The Walkman, Madonna, and the mullet – the 80s brought to life its fair share of innovation. However, there is an often-overlooked contribution of this decade even more revolutionary than Pac-Man. The idea, which came on the scene in a journal article published in 1981 by two German scientists, Adolf Goetzberger and Armin Zastrow, is called agrivoltaics. “In this paper,” they wrote, “we propose a configuration of a…photovoltaic power plant, which allows for additional agricultural use of the land involved.” In other words, placing solar panels above crops – in the footprint of a solar cell, growing strawberries, squash, and more. The idea may not have seemed ground-breaking when the two scientists quietly conducted their research in West Germany, but fast forward 40 years, and their concept is integral to solving the crisis of food security and the energy transition.
Imagine plants growing faster just by listening to music. A new experimental study shows that when we play songs for our crops, they listen—and grow. Devotional music encourages Mung beans to thrive. Through this genre of music, Mung bean growth accelerates… or something along these lines.
Climate change is relentlessly advancing. Climate models generate alarming projections for the near and distant future. But how do climate disasters, scarcity, and insecurity affect the foundations of our social relationships? Will there be more cooperation or conflict in the light of climate change? This piece traces the development of the field of climate conflict research to date and outlines the essential questions and answers in this important yet relatively understudied area of study.
America’s Great Lakes region is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. What can recent science tell us about the future?
The Canadian Supreme Court has recently made significant progress in holding mining corporations accountable for their malpractices in international projects. Nevsun Resources Ltd v Araya further solidified the legal norms to dispute claims made by plaintiffs in other countries seeking repatriation from Canadian companies. This case shows both a growing legal response to the concerns of corporation social responsibility (CSR), a largely voluntary practice, and accountability pathways to consider should malpractice occur.
Research around offshore wind development in the United States reveals the structural complexity of developing projects and the specific bottlenecks that impede expansion. To achieve the renewable energy targets set out federally and statewide, the United States must address research gaps and tackle developmental roadblocks, specifically regarding the availability of marshaling ports and installing vessels.
As scientific literature authored by indigenous minds in New Zealand grows, readers must question whether new bodies ofscientific thought can shift earth jurisprudence processes towards holistic goals.
Agroecology has yet to offer a scalable alternative to industrial agriculture in the Global North. A global consortium of researchers argues that the lack of widespread interest in agroecology is explained, in part, by the centrality of private property in the Global North. While agroecology depends on coordination across communities and landscapes, private property prioritizes individual rights within defined geographical boundaries.
