Research News
Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Earth's atmosphere is a "skin" of air about 370 miles thick. Keeping it healthy will determine whether the planet turns into a barren space rock or remains a viable human habitat. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are attracting attention as a way to slow the increase of, and eventually stabilize, atmospheric CO2.
Energy and water. The two are inextricably bound because the generation of the former requires a staggering volume of the latter. In 2000, thermoelectric power plants in the United States used 136,000 million gallons of fresh water per day - that's enough to supply Ann Arbor with drinking water for more than 28 years. In addition to using vast supplies of fresh water, power plants consume energy as they bring the water from the source. In other words, it takes energy to make energy. The competition for fresh water is fierce.
Nanomaterials in the Aquatic Environment
Substances with dimensions less than 100 nanometers often act surprisingly different from larger materials with the same elemental composition. (A nanometer is a billionth of a meter. A human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide.) Furthermore, the very properties of nanostructured materials that make them so attractive could potentially lead to unforeseen health or environmental hazards
Tackling the Issue of Seafood Sustainability
If you've ordered salmon or shrimp at your favorite restaurant - or prepared seafood at home - chances are you've eaten catch from an aquatic farm. Nearly half of all seafood consumed today is farmed, in part because the per capita demand has doubled since 1950. (During roughly the same time, the demand for grain has increased 40 percent.) If seafood consumption continues to climb - and there are no indications it won't - increased demand will need to be met by aquaculture rather than natural stocks.
