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ENERGY & WATER


Security Experts Are Concerned about Potential Harm of EV Batteries
Cybersecurity and national security experts have explored how EV batteries and the connected technology of electric vehicles could potentially be weaponized in other ways to cause significant disruption or mass casualties in a terrorist attack scenario, or actions by a disgruntled employee. EV batteries possess inherent hazards (flammable electrolytes, potential for explosions/fires under abuse) that could be exploited in malicious acts. The primary concern of cybersecurity a


The most dangerous place in the solar system: Not where you think
If you had to name the most dangerous place in the Solar System, you’d probably start with the obvious suspects. The Sun, with its searing temperatures and violent eruptions, where solar flares and coronal mass ejections blast charged particles across the Solar System powerful enough to disrupt satellites, damage infrastructure, and, in extreme cases, cripple electrical grids. Maybe Earth’s sister planet and “molten hellhole” Venus, where it rains highly concentrated sulfuric


"Resurgence Of Electrification": Goldman Says EV Demand Gaining Momentum Amid Fuel Price Shock
There were early signs during the third week of the U.S.-Iran conflict that EV demand was gaining traction in Asia, where the energy shock has been felt the hardest. That was followed by a separate note earlier this month confirming that EV demand was beginning to reaccelerate. Now, Goldman analysts led by Kota Yuzawa see global EV demand gaining momentum after several years of muted demand, as the fuel-price shock at the pump pushes consumers back toward EVs. Yuzawa noted th


Every New Car Could Become a Surveillance Machine by 2027 — And It May Decide If You Can Drive
This isn’t some distant concept or experimental feature that might show up years from now. By 2027, every new car sold in the United States could be required to actively monitor the person behind the wheel. That means watching your eyes, tracking your behavior, and constantly evaluating whether you’re alert enough to drive. For a lot of drivers, that starts to feel less like safety and more like surveillance. And the part that’s catching people off guard is how much control t


Making clean fuel (and profits) from plastic waste and battery acid
In a "triple win" for green research, scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a new sunlight-activated reactor that uses one waste stream to tackle another – all while producing clean hydrogen, and promising to be profitable at commercial scale. According to Our World in Data, a statistical-compilation site formed in partnership with the University of Oxford, plastic production now reaches 450 million tonnes per year, a staggering increase since 1950, when on


8 Ways To Generate Power Off Grid
Although conserving energy is important to any homeowner, energy conservation takes on a whole new meaning when you live off the grid....


Everything you need to know about using extension cords
Using the wrong extension cord can be dangerous. They can melt or overheat and cause a fire, according to the U.S. Consumer Product...


8 Things To Always Unplug When You Go On Vacation
When heading out on a vacation, the last thing you want to worry about is items using up electricity while you’re not home. From small...


How to Turn Off the Power to Your House
All homes have a main electrical service panel, a circuit breaker panel, or a fuse box in older homes. This panel receives power from the...


How to Create a Fire Escape Plan
When you hear the phrase “fire escape” , you may think of the metal platforms and stairs mounted alongside multi-story apartment...


First Aid: Super Gluing Cuts, Imodium for Emergencies, & More
Thanks to Thomas’ knowledge of first aid, we’ve accumulated a fairly decent number of guides and tutorials related to medicine and basic...


Tiny 2-ounce fire multitool brings dual survival to your adventures
Overland Expo's focus may be largely on earth-exploring giants and burly, overbuilt hardware, but the show does highlight its fair share...


How to pick an emergency kit, according to FEMA and the CDC
With hurricanes, wildfires and nasty viruses, unfortunately emergencies are a reality these days. So could you survive off of your own...


Drinking Water Has Highest Contamination Levels in These Five States
Amap has revealed the five states with the most water systems where drinking water has been registered as above the proposed limit for...


The One Thing Natural Disaster Survivors Wish They’d Done Differently to Prepare
If you're in the path of a hurricane or another natural disaster, what's the one thing you should always do? We asked survivors: Here's...


US says cyberattacks against water supplies are rising, and utilities need to do more to stop them
Cyberattacks against water utilities across the country are becoming more frequent and more severe, the Environmental Protection Agency...


When It Comes to Manufacturing, It’s Us or Them
I grew up in western Illinois and saw firsthand what happens when unfair trade and financialization runs amok. Communities that were once...


Residents anxious as developers eye former site of toxic waste disposal: 'Every day I have people asking me if it's safe to live here'
Residents of Russell Landing, Florida, a suburb near Jacksonville, are wary of real estate developers planning to build housing on the...


How to download directions on Google Maps, Apple Maps to navigate easily offline
The way we travel has changed. The paper map that once unfolded to the size of a kitchen table now fits in our pockets. It also gives us...


US Power Grid Faces Mounting Challenges As Clean Energy Transition Accelerates
The U.S. electricity grid is confronting serious challenges as it navigates the transition to alternative energy sources under President...
Biden's Chinese EV tariffs don't address national security concerns
President Biden's move to quadruple tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles isn't meant to head off any potential national security threats...


Here’s What Infrastructure Neglect and Political Instability Look Like
The 2019 Venezuelan blackouts were a series of power outages that affected Venezuela from 7 March to 14 March 2019. The blackout was the...


New report reveals concerning truth about homes located near megawarehouses: 'It's diminished our ability to thrive'
"The closer that they live to a warehouse … the more dangerous the side effects are for them." Megawarehouses, large complexes that store...


How to Keep The Government from Tracking Your Every Move
Back when George Orwell wrote his famous novel, 1984, little did anyone realize just how true it might become. Maybe it didn’t happen in...


Items I Stockpile Because I Don’t Trust the Government
It’s comforting to assume that government agencies on a federal, state and local level will swoop in to provide aid and assistance in a...
What To Do After A Power Outage: 12 Steps To Follow
Power outages are widespread and, surprisingly, are getting worse in the USA. This is due to aging infrastructure, frequent storms, and...


EMP: The First 72 Hours
One of the scariest survival scenarios we face today is a potential loss of the electric grid, brought about by an EMP (electromagnetic...


Electric Utilities Can’t Keep up with Surging Demand
The cloud is sucking up all our electricity, threatening to leave consumers in the dark. I’m not talking about storm clouds; I’m talking...


Natural Disasters in the US: States with the Most (and the Least?)
One of the first steps in preparing for disasters is figuring out which disasters your area is most likely. Americans need to worry about...


Free Yourself; Don’t Give in to Pressure
There are lots of entities out there that want you to do things, even when these things are not in your best interest. It can range from...


Are You and Your Family Really Ready For A Power Grid Failure?
The dangers to our aging, fragile electrical grid are numerous. Over the last few years, many of us have focused on the risk of an EMP,...


How to think about, protect against, and survive an EMP attack
An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that causes the nation’s power to go out, planes to fall from the sky, and most modern technology to...


The First Place Everyone Will Run to When SHTF
Have you ever wondered where everyone (or at least most people) will flee to when a major SHTF disaster strikes that forces people to...


The Best Off Grid Heating Systems
Today, many people are pursuing the off grid lifestyle for a myriad of reasons. For some, the money-saving benefits are most appealing,...


Using Greywater in Your Off Grid Household
Off grid living has become a trend among individuals who find the unending demands of modern life unfulfilling and inefficient. These...


Top Ways to Preserve Earth’s Draining Fuel
Fossil fuels make up about 85% of the global energy system. However, the ever-increasing demand for energy is putting a lot of strain on...


Off Grid vs. Grid Tied Solar Panel Systems: What's the Difference?
Off-grid solar systems offer energy independence and savings amid rising electricity costs, but it's not as easy as it sounds. Here's...


Environmental benefits of solar
There are two primary reasons home and businesses are interested in solar energy: first, the financial benefit; and, second, the...


Solar Energy Pros And Cons: What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages?
Solar technology’s recent prevalence has seen both large organizations and individual consumers choose to integrate solar power into...


Tips For Reconditioning Lead Acid Batteries – Zero Waste
Lead acid batteries are recycled 99% of the time. In the spirit of ShrinkThatFootprint, consider reconditioning a battery that’s completely


We sampled tap water across the US – and found arsenic, lead and toxic chemicals
A nine-month investigation by the Guardian and Consumer Reports found alarming levels of forever chemicals, arsenic and lead in samples...


US power grid facing elevated risk of shortages this summer amid green energy push: watchdog
The U.S. power grid is facing an elevated risk of shortages in the coming summer months amid a nationwide push to replace fossil fuel
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