August 9, 2017
Why meteors snap, crackle and pop
Keen-eared observers sometimes report hearing popping, whistling or buzzing at the same time they see meteors pass far overhead, a perplexing …
The EARTH archive
Electricity
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9 articles · Page 1 of 1
October 17, 2016
Electric fields lift dust into the air at massive scales
During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, black blizzards of dust enveloped the Great Plains, destroying crops. When farmers heard a crackling sound …
January 14, 2016
D.C. wastewater no longer going to waste
D.C. Water & Sewer Authority, which treats sewage from Washington, D.C., as well as from the Maryland and Virginia suburbs ringing the city, is …
October 2, 2014
Solar storms cause spike in electrical insurance claims
On March 13, 1989, a geomagnetic storm spawned by a solar outburst struck Earth, triggering instabilities in the electric power grid that serves …
September 4, 2013
Energy storage brings a renewable energy future one step closer
Renewable energy sources promise to address many of the energy challenges facing society: They derive power from inexhaustible supplies of …
April 15, 2013
Why is the U.S. so insecure about its energy security? Measures of energy independence show it is increasing, not decreasing
In recent years, every time an election has rolled around, politicians have espoused the necessity of energy independence and energy security. …
January 2, 2013
The dangers of solar storms: That which gives power can also take it away
In last month’s issue of EARTH, we explored what is known about solar activity, the sun and its interaction with Earth. This month, we examine …
January 20, 2012
Voices: Must we capture and store carbon from coal to meet emission-reduction targets?
Last Wednesday, Sens. John Kerry and Joe Lieberman unveiled a comprehensive energy bill (PDF) called the American Power Act. The central purpose …
January 5, 2012
Making electric grids smarter
How information technology will make America's electrical system cleaner, more efficient and more reliable. Val and Bud Peterson are passionate …