エピソード

  • Measuring nitrous oxide emissions

    Measuring nitrous oxide emissions
    2025/04/01
    Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas with nearly 300 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, making even small emissions highly impactful. Agriculture, particularly soil management, is the largest source of nitrous oxide. To better understand and manage these emissions, researchers have developed a system for continuous monitoring on farms and other land management purposes.
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    25 分
  • PFAS and human health

    PFAS and human health
    2025/03/01
    PFAS, synthetic chemicals found in countless everyday products, have made their way into humans and animals around the globe. Although their health effects remain unclear, their widespread presence raises important questions. Scientists are now investigating whether these chemicals might disrupt the human gut microbiome, potentially impacting our health in unexpected ways.
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    25 分
  • Seismic sensing with fiber optics

    Seismic sensing with fiber optics
    2025/02/01
    The Earth can shift suddenly, with sinkholes and landslides posing serious risks to people and property. Scientists are now using existing fiber optic cables in cities to detect potential geohazards before they strike. This innovative approach is expanding to monitor flooding and even track human movement, unlocking new possibilities for data collection and understanding our world.
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    23 分
  • Low-carbon cement from farm waste

    Low-carbon cement from farm waste
    2025/01/01
    Cement, a major component of concrete, is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions. Researchers are exploring agricultural waste as a potential alternative to cement, aiming to reduce carbon footprint while also finding new uses for farm byproducts. However, the feasibility and effectiveness of this solution depend on the collaboration between researchers and farming communities.
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    26 分
  • Feeding a Changing World

    Feeding a Changing World
    2024/12/01
    Smallholder farmers are the unsung heroes of our food system. Tilling tiny plots, they produce a staggering one-third of the world’s food and up to 80% of the food supply in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. But these vital contributors face immense challenges: such as climate change, pests, insufficient finances, and limited education and training. On this episode of Growing Impact, we’re revisiting the story of PlantVillage, a project funded as a seed grant by IEE in 2016. Its aim was to empower smallholder farmers with knowledge through smartphones and machine learning. Since its creation, PlantVillage has gained strong support from organizations worldwide and has built a robust team of partners and collaborators. Looking ahead, PlantVillage plans to expand how it’s helping farmers while simultaneously addressing climate change.
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    31 分
  • Visualizing flood risk

    Visualizing flood risk
    2024/11/01
    Flooding is the world's most devastating natural disaster, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Millions of Americans live in high-risk flood zones, with the threat amplified by climate change and aging infrastructure. This episode explores how innovative computer modeling and visualizations can help communities plan for future flood risks and develop effective response strategies.
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    23 分
  • Converting CO2 into fuel

    Converting CO2 into fuel
    2024/10/01
    Carbon dioxide (CO2) is abundant and stable, making it difficult to convert into something useful without a lot of energy. Researchers are using advanced computational modeling to find a catalyst that can efficiently transform CO2 into valuable products. This could turn CO2 from a climate issue into a valuable resource.
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    23 分
  • Growing Impact: Season 5

    Growing Impact: Season 5
    2024/09/01
    Our planet is at a critical crossroads. In Season 5 of Growing Impact, we delve into groundbreaking research with the power to transform our world. This season offers a deep dive into the vast and varied research at Penn State, showcasing its pivotal role in advancing a healthier planet and improving the well-being of people everywhere. Growing Impact is a podcast by the Institute of Energy and the Environment at Penn State. Each episode explores cutting-edge projects of researchers and scientists who are solving some of the world's most challenging energy and environmental issues. For more information about this and other projects, along with transcripts and much more, please visit: https://iee.psu.edu/podcast
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    3 分