ENERGY: Waste to Energy – Bug Fix?

Posted on by Building The World
“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

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

SPACE: Critical Minerals – Land, Sea…or Space

Posted on by Building The World
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

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

WATER: Happy Valentine’s Day – from Genghis Khan

Posted on by Building The World
“Beating Heart” Gif by Mraid123, 2016. Creative Commons 4.0.

Valentine’s Day celebrates love in all its many wonderful forms and cultural traditions. But the greatest love of record, according to DNA, might be Genghis Khan. DNA tracing reveals over 16 million people now living are related to the legendary Mogul emperor whose dynasty helped to renovate, repair, and advance China’s Grand Canal.

Genghis Khan, from National Palace Museum, China. Public Domain.

When Ghengis’ nephew, Kublai Khan, became emperor, he directed grain be moved northward to the new capital the dynasty had established: Dadu. Khan commanded that 816,000 tons of grain be delivered to the capital: 537,000 had to come from the fertile south. But how? The Grand Canal, China’s internal waterway.

Grand Canal, Wanning Bridge, Beijing, China by EditQ, 2023. Creative Commons 4.0.

However, there was a slight problem. When grain arrived at the Yangtze region by boat, it had to be transferred over land about 20 miles (32 kilometers) because the waterway did not stretch all the way to Dadu – yet. Local farmers were forced to loan their draft animals to the project: agriculture suffered, as did the beasts.

Kublai (Qubilai Setsen Khaan) Khan by artist Araniko (1244-1306). Public Domain.

When Kublai Khan observed the problem, the new emperor ordered the Grand Canal add a seventh section to reach the capital. In the building project, the entire waterway was straightened and strengthened. Once the liquid highway was complete, communications improved, agriculture thrived, and the capital rose in importance. Some say the Grand Canal transformed a region into a nation. Today, Dadu continues to have a national role: it is now named Beijing.

Grand Canal by Goverlynn, 2016. Creative Commons 4.0.

Khan dynasty also had a national, and apparently a global role. Genghis Khan fathered five daughters and four sons with his primary wife Börte, and many more with 500 secondary spouses. Genghis Khan, master of conquest in more ways than one, may be said to have caused increases in areas of society, technology, and indeed civilization.

Genghis Khan areas of involvement. Graphic by Bkkbrad, 2018. Creative Commons 2.5.

Oxford University’s Professor Chris Taylor-Smith analyzed DNA of males across 16 ethic populations. Many shared a notable Y chromosome. It appears that its unique characteristics can be traced to Genghis Khan. Today, if you are a male reading this post, you may be part of 0.5% of the world’s population descending from Genghis Khan who was born in 1162, died in 1227, and was – apparently – very busy in between.

Genghis Khan conquered a wide territory of land, and hearts. Image: “Animated heart” by Filthy Cat, Public Domain.

Davidson, Frank P. and K. Lusk Brooke. “The Grand Canal of China.” Building the World, Volume 1, chapter 4, pages 35-46. Greenwood: 2006. ISBN: 0313333734.

Mayell, Hillary. “Genghis Khan, a prolific lover, DNA shows.” 14 February 2017. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/mongolia-genghis-khan-dna#:~text=An%20international%20group%20ofgeneticists,16%20million%20descendants%20living%20today

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

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

LAND/WATER: Mountains, Rivers, Rights

Posted on by Building The World
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

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

ENERGY: The Floor That Knows You’ve Been There

Posted on by Building The World
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

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

CITIES: Fire and Future – How to HELP

Posted on by Building The World
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

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

ENERGY: If Walls Could Talk

Posted on by Building The World
Technology may give us walls that talk, and charge our phones at the same time. Image: “Talking Walls of Shtula Village” by Zeller Zalmanson, Pikiwiki Israel project. Creative Commons 2.5. Included with appreciation.

Nikola Telsa was there first; Peter Glaser, next. Telsa was sending wireless power from Niagara Falls; Glaser, from space to earth. Now, technology might free your mobile phone from battery recharging when you are in a wi-fi zone. And the walls of your office or school could tell a tale or two.

London Bridge Tube Station in England has wifi; so does British Rail. Image: Boston’s Zakim Bridge. Photography by Eric Vance, US EPA. Public Domain. Included with appreciation.

It’s more than just a personal device. The rectenna converts AC electromagnetic waves into DC electricity. New MIT-designed rectennae could stretch across highways or bridges, making it possible to report all manner of developments while recharging an array of options. The technology, developed by Professor Tomás Palacios of MIT/MTL Center for Graphene Devices and 2D Systems in the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MIT-CG), might extend the internet of things. Partners in the project include Technical University of Madrid, Boston University, and other institutions and research labs.

Intestinal walls can talk too, via capsule endoscopy. Image: Dr. H.H. Krause, 2013. Creative Commons 3.0. Included with appreciation.

Another application? A medical device you may happen to wear like an insulin pump, watchman, or pacemaker, or even a diagnostic “pill or capsule” that patients swallow to circulate internally and report data. Such pills cannot be powered by batteries lest lithium might leak toxins. Developments at MIT’s Medical Electronic Device Realization Center (MEDRC) may advance the information-driven healthcare sector.

Miniaturization of communications technology may have begun with the NASA Apollo lunar missions. Image: “Surveyor 3 – Apollo 12,” NASA. Public Domain. Included with appreciation.

Where did the miniaturization trend begin? Many trace miniaturization communications technology to the early days of the US Apollo space mission; the capability proved to have uses on earth, too.

Charge your phone from ambient wifi? “A cell phone” by Pixabay, 2015. Creative Commons0 1.0. Included with appreciation.

At the beach?  Visit the coffee kiosk where wifi might charge your phone. Even whole cities are going live: Philadelphia declared it would be the first municipal wifi network in 2004: the vision is still to be completed. Offices have wifi; so do airports, hospital lobbies, schools. It’s a two-way proposition: charging and also data-collecting. Now, wi-fi harvesting devices could give new meaning to the phrase: “If walls could talk.”

Glaser, Peter. “Method and Apparatus for Converting Solar Radiation to Electrical Power.” US Patent 3,781,647. 1973.

Matheson, Rob. “Converting Wi-Fi-signals o electricity with new 2-D materials.” 28 January 2019. MIT News Office. https://news.mit.edu/2019/converting-wi-fi-signals-electricity-0128

Zhang, Xu, et al., “Two-dimensional MoS2 enabled flexible rectenna for Wi-Fi-band wireless energy harvesting.” 28 January 2019. Nature 566, pages 368-372. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-0892-1

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

SPACE: Wood – Satellite Innovation

Posted on by Building The World
LignoSat will join orbiting satellites, testing the concept of wood in space. Image: “Animation of GPS satellite orbits” by Phoenix 7777, 2018. Creative Commons 4.0. Included with appreciation.

It’s small (just 4 inches/10 centimeters each side) but Japan’s new satellite innovation could change the way we build for, and communicate from, space.

Like Sputnik, pictured above, most satellites are made of aluminum. Image: “Sputnik” by US Airforce photo. Public Domain. Included with appreciation.

Sputnik began the space age on 4 October 1957; the US followed with Explorer 1 on 31 January 1958. When the world’s telecommunications countries joined together to create COMSAT Corporation in 1963, a new era of space communication began to dot the skies with satellites. Most are fabricated from aluminum. While aluminum is light and strong, it burns when re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, producing aluminum oxides that damage the protective ozone layer. With over 6,000 satellites currently in orbit in the macro cluster of SpaceX’s Starlink (with plans to expand to 42,000), satellites active in 2024 numbered 28,300. When these are decommissioned, the amount of space debris could be dangerous.

Professor Takao Doi, JAXA and NASA astronaut, pioneered a new satellite design using wood. Image: NASA 1997. Public Domain, and included with appreciation to JAXA and NASA, and to Professor Doi.

Enter Takao Doi, former NASA and JAXA astronaut, now a professor at Kyoto University. In a cooperative venture with Sumitomo Forestry, Doi proposed a satellite made of wood. As an astronaut, Doi had witnessed many space vehicles in orbit. Could the aluminum problem be solved with another material, one as old as human building in its earliest times? A special Japanese wood, honoki, from native magnolia trees became the preferred source. Some honoki wood was sent to the International Space Station for testing. It passed; the satellite design was then built. LignoSat 1 (Ligno is Latin for “wood”) launched in November 2024.

Could wood cause fewer problems than aluminum space debris? Image: NASA “Space Debris” 2005. Public Domain.

Advantages to using wood are many. Wood may be better than aluminum space debris, an increasing problem. Wood does not damage the atmosphere. Wood can allow signals to pass through the material. This means communications antennae do not have to be outside the satellite, making the vessel less prone to malfunction.

LignoSat is constructed using Japanese Magnolia Tree wood. Image: “Magnolia Tree Kenosha” by Catholic Laitinen, 2013. Dedicated by the photographer to the Public Domain.

Wood is one of the oldest human building materials, now it may be the newest – in space. Watch LignoSat’s launch video here.

Brooke, K. Lusk and Z. Quinn. “SPACE: Global Connectivity.” Building the World Blog, 30 March 2023. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/2023/03/30/space-global-connectivity/

Brooke, K. Lusk and Z. Quinn. “SPACE: Debris.” Building the World Blog, 18 November 2021. https://blogs.umb.edu/buildingtheworld/2021/11/18/space-debris/

Davidson, Frank P. and K. Lusk Brooke. “COMSAT” Chapter 33 in Building the World, pages 623-639. Westport: Greenwood, 2006. ISBN:031333377412.

Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) https://global.jaxa.jp

JAXA. “Humans in Space Series: Takao DOI – first Japanese astronaut to participate in EVA” https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/astronaut/doi-takao/

Kyoto University “Professor Takao Doi.” https://kdb.iimc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/profile/en.a60ccd0956b513ef.html

Sumitomo Forestry. https://sfc.jp/english/

Wall, Mike. “World’s first wooden satellite arrives at ISS for key orbital test.” 5 November 2024. SPACE. https://www.space.com/space-exploration-satellites/worlds-1st-wooden-satellite-arrives-at-iss-for-key-orbital-test

Wilson, Despina. “Revealed: Number of operational satellites in orbit, 2024.” CEOWORLD Magazine. https://ceoworld.biz/2024/07/18/revealed-number-of-operational-satellites-in-orbit-2024/

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

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

TRANSPORT: COP29 – It’s About Time

Posted on by Building The World
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

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

ENERGY: Sky’s the (280 ppm) Limit

Posted on by Building The World
Let’s keep the sky as blue as it was at 280 ppm. “Clouds Blue Sky” by photographer Kabir Bakle, 2004. Creative Commons 2.5. Included with appreciation.

We hear so much about reducing carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere, it may sound like we are aiming to clear the Earth of carbon. But carbon is the basis of life. Carbon compounds make up 18% of the human body, found in every cell, forming the building blocks of proteins. Plants are also 18% carbon.

“Global Carbon Cycle” by NASA/JPL, 2015. Public Domain.

We don’t need, or want, to eliminate carbon. Rather we need to restore and renew its proper balance. Carbon is a cycle. It moves from land to water to sky. In the sky, it combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is also water soluble, so it is found in lakes and rivers; in the ocean, too much creates acidification, but a smaller amount is natural. When there is too much in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases like methane that degrades into carbon dioxide) form a kind of blanket causing global warming. Some amount of carbon in the atmosphere, and the ocean, is not only normal but desirable, part of the great circular journey of carbon that nourishes and vivifies the planet.

“Carbon Cycle” by graphic artist Kevin Saff, based on Earth Observatory, NASA, “Carbon Cycle.” Dedicated to the public domain, and included with appreciation.

But how much is carbon is enough, and not too much? Before the Industrial Revolution when we started burning coal, then oil and gas, atmospheric carbon dioxide was 0.028% or 280 ppm. Right now, it’s more than 425 ppm – and growing. So, we don’t have to remove every last bit of carbon, or carbon dioxide. We just have to return from 425 (or so) of atmospheric carbon dioxide to 280.

Cessation of carbon-based (fossil) fuels, transitioning to non-carbon renewable energy, is the first step. Reforestation will help: will programs like the National Trails and Parks support public health? Restoring peatlands and wetlands may contribute: will the Netherlands lead the way? Regenerative agriculture will improve soil and atmosphere. Eventually, excess carbon dioxide in ocean and atmosphere will find its way back to the land, restoring balance. We’ll surely need to pursue both avoidance (not burning carbon-based fuels) and perhaps removal. Nature-based carbon removal systems like forests can remove 15.6 billion metric tonnes of carbon annually. Seaweed can help to remove carbon from oceans. Mineralization and biochar can return, and sequester, carbon in earth. Some say we will need assists like geo-engineering, but we’re not there…yet.

“Carbon sequestration” by LeJean Hardin and Jamie Payne based on Jari Amtzen, 2009. Creative Commons 3.0. Included with appreciation.

We are now at 425ppm. It may not be too late to return to 280 ppm, renewing the Earth. Seeing carbon as part of a cycle may help.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Climate Change Indicators: Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases.” June 2024. https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-atmospheric-concentrations-greenhouse-gases

Global Carbon Budget. “Fossil CO2 emissions at record high in 2023.” 4 December 2023. University of Exeter. https://globalcarbonbudget.org/fossil-co2-emissions-at-record-high-in-2023/

Lindsey, Rebecca and Ed Dlugokencky. “Climate Change: Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.” Based on NOAA Global Monitoring Lab. 9 April 2024. http://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide

Ralph, Robin. “Removing carbon from the atmosphere: 6 strategies.” 20 June 2022. Patch. https://www.patch.io/blog/removing-carbon-from-the-atmosphere-6-strategies

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

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email