Steve Martin

The Coming of the Ecological University

“Universities have been with us on this Earth for at least one thousand years and will surely be with us in the future; perhaps so long as there is life on this planet that has any well-being. There is now something in not just the name of the institution but in the idea of the university that seemsContinue reading “The Coming of the Ecological University”

The Future is Bright

Solar Power Reviewed by Carbon Choices 22 August Falling Costs The cost of electricity produced by solar power has been falling for the last two decades. This trend is likely to continue due to the increased efficiency of panels, lower cost of silicon, improved manufacturing techniques, and economies of scale – the higher the demandContinue reading “The Future is Bright”

Fear got us this Far- Hope will get us Further and Possibly Faster

By Tobias Brosch, Edward Mishaud, and Disa Sauter “An elevator-pitch definition of fear might be a neurobiological process to keep us alive,” writes cultural historian Robert Peckham in his 2023 book, ‘Fear: An Alternative History of the World.’ Indeed, fear – that full-on jolt of adrenaline we feel throughout our body – has served humanityContinue reading “Fear got us this Far- Hope will get us Further and Possibly Faster”

Carbon capture project ‘to boost hundreds of jobs’ in Cement works in Derbyshire

A project to develop a pipeline to capture carbon emitted by cement and lime factories in the Peak District and bury it below the Irish Sea will create hundreds of jobs, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said. The pipeline will be created to transfer carbon dioxide (CO2) from Derbyshire, Staffordshire and the Northwest to be storedContinue reading “Carbon capture project ‘to boost hundreds of jobs’ in Cement works in Derbyshire”

Economic growth and the search for abundance

Creating a world of plenty demands more radical ideas By Tim Smedley June 26, 2025 Illustration by Prospect. Source: S.E.A. Photo / Alamy A moment halfway through Ezra Klein’s and Derek Thompson’s recent book Abundance reveals something of their approach to building a net zero world. In 2023 a gasoline lorry exploded, causing Philadelphia’s I-95 bridge to collapse;Continue reading “Economic growth and the search for abundance”

CARBON CAPTURE -DAC

KATIE BRIGHAM • MAY 30, 2025 Technology to suck carbon dioxide out of the air — a.k.a. direct air capture — has always had boosters who say it’s necessary to reach net zero, and detractors who view it as an expensive fig leaf for the fossil fuel industry. But when the typical venture capitalistContinue reading “CARBON CAPTURE -DAC”

The Valley that Changed the World, and Could Do So Again.

Transforming the Derwent Valley for a Regenerative Future May 10, 2024 Image by Derwent Valley MillsAuthors: Jonny Norton, Stephen Martin, Chris Ives — School of Geography University of NottinghamNestled within the picturesque landscapes of Derbyshire, England, lies the Derwent Valley — a valley once pulsating with the relentless energy of the Industrial Revolution. From theContinue reading “The Valley that Changed the World, and Could Do So Again.”

MURDER IN THE CLIMATE ASSEMBLY by Denise Baden

Murder in the Climate Assembly is a contemporary literary fiction novel that weaves moral philosophy, climate policies and elements of the popular whodunnit genre into an engaging story.This original take on the traditional campus novel addresses broad themes of what justice means in an age of climate change. The story grapples with one of theContinue reading “MURDER IN THE CLIMATE ASSEMBLY by Denise Baden”

A Quantum Year of Turmoil

We are in the International Year of Quantum (IYQ). Can the conceptual turmoil in physics one hundred years ago tell us anything about doing science amidst the political turmoil we experience today?Karen O’Brien Feb 2025 The International Year of Quantum (IYQ)How exciting! The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Quantum ScienceContinue reading “A Quantum Year of Turmoil”

Paradigm Shakes

We seem to be stuck in a dangerous and destructive paradigm. Our current approach to climate change is painfully inadequate. Will shifting paradigms be easier if we start with a few small shakes?Karen O’Brien Jan 20 ExtremesThese are not easy times. It’s hard to watch the news and read the latest climate projections. And it’sContinue reading “Paradigm Shakes”