Ozone layer is recovering, says UN

The ozone layer is regenerating, and could be back up to strength by the middle of the century, according to a UN report.

Very Light Car carries off X Prize

The Edison2 team clearly put more effort into designing its fuel-efficient car than it did coming up with the name, and it's paid off: the Very Light Car No 98 has earned its designers $5 million from the X Foundation.

Solar funnel makes PV cells more efficient

One disadvantage of solar cells is that they take up a lot of  room - and not every building has enough space.

Sulphuric acid could cut global warming

It's so obvious, it's a wonder nobody thought of it before: releasing vast quantities of sulphuric acid into the atmosphere to save - yes, save - the planet.

Al Gore school stands on top of toxic ground

Call it hilarious, offensive, or dangerous, but any way you slice it there will be controversy over a new school named after Al Gore that's opening for the first time next week.

Ice caps melting far slower than believed

The Greenland and West Antarctic ice caps are melting at half the expected rate, according to a joint US-Dutch team.

MIT creates self-repairing solar cells

MIT rsearchers have created tiny solar cells that can repair themselves after damage from the sunlight they're designed to process.   

FCC delays critical net neutrality decision

In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, the government has decided to hold off on taking a firm stance in the net neutrality debate.

System turns greenhouse gases into fuel

A Californian company has filed a patent for a technology which it says allows CO2 and natural gas to be converted directly to gasoline.

MIT robot 'swarm' cleans up oil spills

MIT has developed an autonomous floating robot that it says can absorb as much as 20 times its own weight in oil.

Report criticizes leaders of UN climate change panel

A long-awaited report into the Intergovernmetal Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the panel, which manages research into climate change, needs changes at the top.

A new source of energy: tapping electricity from the air

Brazilian scientists believe they have found a way of tapping electricity direct from the air - and preventing lightning strikes at the same time.

Geoengineering won't halt sea level rise


Canadians build car from cannabis

A Canadian company will next month launch what would surely be a hippy's perfect car - one built largely from cannabis.

Self-cleaning solar panels based on Martian mission technology

Researchers have developed a system allowing large-scale solar power installations to keep themselves clean, based on technology developed for missions to Mars.

Massive garbage patch found off coast of Atlanta

Scientists have cataloged a new and enormous aquatic garbage dump in the western North Atlantic.

Americans 'clueless' on energy saving

A new study brands Americans 'clueless' on energy-saving measures, saying they expect tiny changes to save the planet.

Paving slabs clean the air

A German city is installing paving slabs that scrub the air clean of pollutants.

Human-powered car nears production

Hands up everyone that has fond memories of a pedal-powered toy car. Yup, thought so. And for those that want to recreate the experience, a new adult-sized, human-powered vehicle is about to go into production.

Government report backs controversial carbon sequestration plans

Despite concern that it's ineffective and potentially dangerous, a government task force has concluded that there's no reason carbon sequestration shouldn't be introduced on a large scale within the next ten years.