Environment

Podcast of The Week: Shortwave on Engineered Perennial Rice

This fascinating Shortwave episode describes how American scientists working with Chinese farmers have successfully engineered a strand of perennial rice and harvested it over mutiple crop years. Rice usually has to be planted from seed each year, which is labour intensive and harmful to the health of farm land. This perennial rice regrows each year without having to replanted, while also rejuvenating the land.

Geothermal Well Battery

Geothermal energy company Fervo Energy have discovered a way to utilise a geothermal well as a battery. By drilling cracks into geothermal hard rock, pumping lots of water in and sealing the well, the water can later be released at high pressure, allowing energy to be delivered at high output at times when renewables are generating low output.

IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report

The IPCC released its sixth report, a synthesis report of all its previous reports, updated with the latest data on climate change. It shows that we are currently on track for 3.2°C warming. It states starkly that "the level of greenhouse gas emission reductions this decade largely determine whether warming can be limited to 1.5°C or 2°C" and "The choices and actions implemented in this decade will have impacts now and for thousands of years".

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