Commons 2.0.

Wildfires are increasing in severity with drought. California began 2025 with a conflagration in the Los Angeles area accelerated by high winds. In 2024, across the United States, over 61,000 fires burned more than 8,000,000 acres.

“Fire” animation by Nevit, 2008. Creative Commons 3.0.

Globally, wildfires observed by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) not only destroyed land, particularly in North and South America, but emitted 1,940 megatonnes of carbon monoxide, and deadly particulate matter. While the first response to a wildfire is saving lives, and then homes and businesses, the impact on air pollution is also an important factor.

Wildfire smoke generates smoke and particulate mattter damaging to people, animals, and environment. Image: “Aerial View of Smoke Hovering Over North Carolina HIghway 264 leading to National Wildlife Refuge” in 2011, photographer Scott Lanier, USFWS. Creative Commons 2.0

With climate change, planetary warming, and increasing drought, fires will be a problem well into the future. What are some ways we can defend and protect against wildfires?

Xeriscaping saves water and stops fire. Image: “Los Angeles Air Force Base xeriscaping” by AF_SMC, 2015. Public Domain.

Defensible Space: our modern day lawns are the result of medieval fire defense. Castles were surrounded by fields: in order to spot encroaching enemies who might attack or set fire to grasses and plants, lords of the manor required areas around the castle be scythed. Cut grass became an upper class symbol that gave us modern day lawns. But according to FEMA guidelines for wildland/urban interface construction, defensible space can be improved. Southern Nevada Water Authority recently passed the first ever permanent law against “non-functional turf” – no more lawns after 2027. Landscaping designers might offer xeriscaping, saving water and protecting against fire.

Residents of Los Angeles commute due to urban sprawl in the city and surrounding areas. Image: “Highway 110 Los Angeles” by Giuseppe Milo, 2016. Creative Commons 3.0. Included with appreciation.

Housing Shortages and Urban Expansion: California leads the Western United States in building in locations with high risk for fire, but Utah is second, followed by Colorado and Arizona. Wildland/Urban Interface is the term: California is an example, building 10,000 homes in the last decade in areas prone to wildfire. Urban sprawl also leads to traffic congestion as workers commute into the city from far-flung locations in order to afford housing. Solutions to housing must be part of future municipal planning, particularly when new housing areas are developed in fire or flood zones.

“California Water System” by Shannon1, 2010. Creative Commons 3.0. Included with appreciation.

Water Infrastructure: In times of drought, water scarcity can lead to difficult decisions about how to allocate water. California’s residential population uses only 10% of the state’s water: agriculture drains far more. Should crops like almonds that require large amounts of water be subject to special taxing?

“Official Seal of the California Department of Insurance,” 2015. Public Domain.

Insurance: An estimated 16,500 properties have been lost so far, in the Palisades and Eaton fires that consumed 38,000 acres to date: the Kenneth and Hurst fires are yet to be tallied. The Insurance Information Institute reported some companies had stopped issuing new homeowner policies, responding to a California requirement that insurance companies must hold certain reserves. University of California Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment observed that profitability for existing companies will be severely restricted. Some homeowners resorted to California’s FAIR plan, insurer of last resort, but even that resource is now threatened. Globally, the insurance industry is increasingly denying payouts for rebuilding in zones with repeated losses.

“London Bridge Fire of 1632” by unknown artist, circa 1660. Public Domain.

Building Materials: wood has been a preferred material for structures because of its strength and availability. But the history of London Bridge might send a warning: the span was crossed by timbers during Roman times. But in 1176 King Henry II selected Peter de Colechurch to construct, next to the existing wooden span, a stone bridge. London Bridge burned again in 1632. Today, roof coverings, siding, decks, and houses should be built with noncombustible or fire-resistant materials. Windows and attic vents pose vulnerabilities unless specifically protected, because once breached, these apertures can allow fire to enter a dwelling.  Top five fire-resistant building materials are: fire-resistant glass for windows; concrete for structures, especially new formulations of Insulating Concrete Form (ICF); stucco made of Portland cement, sand, and lime; gypsum board for drywall; and brick or stone.

Community counts, especially during times of disaster. Image: “People holding hands” by Cieresek, 2016. Creative Commons 4.0. Included with appreciation.

Community: Help those affected by fire, loss of home by contributing to community outreach including free Airbnb options, hotels helping the homeless, and even free showers at gyms like Planet Fitness. Find giving and helping opportunities to help those in need. 

Allen, Greg. “California’s wildfires may also be catastrophic for its insurance market.” 13 January 2025. NPR. AUDIO. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/13/nxs1-5256381/californias-wildfires-insurace-market

Brooke, K. Lusk. “River Real(i)ty: Drought, fire, future habitats.” Case # 3. Renewing the World: Casebook for Leadership in Water. ISBN: 9798985035957. https://renewingtheworld.com

Clayton, Abené. “LA fires forecast to be costliest blaze in US history with estimate of over $200bn in losses.” The Guardian. 13 January 2025. https://www.theguardiancom/us-news/2025/jan/13/la-fires-wildfire-economic-losses

Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). “Wildfires 2024.” VIDEO. https://youtu.be/TEMMcNEI6Io and http://atmosphere.copernicus.edu/cams-global-wildfires-review-2024-harsh-year-americas

Davidson, Frank P. and K. Lusk Brooke. “London Bridge” Volume One, Chapter 8. Building the World. 2006. ISBN: 0313333734.

FEMA. “Home Builder’s Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones: Technical Fact Sheet Series.” https://wildfiretoday.com/documents/FEMA_home_builders_guide_wildfire_zones.pdf

Hughes, Amy R. and Mark Powers. “How to Build a Fireproof Home.” This Old House. https://www.thisoldhouse.com/natural-disasters/21015405/how-to-build-a-fireproof-home

National Centers for Environmental Information. “Annual 2024 Wildfires Report.” January 2025. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/monthly-report/fire/202413

Priceonomics and Cape Analytics. “The Wildfire West: Where house sprawl and wildfire-prone areas collide.” 2020. https://priceonomics.com/the-wildfire-west-where-housing-sprawl-and/

Renewing the World: Water. Database of Water Laws. FREE Download. https://renewingtheworld.com/files/samples/Renewing-The-World-Water-Database-Laws.pdf

Singer, Gabe. “Owners of a fire-resistant house in LA hope city rebuilds smarter.” MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/owners-of-a-fire-resistant-house-in-la-hope-city-builds-smarter/

Southern Nevada Water Authority. Assembly Bill No 356, 22 March 2021. https://www.leg.state.nv/us/Session/81st2021/Bills/AB/AB356_R1.pdf

Appreciation to Evan T. Litwin for contributing research.

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

TRANSPORT: COP29 – It’s About Time

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Passage of the sun determines day, night, and time. Trains gave us time zones. Image: “Sun Animation” by Sfls4309pks and Trekky0623/The Flat Earth Society. Creative Commons 4.0.

As the sun rises and sets, the resulting diurnal rhythm is what we call time. Before the world became connected through high speed transport, local towns set their own clocks. Noon was determined by the high point of sun in the sky: so, noon in Boston might be a bit different from noon in Baltimore, and certainly different from noon in Boise. There were 144 varied “time zones” in North America in the 1880s.

US Transcontinental Railroad used little papers called “flimsies” to alert track workers of coming trains. Time zones soon followed. Image: Transcontinental workers by photographer Andrew Russell, 1869. Public Domain.

Trains changed the world in many ways including time. When the US built the Transcontinental Railroad, collisions on tracks were avoided by runners sent ahead with reports of trains arriving. Using lightweight paper, warnings were called “flimsies” – not too reassuring when the safety of passengers was at stake.

Early rail tracks were laid to haul coal from mines. Image: “Mine Cart” by photographer LoKiLeCh from Berlin Technikmuseum Holzbahn. 2010. Creative Commons 3.0

British rail, emerging from wooden (and then iron) tracks making it easier to convey coal from mines to waiting barges, may have begun the rail era, but it took until 1847 for British rail companies to adopt one time schema across the rail system. It was called “Railway Time.”

Canadian Pacific Railway built snow tunnels and snow galleries (pictured above) to keep working through winter. Canadian Pacific Surveyor Sanford Fleming introduced the idea of time zones, and changed the world. Image: “Snow Gallery at Crested Peak,” by Carleton Watkins, 1868. Public Domain.

Canadian rail surveyor Sanford Fleming, who worked on the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway, that brought the idea of time zones to the world. Fleming proposed four time zones for North America: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. The idea changed a continent and then the world.

Concept of a prime meridian predates the 18 November 1883 International Prime Meridian Conference that chose Greenwich as the center of the time cycle. Here, a 1595 illustration by Gerardus Mercator. Courtesy Library of Congress. Public Domain.

On 18 November 1883, Fleming’s system brought the world together for the International Prime Meridian Conference in Washington DC in one of the most important global agreements. Greenwich Meridian was chosen as the “zero” center of longitude, and set the sounding note upon which the harmony of world time became based. Can we agree upon climate goals and timeline, now?

“Analog Clock Animation” by Jahobr. Public Domain.

Noon, 18 November 1883 became known by a special name. Why? At noon that day, all rail stations set their clocks according to the new Prime Meridian system adopted. But because most town clocks and sundials at the stations may have already passed noon, or were about to based on the overhead sun, those systems also hit their mark. So, 18 November 1883 became known in history as the “Day of Two Noons.”

Swatch introduced Internet time – a day has 1000 beats and we all keep that beat at the same time. Image: Swatch Blancpain 0319 by photographer Rama. Creative Commons 2.0.

While the world still works on Fleming’s idea, modern communication systems – a form of transport – like the Internet sparked a new time concept. Swatch watch maker proposed each day be portioned by “beats” as the rhythm of time and perhaps a certain bow to musical time signatures. Internet time has 1000 beats: each lasts 1 minute and 26.4 seconds. Its central meridian was located in Swatch’s office in Biel, Switzerland. They called it BMT (Biel Mean Time). Going beyond Fleming’s view of the world, BMT or Internet time does not have zones: we’re all online simultaneously – on the same beat.

Doomsday Clock, as portrayed in the graphic novel “Watchmen.” Illustration by Kigsz, 2012. Creative Commons 3.0.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) has lately been the new standard, coordinating time zones with the Earth’s rotation. International Atomic Time (TAI) combines the readings of 400 atomic clocks. Universal Time (UT1) is astronomical time based on the Earth’s rotation: it’s related to the International Meridian Conference’s system, and remains the standard. Another clock we all might watch carefully (see above) is the Doomsday Clock.

As the world meets in Baku for COP29, can we agree on goals? It’s about time. Image: “Baku at noon with vertical shadows indicating precise time of noon,” by Alexey Bogolyubov, 1861. Public Domain.

If the world can agree on time zones, can we hope that we will now find a way to agree upon climate goals and justice? It’s about time.

Brooke, K. Lusk. “Day of Two Noons.” 18 November 2022. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/2022/11/18/transport-day-of-two-noons/

Brown, Lynn. “How railroads inspired the creation of time zones.” 18 November 2024. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20241115-how-railroads-inspired-the-creation-of-time-zones

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. “2024 Doomsday Clock Announcement,” 23 January 2024. https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/

COP29. https://cop29.az/en/home

Davidson, Frank P. and K. Lusk Brooke. “The Transcontinental Railroad,” pages 205-218; and “The Canadian Pacific Railway,” pages  253-287. Building the World. Greenwood, 2006.

International Prime Meridian Conference. For the founding document: https://greenwichmeantime.com

New York Times. “Turning Back the Hands: A Quiet Change to the Standard Time.” 18 November 1883. Digital reproduction of text: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5748

Terrell, Ellen. “The Day of Two Noons.” January 2021. Library of Congress. https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/november/day-of-two-noons

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

ENERGY: UNESCO Peat Protection

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Scotland’s Flow Country Peatland is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image: “Wetland in the Flow Country” by Andrew Tryon, 2017. Creative Commons 2.0. With appreciation.

Peatlands occupy only 3% of global terrain, yet hold more than 30% of land-based carbon. But when harvested (for fuel or industrial use), peat releases ten times more greenhouse gases – including powerful methane – than cut forests. Another danger when peat is cut: wildfires. Disturbing peat punctures holes in connected bogs, triggering a drying process that too often leads to conflagrations.

Cut peatlands quickly dry surrounding bogland, often resulting in wildfires. Image: “Borneo fires and smoke from burning peatland, 2002” by Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team of NASA/GSFC. Public domain. With appreciation.

How to protect peat has become one of the quests of our era. Scotland, abundant in peat, may lead the way. The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is home to one of the world’s most important peat bogs stretching 469,500 acres (2,000 square kilometers). In addition to the Flow’s carbon sequestration benefits, the peatland is also home to wildlife including otters, voles, and the aerial balletic hen harrier birds.

Harriers and Plovers live in protected Flow Country Forsinard Preserve, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, 2004. Creative Commons 2.0. With appreciation.

Scotland’s government policies allow purchase of land, including peatlands, and also may provide reimbursement (up to 80%) of bog regeneration costs. After the peatland is certified as renewed, carbon credits may follow. Fast-fashion mogul Anders Holch Polvsen purchased 200,000 acres of peatlands adjoining stately manor houses with a plan for new enterprise “Wildland” offering ecotourism. One of the homes: Glenfeshie, may be familiar to Netflix viewers as site of “The Crown.”

Glenfeshie, featured in “The Crown,” is now part of an eco-tourism program preserving peatlands. Image: “The Crown,” fair use. With appreciation.

Speaking of royalty, King Charles visited Flow peatland recently to dedicate Scotland’s Flow peat bog as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The program preserves significant world treasures such as the Eiffel Tower and the Place de la Concorde (now hosting the 2024 Summer Olympics), but only 121 landscapes have achieved such recognition. Other landscapes thus protected include the Great Barrier Reef, and Galapagos Islands.

Here is a map of the world’s peatlands. What can you do to help protect these global treasures, so important in our time of climate change? Image: “PeatMap” by Jiren Xu, et al., 2017. Creative Commons 4.0. With appreciation.

Flow Country’s preservation was a 40-year effort: its culmination was coordinated by Rebecca Tanner, whose studies at the University of Manchester in Science Communication resulted in the UNESCO success. If you have access to a peatland, what actions can you take to protect and preserve these landscape treasures, so important in our time of climate change?

Brooke, K. Lusk. “3% for 30%?” 8 March 2024. Building the World Blog. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheowlrd/2024/03/08/energy-peat-3-for-30/

International Peatland Society (IPS). https://peatlands.org

Global Peatlands Initiative. “COP 28 Virtual Peatlands Pavillion.” 2023 https://storage.net-fs.com/hosting/61470bb/18/

Rowlatt, Justin. “Scottish bog gets world heritage status,” 27 July 2024. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/atticles/cv2gz1p2v12o

UNESCO. “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.” 1972. https://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/

Ward, Sarah. “King tours peat bog recently given world heritage site status.” Independent. 31 July 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/the-king-royal-society-for-the-protection-of-birds-charles-ian-murray-unesco-b2588839.html

Appreciation to Cherie E. Potts for contributing research to this topic and post.

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

 

 

WATER/ENERGY: Deep Seabed Mining

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The deep seabed is home to marine life, but also contains minerals now subject to mining. Image: “Marine Life” by Jerred Seveyka, Yakima Valley College, 2020. Creative Commons 2.0. Included with appreciation.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) finance committee begins this week to build upon legal and technical committee recommendations regarding whether to allow robotic bulldozers to rip up the deep seabed in search of minerals and metals to power renewable energy needed to stop climate change.

There is still time to stop seabed mining before it starts. Image: “Animated Clock” by Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. Animators Kunal Sen & Tisha Pillal. Creative Commons 4.0.

It is more than ironic to mine the deep seabed to stop climate change. It could be irreparably tragic. But there is still time.

World Bank and International Energy Agency estimate a 500% increase in demand for battery metals and minerals like cobalt by 2050. Now, cobalt is mined on land, with some concerns about environmental damage. Is deep seabed better? Do we really need to deploy explosives and bulldozers to blast open seamounts and crusts for cobalt, manganese, nickel, titanium? Not only will such invasive actions damage the direct area, but ocean currents certainly will carry the effects further.

Clarion-Clipperton Zone, between Hawaii and Mexico, contains more minerals than all the land-based supply. But should we mine the deep seabed? Image: “Clarion-Clipperton Zone” by NOAA, 2011. Public Domain.

The deep seabed’s seamounts and crusts – the same environments where minerals are formed – are habitats of corals, crabs, fish, sea stars, and marine seagrasses of more than 70 species. Recently, the UK’s National Oceanography Centre’s Seabed Mining and Resilience To Experimental Impact (SMARTEX) explored the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) between Hawaii and Mexico, finding new lifeforms including a sponge with the longest-known lifespan on Earth – 15,000 years. The CCZ is home to vast marine life, including 5,578 species – 88% of which are newly discovered and not even named. The CCZ’s polymetallic nodules contain more key metals than the entire world’s land-based reserves, making it prime prospecting territory. But is it necessary? Do we really need deep seabed mining for minerals like cobalt?

Cobalt mined in Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany. Image by photographer Privoksalnaja, 2013. Public Domain.

Cobalt is recyclable and reusable. So is nickel. Companies and governments that use such minerals find it easier to obtain “virgin” mineral resources than to engage in recycling. European Commission currently proposes negating Directive 2006/66/EC and upgrading Regulation (EU) No 2019/1020 to require more recycling. Cobalt and copper are largely recycled but most minerals and metals have recycling rates under 34%; some just 1%.

Should the International Seabed Authority (ISA) call for a moratorium on exploitation mining? Now is the time to express your opinion. “ISA Logo” Public Domain.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) issues and approves contracts for exploration of the deep seabed beyond national territories. ISA has the power to grant exploitation – mining. Recent actions by member nation Nauru triggered an acceleration that may lead to exploitation contracts as soon as this summer. Right now, ISA’s future leadership is about to be decided in a coming election. It is a critical time. The marine environment needs your support now.

Marine life needs your support. ISA is about to decide the future. Express your opinion while there is still time. Image: “Aluterus scriptus” by photographer Peter Cremer, 2011. Creative Commons 4.0.

Like outer space, the deep seabed belongs to everyone on Earth. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (outside of national jurisdiction of coastal abutters) belongs to you. Will you join Sir David Attenborough and other scientists to call for the International Seabed Authority to enact a moratorium on exploitation contracts for seabed mining? Sign the petition here.

Don’t let the sun set on the time to express your opinion on seabed mining. Image: “Wood Point Jetty Sunset” by John, 2002. Creative Commons 2.0.

Brooke, K. Lusk. “Buried Treasure and Speedo Diplomacy.” Renewing the World: Casebook for Leadership in Water (2024) Case #6: pages 55-66. ISBN: 979-8-9850359-5-7. https://renewingtheworld.com

Brooke, K. Lusk “Deep Seabed Mining.” 18 July 2023. Building the World Blog. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/2023/07/13/water-energy-deep-seabed-mining-part-2/

European Commission. “European Commission Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning batteries and waste batteries, repealing Directive 2006/66/EC and amending Regulation (EU) No 2019/1020.

Greenpeace. “Stop Seabed Mining Before It Starts.” https://www.greenpeace.org/international/act/stop-deep-sea-mining/

International Seabed Authority (ISA). https://www.isa.org.jm

Lipton, Eric. “Fight Over Seabed Agency Leadership Turns Nasty.” 4 July 2024. New York Times. https://wwwnytimes.com/2024/07/04/us/politics/seabed-agency-mining.html

Miller, K.A., et al., “Challenging the Need for Deep Seabed Mining From the Perspective of Metal Demand, Biodiversity, Ecosystems Services, and Benefit Sharing.” 28 July 2021. Frontiers in Marine Science: Ocean Sciences and Ethics. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.706161/full

Ocean Foundation, The. “Defend the Deep.” FILM by Richard Charter of The Ocean Foundation and Liz Rubin of Ecodeo  https://youtu.be/C4uu03DiVhE?si=Wa1ZAeavBJ_N2Bd2

Ocean Foundation, The. “Deep Seabed Mining.” https://oceanfdn.org/deep-seabed-mining/

Oceanographic. “Over 5,000 new species discovered in the Pacific’s deep sea.” 26 May 2023. https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/5,000-new-species-found-in-clarion-clipperton-zone/

Rabone, Muriel, et al., “How many metazoan species live in the world’s largest mineral exploration area?” 19 June 2023. Current Biology. Volume 33, Issue 12, Pages 2383-2396, E5. https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00534-1

SMARTEX. “Seabed Mining and Resilience to Experimental Impact.” https://smartexccz.org

Starr, Michelle. “Alien-Looking Species Seen For First Time Ever in Ocean’s Darkest Depths.” 7 June 2024. https://www.sciencealert.com/alien-looking-species-seen-for-first-time-ever-in-oceans-darkest-depths

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “Recycling Rates of Metals: A status report.” 2011. ISBN: 978-92-807-3161-3. https://www.resourcepanel.org/reports/recyclilng-rates-metals

World Wildlife Fund. “Future mineral demand can be met without deep seabed mining as innovative technology can cut mineral se by 58%.” 28 November 2022. https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?7087466/Future-mineral-demand-can-be-met-without-deep-seabed-mining-as-innovative-technology-can-cut-mineral-use-by-58

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U

ENERGY/WATER: Summer – Full Steam Ahead

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Steam is needed to brew beer. Image” “THAT is what I like,” by photographer Alan Levine, 2012. Creative Commons 2.0. Included with appreciation.

Today is the solstice. It’s summer – in some parts of the world – perfect weather for enjoying a cold drink on a hot day. Chances are that beverage, and its glass, were brought to you by steam. Brewing craft beer, sterilizing dental or medical instruments, cooking, heating – all these activities require steam. Fossil fuels power 73% of energy in the United States: 40% is used to make steam. Usually produced by boilers, powered by coal, gas, or oil, the industry standard could soon change.

Beer brewing may be the same, but steam is changing. Image: “Beer at the bottom of a glass” by photographer Specious, 2009. Creative Commons. Included with appreciation.

Transitioning to a new energy source often requires installing new, expensive infrastructure – think electric vehicles and charging stations. But if the same infrastructure could be used, phasing out and phasing in could be seamless. That is the case with emerging technology of green steam, A similar advantage can be found in biofuels for aviation: sustainable aviation fuels can be pumped into jet aircraft now using fossil-based kerosene. Saving costs of building new infrastructure, saving costs of removing old systems, saving jobs by keeping the same personnel, and saving energy – it is a win worth getting steamed up about.

Aeolipile – from Knight’s American Mechanical Dictionary, 1876. Image: Public Domain.

The first steam engine, called the aeolipile was described by Vitruvius who also wrote about the Roman Aqueducts. In 1712, Thomas Newcomen, said by some to be the progenitor of the Industrial Revolution, invented an atmospheric engine powered by steam – it pumped water out of coal mines, thus advancing the use of coal for energy. Since Newcomen, steam has been made by burning coal, or other fossil carbon-based fuels.

How coal powers steam. Image: “Coal-fired power plant diagram,” by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), 2013. Public Domain.

Enter Spirax Sarco. The UK-based powerhouse is testing a zero-carbon boiler for a food manufacturer. The food and beverage industry produces 11% of the world’s greenhouse gases – same as the total emissions for Belgium. The food and beverage industry contributes $412 billion to the U.S. economy. In the EU, the industry employs 4 million people. Developing zero carbon steam technologies for this industry will help to meet global climate goals.

Steam is a natural phenomenon. Image: “Grand Prismatic Spring with steam rising from Excelsior Geyser.” by Frank Kovalcheck, 2008. Creative Commons 2.0. Included with appreciation.

Steam didn’t need to be invented. It has been a product of the Earth longer than humans have been on the planet. Visit Iceland and you’ll see steam rising from the geysers. Steam uses water: in a drought-threatened world, more efficient steam can save water and reuse this critical resource. Beer brewing is one example of using water and steam, with a few other ingredients. The beverage is so traditional it is made by the monks of the Abbey of Our Lady of Saint-Remy, Belgium, a Cistercian Order of Strict Observance. You can’t enter the monastery, but you can toast with their beer, made by traditional processes.

“Brewery in the Abbey of Our Lady of Saint-Remy, Belgium, of the Cistercian Order of Strict Observance.” By photographer, Luca Galuzzi. Creative Commons 2.5. Included with appreciaiton.

Enter AtmosZero. The US-based start-up company that just received Series A funding by Engine Ventures along with backing by Constellation Energy Corporation, Energy Impact Partners, Starlight Ventures, and AENU, is developing a boiler driven by heat pump technology. The U.S. Department of Energy awarded AtmosZero a $3 million grant for Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization. The innovative Boiler 2.0 is a “drop-in” system that can replace carbon fossil-fueled equipment. The system generates two times more heat than its energy input. An early adopter and beta-tester: New Belgium Brewing, a craft beer company in Colorado. Cheers!

Can green steam decarbonize the beverage industry? Image: “Absinthe Robetter” by Privat-Livemont, 1896. U.S. Library of Congress. Public Domain.

More:

AENU. https://www.aenu.com

AtmosZero. https://atmoszero.energy

Brooke, K. Lusk. “TRANSPORT: New ‘Wingprint’ for Aviation.” 29 November 2023. Building the World Blog. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/2023/11/29/transport-new-wingprint-for-aviation/

Constellation Energy Corporation. https://www.constellationenergy.com

Energy Impact Partners. https://www.energyimpactpartners.com

Engine Ventures. https://engineventures.com

National Museums Scotland. “Thomas Newcomen’s Steam Engine.” https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/science-and-technology/newcomen-engine/

New Belgium Brewing. https://www.newbelgium.com

SpiraxSarco. https:spiraxsarco.com

Starlight Ventures. https://starlight.vc

Vitruvius. De Architectura. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Ronan/Texts/Vitruvius/home,html

Winrow, Michael. “Why green steam is a hot issue for business.” 25 April 2024. BBC.com. https//www.bbc.com/news/business-68687140

Building the World Blog by Kathleen Lusk Brooke and Zoe G. Quinn is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 U