Without a green energy transition Australia won’t meet its emissions reductions promises. But despite punching above its weight for years, the electricity sector isn’t transforming quickly enough.
International experience suggests South Africa can benefit by focusing on a simple restructuring of its power utility, allowing well-run state-owned entities to flourish.
Ghana has struggled to find balance with its power generation.
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Ghana’s power sector is mired in debt and excess production.
The control room of the California Independent System Operator, which manages the flow of electricity on the state’s power grid.
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Sometimes wind and solar power produce more electricity than the local grid can handle. Better energy storage and transmission could move extra energy to where it’s needed instead of shutting it off.
New variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, arise through mutations when the virus replicates in an infected host’s cells.
(NIAID, cropped from original)
COVID-19 variants are the products of the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They arise via mutations, but other forces also have roles to play in the generation and transmission of variants.
Floors can be tested to predict the level of COVID-19 in an environment.
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Aaron Hinz, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa e Rees Kassen, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
As we move through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, new predictive methods of testing can help monitor the spread of the disease. Environmental testing, like swabbing floors, is a useful tool.
Integrating solar panels with farming can provide partial shade for plants.
Werner Slocum/NREL
Renewable energy is expanding at a record pace, but still not fast enough. Here are the key areas to watch for progress in bringing more wind and solar into the power grid in 2022.
Rift Valley Fever virus, 3D illustration.
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A vaccinated person is less likely to get COVID, is less contagious, and is contagious for a shorter time.
Outages left downtown New Orleans in the dark after Hurricane Ida made landfall on Aug. 29, 2021.
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Hurricane Ida left the entire city of New Orleans in the dark and renewed discussion of burying power lines. But there’s no way to completely protect the grid, above ground or below.
Amid growing COVID-19 transmission, hospitalization and death rates, mask mandates are returning in some states.
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After the CDC changed course in late July, recommending universal masking indoors, Nevada became the first state to adopt a flexible masking policy that can quickly adjust to changing COVID-19 rates.
The requirement to wear masks in airports lowers the risk of air travel.
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Parents face tough choices since young kids can’t yet get COVID-19 vaccinations. An infectious diseases expert offers guidance on navigating summer activities.
Vaccinated people are well protected from getting sick, but could they inadvertently transmit the coronavirus?
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Jennifer Juno, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity e Adam Wheatley, The University of Melbourne
Vaccination is likely to substantially reduce virus transmission by reducing the pool of people who become infected, and reducing virus levels in people who do get infected.
In-person learning can start as long as schools operate safely, says the CDC.
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You’ve been vaccinated; can you now safely see your friends and family? New research hints that vaccinated people may be less likely to transmit the coronavirus, but they are not 100% in the clear.
Heat waves, droughts and deep freezes can all strain the electric grid, leading utilities to impose rolling blackouts. Climate change is likely to make these events more common.